If ya happy enough with really dark wood, leave the diesel out and just paint the straight sump oil on your posts. We have been doing this for 5 generations on our farm and it works. We leave replacement posts soak in the oil at the bottom to stop them rotting and when you have miles of fences it's worth the effort. Plus the grass grows around it fast so I actually beg to differ if someone says it's bad for the environment. Our options are treated pine Vs red gum pillars and it's proven that the psyonide they treat pine with can seap into the soil and cause cancer. But I have never seen evidence of red gum soaked in sump oil causing that. This is a great lesson for the young generation thanks for sharing 😊
Great looking color for the wood. Just a tip that will help you on time. Mix the diesel and oil first, then strain it. It will pass through the strainer much faster.
My grandfather used to do the same thing and I still carry on as many of the things he showed me. I used that same mix on my 1500 yards of fence plus 5 wood building. Thanks for sharing that.
@@JodBronson that drives me insane, along with people not understanding how to use THERE, THEIR, and THEY'RE correctly. The want to call you "Grammer Police", but this is the English language that most U.S. people speak.
My granddad and dad never mixed anything in the oil. Use the old oil neat painted it on with brush did take a long time as miles and miles of fence as he was a farmer the fence turned out very dark stain but the beauty of it . The fence wouldn’t needed another coat for 12-15 years. My Grandad brother was a Mechanic so there was always of plenty oil.
to speed up the filtering process, mix the diesel and motor oil FIRST, then strain it through the shirt when pouring it into the sprayer. the thinner consistency will make it flow much quicker. :)
Great job!!! Just to be clear to all those who oppose to this, oil is derived from the ground....you just circumvented the drilling and refining process. Awesome video- I’m doing this project next.
So my husband and I are resetting the posts around our house and reusing the boards. We were going to repaint the fence until I ran across this video. He was going to get diesel to soak the posts bottom to deter termites. Now we're going to use this technique instead of painting. Great video.
Looks like a great idea. As far as being environmentally friendly i wouldn't worry about it to much as all of us each day run a motor vehicle day in and day out which isnt really good for the environment and we been doing it now for past 100 years.
Way to go!! Good job!! This is a great way to use dirty motor oil rather than dispose of it into the environment. Also, the oil and gasoline mixture is kept locally not just on the property, but to the exact location of the fence. My only word of caution would be to not use a sprayer on a windy day or around a creek, river or water source; use a rag and rub it on if possible. If you must use a sprayer, hold or place a shield of cardboard behind and underneath the area you are treating. Once the mixture hits the wood, you're good.
super cool!! I agree that commercial stain cannot be that environmentally friendly. Not to mention you are foregoing the entire manufacturing process for the stain and reclaiming a product that would otherwise require intense processing for recycling. Well done man!
@@mark675 Yeah but don't let the EPA know, Its ok to spread miles upon miles of black top but don't drop a drop of OIL! Like there's no oil in black top,,, lol
This used oil stain can't be any more harmful to the environment than "normal" stain. Ordinary stains contain harmful chemicals that have all kinds of warnings involved. I don't see a problem with this procedure. Thanks for the information!
I was surprised to see how faded the fence was after only a year. I believe you had stated that you had done the fence last year and you are doing it again.
"Im sure people are going to say spraying gas and oil around in the yard isnt good for the environment ............. and Im sure its not" Thank you for your candor. This had me in hysterics. This said, Im no expert on the environment, but you ARE technically recycling the oil, and creosote is just as toxic, and requires more processing. Thanks for the video.
In Australia's dry harsh climate bush fures are a thing. I fire touches one corner of your property, this is a PERFECT metod to ensure that blaze zips like lightning arround the entire parimeter of your property -sheds inclusive. Also makes the Roos sick from contamunated grass.
Very helpful thanks Brian.The only different thing I did was buy the motor oil so my stain on the fence was much lighter.Still much cheaper then buying stain.
My Dad been doing this for years or anytime we put fence posts up. He only do it from bottom to about 1 foot above ground to preserve the Fence's look etc... But some area he paint it all over, LOL. On the back side of our Garage, He paint them with Used Motor Oil and it's still going strong. We built our new Garage in the 90's with wood sidings and before I was born, til today 2017... There are no Sign of Damages or even Termites. It also keeps the Termites from entering the Garage too, LOL. Rain or even soaked surround have no effect on the sidings. :)))))))))))))))
Good video, People been doing this for just so many years, only thing different l do is mix it with diesel then strain through fabric, quicker, l and many more think it's way better than stuff from stores.
Thank you for sharing, you have saved me $1000s. I have weather exposed floor trusses that I just bought for a solar project then hesitant to use them doe to future exposure to sun & rain, now I know how to sole that problem and use my $200 trusses instead of buying steel. Thanks again.
well done video. clear, concise, well edited, short, and really helpful. I have done a similar process with kerosene and roofing tar. ratio is up to your desired consistency but any mix works. it works great if your in the city and used motor oil is harder to come by. there is nowhere convenient to change and dispose of oil but from this vid it looks as though water beads up the oil mix better than my kerosene tar mix but my is still incredibly effective. thanks for the tips.
the wood is soaking it up with just light mist landing on the grass. very little if any would be soaking into the ground if done correctly. its not like you stain a fence every year. its rarely needed & most store bought stains are oil base as well. he's not pouring gallons of oil on the ground. looks good, saves money, I dig it. thumbs up
So glad I came across this video. Will save me and my wife a lot of money on stain plus it's reusing old oil. Awesome. Thanks for posting the video back up!
@@brotherjoey4580 I used it on my stall boards. It keeps the horses from chewing the wood. We built our stalls inside an existing barn. It must have been about 26 yrs ago. Yes, it is just used engine oil.
Just got hold of your video, good stuff I'm in west Africa m the termites are the beast out here, so everything is built with cement. Hopefully this will change the game for me to start building with wood.thanks
I like the way you present this . It's practical and informational. I wouldn't be concerned too much about the ecological implication of staining your wood fence with used oil and diesel. For one thing, it's just a small portion and your're doing it responsibly and secondly I think used oil and diesel are biodegradable in themselves so it will break down in time but I don't know for how long.
