Before I put the raised bed into place, I have to protect the wooden frame from rot. I use a bitumen- (tar-) based product that comes in two types - one is a thick paint that goes on the surface and the other is a thinner version of the same stuff that gets absorbed more deeply into the wood. They both cost the same, so I buy the thick one and thin it with white spirit since that makes it cheaper. I understand that this might make me an honorary Dutchman.
I put put on two coats, two sides at a time, so it takes a few days to get it all covered. But it's a lovely sunny day today and it's good to be outside. The rain is forecast to hold off until next week so I should have it all finished in time. These four planks do one bed that will replace the old rotten one; I have another set of four for a new bed to enlarge the veg patch.
The big tin at the back I use to store the paintbrush I use for this stuff, the big tin at the front is the paint I just bought and the little tin contains what's left from last year. I thin the new paint by pouring it into last year's tin and adding the white spirit, stirring it in with a short length of rebar.
3 comments:
A man after my own heart, and I’m not Dutch either. My wife nags me about my growing just-in-case inventory.
Let's see how long they last.
Makes it go that much further to thin it out.
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