Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
treated lumber or teak. The local fine lumber store suggested I try
cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
Opinions? Is it difficult to work? Do I need to mask up when
milling/sanding cypress? Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
what is best recommended?
TIA,
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Daneliuk [email protected]
PGP Key: http://www.tundraware.com/PGP/
David Nebenzahl wrote:
> On 5/12/2009 9:30 AM Woody spake thus:
>
>> Tim Daneliuk wrote:
> >
>>> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
>>> treated lumber or teak. The local fine lumber store suggested I try
>>> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
>>> Opinions? Is it difficult to work? Do I need to mask up when
>>> milling/sanding cypress? Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
>>> what is best recommended?
>>
>> Cypress is pretty soft, on par with mahogany. Other wood options are
>> mahogany, ipe or even white oak. Check the prices. The latter will
>> require a sealer.
>
> You're comparing cypress and *ipe*? Isn't that like comparing aluminum
> to hardened steel?
>
> And I'd think that most mahogany is quite a bit harder than cypress.
He's comparing woods that are resistant to rot and work well in an
outdoor environment.
--
Free bad advice available here.
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/
On May 11, 11:06=A0pm, Tim Daneliuk <[email protected]> wrote:
> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
> treated lumber or teak. =A0The local fine lumber store suggested I try
> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
> Opinions? =A0Is it difficult to work? =A0Do I need to mask up when
> milling/sanding cypress? =A0Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
> what is best recommended?
>
> TIA,
> --
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------=
--=AD-
> Tim Daneliuk =A0 =A0 [email protected]
> PGP Key: =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0http://www.tundraware.com/PGP/
I've done a few small projects with cypress. I made some flowerboxes
out of it, which I stained and varnished. The wood is as soft as
pine, or maybe even a little softer if that's possible. It takes
stain very readily. I used a light color stain on the flowerboxes,
and they came out a nice golden brown. I think a dark stain would
have turned very, very dark.
When selecting boards, watch out for any that seem to have "layers."
That's not a good way to describe it, but think of a growth ring that
seems to be peeling apart. (I'm sure there's a term for this ...?) I
got one piece where some of the wood was sort of feathery, and not
solid at all. One of the previous posters mentioned that you should
look for pieces where the rings are closer together, and I'd agree
completely with that.
The flowerboxes held up very well outdoors, and were never taken down,
even in the New England winter. I gave them two coats of exterior
marine varnish. After 5 years, they looked just as good as the day I
first installed them. I'm sure if you protect your outdoor furniture
during the off-season, it will last for many years.
We've since moved away from the house where I made the flowerboxes. I
drove past once, and darned if the new owners didn't go and paint them
black. Oh well.
On 5/12/2009 9:30 AM Woody spake thus:
> Tim Daneliuk wrote:
>
>> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
>> treated lumber or teak. The local fine lumber store suggested I try
>> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
>> Opinions? Is it difficult to work? Do I need to mask up when
>> milling/sanding cypress? Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
>> what is best recommended?
>
> Cypress is pretty soft, on par with mahogany. Other wood options are
> mahogany, ipe or even white oak. Check the prices. The latter will
> require a sealer.
You're comparing cypress and *ipe*? Isn't that like comparing aluminum
to hardened steel?
And I'd think that most mahogany is quite a bit harder than cypress.
--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism
On 5/11/2009 8:06 PM Tim Daneliuk spake thus:
> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
> treated lumber or teak. The local fine lumber store suggested I try
> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
> Opinions? Is it difficult to work? Do I need to mask up when
> milling/sanding cypress? Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
> what is best recommended?
By the way, while not an answer to your question, cypress is the wood of
choice for the tops of flamenco guitars (as opposed to spruce, the wood
normally used for this purpose).
--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism
Len wrote:
> Hi Tim,
>
> I have used cypress outdoors here in central md with great success. I have
> finished it with several types of finishes(and no finish) all have stood up
> great. It is easy to work with(I have both hand and power equipment). I have
> milled and sanded it with no ill effects.
>
>
> Leonard
>
>
Any recommendations on what a good outdoor finish might be? I'm
inclined toward Tung Oil...