You are the answer to my prayers! We have 8 panels running down our drive which we are going to remove next year. We were going to paint it for this year to make it look better. NOT ANY MORE! Can not wait to do your process. Thank You for your post!
You will love it. I still do it every year. And yes, you can apply it to any wood, even treated wood after that initial treated stuff dries out enough for it to soak up the mixture. All these farmers around here use it. Best of luck, take care!
@@Showmeyoucan777 not just oil and diesel fuel, which never actually "cures". I agree, it's debatable which is more or less environmentally safe. Probably store bought is safer, but the manufacturing process is probably much worse!
Jonathan Randall ever stopped to consider how other stains and wood treatments are made.at least this is recycling.try watering your plants with any of them and the result will be the same.dead plants
That's called being resourceful. My dad used to used diesel for a lot stuff, even to clean the tractor and to clean hand from oil. I'm doing this on a tool shed we made from free wood pallets. I had seen people in mexico using this for fences and wood rooms. I had never seen the combination of both oil and diesel. It's not that bad for the environment. There are worst things out there so dont worry about that. The fence looks nice, I'm ready to do my toolshed.
On my dad's farm he had many trailers with wooden floors that stood outside yr round. He would use his used Tractor, etc Motor oil to protect the wood floors. We still have one that was built in 1949 and still has the original Pine Wood floor. Other then chipping from shovels etc,,it's still solid.
⬆️ that’s what I’m talking about! I do it every year. It works great! The ole timers taught me. These new age hipsters wanna flame all over me about environmental stuff. I would bet that store bought wood stain is as bad, or worse for the environment than this mix. It recycled the used oil to a concentrated project. And makes is last years longer. Thanks man, take care.
@@KenNguyen-cn8ou I believe he mentioned that used oil will darken the wood, which is usually desirable. But if you don't want it to darken much, new oil would probably be fine. BUT expensive!
I will be borrowing your idea or the idea of the farmers from back in the day thank you very much you have saved me hundreds of dollars I appreciate it thank you for your video
My fence goes faster than ever and starts easily, even in cold weather. Be careful though, modern fences need a lighter weight oil like a 5W-30. Cheers.
Seriously was about to take the oil to the recycle and then buy paint for the new fence and posts. Saved me a trip and $$$$$. Plus it looks great! Update: Wooden posts look great hopefully I won't have to worry about bugs.
To make it easier mix oil and diesel together first and then strain it , it will strain a lot faster ! You’re right farmers have been doing this for years I learned this from my uncle which is a farmer .! Repeat for two years then every five years .
I realize this video is from 2016, but for the nay sayers, remember this. Oil comes from the earth and will do no harm going back into the earth. I am a hillbilly and you use what is available. Saving money is key for people of the same mentality. Good video Brian Ealy. Maybe the city folks will learn something. LOL
Hey Stupid Questions Coming so be warned. 1. Do you think it makes your Fence/wood more susceptible to wild fire Vs regular stain. Have you tried to do a side by side comparison of your Stain Vs a traditional stain. I would think a traditional stain would last 3-5 years. Try using a Battery Powerd back pack sprayer. The spray will come out more even (kind of like a traditional spray gun) and the spray pattern would be more exact/less overspray. Thanks for the video
An alternative, if you don't have access to used motor oil, is to mix the diesel fuel with brush grade roofing tar. Diluted down, the tar is dark brown and has the same water repellent qualities. Not free, but much cheaper than store bought stain. Applied it to a new white cedar fence last year - looks great.
@@valleyquail1790 When I posted my original comment the fence was 1 year old, so it has now been four years. I applied the mixture before assembling the fence, with all of the planks lying flat. Made it much easier because the mixture was thin as water. The white cedar really absorbed it. White cedar, here in Southern Ontario, the settlers used for all their split rail farm fencing. Very rot resistant. Many of those fences are still standing and sound. I bought the planks from a local sawmill because the big building suppliers do not stock white cedar.
Oh man!!!! I JUST PUT A CLEAR SEALANT ON 1 panel of my privacy fence and NOW SEE THIS!! I absolutely love the look!! What can I do to fix the panel so I can redo my whole fence this way!! Or can I??
I converted a boat trailer to a utility trailer using reclaimed old deck planking for the floor & pine shelving from an office clean out for the sides. I applied this mixture using a paint brush, it is just past 3 years & the wood is still holding up despite hauling tons of mulch, sand, stone & fire wood. Showing sings of wear but the wood cost was labor the oil was recycled & the diesel was also recycled, from blowing out fuel line to the boiler. It works 👍
I'm going to build 350 feet of fence , will pre treat wood before building with a paint roller so all treatment will be on the wood . Love the colour , looks great , so cheap . Did a test on some wood and the treatment may run but dries even with no run marks. Fool proof.
If you could figure out a way to soak your wood in this mixture for a few days so that it would be completely permeated, your fence would outlast you. Hard to soak that much timber at once, I know, but if you could soak some of it a few days at a time. We used to have an old feed trough where we kept some posts soaking all the time so when we needed to add or replace posts, we were ready. Much different than a whole new fence, I know. You'd be surprised at how much a few posts will soak up if you get the mixture right.
My dad used creosote on his horse fence and the barn stall walls to keep the horses from cribbing. Also his fence lasts a lifetime he used a lot of railroad ties for fence posts.
Does it smell? I love this idea I had gallons upon gallons of used oil I hate throwing it away I feel like there has to be good uses for it. How bad is the smell and does it dry to the touch.
Love what you're doing. The color may depend on what that oil came out of. Oil from a diesel farm tractor turned my test patch black. Your fence is really pretty. I'd like to get that color.
I used to work in a stain shop at a lumber yard and I can guarantee you that the used motor oil and diesel is a lot less harsh than a lot of the oil based stain out there. That shit is so harsh!
My grandfather used motor oil and kerosene to stain his cattle fence for more than 30 years. My memory is not as good as it used to be but I don't remember him ever replacing a post.
