Outdoor Table

I am building an outdoor table from plans that use Pine for the frame and Cedar for the table top slats. What type of Pine would you use for an outdoor table?

I am hesitant to use any treated wood since it is a table that my kids will play near and eat at. I was thinking untreated Yellow Pine. As well what type of finish would you recommend since I do not want to paint it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

-Whyclef

Forums

Wood Species and Types

blobula

Sat, 04/13/2013 - 08:50

I'm also interested in

I'm also interested in hearing thoughts about using pine for outdoor furniture.

I built a picnic table as well as a chair using pine and I'd like to know they best way to protect it.

Jake

Thu, 04/18/2013 - 19:18

Protecting Pine

Unless you plan on living to 100 and still eating at the table you are fine. I build picnic tables from pine studs. Then get a good stain of the color you want. Refinish the table top, seats, and legs once a year and it will last forever. If you paint it use a good primer first. Check out the recommendations on the paint and stain manufacturer's sites. Lots of good advice. By the way first rate studs in my town are about $3.25 each.

claydowling

Mon, 05/13/2013 - 11:13

Risks overstated

Unless the wood is still oozing the chemicals (and straight from the store it usually is), there's not much risk from using the treated wood on furniture. Your kids would need to actually eat the wood (not just chew at the edges) to get enough to be a risk. At which point the massive amount of gut damage from the wood is a much bigger concern.

As for stains, my dad and I have experimented quite a bit with finishes for outdoor furniture. The water bourne finishes (i.e. soap and water cheanup) have very poor durability, and probably won't hold up to kids. Better grade oil based stains seem to hold up the best (i.e. skip the Thompson's Water Seal). The smell of the solvents tends to make people dicey about using them, but by the time the finish is dry the solvents have evaporated and anything else unsavory is locked into the finish and won't be getting out.

OGM ARQUITECTOS SAC

Fri, 09/20/2013 - 15:31

PINE PROJECT - OUTSIDE TABLE

HELLO, I WAS READING ABOUT STAIN A TABLE WITH WINWAX WATER BASED STAIN, WE LOVE THE FINISHED. IT IS A PINE WOOD? WE ARE A PERUVIAN BUSINESS THAT FOLLOW YOUR TO MAKE INTERESTING PROJECTS THAT WE LOVE TO APLLY HERE. WE HAVE PINE WOOD BUT IT IS NOT SO WHITE LIKE WE CAN SEE ON YOUR PICTURES. YOU CLEAR WITH SOME SPECIAL MATERIALS O IT IS A NATURAL PINE? THANKS, AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR EXCELENT WORK!

austintaylor

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 23:15