Eastern red cedar bleed

[Otto]

I am gearing up to build a new "fancy" mail box post and am considering using locally available eastern red cedar. The positive side is that the material is very rot resistant. My concern is that it is full of tiny knots. These would not be a problem unless they bleed. I am painting this whole thing white and bleeding would be a disaster after all the work of building the project. Do any of you have any experience with using Eastern red cedar for a painted project?

Thanks
Otto

[Wood_workur]

you can seal them with shellac before painting.

[LCHIEN]

sort of strange you would use a very rot-resistant wood like cedar and then paint it.

One of the benefits of using cedar is that you can keep the natural wood look.

[cabinetman]

I go along with the natural look. I haven't had good luck with shellac for outdoor use. It's probable that no matter what you "seal" it with it could bleed.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[mikebanks]

Cabot's Oil based primer

Cabot's has a primer with barium metaborate that helps stop cedar bleed.

I think it is Cabots's.

Could be California universal wood primer. oil based.

When I prime bare cedar on the outside of a house, I mix both gallons together.

Go ahead, ask me why?

Cabot's and California oil based primers with Penetrol.

Works quite well.

[tribalwind]

i smiled when i read eastern red cedar,(my fav!)
then saw "paint" and got all vahklept :O

[Otto]

Thanks for all the help guys. I do want to explain something though. Several responders were concerned about my using red cedar in an "unnatural way". I have attached a picture of the post I will be building. I think you will understand why it would be "OK" to paint this thing. I was originally going to use clear northern white cedar untill I found out it would cost me about $100 just in the materials. I can not use pine as the base of this will be near or at ground level sucking up moisture from the grass arround it. Any other suggestions for material?

[Russianwolf]

My only problem with painting outdoor projects is they have to be repainted EVERY year. Especially if they are painted white. But to each his own.

Have you looked at using a treated 4x4 in the ground and slipping one of the compsite deck posts over that? Now that I think about it, you may have a hard time attaching the "paper box" to the composite sleeve. But you could build your own post out of the composite decking since it's simmilar to working with wood..