@@shanec4441 I am not sure how he mixed it (thats almost 50 years ago for me) so you will have to figure out what works best for you. But I can tell you the more motor oil you use the darker the fence post turn. If you don't want the fence poles to turn black like old motor oil use more kerosene then oil. This was used by the older farmers because its all they had back then. Thompson's Water Seal does the same thing and its much better on the environment. Also you do not want to do this with animals in the fields, do it when you are rotating your livestock to another pasture. Also now days you might get in trouble if your caught doing this with all the laws now days. Do it at your own risk, there are much safer way to protect fence poles now days.
I've used quite a bit of burnt oil to color fences. Jet black from Diesel engines. The last time I used it...few years back. ... 3 member post and rail , with sheep wire. Dont mix it 50 50. Just straight. Used brush.....trying to think the length....500 yards.....lots of fencing thru the years. Make every move count. But it is the best product I've used. And stays black. No smell really....they recon that the oil from the oil filter is not great to mix in . Why I dont know....but used always have to keep that out of the drums. To brush it on is the best I've found, sadly...I had a deck brush once that was a great tool. There not treating the wooden post like they once did....but if ya stuck them in a drum ....or used pitch ....them were the days.....thinking ......
Thanks for the info Brian. I've heard of this method and even though I service trucks for a living and have access to gallons of waste oil never did get around to trying it out. Btw, has anyone used this on small out buildings. I'm thinking of trying this out on an 8x12ft shed.
I use a piece of screen wire to filter the oil, works good I met an old man that uses a small amount diesel fuel on a rag to buff his car, the car shines and rain beads up
@@QUEENofHEARTZ1973 that's a garden sprayer Walmart on line has them cheap. I would not try to use a spray bottle like for household cleaners because it probably wouldn't hold up to the diesel component.
My fayther-in-law uses his old tractor oil to treat his wooden hay wagons. The wood on them is at least 40 years old and still as strong as ever. He also was from a large farming family and was pulled out of school after the 8th grade to help on the family farm. There were many kids from the great depression that did this. The famous comedian, Red Skelton, left home at 10 years old and by the time he was 13 he was sending his mom and siblings his entire weekly medicine show paycheck of $10. It's so easy to cry on social media when you have never experienced a true hardship. But if you have relatives that came out of hard times you'd know that they repurposed everything. I religiously recycle my used oil, but even in a major metropolitan area I still brushed my new mailbox post with used oil before putting it into the ground. I've had uncles who worked for the railroad and they had a pile of old railroad ties in their yards for landscaping. The creosote on those and the old wooden telephone poles wasn't any better for the environment but it did it's job. Yet I don't hear anyone crying after the railroad and power companies helped to build their easy American lives. Back in the day your ancesters did whatever it took to survive and that's what got you to this point in your life, like it or not. So if you're hating on Brian, you better start hating on your grandparents first. Besides we learned after the Exxon oil spill that there are actually microbes and fungi in nature that break down oil, and if they hadn't washed the shore with chemicals killing the microbes and fungi nature would have healed itself faster without man's intervention. Yes, this technique should be used sparingly, but its not worth crying over once you trace out your own individual bio-footprint.
Why would you need to redo every yr? I know wainscoting recommends application every yr but not always necessary. Also, wouldn't each time (year) you apply a coat wouldn't that continue to make wood darker just like a strain does our does the sun fade color w time? I'm a huge environmentalists, raised that way vs being new in thing. Personally I think reusing motor oil mixed w diesel would be more environmentally friendly after you consider all the chemicals & their processing plants to make a strain. Question: could you use Linseed/ used motor oil mixture vs diesel mixture? I'm huge fan of Linseed pull for all types of wood indoor & out. Plus I go yrs before outdoor furniture requires another good coat
What part of the country you are in and how much exposure will determine how long it lasts.When it stops beading water the wood can start getting water damage.Oil repels bugs and mold linseed oil can be used as the thinner but it is more expensive. Worked on a brick and wood church built in 1850 st louis. First signs of minor wood rot and tuck pointing in 2010.They coated the whole exterior of the building with linseed and for 100 years oil every year untill the city made them stop in 1997. so 150 years.... it works!
My grandpa would drill holes diagonally through the post at ground level that would come out the bottom of the post so he could oil them yearly. Add a little oil and cap with a plug.
@@noetobar5018 The oil would run out of the lowest point of the diagonal and keep the post from rotting at the bottom. The plug is at the exposed part of the diagonal so water can't get into it. Or, you plug both ends and trap the oil in the middle and it will travel to the bottom of the posts. Not sure which one he is talking about, but I'm sure it's to keep the post from rotting.
YES. Awesome video. I build with pallets/pallet wood and the used motor oil/diesel mixture is all I use. I have just been using an old paint brush. I never even thought of using a sprayer. It is ON NOW!
All the posts I put in the ground get soaked in a five gallon bucket of junk oil. Some have been in the ground for over a decade and still solid. The termites Never bother them! Other wood gets painted with straight oil, (Weather proof) like gates , rails etc.
I don’t think it’s that environmentally unfriendly considering the diesel and motor oil came from the environment anyway. Great video man. My uncle used to use old motor oil like that to stain fences, decks and skirts around the buildings. He also told me it kept the bugs and field mice away.
I've been doing this for 45 years. I myself use 2-3 parts oil to 1 part diesel and brush it on with a cheap paint brush or even put it in a bucket, dip a rag in it and rub it on. I have had it last 10+ years between re staining !
G G - the oil is to protect the wood, the diesel makes it penetrate... draws it in real deep. If the mix isn't thin and rich enough, the oil can't soak far enough in the wood. Plus 3:1 oil to diesel would not function in a sprayer. Best of luck. Take care bro.
Warming up a more viscous mixture will make it flow better, just like the trick of prewarming paint spray cans. Once on the surface of the wood, it will penetrate, no doubt, whatever the diesel proportion. Easier though to just use 1:1 diesel:motor oil mix just as you did. That said, if applying it by paintbrush viscosity is not an issue so just brush on neat motor oil. What is the situation with kids climbing on your fences? Get into trouble with their moms?
