Replies

1. 
   saschafer | Oct 07, 2007 02:49am | #1

   How big of a hurry are you in, and where are you located? Given reasonable exposure to the sun and elements, redwood will turn gray in six months.

   One thing: I've noticed that over time, the surface of redwood sometimes gets soft and splintery, so when you run your hand over the surface you get a palm full of tiny slivers, almost like fiberglass. Western redcedar seems to be less susceptible to this.

   -Steve

    

1. 
   eagle | Oct 07, 2007 06:37am | #2

   Actually, time is really not a factor....they are for a client and spring/summer 2008 is fine...I'm in Montana by the way....Wester Red Cedar is somthing I didn't consider...Tks...eagle

2. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Oct 10, 2007 03:37am | #3

   eagle,

   I think most any wood traditonally used for outdoor furniture will turn gray if left outdoors.  Just keep it so it doesn't capture a lot of moisture so as not to turn black.

   Many years ago (back in '79) a friend and I made several adirondack chairs and a bench out of cypress.  The client wanted them to be a weathered gray color.  We put them on the top of the building that was the shop ( an old textile warehouse in Chelmsford, MA). 

   Got a wind/rain storm that blew some of them off the roof down 4 flights onto the parking lot below.  A bit more patina than he wanted, but they grayed out real nice.  They sat out there all winter.  Come next spring, looked 20 years old!

   He was happy.  Mother Nature does it best!  Oh, and no mettle fasteners and no finish applied either.  They still look great today on his farmers porch.

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

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   Edited 10/9/2007 8:39 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres

   
   

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   Edited 10/9/2007 8:40 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres

3. 
   BOBABEUI | Oct 10, 2007 04:32am | #4

   Cabot Stain makes a product called 'Bleaching Oil', which is an oil based stain that contains a light driftwood gray transparent stain, a mildewside and bleaching crystals that enable the wood to take on the light gray driftwood color without turning black. Check out this url http://cabotstain.com/cabot/pdf/BOIL3241.pdf

   Years back I wanted to use the product on our Cedar sided house, did some sample pieces of siding and the product seemed to work as advertised..Still wish I used the product...

   Not too sure it will work out too hot for something that you are going to sit on though

   Hope this helps you

1. 
   eagle | Oct 10, 2007 05:00am | #5

   Tks..A  stain that bleaches...I'll do some research...jiohn