What type of wood for the table?

StoicDude

I'm going to build a table for the Large egg in the next couple of weeks and am shopping around for wood. I am using Naked Whiz's table as my guide.
I talked to the specialty lumber store and they suggested white oak, teak and mahogany as good outdoor woods. Pricing on these, especially mahogany and teak is up there.
My other choice, a more value oriented choice, would be to build the legs and frames out of a cheaper wood and do the top with the more expensive wood.
Any suggestions are appreciated.

BizGreenEgg

Cedar. Some guys have used Ipe but it's $$$ and can be difficult to work with.

nolaegghead

You can use any kind of wood you want as long as you seal it well (on all sides before you assemble).  Do not use treated wood for the top.

If you can find recycled old growth cypress, it's cheap and as good as it gets for water and rot resistance.

Redwood, cedar, oak, teak, Sipo, mahogany, cypress are all commonly used outdoors.  Seal it, cover it and take care of it and it'll last for years, although you'll need maintenance now and then.

Wolfpack

Ipe- hard to work with, heavy as lead, and expensive- what's not to love? But you won't have to build another one

Drewdlc17

Go ahead and buy a nicer wood. Otherwise you will regret it in the future. Good luck!

henapple

Ipe really isn't much tougher to work with than oak. Consider a solid or tile top. Clean up is easier and has more heat resistance.

Vegas Eggus

I would go with a solid top. Probably granite. Have the BGE table that I stained and put Spar on it. It is two years old and needs redone despite keeping it covered when not in use. I have also accidentally dropped coals out of the chimney starter and burnt the top in a couple of places. It is really hard to keep clean and looking good.

KennyLee

I like cedar for cost, weatherability and easy to work with.  As someone said above, if you used treated, don't use it on top, but maybe for bottom shelf and/or trusses.

Motoboss

Believe it or not I bought Tiger Maple from a lumber mill cheaper than any other hardwood from the big stores. I used cedar 4x4 for legs and had a solid top and solid bottom shelf made along with all the stringer boards for under $ 250.00. After assembly time all I have left to do is sand and finish before it's ready to use. Check for local lumber mill or Amish saw mills....<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Being a painter by trade, for what it’s worth, I do not recommend using Spar Varnish to finish any outside furniture. It is a maintenance problem and with neglect will deteriorate severely. Spar is a topcoat sealer that dries on the surface thereby being  damaged easier by weather expansion and contraction.

Outdoor material needs something that will absorb into the wood to prevent moisture from wicking onto the wood. Teak oil, boiled linseed oil or similar absorbing, waterproof oil's is your best bet. Apply a coat or two every few years and the furniture will last for years. Maintenance application is as easy as putting on a coat of water. I am using the Cabot Aussy Oil in Amber tone and believe it will be a good looking, long lasting finish. After through drying time I will hand rub several coats of J&J hard wood paste wax on the top for a complete water repellent finish (think solid finished flooring)

 

-Ron

StoicDude

Thank you for all your suggestions guys. I am still figuring out what I will do. When I'm done, I will post it for sure.

JGM411

Cypress, Cedar, Redwood are traditional woods for outdoor use.  Teak, White Oak and Ipe would also be on my list.

Cypress mills beautifully and it grays out slowly if you use no protection.  it's a look.  I have a planter box that has been outside for 3 years and it still has not grayed out completely.

Teak has a lot of oil in it and is hard on saw blades.  Ipe is beautiful but heavy.

White Oak is heavier than cypress and it mills up nicely. 

I used red oak for my table because I had a bunch of it lying around.  I suspect that if I don't re-seal it with a marine grade spar varnish, I will see it blacken.  I would not recommend red oak.

hth.