I have stained my fence this way before and I am getting ready to do it again. I have a large fence that takes 20-30 gal. to stain. It might not be the best for the environment but what oil based stain is? It will cost me less than $50 to stain my entire fence with oil vs $500+ if I bought a commercial stain. I save my old oil for this purpose alone. I lay boards down along the bottom edge of the fence to catch the over spray so it doesn't get on my grass or go into the ground. It is not nearly as flammable people think. People have been doing this for decades and it works. Great video, thanks for sharing.
Nickdogg005 - thanks for your reply man. 👌 I received so many hate messages from 'environmental people' I originally deleted the video. (They ganged up on me. Started going nuts.). I decided to say eff it and reposted it.... if it could help somebody out somewhere, it's worth it. I'm right there with you. An old farmer taught me... only cost me 50 bucks to stain a four rail 2 acre fence that holds the dogs and goats. And you got it spot on, if they are gonna flame this - might wanna check your store bought oil based product in the pretty can. Almost identical. Take care man!
As long as the pieces of treated wood do not get to the ocean or rivers, etc., it wouldn't hurt the environment that much. What people should be concerned about is the amount of nastier chemicals (than used motor oil + diesel oil) deliberately dumped into streams of water in some other nations. My comment will attract some down votes but this is less damaging than what I described above; besides, where do people think used motor oil go (the type that does NOT get recycled)?
And diesel is consider a non flammable based on its ignition temperature. Meaning it'll be less likely he has to worry about burning post in hot weather or if someone flicks a cig at his post while riding down the road. Gasoline is a thinner as well. Very good thinner but is highly flammable. The smallest spark will ignite gasoline. The smallest spark won't ignite diesel. You can go buy paint thinner but if you do that you might as well go broke buying the stain instead.
have ya ever seen wgat you make blacktop/asphalt roads . they spray way thicker oil than this and in a few months mother nature already growing stuff on edge of road again.
If ya happy enough with really dark wood, leave the diesel out and just paint the straight sump oil on your posts. We have been doing this for 5 generations on our farm and it works. We leave replacement posts soak in the oil at the bottom to stop them rotting and when you have miles of fences it's worth the effort. Plus the grass grows around it fast so I actually beg to differ if someone says it's bad for the environment. Our options are treated pine Vs red gum pillars and it's proven that the psyonide they treat pine with can seap into the soil and cause cancer. But I have never seen evidence of red gum soaked in sump oil causing that. This is a great lesson for the young generation thanks for sharing 😊
Just started mine today with old motor oil no diesel and WOW! Works great.
Did the same with an old rake, stain looks good, and it'll last longer.
Yeah straight used motor oil is fine, diesel just thins it for easier spraying and the theory of it soaking in further.
I also use old oil from my truck works fine👍but I don't thin the oil with diesel.. doing this every 2 years👍
Great looking color for the wood. Just a tip that will help you on time. Mix the diesel and oil first, then strain it. It will pass through the strainer much faster.
👏👏👏👏 Great Idea 🙏🏻🔥👏👍🏻
Good thinking 🤔👍
Smart af. Love the internet
I painted miles of stock fence and pens with that stuff. I'm over 70 and those fences are still there in South West Texas.
63 year old here. I remember using oil on my dads dairy farm fencing when I was a kid .
@@dougyankunas3104 What about the smell? Would you use this on a deck?
Can you do this to wood on decks as well?
@@bryankraynek6551 no, it'll track into the house.
@@BruceLyeg Thank you
SUPER IDEA ! Money doesn't grow on trees, and so getting back to the old ways of doing things is smart.
Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
Dam right
It’s LESS harmful than big trucks burning diesel and engines burning oils.
Great idea👍🏼!
My grandfather used to do the same thing and I still carry on as many of the things he showed me. I used that same mix on my 1500 yards of fence plus 5 wood building. Thanks for sharing that.
How long does the smell stays on the fence for?
What happened if someone puts a cigarette out on the fence? 🔥
I used this method in my hallways and living room. Sure we pass out every now and then, but it looks stunning.
Lmao 😂 - your awesome.
@@BrianEaly - You're (You Are) awesome! - Example: *YOUR* ..... = Legs, Arse, Head, Etc..., something "BELONG" - Example: *YOU'RE (YOU ARE)* .... = Awesome, an Arsehole, Slow, Etc..., something as "ACTION/EMPHASIS".
What’s a blackout every once in awhile?😝😝
Must be the Bill Cosby Edition..lmao🤣🤣
@@JodBronson that drives me insane, along with people not understanding how to use THERE, THEIR, and THEY'RE correctly. The want to call you "Grammer Police", but this is the English language that most U.S. people speak.
My granddad and dad never mixed anything in the oil. Use the old oil neat painted it on with brush did take a long time as miles and miles of fence as he was a farmer the fence turned out very dark stain but the beauty of it . The fence wouldn’t needed another coat for 12-15 years. My Grandad brother was a Mechanic so there was always of plenty oil.
to speed up the filtering process, mix the diesel and motor oil FIRST, then strain it through the shirt when pouring it into the sprayer. the thinner consistency will make it flow much quicker. :)
Great tip!
Great job!!! Just to be clear to all those who oppose to this, oil is derived from the ground....you just circumvented the drilling and refining process. Awesome video- I’m doing this project next.
bestpathfinder - thanks, much appreciated. I still do this every year. Fence is still perfect. Best of luck!
So my husband and I are resetting the posts around our house and reusing the boards. We were going to repaint the fence until I ran across this video. He was going to get diesel to soak the posts bottom to deter termites. Now we're going to use this technique instead of painting. Great video.
Wrap the bottom of post with with tar paper also to 3” above grade adds years to the post life
Put this on a fence 32 years ago still holding up
Looks like a great idea. As far as being environmentally friendly i wouldn't worry about it to much as all of us each day run a motor vehicle day in and day out which isnt really good for the environment and we been doing it now for past 100 years.
Way to go!! Good job!!
This is a great way to use dirty motor oil rather than dispose of it into the environment. Also, the oil and gasoline mixture is kept locally not just on the property, but to the exact location of the fence. My only word of caution would be to not use a sprayer on a windy day or around a creek, river or water source; use a rag and rub it on if possible. If you must use a sprayer, hold or place a shield of cardboard behind and underneath the area you are treating. Once the mixture hits the wood, you're good.
super cool!! I agree that commercial stain cannot be that environmentally friendly. Not to mention you are foregoing the entire manufacturing process for the stain and reclaiming a product that would otherwise require intense processing for recycling. Well done man!
