Hey everyone, I am relatively new to woodworking and I wanted to ask you a few questions. I have started creating garden benches for personal use. While they are rough around the edges, they do look nice. I use SPF 2 x 4’s and then prime them and I also use two separate coats of quality gloss paint as a finish.
Now I have recently been told that despite the two coats and the priming, I am using the wrong wood for these benches. Friends tell me that they are ‘not going to last’. This makes me less excited about designing them and hesitant about possibly selling them (at cost mind you). Despite the fact that people like how they look, no one is going to want a bench that does not last.
So is this true? Would I be better off using treated pine for these benches? And for those of you that have used treated pine before, do you still paint and prime? While there may be better woods available, I really have no idea how to find them or finish then. I also suspect that the cost would be much higher than what I am paying now. Any thoughts?
Replies
This is a good write-up on using SPF lumber. http://woodworking.about.com/od/typesofwood/p/How-To-Use-Spf-Lumber-In-Fine-Woodworking-Projects.htm
All told, how long they last will depend largely upon use and environmental conditions. You might look into adding a durable top / finish coat using one of the methods described in this article. http://www.diynetwork.com/home-improvement/whats-the-difference-between-polyurethane-varnish-shellac-and-lacquer/index.html
In general, if the wood remains covered by a layer of paint, then it will last a long time as moisture will not break the paint barrier. Chips in the paint however will let moisture in which can decrease the lifespan of the bench, depending again upon environmental conditions.
Covering the wooden furniture with the finishing coat is an effective option to make it more durable. According to the environment and usage of the benches, you can choose the shellac, oil based polyurethan, varnish or lacquer to cover it. you can also take help of professionals who knows about furniture repairing and restoration.
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