I'm getting ready to build a swing set for my kids and I'm making it sturdy
enough for grown ups too (because why
should kids get all the fun?). I would like it to last a long, long time so I can keep playing on it after my kids grow up but
wood starts to break down pretty quickly in our rainy weather, particularly where the wood touches the ground.
Going with the wood that is readily available around here, we are going to use Douglas fir in 4x6 10' beams for the top and 4x4 legs.
What kind of natural wood preservative or preservation methods could I use on a swing set? I've seen products that you soak the bottom few feet in and the usual stain-type treatments. I found this list and I'm curious what you all think of any of these products/methods:
Linseed Oil
Tung Oil
Pine Tar (this sounds too sticky for a playset)
TimberPro UV Internal Wood Stabilizer (they list playsets as one of the applications)
Eco Wood Treatment (a kind of stain)
LifeTime Wood Treatment (another kind of stain)
Charring it (and would that weaken the wood at all?)