Best to mix the measured Diesel and used oil first THEN strain it out with your T-shirt step. Drains much faster through your shirt or red rag.
jim davidson VERY great advice bro, thanks!
Great video exelente idea.
At least someones got some sense
@@mark675 Yeah but don't let the EPA know, Its ok to spread miles upon miles of black top but don't drop a drop of OIL! Like there's no oil in black top,,, lol
How much oil should you mix to two gallon of diesel
This used oil stain can't be any more harmful to the environment than "normal" stain. Ordinary stains contain harmful chemicals that have all kinds of warnings involved. I don't see a problem with this procedure. Thanks for the information!
I was surprised to see how faded the fence was after only a year. I believe you had stated that you had done the fence last year and you are doing it again.
No the fence wasn’t stained in the beginning The oil and diesel mix look will last years!
My father in Australian painted his fences the same. 30 years later they still great strong fences....thankyou
"Im sure people are going to say spraying gas and oil around in the yard isnt good for the environment ............. and Im sure its not" Thank you for your candor. This had me in hysterics.
This said, Im no expert on the environment, but you ARE technically recycling the oil, and creosote is just as toxic, and requires more processing. Thanks for the video.
In Australia's dry harsh climate bush fures are a thing. I fire touches one corner of your property, this is a PERFECT metod to ensure that blaze zips like lightning arround the entire parimeter of your property -sheds inclusive. Also makes the Roos sick from contamunated grass.
Wooww!! It came back with a really nice tone, and on budget, thanks dude,you just save me a lot of $$$$, thanks for sharing, God bless
Very helpful thanks Brian.The only different thing I did was buy the motor oil so my stain on the fence was much lighter.Still much cheaper then buying stain.
Richard Garza - thanks man... glad it worked for you... I now have been using this for years. Works great. Best of luck, take care!
Mixing the diesel with the oil first and then straining might make the process go quicker.
My Dad been doing this for years or anytime we put fence posts up. He only do it from bottom to about 1 foot above ground to preserve the Fence's look etc... But some area he paint it all over, LOL. On the back side of our Garage, He paint them with Used Motor Oil and it's still going strong. We built our new Garage in the 90's with wood sidings and before I was born, til today 2017... There are no Sign of Damages or even Termites. It also keeps the Termites from entering the Garage too, LOL. Rain or even soaked surround have no effect on the sidings. :)))))))))))))))
Good video, People been doing this for just so many years, only thing different l do is mix it with diesel then strain through fabric, quicker, l and many more think it's way better than stuff from stores.
Thank you for sharing, you have saved me $1000s. I have weather exposed floor trusses that I just bought for a solar project then hesitant to use them doe to future exposure to sun & rain, now I know how to sole that problem and use my $200 trusses instead of buying steel. Thanks again.
well done video. clear, concise, well edited, short, and really helpful. I have done a similar process with kerosene and roofing tar. ratio is up to your desired consistency but any mix works. it works great if your in the city and used motor oil is harder to come by. there is nowhere convenient to change and dispose of oil but from this vid it looks as though water beads up the oil mix better than my kerosene tar mix but my is still incredibly effective. thanks for the tips.
Gotta love how Brian keeps emphasizing the environment...He's such a country eco warrior 😊
the wood is soaking it up with just light mist landing on the grass. very little if any would be soaking into the ground if done correctly. its not like you stain a fence every year. its rarely needed & most store bought stains are oil base as well. he's not pouring gallons of oil on the ground. looks good, saves money, I dig it. thumbs up
Jason Voorhees - exactly! Thanks man... I appreciate it!
plus, where do people think the oil comes from...the ground! well, deeper that is but still. excellent idea
You are also making your wood last longer so it saves more trees in the long run.
Ryan ryan,
Don't forget, trees are a RENEWABLE resource; it's easy to plant/propagate more trees from cuttings.
@@rfoehn5215 tell that to the Rain forest ya anti-treehugger 🙃
That is really beautiful. We are building a new fence. SO glad I saw this! We are in Rural as well.
So glad I came across this video. Will save me and my wife a lot of money on stain plus it's reusing old oil. Awesome. Thanks for posting the video back up!
treethompson - heck yeah man... forgot to mention it makes the wood termite and pest proof... best of luck bro!
I've always brushed used motor oil on the boards used around my horses. It looks great, protects the wood. Also, the horses don't chew the boards!
@@brotherjoey4580 I used it on my stall boards. It keeps the horses from chewing the wood. We built our stalls inside an existing barn. It must have been about 26 yrs ago. Yes, it is just used engine oil.
@@brotherjoey4580 No, but I have to say, if I ever built another wood fence, I would use the oil on it for sure.
Just got hold of your video, good stuff I'm in west Africa m the termites are the beast out here, so everything is built with cement. Hopefully this will change the game for me to start building with wood.thanks
I like the way you present this . It's practical and informational. I wouldn't be concerned too much about the ecological implication of staining your wood fence with used oil and diesel. For one thing, it's just a small portion and your're doing it responsibly and secondly I think used oil and diesel are biodegradable in themselves so it will break down in time but I don't know for how long.
You are the answer to my prayers! We have 8 panels running down our drive which we are going to remove next year. We were going to paint it for this year to make it look better. NOT ANY MORE! Can not wait to do your process. Thank You for your post!
You will love it. I still do it every year. And yes, you can apply it to any wood, even treated wood after that initial treated stuff dries out enough for it to soak up the mixture. All these farmers around here use it. Best of luck, take care!
Bad for the environment? Don’t stain it and you’ll need to have more trees chopped to replace the fence
And what do you think is in oil base stain???? Hello
@@Showmeyoucan777 not just oil and diesel fuel, which never actually "cures". I agree, it's debatable which is more or less environmentally safe. Probably store bought is safer, but the manufacturing process is probably much worse!
