I have access to some western red ceder and would like to make some
adarondaic chairs. I'm concerned that the ceder is too soft for the
chairs. I build some out of mahagony 14 years ago and they are
holding up great. What are your thoughts on the ceder chairs.
thanks

I just finished a set made from salvaged redwood. Redwood is also soft, but
I figured what the heck, they are going to be outside (although covered)
anyway, a few bumps and bruises is expected and will give them "character".
Structurally, cedar should work fine, unless you are a very large guy. If
so, make the structural parts 1/4" or so thicker.


"bobsdad" wrote in message
...
I have access to some western red ceder and would like to make some
adarondaic chairs. I'm concerned that the ceder is too soft for the
chairs. I build some out of mahagony 14 years ago and they are
holding up great. What are your thoughts on the ceder chairs.
thanks

Adirondacs are a stout style of chair. Cedar should be fine. I built a
set out of Ipe a couple years ago, and they are pretty clearly
overbuilt. My whole family could sit in one without a creak.

I'll be building a few more in the next year, and they'll all be cedar.
Much easier to move around too.

I did replace the seating surfaces on a cheap swingset with shop-milled
cedar fence pickets. They ended up about 3/8" thick, and adults can sit
on them. They flex a lot, but they hold up. They've been in place for 4
years now, outdoors, unshaded, in Austin. They're holding up fine.

Again, I think cedar is fine for adirondacks, especially if you use
nominal 1x material (3/4").

-Mike

bobsdad wrote:
I have access to some western red ceder and would like to make some
adarondaic chairs. I'm concerned that the ceder is too soft for the
chairs. I build some out of mahagony 14 years ago and they are
holding up great. What are your thoughts on the ceder chairs.
thanks