Fence posts fail where you can’t see the damage until the whole fence starts leaning like it gave up sometime last winter. This simple old-school coating targets the buried end of the post, where moisture does the real damage. Brush it on, let it dry thoroughly, and put the treatment where it counts most (because replacing fence posts is nobody’s idea of a relaxing weekend).
Making your own post treatment keeps this job inexpensive and straightforward. A quart of boiled linseed oil currently runs about $15.48 at Home Depot, and powdered or pulverized charcoal is widely sold as an inexpensive add-in, so one batch costs less than buying specialty wood coatings by the can while still letting you control the thickness for brushing and keep the formula free of extra colorants or finish additives you don’t need.
You only need 2 materials for this project: pulverized charcoal and boiled linseed oil. The original method does not specify an exact yield, but it makes a brushable batch mixed to the consistency and thickness of paint. Have a small mixing container and a paintbrush ready before you start.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools/Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make Everlasting Fence Posts
- 🛠️ How to Use the Treatment
- 🛡️ Safety Information
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Estimated Cost
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Everlasting Fence Posts
- 📌 Love this Everlasting Fence Posts? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Everlasting Fence Posts
Materials You’ll Need
- Pulverized charcoal
- Boiled linseed oil
Tools/Equipment
- Small mixing container
- Paintbrush
How to Make Everlasting Fence Posts
- Combine pulverized charcoal and boiled linseed oil in a small mixing container.
- Blend the ingredients until the consistency and thickness of paint.
- Apply the mixture to the base of fence posts using a paintbrush.
- Dry thoroughly before setting or using the posts.
Works Wonderfully!
How to Use the Treatment
This treatment is meant for the base of fence posts, which is the part most likely to sit against damp soil and stay wet the longest. Brush on a complete coat anywhere the post will contact the ground, then let it dry thoroughly before installation.
For best results, coat the post evenly instead of leaving bare patches or thin streaks. If your mixture feels too thick to brush smoothly, add a little more boiled linseed oil. If it runs like stain instead of brushing like paint, add more pulverized charcoal.
Safety Information
Boiled linseed oil needs careful handling. Oil-soaked rags, brushes, or applicators can heat up and ignite if they’re bunched together, so lay them flat to dry in a safe area or store and dispose of them exactly as your local rules require. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety notes this spontaneous-heating risk with oily rags, which is worth taking seriously when you finish the job.
Read their oily-rag handling guidance here.
Wear gloves if you’re sensitive to oil finishes, and work in a well-ventilated area. Keep the mixture off surfaces you do not want darkened, since the charcoal will tint anything it touches.
Storage
If you mix more than you need, store it in a tightly closed container and stir it again before the next use. Keep it away from heat, flame, and direct sun, and label the container so nobody mistakes it for paint you’d want indoors.
Estimated Cost
Estimated consumable cost: about $16.50 to $20.00 per batch, depending on how much charcoal you use to reach paint-like thickness and what brand of boiled linseed oil you buy. That estimate covers consumable materials only and does not include reusable tools like the brush or mixing container.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- Boiled linseed oil at Walmart
- Boiled linseed oil on Amazon
- Charcoal powder at Walmart
- Charcoal powder on Amazon
- Paintbrushes at Walmart
Frequently Asked Questions about Everlasting Fence Posts
It creates a brushable coating for the base of fence posts. The idea is to cover the part of the post that faces the most moisture exposure once it goes into the ground.
Mix it until it reaches the consistency and thickness of paint. If it drags too much on the brush, add a little more boiled linseed oil. If it looks runny, add more pulverized charcoal.
Apply it to the base of the fence posts. That is the section the original method targets, since it is the area most likely to sit against damp soil.
Yes. Let it dry thoroughly before you install or use the post. Skipping that step makes the coating messier to handle and more likely to rub off where you just did the work.
Absolutely. Since the original directions do not give fixed measurements, this works well as a small, just-enough batch. Start with a little oil and charcoal and build the texture you need.
Yes, it can darken the coated area because the mixture contains charcoal. That is not a problem on the buried end of a post, but it is a good reason to keep the coating off visible areas unless you want that darker look.
Yes, if you keep it in a tightly closed container. Stir it again before using it later, since heavier charcoal particles can settle while it sits.
The biggest concern is handling boiled linseed oil and any oily rags or applicators properly. Don’t wad them up and toss them aside. Dry or store them the right way, because oily materials can heat up on their own, which is a ridiculous problem to have over fence posts.
No. You only need a small mixing container and a paintbrush. That keeps the project simple and inexpensive, which is half the appeal.
📌 Love this Everlasting Fence Posts? Pin it!
Did you try this project? Tell us how you mixed yours and whether you used it on new posts or older ones that needed a little extra help.
🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Everlasting Fence Posts
Everlasting Fence Posts
Equipment
Materials
- Pulverized charcoal
- Boiled linseed oil
Instructions
- Combine pulverized charcoal and boiled linseed oil in a small mixing container.
- Blend the ingredients until the consistency and thickness of paint.
- Apply the mixture to the base of fence posts using a paintbrush.
- Dry thoroughly before setting or using the posts.
- The original method does not give exact measurements, so a responsible per-batch material cost cannot be calculated.
- Boiled linseed oil and oily rags require careful handling and disposal.
- The charcoal can darken any surface it touches.
