I need to build a couple of Adirondack chairs and a side table that will stay outside and uncovered year ’round through Chicago winters and summers. What’s your recommendation as to the best wood for this use–apart from teak, which is out of the client’s price range. And even though it would cover the beauty of the wood, I’m wondering if an exterior oil base enamel would provide the longest lasting, lowest maintenance protection. I’m pretty sure some of you have been down this road before, so I appreciate your input.
Bob
Replies
Woodmaster,
White oak is cheap (80 cents /bd.ft. green and rough at the sawmills as I write this) and durable highly decay resistant. it's also extremely strong and heavy which will be a help if they remain outside in the windy city..
After several rounds of peeling clear finish and blackened wood, the Southern Ohio city where I live converted their park benches to Ipe' I notice when I walk by that it patinas nicely, without a lot of cracking and looks good without any finish. It will make a very heavy chair, though, if portability is a concern.
Edited 9/4/2007 9:22 pm ET by byhammerandhand
I'd use ipe too. The best things about an ipe Adirondack chair is that it won't get stolen because it's too damn heavy to carry off!
If ipe is your choice there are some considerations because the stuff is so hard and dense: predrill/countersink the top board of screwed pieces with a hole big enough to allow the screw threads to pass thru unhindered. Ipe will snap off screw heads like you've never seen, and you don't need the top piece providing and extra tension on the screws. Then screw carefully because the stuff doesn't give even a micron.
It'll wear very well with just an oil finish. Ipe sites reccommend a "light oil" whatever they mean by that. A basic oil will penetrate it somewhat, whereas poly or vernish type finishes will just peel off easily. You might have to sand off greyed wood after about 3-4 years depending on the UV exposure, and re-oil. But it sure beats going over the finish every year.
Around the Twin Cities you can get deck boards for about $5 bf. Not bad for something that'll last 25 years or better.
Norm uses Cypress. If I recall, his Adirondack made of cypress was outdoors for 12 years with very little decay. He said it was lightweight.
His chair was unfinished.
Edited 9/6/2007 9:25 am by GettinTher
I once asked about Cypress at Lowes and they told me it was by Italy, so I used cedar.
"I once asked about Cypress at Lowes and they told me it was by Italy..."
Which once again shows that the people who work at the big-box stores don't know their stuff. It's actually by Turkey.
-Steve
I built a garden bench of Mahogany. It has been outside in SE Michigan winters that entire time - w/o any finish. I used epoxy glue and it is still as solid as a rock.
I did take care to soak the leg bottoms in epoxy to avoid "wicking" and it was designed to avoid/minimize any joints which could trap water.
Frosty
"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled