I am currently looking at purchasing 2 Adirondack chairs - they will be kept
outside during the year, covered during the winter. We live in NJ and
experience all 4 seasons here.

I plan to purchase natural wood - so far, I've seen the following:

Kiln dried Spruce
Kilnn dried Fir
Oak treated with linseed oil
Red Cedar
Mahogony


Pricing seems to be dependant upon which wood is used - the list is least
expensive to most. Can anyone provide me with info as to how each of these
woods, left in their natural state (except the Oak) will do in an outside
environment?

TIA,
Sandy K.

"Sandy K." wrote in message
Kiln dried Spruce
Kilnn dried Fir
Oak treated with linseed oil
Red Cedar
Mahogony


Pricing seems to be dependant upon which wood is used - the list is least
expensive to most. Can anyone provide me with info as to how each of
these
woods, left in their natural state (except the Oak) will do in an outside
environment?

Is that red or white oak? White is good for outdoors, red is not.

The spruce and fir will deteriorate the fastest, especially if it is in
contact with dirt. White oak and cedar are about tied for next, mahogany
best. You did not mention cypress or Spanish cedar, but they are good
outdoors also.

In any case, I'd not use linseed oil. There are oils, such as made by
Penofin that are vastly better for preserving wood. I just bought a gallon
of Penofin and it was about $38. Excellent stuff though. I used it on some
mahogany and it still looks like new after a couple of years.

Teak would be best, it is the wood you will find on quality boats. It is
easy to renew or let go grey. It will cost the most but will outlast the
others by far.

"Sandy K." wrote in message
g.com...
I am currently looking at purchasing 2 Adirondack chairs - they will be
kept
outside during the year, covered during the winter. We live in NJ and
experience all 4 seasons here.

I plan to purchase natural wood - so far, I've seen the following:

Kiln dried Spruce
Kilnn dried Fir
Oak treated with linseed oil
Red Cedar
Mahogony


Pricing seems to be dependant upon which wood is used - the list is least
expensive to most. Can anyone provide me with info as to how each of
these
woods, left in their natural state (except the Oak) will do in an outside
environment?



Spruce and Fir are out as far as untreated outdoor durability goes. Linseed
oil is considered a delicacy for mildew spores in my neck of the woods - the
oak treated this way will likely turn a lovely shade of black in short
order.

Cedar (western red) will do fine, as will the mahogany - with the mahogany
probably being a little less likely to leave splinters in your behind.

On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 10:56:30 -0500, (m Ransley)
scribbled this interesting note:

Teak would be best, it is the wood you will find on quality boats. It is
easy to renew or let go grey. It will cost the most but will outlast the
others by far.

Or if you are tooled up for it, Ipe might be a good choice, but be
ready to go through some saw blades as this stuff isn't called
Ironwood for nothing!

Even Bois d'Arc might work for this application, but there, again, buy
lots of extra blades.


--
John Willis
(Remove the Primes before e-mailing me)

"Sandy K." wrote in message
g.com...
I am currently looking at purchasing 2 Adirondack chairs - they will be
kept
outside during the year, covered during the winter. We live in NJ and
experience all 4 seasons here.

I plan to purchase natural wood - so far, I've seen the following:

Kiln dried Spruce
Kilnn dried Fir
Oak treated with linseed oil
Red Cedar
Mahogony


Pricing seems to be dependant upon which wood is used - the list is least
expensive to most. Can anyone provide me with info as to how each of
these
woods, left in their natural state (except the Oak) will do in an outside
environment?

TIA,
Sandy K.



I have no experience with Mahogany. Otherwise I think this is a classic
example of you get what you pay for.

To answer your question, the spruce and fir will rot away in a few years.
They are both soft woods and in a damp location can rot away in as little as
3 years.

The oak should last longer and the red cedar should "gray out" and last. I
would think the oak and cedar should last about the same amount of time. The
oak is a harder wood. Cedar is a softer wood. The cedar has some natural
protection. The cedar should outlast the oak but I have had oak last a long
time. To some degree the environment (shady, sunny, damp, well drained) will
be more of a factor when choosing between the oak and cedar. Damp or shady
space go with the cedar. The first rot points on either will be the legs and
the extent will be based on the environment.

I hope this helped. Please remember they are just opinions based on limited
personal experiences.


Colbyt

Teak or Ipe would probably be my first choices. Teak unfortunately is
ungodly priced and the plantation grown stuff (which is pretty much all you
can get now) is not as decay resistant as the old growth stuff. Ipe is a
pretty solid contender but hard to work and honestly, I can't find the stuff
anywhere near where I live (NM). Of your other choices, white oak is
pretty good although it will stain from water pretty easily. The tanins in
it turn a dark gray color particularly around screws and such (basically
where water enters). Western Red Cedar is pretty good but I find it to be
a bit soft and light for my tastes when it comes to furniture. For
planters, it can't be beat (ok, maybe cypress beats it). I'm embarking on
building a patio table and chairs soon and have decided to use mahogany.
If you go this route, get the "Honduras" or "American" (same stuff) mahogany
as the African varieties do not resist decay as well. You may also
consider insect resistance. I'm not sure where you live but termites are a
constant concern here. The mahogany does an ok job against pests but I
think cedar or Ipe would do better.
Cheers,
cc

"Sandy K." wrote in message
g.com...
I am currently looking at purchasing 2 Adirondack chairs - they will be
kept
outside during the year, covered during the winter. We live in NJ and
experience all 4 seasons here.