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Daneliuk [email protected]
PGP Key: http://www.tundraware.com/PGP/
"Tim Daneliuk" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
> treated lumber or teak. The local fine lumber store suggested I try
> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
> Opinions? Is it difficult to work? Do I need to mask up when
> milling/sanding cypress? Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
> what is best recommended?
>
> TIA,
> --
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Tim Daneliuk [email protected]
> PGP Key: http://www.tundraware.com/PGP/
Why didn't you ask the same fellows at the fine lumber store?
On May 11, 11:06=A0pm, Tim Daneliuk <[email protected]> wrote:
> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
> treated lumber or teak. =A0The local fine lumber store suggested I try
> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
> Opinions? =A0Is it difficult to work? =A0Do I need to mask up when
> milling/sanding cypress? =A0Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
> what is best recommended?
It's similar to cedar and redwood in many ways.
http://tinytimbers.com/cypress_info.htm
R
"Tim Daneliuk" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> Any recommendations on what a good outdoor finish might be? I'm
> inclined toward Tung Oil...
>
If you want oil, use Penofin. I've had good luck with marine poly though.
My bench still looks great after about 4 or 5 years, but it is under some
cover, out of direct sun.
Tim Daneliuk wrote:
> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
> treated lumber or teak. The local fine lumber store suggested I try
> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
> Opinions? Is it difficult to work? Do I need to mask up when
> milling/sanding cypress? Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
> what is best recommended?
>
> TIA,
When I bought this house in 2000, the back fence was cypress, put up
in 1975 with no evidence of stain or sealer. It was mostly solid
except for the lower 6 inches, (It was touching the ground). I took it
down, trimmed the ends and planed it. Made a lot of nice birdhouses,
outdoor doo-dads and flower boxes. Few other local woods would stand
this weather that long.
--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA
I xeroxed a mirror, now I have an
extra copier.
Tim Daneliuk wrote:
> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
> treated lumber or teak. The local fine lumber store suggested I try
> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
> Opinions? Is it difficult to work? Do I need to mask up when
> milling/sanding cypress? Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
> what is best recommended?
>
> TIA,
Actually, it was your helpful friend that suggested it...
Cypress is pretty soft, on par with mahogany. Other wood options are
mahogany, ipe or even white oak. Check the prices. The latter will
require a sealer.
Oil alone is not a long-term preservative for any outdoor project.
I've used Waterlox (http://www.waterlox.com/) to preserve my mahogany
front door and it's held up well for 3 years now. Multiple coats
applied. You probably want to use the sealer first and then a finish.
You may be able to buy it at the lumber store or else directly from
Waterlox.
Hey, is this a *woodworking* related post ;-)
~Mark.
On May 11, 11:06=A0pm, Tim Daneliuk <[email protected]> wrote:
> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
> treated lumber or teak. =A0The local fine lumber store suggested I try
> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
> Opinions? =A0Is it difficult to work? =A0Do I need to mask up when
> milling/sanding cypress? =A0Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
> what is best recommended?
I'm a big fan of cypress for outdoor furniture. I made some end
tables out of it 6 (7?) years ago that stay outside year round. Those
I painted, and they're as good as new. No joke. And this was just
your basic "new" cypress. Give it a shot - you won't be disappointed.
JP
On May 11, 11:06=A0pm, Tim Daneliuk <[email protected]> wrote:
> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
> treated lumber or teak. =A0The local fine lumber store suggested I try
> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
> Opinions?
My brother was riding his bike through MS or LA or something like
that, and rode by a stretch of stumps - went on for a while. When he
asked when all of the trees had been cut down the guy laughed and told
him it had been decades before. Yep, cypress stumps.
R
"Tim Daneliuk" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
> treated lumber or teak. The local fine lumber store suggested I try
> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
> Opinions? Is it difficult to work? Do I need to mask up when
> milling/sanding cypress? Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
> what is best recommended?
>
> TIA,
Cypress works and finishes very much like pine, it has been my experience
that a lot of the cypress available now is fast growth and it isn't as decay
resistant as the denser wood, try to pick out pieces with a higher growth
ring count.
basilisk
basilisk wrote:
> "Tim Daneliuk" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
>> treated lumber or teak. The local fine lumber store suggested I try
>> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
>> Opinions? Is it difficult to work? Do I need to mask up when
>> milling/sanding cypress? Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
>> what is best recommended?
