Well then you ruined it before it even got a chance to put outside on the RR. Throw it in the trash and start over with a new thread. However this time get it right ok?
Well, in reading the description of what I used:
“The wood sealant highlights the grain of your wood with protective color.”
“Use as a deck stain, wood fence stain and sealer, and much more. It’s ideal for decks, siding, and fencing.”
So I guess there’s no point in applying linseed oil or anything else. It is what it is.
Cliff,
In all honestly I think you will be just fine. Anymore it’s the UV that crushes it IMO for one and for two the quality of lumber you are sealing makes a huge difference. Where I believe you are placing it receives no hard core sunlight which makes a HUGE difference from my experience (again only my opinion)
Just finish it, put it in it’s place and enjoy/maintain it.
Thanks Rooster. Yes, they only see direct sunlight for 4-5 hours, good point.
And if they fail, it’s a matter of putting down another plank of Trex (which has been there for a decade).
The big trestle planned for the other end of the layout will probably see more sunlight, not sure. Nothing’s been cut or built or stained for that though. By far, it’ll be the most complex and difficult one to replace should things go south, so I’ll want to do my best on preserving that.
Testing seems in order… Samples subjected to the various treatments, left out for a few years, nice photo report…
My 2 cents.
I have used nothing but a mix of 30 weight oil and diesel about 80/20 on Redwood and Cedar construction for years. Some of the bridges have been in use 20 years or more.
David is correct about the sun it is far harder on the wood than wet ( if the wood can dry between wettings)
My bridges get a fresh coat of oil/diesel slopped on with a brush every couple years. I pull the bridges and do all the slopping at a given location then let them dry/soak in for a few days before reinstallation.
5 hours ago, I wiped engine oil onto onto a stained abutment side that will never see the light of day once installed. It looked pretty shiny and wet. But now, it seems like the wood soaked it up, and the surface only has a slight sheen to it.
So I should probably brush on the linseed or motor oil. But as a later step, once these are assembled and fitted.
And like Rick says, plan on doing so every so often. I’m designing these for “easy” removal, that is, by loosening 4 joiners and lifting it away from its footers. We’ll see.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts!
You go on and believe that.
I’ve made a little progress here and there, starting with a better plan on assembling everything. The original idea was to glue and pin, but I’ve decided to screw all the subassemblies to the deck. The bents needed something firm to screw to, so I cut and stained cross-pieces for that.
There’s some details on the bridge portions, which were going to utilize brass rods and these 3d PLA prints done 3 years ago… pretty rough looking.
So I reprinted them in “tough” resin, and painted / clear-coated them. Here’s the bridge bling installed with the blackened brass.
I’m sure those diagonals should be set into notches into their supporting beams, but this is a 10’ rule project. Heck with my eyesight it’s a 4’ rule project.
By the time this bridge is finished it will be outdated and need replaced with steel or concrete!
You can always add 4x cleats with bolts and strapping. 6 bolts per cleat should look ok JMHO YMMV
Where did you hat that hardware? Are they actually screwed where you can tighten them up or just the plastic 3D and stuck on?
It’s just 3d printed (resin) and brass rod. The bottom saddles are pinned, but the rest is cemented.
I think he should do both just to be safe. That way if he trips taking it out to the layout while his home care nurses hold under his arms 30yrs from now it will stand a better chance.

home care nurses hold under his arms 30yrs from now
Thanks for the expectation boost, I’d been shooting for 20.
Been screwing around today,
…and also continuing to print the foundations.
More on those tomorrow I think.
These two are assembled and touched-up. Next they’ll need the linseed oil.
I finished printing the foundations this morning. Since they were too long for the printer (flat against the screen), they’re all in 2 pieces that need joining. I used 3/8" aluminum tube, and slathered then in with JB Weld.
The tubes came from old Xerox machines which David Maynard garnished while servicing them. He brought them to a DnB to give away, and I figured I’d use them somewhere. Didn’t expect this! But they worked great.
Wonder how Mr Maynard’s doing these days?
Here’s the finished foundations, which will get sprayed with 2 or 3 coats of gray.
FWIW, the odd diagonal wall thing is a wood slide. Workers would throw cordwood off a flatcar and let it sit beside the trestle until needed. In post #118 I show a couple of old photos.
Well built Cliff. I thought the wood slide protected the trestle from the waste material they dumped
Thanks, David!
Yeah, just the cordwood. I’ll probably make some sort of pile, and glue it together to be lifted away with the slide. This is a leaf-inviting zone, so the slide is removable for leaf-blowing. Which means it’ll end up a mile away in a big storm, unless I tether it somehow. Along with the cordwood pile. Hmm…