Yup
Jonathan Randall ever stopped to consider how other stains and wood treatments are made.at least this is recycling.try watering your plants with any of them and the result will be the same.dead plants
Where did you think the big companies that make stain get this ideal from?? From the old guys! Like the pioneers.
That's called being resourceful. My dad used to used diesel for a lot stuff, even to clean the tractor and to clean hand from oil. I'm doing this on a tool shed we made from free wood pallets. I had seen people in mexico using this for fences and wood rooms. I had never seen the combination of both oil and diesel. It's not that bad for the environment. There are worst things out there so dont worry about that. The fence looks nice, I'm ready to do my toolshed.
Paint strainers are free at most hardware/paint stores. Mix first then filter. Just a thought!
woodprix includes very useful plans with all details I need
Superb!
On my dad's farm he had many trailers with wooden floors that stood outside yr round. He would use his used Tractor, etc Motor oil to protect the wood floors. We still have one that was built in 1949 and still has the original Pine Wood floor. Other then chipping from shovels etc,,it's still solid.
⬆️ that’s what I’m talking about! I do it every year. It works great! The ole timers taught me. These new age hipsters wanna flame all over me about environmental stuff. I would bet that store bought wood stain is as bad, or worse for the environment than this mix. It recycled the used oil to a concentrated project. And makes is last years longer. Thanks man, take care.
@@BrianEaly What color does yours turn out?
When my grandpa built two new hay racks, we used oil and brushed it on....late 1960’s. Great memories!!
In Poland , my grand father always used old engine oil to protect wood like this.
Back in mother poland, fence sprays you.
Could we use fresh engine oil? Will that be as good?
@@KenNguyen-cn8ou I believe he mentioned that used oil will darken the wood, which is usually desirable. But if you don't want it to darken much, new oil would probably be fine. BUT expensive!
@@yourmomsfavorite4199 ahan
@@KenNguyen-cn8ou Yes new oil works great! Not expensive at all compared to the crap they sell at Lowes or Homedepot.
I will be borrowing your idea or the idea of the farmers from back in the day thank you very much you have saved me hundreds of dollars I appreciate it thank you for your video
Wow amazing thank you very much!! I’ll try at my fence, saludos from Lima Peru 🇵🇪
My fence goes faster than ever and starts easily, even in cold weather. Be careful though, modern fences need a lighter weight oil like a 5W-30. Cheers.
Seriously was about to take the oil to the recycle and then buy paint for the new fence and posts. Saved me a trip and $$$$$. Plus it looks great!
Update: Wooden posts look great hopefully I won't have to worry about bugs.
To make it easier mix oil and diesel together first and then strain it , it will strain a lot faster ! You’re right farmers have been doing this for years I learned this from my uncle which is a farmer .!
Repeat for two years then every five years .
Oil and diesel comes from the ground..fossilized organic vegetation
My grandfather used it for dust abatement and wood treatment.
I realize this video is from 2016, but for the nay sayers, remember this. Oil comes from the earth and will do no harm going back into the earth. I am a hillbilly and you use what is available. Saving money is key for people of the same mentality. Good video Brian Ealy. Maybe the city folks will learn something. LOL
Great video. 👍🏼😎This mixture also keep away termites from eating your wood. Should be done in open areas
Hey Stupid Questions Coming so be warned. 1. Do you think it makes your Fence/wood more susceptible to wild fire Vs regular stain. Have you tried to do a side by side comparison of your Stain Vs a traditional stain. I would think a traditional stain would last 3-5 years. Try using a Battery Powerd back pack sprayer. The spray will come out more even (kind of like a traditional spray gun) and the spray pattern would be more exact/less overspray. Thanks for the video
An alternative, if you don't have access to used motor oil, is to mix the diesel fuel with brush grade roofing tar. Diluted down, the tar is dark brown and has the same water repellent qualities. Not free, but much cheaper than store bought stain. Applied it to a new white cedar fence last year - looks great.
And now after 3 years how does it look?… is it time for another coat?
@@valleyquail1790 It still looks the same.
@@Robert.E.Edmondson glad to hear that, I’m just putting the last few boards in a fence I’m using to subdivide my backyard. Thanks for the reply.
@@valleyquail1790 When I posted my original comment the fence was 1 year old, so it has now been four years. I applied the mixture before assembling the fence, with all of the planks lying flat. Made it much easier because the mixture was thin as water. The white cedar really absorbed it. White cedar, here in Southern Ontario, the settlers used for all their split rail farm fencing. Very rot resistant. Many of those fences are still standing and sound. I bought the planks from a local sawmill because the big building suppliers do not stock white cedar.
Oh man!!!! I JUST PUT A CLEAR SEALANT ON 1 panel of my privacy fence and NOW SEE THIS!! I absolutely love the look!! What can I do to fix the panel so I can redo my whole fence this way!! Or can I??
This should work perfectly on my new utility trailer deck boards👍 Thanks brother
Just done plywood trailer base looks great..lol and my new wooden gates new and old fence posts and beams.. didn't do the fence panels looks great.
I converted a boat trailer to a utility trailer using reclaimed old deck planking for the floor & pine shelving from an office clean out for the sides. I applied this mixture using a paint brush, it is just past 3 years & the wood is still holding up despite hauling tons of mulch, sand, stone & fire wood. Showing sings of wear but the wood cost was labor the oil was recycled & the diesel was also recycled, from blowing out fuel line to the boiler. It works 👍
I'm going to build 350 feet of fence , will pre treat wood before building with a paint roller so all treatment will be on the wood . Love the colour , looks great , so cheap . Did a test on some wood and the treatment may run but dries even with no run marks. Fool proof.
Brian - heck yeah, price is about 1.50 a gallon. Can't beat it... works like a charm. Best of luck man, take care!
If you could figure out a way to soak your wood in this mixture for a few days so that it would be completely permeated, your fence would outlast you. Hard to soak that much timber at once, I know, but if you could soak some of it a few days at a time. We used to have an old feed trough where we kept some posts soaking all the time so when we needed to add or replace posts, we were ready. Much different than a whole new fence, I know. You'd be surprised at how much a few posts will soak up if you get the mixture right.
@@donaldsharpe You can soak the part that goes in the ground and do the exposed part after.
