Greetings all!

My wife and I put in some decks about 20 yrs ago and the material we used was ipe. That wood has some advantages (e.g., favorable fire rating, durable,etc.), but has one disadvantage that my wife has always hated: The ipe handrails, even if periodically sanded, produce tiny splinters if you run your hand along them. Now, in truth, I don't personally get these splinters, and in fact I have slid my hand deliberately along the handrails to see what she is talking about, but she says she gets them so I believe her.

She is thinking of replacing all the handrails with something like Timbertech, which would (imho) look horrible and would be a massive job becuz of all the weird angles and notches for posts we'd have to replicate. Trust me...massive! So I am looking for a product, like some kind of clear coat sealer, we could apply to the top and sides of the handrails that would seal in the splinters to my wife's satisfaction.

It would have to be a product that doesn't just 'sink in' but instead seals the surface. As I said above, these aren't large splinters like you get with aged and weathered pine or something, these are little micro splinters, so conceivably these could be 'glued down' with an appropriate sealer (one hopes). Would like something that isn't too difficult to apply, but am prepared to apply a couple coats, and redo yearly if needed. Don't want anything that adds a color, but if it darkened the handrail a bit, that would be okay. ANYTHING is better than replacing all the handrails.

So thanks for any guidance here!

Otherchuck