I plan to purchase natural wood - so far, I've seen the following:

Kiln dried Spruce
Kilnn dried Fir
Oak treated with linseed oil
Red Cedar
Mahogony


Pricing seems to be dependant upon which wood is used - the list is least
expensive to most. Can anyone provide me with info as to how each of
these
woods, left in their natural state (except the Oak) will do in an outside
environment?

TIA,
Sandy K.

Sandy K. wrote:
I am currently looking at purchasing 2 Adirondack chairs - they will be kept
outside during the year, covered during the winter. We live in NJ and
experience all 4 seasons here.

I plan to purchase natural wood - so far, I've seen the following:

Kiln dried Spruce
Kilnn dried Fir
Oak treated with linseed oil
Red Cedar
Mahogony


Pricing seems to be dependant upon which wood is used - the list is least
expensive to most. Can anyone provide me with info as to how each of these
woods, left in their natural state (except the Oak) will do in an outside
environment?

Don't forget redwood.

http://www.clarksoutdoorchairs.com

They have links that compare species for the woods they use.

R

http://www.sjawoodesign.com/ipe.html

Cheaper to buy em



Remove "YOURPANTIES" to reply

MUADIB®

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/sster...IN%20PAGE.html

If A Quiz is Quizical,
What is a test?

The Peacemaking Meeting scheduled for today has been
cancelled due to a conflict.

MUADIB=AE wrote:
http://www.sjawoodesign.com/ipe.html

Cheaper to buy em

..=2E.except they don't ship them and are only availabe for delivery
within 50 miles of St. Louis. OP is in NJ.

Nice chairs though. Must be heavy sumanabiches.

R

WHITE oak is often suggested for outside but not RED oak.

On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 18:46:56 -0400, "Colbyt"
wrote:


"Sandy K." wrote in message
ng.com...
I am currently looking at purchasing 2 Adirondack chairs - they will be
kept
outside during the year, covered during the winter. We live in NJ and
experience all 4 seasons here.

I plan to purchase natural wood - so far, I've seen the following:

Kiln dried Spruce
Kilnn dried Fir
Oak treated with linseed oil
Red Cedar
Mahogony


Pricing seems to be dependant upon which wood is used - the list is least
expensive to most. Can anyone provide me with info as to how each of
these
woods, left in their natural state (except the Oak) will do in an outside
environment?

TIA,
Sandy K.



I have no experience with Mahogany. Otherwise I think this is a classic
example of you get what you pay for.

To answer your question, the spruce and fir will rot away in a few years.
They are both soft woods and in a damp location can rot away in as little as
3 years.

The oak should last longer and the red cedar should "gray out" and last. I
would think the oak and cedar should last about the same amount of time. The
oak is a harder wood. Cedar is a softer wood. The cedar has some natural
protection. The cedar should outlast the oak but I have had oak last a long
time. To some degree the environment (shady, sunny, damp, well drained) will
be more of a factor when choosing between the oak and cedar. Damp or shady
space go with the cedar. The first rot points on either will be the legs and
the extent will be based on the environment.

I hope this helped. Please remember they are just opinions based on limited
personal experiences.


Colbyt

On 1 Jul 2005 07:22:20 -0700, "RicodJour"
wrote:

MUADIB® wrote:
http://www.sjawoodesign.com/ipe.html

Cheaper to buy em

...except they don't ship them and are only availabe for delivery
within 50 miles of St. Louis. OP is in NJ.

This was just an example, but I didn't read the page I pulled that
time. I appreciate you pointing that out. I have looked at many, many
different sites about this wood and the existing furniture available.
These were the first "furniture" I pulled up. OOps!

This is one of the least expensive sites also. That might account for
the won;t ship thing.

I have seen the same design (or ones very similar) for a lot more
also. Shipped anywhere, and have even seen kits for sale. I have seen
them with Brass hinges, and brass leg ends (feet I suppose) wooden
wheels, aluminum wheels on the chaise loungers...........lots of
differnet features.

I stand by my original post though,.............It could be a lot
cheaper to just purchase them. However I would enjoy building them too
if I had the shop/tools for such a project.

Good luck.



Remove "YOURPANTIES" to reply

MUADIB®

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/sster...IN%20PAGE.html

If A Quiz is Quizical,
What is a test?

The Peacemaking Meeting scheduled for today has been
cancelled due to a conflict.