Table Materials

Mr. Matt

Just wondering if anyone has built a table with RedWood / if so do you have any pics? I was thinking about using Sikkens deck decorative stain. What do you guys think?

Wise One

Go to the the Naked Whiz's website and look at tables (www.nakedwhiz.com). I think you will be fine with any stain but I would recommend a coat (or two or three) of polyurethane to protect the surface from the grease you will eventually splatter on the table.

Frank from Houma

I have two tables made from redwood. I'm not familiar with Sikkens stain - is it really a stain or just a sealer. Redwood is nice enough IMHO without using stain. I used a marine varnish to seal mine. They are over two years old and need a little TLC as in sanding and resealing. After I sand and reseal I may get covers for the tables.

When I picked out the redwood, I picked a mix of the darker (redish) and lighter (blondish) wood just for kicks and mixed them in the table build.

For some reason I can't get attache photos right now from photobucket - I'll attach some later if I can.

Other good woods for exterior use: cedar ($), cypress ($), mahogany ($$$), teak ($$$)

Good luck with it

Mr. Matt

What kind of varnish did you use? Is there a different brand you would recommend?

Dave in So Cal

Matt,

I recently built a table out of redwood. I used spar polyurethane that I bought at home depot. I did not use a stain on the redwood since I like the color as is. The spar polyurethane is for outdoor projects. I put four coats on the bottom surfaces and six coats on the top and shelf.

To build the table I used plans from Naked Wiz that I modified due to the size of my lumber. If you use his plans and have to modify like I did because he used rough lumber, I suggest you used slightly smaller screws than he calls for in his plans. I had issues with splitting but was able to deal with it.

Here are a couple pics:





For the work surfaces, I found a guy selling granite remnants on Craigslist. I got the two pieces of granite cut to size for $40.

Good luck. Show us some pics when you get it done.

Frank from Houma

I used Rustoleum and I will look for a better one when I refinish. UVs are what got me.

Found some discussion on it in the wooden boat forum http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93245

Another generic article http://www.hardwoodlumberandmore.com/Hardwood/Finishing/MarineVarnish.html

I think I will try McCloskey next time http://www.westernwooddoctor.com/manowar.htm

Is there anyone out there that has a table (outdoor furniture, boat, etc.) over two years old and continually in the weather (no cover) that can chime in with some advise?

Where is Stripsteak when you need him? :ermm: All those artichokes know eggzactly what to use to protect wood from UVs

Fidel

I did 6 coats of spar urethane on my table, sanded with 220 or 320 grit between coats. It sits uncovered outside year round. You've seen it Frank.

I hit the top every 3 months or so with a coat of carnauba wax and buff it out. Works like a champ to keep the water beading, the urethane happy, and forces me to clean it a few times a year.

fishlessman

one of the things they do with the wooden strip canoes is fiberglass sheet and marine epoxy, very durable, very hard, but yellows quickly in sun. they then apply spar varnish, not spar polyurethane. the poly is pretty soft for several months before it hardens up, my whole house interior has the poly because of all the sun bouncing into the lake. my strip canoe os epoxy and spar varnish. tongue oil on one of my boats holds up well but it doesnt have the same curb appeal as the varnish or poly