Well, I tried on Breaktime with no answers, so I would try here…
There’s a decking guy that’s going out of business in my area. He has a lot of ipe that he is selling dirt cheap–including railing. My project is going to require some new railing (outside porch), but it needs to be painted (per the Design Review Commission).
How well will ipe hold paint?
Thanks in advance for the feedback.
Replies
I don't have any idea but it seems like a shame to paint ipe...
Yeah, that's such a beautiful wood it'd be a crime to paint it. Maybe you can take a sample to the local council to make your case. If it's oily to the touch like many tropical hardwoods, I'd use oil not latex to coat it. Without any finish, it's extremely termite and rot resistant and will last 20 years plus. But working with wood so dense can wear out a lot of blades and bits.
If it's really cheap, I say buy it. You can't be too rich or too thin or have too much wood in storage.
Paint a piece and hang it outside to see how it weathers. If it doesn't hold the paint, use something else for your railings and you'll still have a nice stash of cheap ipe in the basement.
Yes it will take paint fine, we've used it at interior flooring here for about 12 years finished often with a two part poli finish. But watch out it's a bugger to work with.
Philip
I'm with the crowd that suggests that you buy some Ipe, but use something else for your paint grade project.
I use it for exterior projects, but I always keep it natural.
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