Stain/poly/varnish Heritage Laker Tip Ups or not

[802livin]

Over the last 4 years I have gotten back into ice fishing and have been upgrading my equipment a little each year. I have been using my fathers 40+ year old basic tip ups which have gotten the job done but figured I would invest in some Heritage Laker traps that I will own the rest of my life and maybe be able to pass down to my kids. After searching CL and FB I was able to track down a lot of 12 for a great price (hard for me to pay $40+ each for brand new). I went with these because I am a fan of this style trap, their build quality and the availability of parts if something were to break or need replacement.

Now that I have them I have been debating.....

Leave them as bare wood?
Put a coat of stain on them?
Put a couple coats of Poly on them?
Should I use Spar vanish or just plain minwax poly?

For the ones who do put a finish on them, how often do you reapply if ever?

Thanks!

[lunkerslayer]

I use nothing but a high quality oil based polyurethane for my beaver dams and my heritage Lakers atleast 2 light coats on the beavers and 3 light coats on the lakers.Then seasonally I put a good minwax polish to them. Where I fish we have a higher salinity in our lakes which means that exposed wood gets damaged more when it absorbs into the wood, I also took apart where they cold be and taped the parts that couldn't be.
I have replaced all the older spools with the news plastic spools, the heritage lakes are all over 40 years old now and I personally think they are the best tip ups ever made. Other then the self setting tip ups I also have those are they cats meow when fishing for eyeballs in 20+ feet of water.

[Rebelss]

I've used oil-based Marine Spar Varnish.

https://www.grainger.com/product/2GXD9?gucid=N:N:PS:Paid:GGL:CSM-2295:4P7A1P:20501231&gclid=CjwKCAiApvebBhAvEiwAe7mHSIOJ9LPtM4ATS5ap0QNL4tAmdA2NQTVtDulxTeiCi7mkDCRDQrypARoCbEcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[lunkerslayer]

I've used oil-based Marine Spar Varnish.

https://www.grainger.com/product/2GXD9?gucid=N:N:PS:Paid:GGL:CSM-2295:4P7A1P:20501231&gclid=CjwKCAiApvebBhAvEiwAe7mHSIOJ9LPtM4ATS5ap0QNL4tAmdA2NQTVtDulxTeiCi7mkDCRDQrypARoCbEcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Very nice  you could get away with one coat with this type of varnish, will have to remember this stuff next time i need a good varnish.

[Rebelss]

Used it on outdoor /wet wood before. Pretty tough stuff! (Well duh, if it's used on boats and canoes...) 

[hawg]

They aren’t collectors items, do what you want.

[uncleshorty]

MinWax water based poly, two coats.  That will protect the wood until your grandson passes them down...

[lunkerslayer]

MinWax water based poly, two coats.  That will protect the wood until your grandson passes them down...

I tried the water base poly but it ended up flaking off, and yes I sanded them down before and during coat applications. I read on other sites on wood working that water base more suitable for indoors application or wood that does not get wet on a continuous basis. Anyways water based didn’t work for me

[Rebelss]

Not in water it won't. Water doesn't repel water.

[stripernut]

My Heritage Laker Tip-Ups are now over 30 years old with lots of hard use and they look to have another 30 years easy. Some day I might even varnish them if I ever see a need to. Actually, I would stain them with a good deck stain as it will never peel and need to be removed before you added a new coat.

[bart]

I personalized mine, mainly for visibility...

[baginwal]

I have had my Heritage Laker's for 20+ years.

About 10 yrs ago decided to treat them with Minwax Helsmsman Spar Urethane (clear satin).

They look as good as the day I bought them.

Good luck with yours!

[stripernut]

They look good Bart.

On mine, (for night fishing) I wrapped silver reflective tape around the top of the mast and put a mini flag of red reflective tape just below the flag. When I shine a light over the spread, I quickly see every trap and if the red is over the silver, it's time to get the fish, red below the silver, back to jigging! Cheap and works very well. Just don't set them all in a straight line, if you are checking from one end it can get confusing.