Got this from the Seagrave Yahoo group a few years ago. The author was Kevin Sweeney.
Depending upon the condition of your ladder different things can be done. In the old days they used a broken bottle glass edge to remove old varnish but I don't recommend that. I've found a good sanding followed by 5-6 coats of a high quality spar varnish will last you a long time provide your rig is kept out of the sun. Just like red paint, varnish doesn't hold up well under sunlight and will cause your wood to get that "weathered" look, which is cool on barns but not for ladders.
Depending upon the condition of your ladder different things can be done. In the old days they used a broken bottle glass edge to remove old varnish but I don't recommend that. I've found a good sanding followed by 5-6 coats of a high quality spar varnish will last you a long time provide your rig is kept out of the sun. Just like red paint, varnish doesn't hold up well under sunlight and will cause your wood to get that "weathered" look, which is cool on barns but not for ladders.
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