In a message dated 7/7/2008 9:41:40 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: A recent thread involved varnishing wood, and how it let UV rays through, which is what degraded the wood, which is what caused the varnish to fail. 1. So, I have a set of oars, new, and I am wondering about a) painting them b) varnishing them c) leaving them natural. I don't know what kind of wood it is, kind of lightweight, not oak or anything. The last set of oars I had were irregularly oiled, 20+ years old, and, although a bit weathered in the grain, not compromised in any way. Varnish them, keep them indoors as much as possible, and revarnish them every couple of years. 2. And, what does the UV thing have to do with shingles? I have cedar shingles on the house on DFI, but no one ever tells me that I should paint them. That's because you shouldn't paint them; one should stain shingles to get the maximum life out of them (you don't want moisture building up behind a paint film, as opposed to letting it out through a non-film-forming stain. You could also leave the shingles bare ("natural,") but that gives them no protection against UV or moisture, and they won't last as long. Ralph C ____________________________________ Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient _used cars_ (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007) . -- To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007) -- To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to: <http://listserv.icors.org/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>