>>
>> TIA,
> Cypress works and finishes very much like pine, it has been my
> experience that a lot of the cypress available now is fast growth and
> it isn't as decay resistant as the denser wood, try to pick out
> pieces with a higher growth ring count.
It's only been a year but I made some cypress Adirondack chairs and used
Cabot Australian Timber Oil in "natural" and I'm quite pleased with the way
they turned out. The stain is still looking like it just went on.
It's light, light colored not super strong but strong enough, and works very
nicely. The pieces I worked with seemed to have a little bit of internal
stress--but that might have just been the particular boards.
Woody wrote:
> David Nebenzahl wrote:
>> On 5/12/2009 9:30 AM Woody spake thus:
>>
>>> Tim Daneliuk wrote:
>> >
>>>> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
>>>> treated lumber or teak. The local fine lumber store suggested I
>>>> try cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
>>>> Opinions? Is it difficult to work? Do I need to mask up when
>>>> milling/sanding cypress? Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of
>>>> so, what is best recommended?
>>>
>>> Cypress is pretty soft, on par with mahogany. Other wood options are
>>> mahogany, ipe or even white oak. Check the prices. The latter will
>>> require a sealer.
>>
>> You're comparing cypress and *ipe*? Isn't that like comparing
>> aluminum to hardened steel?
>
> Wasn't comparing cypress to ipe, was offering a set of wood types
> suitable for outdoor use.
>
>>
>> And I'd think that most mahogany is quite a bit harder than cypress.
>>
>
> They are, but still *much* softer than oaks, maples, etc.
FWIW, black walnut is also supposed to have decent decay resistance for a US
native species. Kind of a waste to use it on outdoor furniture, where it's
going to just turn gray anyway though.
On Tue, 12 May 2009 22:19:05 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> "Woody" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>> Cypress is pretty soft, on par with mahogany. Other wood options are
>> mahogany, ipe or even white oak. Check the prices. The latter will
>> require a sealer.
>
> Don't forget Spanish cedar too. I bought some a few y ears ago because
> crypress was in short supply and it is nice to work with.
Seconded. A friend of mine made an Adirondack chair of spanish cedar on
my suggestion and he's very happy with it.
--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw
Doug Brown wrote:
> "Tim Daneliuk" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
>> treated lumber or teak. The local fine lumber store suggested I try
>> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
>> Opinions? Is it difficult to work? Do I need to mask up when
>> milling/sanding cypress? Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
>> what is best recommended?
>>
>> TIA,
>> --
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Tim Daneliuk [email protected]
>> PGP Key: http://www.tundraware.com/PGP/
>
> Why didn't you ask the same fellows at the fine lumber store?
>
>
Because it didn't occur to me at the time.
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Daneliuk [email protected]
PGP Key: http://www.tundraware.com/PGP/
"Woody" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> Cypress is pretty soft, on par with mahogany. Other wood options are
> mahogany, ipe or even white oak. Check the prices. The latter will require
> a sealer.
Don't forget Spanish cedar too. I bought some a few y ears ago because
crypress was in short supply and it is nice to work with.
David Nebenzahl wrote:
> On 5/12/2009 9:30 AM Woody spake thus:
>
>> Tim Daneliuk wrote:
> >
>>> Most outdoor/patio furniture I've seen is made from either pressure
>>> treated lumber or teak. The local fine lumber store suggested I try
>>> cypress for constructing end tables and such for the back yard.
>>> Opinions? Is it difficult to work? Do I need to mask up when
>>> milling/sanding cypress? Can it be painted/stained/oiled and, of so,
>>> what is best recommended?
>>
>> Cypress is pretty soft, on par with mahogany. Other wood options are
>> mahogany, ipe or even white oak. Check the prices. The latter will
>> require a sealer.
>
> You're comparing cypress and *ipe*? Isn't that like comparing aluminum
> to hardened steel?
Wasn't comparing cypress to ipe, was offering a set of wood types
suitable for outdoor use.
>
> And I'd think that most mahogany is quite a bit harder than cypress.
>
They are, but still *much* softer than oaks, maples, etc.
~Mark.