That looks great! Where can I get some recycled motor oil to do this? Any suggestions? Thanks!
My dad used creosote on his horse fence and the barn stall walls to keep the horses from cribbing. Also his fence lasts a lifetime he used a lot of railroad ties for fence posts.
Does it smell? I love this idea I had gallons upon gallons of used oil I hate throwing it away I feel like there has to be good uses for it. How bad is the smell and does it dry to the touch.
I too like to slather oil and listen to Steve Earle, Misfits and Pantera.
That looks absolutely beautiful, and I need to change the oil in my truck anyway lol.
Love what you're doing. The color may depend on what that oil came out of. Oil from a diesel farm tractor turned my test patch black. Your fence is really pretty. I'd like to get that color.
You could probably use more diesel fuel to lighten the color just a thought! Worth a try
Man that looks great. Thanks for the mix process. I live Southern Mx and have a lot of post to treat. But that color looks awesome!
I was skeptical of your thought process,until I saw that Misfits sticker on your door.........Carry on!
I used to work in a stain shop at a lumber yard and I can guarantee you that the used motor oil and diesel is a lot less harsh than a lot of the oil based stain out there. That shit is so harsh!
It's beautiful! I love the color!! Makes me want to do the whole house lol
Bigger
Thanks dude, that is a true money saving tip, I'm installing a split wood fence in 3 acres of land, will defensively use this..
My grandfather used motor oil and kerosene to stain his cattle fence for more than 30 years. My memory is not as good as it used to be but I don't remember him ever replacing a post.
Tim Russell I was wandering if kerosene could be used instead of diesel fuel. I have some old kerosene. Do you mix 50% 50% kerosene and oil?
@@shanec4441 I am not sure how he mixed it (thats almost 50 years ago for me) so you will have to figure out what works best for you. But I can tell you the more motor oil you use the darker the fence post turn. If you don't want the fence poles to turn black like old motor oil use more kerosene then oil. This was used by the older farmers because its all they had back then. Thompson's Water Seal does the same thing and its much better on the environment. Also you do not want to do this with animals in the fields, do it when you are rotating your livestock to another pasture. Also now days you might get in trouble if your caught doing this with all the laws now days. Do it at your own risk, there are much safer way to protect fence poles now days.
I've used quite a bit of burnt oil to color fences. Jet black from Diesel engines. The last time I used it...few years back. ... 3 member post and rail , with sheep wire. Dont mix it 50 50. Just straight. Used brush.....trying to think the length....500 yards.....lots of fencing thru the years. Make every move count. But it is the best product I've used. And stays black. No smell really....they recon that the oil from the oil filter is not great to mix in . Why I dont know....but used always have to keep that out of the drums. To brush it on is the best I've found, sadly...I had a deck brush once that was a great tool. There not treating the wooden post like they once did....but if ya stuck them in a drum ....or used pitch ....them were the days.....thinking ......
Thanks for the info Brian.
I've heard of this method and even though I service trucks for a living and have access to gallons of waste oil never did get around to trying it out. Btw, has anyone used this on small out buildings. I'm thinking of trying this out on an 8x12ft shed.
This is fantastic , better than any product on the shelves in the shops.
I use a piece of screen wire to filter the oil, works good I met an old man that uses a small amount diesel fuel on a rag to buff his car, the car shines and rain beads up
I guess he doesn't think wax is useful?
@@boots7859 he said using diesel fuel was easier just rub it on, no wax on, wax off but his kitchen floor had a beautiful shine from waxing..
It works perfect and protects wood, the beams in the railroad tracks are cured with something similar and they last many years.
If you buy stain at home depot its still full of chemicals if you are worried about the overspray put cardboard under the edge at the ground.
yep. oil based stain is oil!- petroleum!!!!
Can it be put into any type prayer bottle if I don’t have one like the video and don’t know where to get one cause I’m disabled
@@QUEENofHEARTZ1973 that's a garden sprayer Walmart on line has them cheap. I would not try to use a spray bottle like for household cleaners because it probably wouldn't hold up to the diesel component.
Yes good point
@@QUEENofHEARTZ1973 these sprayers are $5-$10 harbour freight or princess auto
Great idea!! We just fenced a huge area. This is going to help balance out the cost. I'm assuming you can apply it with a brush too.?
That looks awesome! Thanks for sharing.
My fayther-in-law uses his old tractor oil to treat his wooden hay wagons. The wood on them is at least 40 years old and still as strong as ever. He also was from a large farming family and was pulled out of school after the 8th grade to help on the family farm. There were many kids from the great depression that did this. The famous comedian, Red Skelton, left home at 10 years old and by the time he was 13 he was sending his mom and siblings his entire weekly medicine show paycheck of $10. It's so easy to cry on social media when you have never experienced a true hardship. But if you have relatives that came out of hard times you'd know that they repurposed everything. I religiously recycle my used oil, but even in a major metropolitan area I still brushed my new mailbox post with used oil before putting it into the ground. I've had uncles who worked for the railroad and they had a pile of old railroad ties in their yards for landscaping. The creosote on those and the old wooden telephone poles wasn't any better for the environment but it did it's job. Yet I don't hear anyone crying after the railroad and power companies helped to build their easy American lives. Back in the day your ancesters did whatever it took to survive and that's what got you to this point in your life, like it or not. So if you're hating on Brian, you better start hating on your grandparents first. Besides we learned after the Exxon oil spill that there are actually microbes and fungi in nature that break down oil, and if they hadn't washed the shore with chemicals killing the microbes and fungi nature would have healed itself faster without man's intervention. Yes, this technique should be used sparingly, but its not worth crying over once you trace out your own individual bio-footprint.
Why would you need to redo every yr? I know wainscoting recommends application every yr but not always necessary.
Also, wouldn't each time (year) you apply a coat wouldn't that continue to make wood darker just like a strain does our does the sun fade color w time?
I'm a huge environmentalists, raised that way vs being new in thing. Personally I think reusing motor oil mixed w diesel would be more environmentally friendly after you consider all the chemicals & their processing plants to make a strain.
