My wife just bought me a packbasket and I feel the need to treat it with somthing. Im thinking of some kind of oil. What can I use that will keep it from drying out and keep it on the line for many years. And also not smell alot.

I treated mine with green spraypaint so I wouldn't get shot during deer season.

My dad uses marine varnish on his. It is about 40 years old. The bottom is layers of duct tape and varnish but it is still going strong.

i gave mine about 6 coats of Formula 1 it's been holding up good for 3 years now

I don't have a wood basket, however, if I did, I would use the same stuff I use on my wooden cutting board.

Couple times a year and it looks as good as it did when I got it (maybe better) back in 2002. Gets used EVERY day.

Bought it at Menards. Pretty sure it is mainly Linseed Oil.

I use Spar Varnish and give it 3-4 coats. Jon

West system epoxy if you want it to last but alot of guys use linseed oil too.

I was thinking linseed oil.

I've done pack baskets and gun stocks with a solution of equal parts raw linseed oil/turpentine. Cutting it with turpentine allows it to soak deeper into the wood. Wipe off excess, and apply several coats, letting dry between coats. Best done in off season to let odor dissipate. Has worked great for me.

The best thing you can do is get a piece of plywood.Cut a piece to go in the bottom and another to go on the outside bottom .bolt together with carrage bolts,traet the whole thing with linseed oil and the a good urathane.

how woud thompson water treatment work????

thompsons is junk in my opinion, dont like using it for anything. there is a better product from lowes called cabots that i think would work well. used it on cypress siding and was well pleased with the results 5 years later

I own a handyman business and wood work shop. BLO (Boiled linseed oil) is good, Cabot is all I use for finishing decks, but in my opinion I would use tung or danish oil.

I stained mine to get the color I wanted then used a couple coats of spar urethane
I built a couple new bottom runners for mine out of birch and added a new floor inside and out from lu-on

Commercially many years ago we alway treated out side products subject to abuse with 1/3 boiled linseed ,1/3 turpentine and 1/3 marine spar varnish ,at least for the first coat . The turpentine is more or less just a carrier to give you depth ,the linseed oil preserves the wood and makes the varnish more flexible , the varnish gives it a harder more protective finish . There are maybe better coatings now but its still all I use . Nothing can beat hi- grade epoxy ( not the hardware stuff )I use it in boat building , sleds and equiptment that get rough use . The only problem is it wouldn't get between the wood laps on a pack basket.

50/50 mix of boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits. Rub it in generously and do a few coats. Allow to dry thoroughly between coats. Nice because it doesn't get stiff or brittle.

I use turpentine, but it works the same way. Never have had a basket rot.

I use the turps as well