Replies

1. 
   saschafer | Jun 03, 2009 06:48pm | #1

   "Inexpensive," "durable" and "besides cedar" are mutually incompatible. Pick any two, but not all three.

   There are some cedar-ish alternatives to ordinary western redcedar that you might want to look at: Alaskan yellow-cedar is more expensive, but still fairly affordable. Port Orford cedar is quite a bit more expensive, but very strong and durable.

   Redwood is durable and not too expensive, but not a great choice for furniture that's going to come into contact with skin, as the surface degrades into a mass of tiny splinters after long-term exposure to sunlight. (I think I still have splinters from a redwood bench that I sat on ten years ago...) Redwood also isn't that strong, so you usually have to beef up the dimensions for furniture.

   Getting into hardwoods, white oak and black locust are both durable and moderately expensive. Black locust can be hard to find, especially in larger dimensions.

   Beyond that, you reach the durable but expensive range. Genuine mahogany and teak are standard choices. You can get deck-grade tigerwood (aka gonçalo alves, Astronium sp.) relatively cheaply (about $5-7/bd ft), but you'd have to work around the limited dimension availability (typically 5/4 x 4 and 5/4 x 6).

   -Steve

    

1. 
   ShawnC | Jun 03, 2009 06:55pm | #2

   Thanks-do you think if I was willing to put spar varnish on it, , I could use reclaimed lumber from pallets?
   Yours in summer and sun,
   Shawn

1. 
   saschafer | Jun 03, 2009 07:37pm | #5

   "do you think if I was willing to put spar varnish on it, , I could use reclaimed lumber from pallets?"

   Well, you can do whatever you want to do. Would it last? If the pallets were white oak, or were from Southeast Asia and made of some kind of dense tropical hardwood, you'd stand a chance. But otherwise probably not. Varnish is (a) a whole lot of work, and (b) not a substitute for starting with a wood that has some natural durability. Silk purse from a sow's ear and all that...

   -Steve

    

2. 
   Zabo2 | Jun 03, 2009 08:46pm | #6

   Pressure Treated Yellow Pine, Let it dry and paint it. It will last a life time. Don't use any type of clear finish on outside furniture unless you want to refinish every year or two. Use an oil primer and top it with an acrylic latex, works good I've been doing it this way for years sold many chairs swings and such and never had any complaints.

   ZABO

1. 
   ShawnC | Jun 03, 2009 08:50pm | #7

   Thanks!
   Shawn

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jun 04, 2009 03:47am | #10

   Shawn,

   I just finished a new patio set I made out of white cedar and put on a coat of bolied linseed oil and let the pieces dry in the sun for several days.  I then put spar varnish, third coat going on any day now.

   Yes I know (as Steve suggested) I will have prolly to refinish them every year or so but hey, that's a price I'm willing to pay for the natural look of the wood.  They will be stored inside during winter though.

   Another quality of cedar not to be overlooked in my opinion is that it's not heavy -  easy to move around.  I would also epoxy any surfaces that are in constant contact with the ground as well.  I'm putting white oak feet on them also.

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

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

2. 
   traveller2 | Jun 03, 2009 07:01pm | #3

   Ipe. It's hard and heavy, but it holds up in the weather. Lots of decks are built out of it.

1. 
   ShawnC | Jun 03, 2009 07:04pm | #4

   Thanks.
   Shawn

3. 
   user-189774 | Jun 03, 2009 09:01pm | #8

   If your close to the Mississippi river, there should be a mill near you that would have Black Locust. Back in the 30's and 40s' from MN down to IL the government planted a boat load of that tree. I get my Black Locuct from a mill in WI, it is rough right off the mill and not cleaned up at all. If you would like to have the contact sent me a personal note, more than happy to help. If you have a planer and a joiner it will be in your price range.

   Jay

   "Quality is not only right, it is free. And it is not only free, it is the most profitable product line we have". (Harold S. Geneen)
1. 
   ShawnC | Jun 03, 2009 09:05pm | #9

   Thanks. I'll do some checking. I'm a 1/2 mile from the river.

4. 
   YesMaam27577 | Jun 05, 2009 03:59pm | #11

   Take a trip to the south, and buy some cypress.

   It's not all that different in price from cedar, and it's at least as weather resistant and bug resistant. Properly built items made from cypress can last 70 years outdoors -- without paint, varnish, or oil.

   (Properly designed = no end-grain exposed to water or dirt. Very much like designing with cedar.)

   When you are working with it, it will look like a cross between pine and ash. It cuts/works like warm butter.

   As it weathers, it will go more toward the brown/black rather than the gray/silver of cedar.

   Politics is the antithesis of problem solving.