Question: could you use Linseed/ used motor oil mixture vs diesel mixture? I'm huge fan of Linseed pull for all types of wood indoor & out. Plus I go yrs before outdoor furniture requires another good coat
What part of the country you are in and how much exposure will determine how long it lasts.When it stops beading water the wood can start getting water damage.Oil repels bugs and mold linseed oil can be used as the thinner but it is more expensive. Worked on a brick and wood church built in 1850 st louis. First signs of minor wood rot and tuck pointing in 2010.They coated the whole exterior of the building with linseed and for 100 years oil every year untill the city made them stop in 1997. so 150 years.... it works!
Redo every year? It's cost effective and low labor. So it's just a little personal time and cost for diesel.
Smart fella! I totally agree with your opinion. Be responsible with any and all materials.
My grandpa would drill holes diagonally through the post at ground level that would come out the bottom of the post so he could oil them yearly. Add a little oil and cap with a plug.
Like oil inside the post?
@@noetobar5018 The oil would run out of the lowest point of the diagonal and keep the post from rotting at the bottom. The plug is at the exposed part of the diagonal so water can't get into it. Or, you plug both ends and trap the oil in the middle and it will travel to the bottom of the posts. Not sure which one he is talking about, but I'm sure it's to keep the post from rotting.
YES. Awesome video. I build with pallets/pallet wood and the used motor oil/diesel mixture is all I use. I have just been using an old paint brush. I never even thought of using a sprayer. It is ON NOW!
Hello i am building a fence with old pallets, i am going to soft wash them then can i use thus mixture? what ratio you use in yours? Thanks
All the posts I put in the ground get soaked in a five gallon bucket of junk oil.
Some have been in the ground for over a decade and still solid.
The termites Never bother them!
Other wood gets painted with straight oil, (Weather proof) like gates , rails etc.
Nerol Salguod are they treated posts and then you dunk them, or are they regular cedar posts then dunked?
Nerol Salguod. Will clean oil work as well?
10 years still early days,will last least 3x that!
Used motor and diesel best way doing it. Thank you video sir.👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I don’t think it’s that environmentally unfriendly considering the diesel and motor oil came from the environment anyway. Great video man. My uncle used to use old motor oil like that to stain fences, decks and skirts around the buildings. He also told me it kept the bugs and field mice away.
I've been doing this for 45 years. I myself use 2-3 parts oil to 1 part diesel and brush it on with a cheap paint brush or even put it in a bucket, dip a rag in it and rub it on. I have had it last 10+ years between re staining !
@@AkaJordanplays you could but that stuff cost way more than diesel fuel.
Hahaha... I'm gonna tell the wife I need hundreds of bucks to stain the fence and a new paint sprayer while I'm telling that whopper.
I had no idea you could do that , but its nice and cheap . I have painted up all my four by fours with it.
If you used 3/4 oil to 1/4 diesel do you think it would last longer or only make the color darker?
only make the color darker, may last a few months longer but not a whole lot
Mathew Mcgeary Thanks for the feedback.
G G - the oil is to protect the wood, the diesel makes it penetrate... draws it in real deep. If the mix isn't thin and rich enough, the oil can't soak far enough in the wood. Plus 3:1 oil to diesel would not function in a sprayer. Best of luck. Take care bro.
Brian Ealy Thanks, I appreciate that.
Warming up a more viscous mixture will make it flow better, just like the trick of prewarming paint spray cans. Once on the surface of the wood, it will penetrate, no doubt, whatever the diesel proportion.
Easier though to just use 1:1 diesel:motor oil mix just as you did.
That said, if applying it by paintbrush viscosity is not an issue so just brush on neat motor oil.
What is the situation with kids climbing on your fences? Get into trouble with their moms?
I have stained my fence this way before and I am getting ready to do it again. I have a large fence that takes 20-30 gal. to stain. It might not be the best for the environment but what oil based stain is? It will cost me less than $50 to stain my entire fence with oil vs $500+ if I bought a commercial stain. I save my old oil for this purpose alone. I lay boards down along the bottom edge of the fence to catch the over spray so it doesn't get on my grass or go into the ground. It is not nearly as flammable people think. People have been doing this for decades and it works. Great video, thanks for sharing.
Nickdogg005 - thanks for your reply man. 👌 I received so many hate messages from 'environmental people' I originally deleted the video. (They ganged up on me. Started going nuts.). I decided to say eff it and reposted it.... if it could help somebody out somewhere, it's worth it. I'm right there with you. An old farmer taught me... only cost me 50 bucks to stain a four rail 2 acre fence that holds the dogs and goats. And you got it spot on, if they are gonna flame this - might wanna check your store bought oil based product in the pretty can. Almost identical. Take care man!
Need to do my shed the service light has just come on
It's no more harsh than the commercial products....Great Video and information...
As long as the pieces of treated wood do not get to the ocean or rivers, etc., it wouldn't hurt the environment that much.
What people should be concerned about is the amount of nastier chemicals (than used motor oil + diesel oil) deliberately dumped into streams of water in some other nations.
My comment will attract some down votes but this is less damaging than what I described above; besides, where do people think used motor oil go (the type that does NOT get recycled)?
Those chemicals get dumped in our waterways every day here in America. My wife had the cancer to prove it thanks to Dupont.
Nice video do oil works for termites
Reuse-Repurpose-Recycle!!! Love it!!!
Great idea doing it right next to the tomatoes after the fence is installed.
What’s the purpose of mixing diesel with the oil?
Thins it out so it can be sprayed
It also helps the wood absorb it, as opposed to it just sticking to the surface.
And diesel is consider a non flammable based on its ignition temperature. Meaning it'll be less likely he has to worry about burning post in hot weather or if someone flicks a cig at his post while riding down the road. Gasoline is a thinner as well. Very good thinner but is highly flammable. The smallest spark will ignite gasoline. The smallest spark won't ignite diesel. You can go buy paint thinner but if you do that you might as well go broke buying the stain instead.
You are right. Also repels insects of all kinds.
have ya ever seen wgat you make blacktop/asphalt roads . they spray way thicker oil than this and in a few months mother nature already growing stuff on edge of road again.
How is oil and fuel got good for the environment? It all came from the ground originally?