starting strength gym
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Platform coat

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Posts
    809

    Default Platform coat

    • starting strength seminar april 2024
    • starting strength seminar jume 2024
    • starting strength seminar august 2024
    I’ve recently built a platform using a sanded fine maple plywood 4x8 to top it off. I’m wondering if its smart to coat this with something? I reckon polyurethane is too slippery.

    What are my best options here?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Posts
    370

    Default

    Poly is likely your only choice. Other options are oil or paint, but that's much less durable and paint covers up the nice maple. You might look into an abrasive you can add into the poly to give more traction. If you have any scrape of the maple left over test it first. My gym has a polyed platform and I've never noticed a problem with slipping.

    Adding Sand to Paint for Better Traction - Quick Tips - Bob Vila

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    North Texas
    Posts
    53,559

    Default

    Sand gets rubbed off the surface in about a month.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Posts
    809

    Default

    Would you just leave it bare, rip?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    North Texas
    Posts
    53,559

    Default

    The best surface is bare unsanded wood or stall mat rubber.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Posts
    809

    Default

    Alright, i like to live dangerously.

    No polyurethane, no facemasks, no condoms.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    2,266

    Default

    Polyurethane is not too slippery if you do it right, but if I were you, I’d take an orbital sander with a 60-80grit sandpaper disk and “unfinish” the wood by doing a very quick pass. This should give it traction that you removed by sanding it.

    If you feel the need to protect again moisture (which you probably don’t), use a light coat of linseed oil. Do NOT use a tung oil or danish oil. They are advertised as 100% oils, but this is bullshit. They’re actually a small amount of oil, petroleum distillates to allow it to work, and alkyd polyurethane. They are essentially wiping varnishes, not oils.

    Wipe the linseed oil on and immediately wipe off as much as you can. If you do it right, it will basically look and feel like you didn’t do anything - except that the wood will look a little wet. If you leave it on too long, it will feel slippery.

    Strip it by sanding it if you don’t like how it turned out.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Posts
    809

    Default

    starting strength coach development program
    Thanks Andrew

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •