Hey there! I've recently retired and decided to build a wood shop for making outdoor furniture, and I'm diving into my first project—a set of Adirondack chairs using a template from Rockler. I initially bought pressure treated lumber from Lowes for about $95 but then learned that its protective qualities don't penetrate very deep into the wood, especially after making cuts for assembly. I tried to preserve some of the original surface on the ground contact points, but I'm wondering if it's still worth using pressure treated wood, or if I should just go for standard lumber and apply a sealing finish instead. Any advice or additional insights would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
I've been building Adirondack chairs for over 30 years without using pressure treated (PT) wood, and honestly, it's not great quality. I used to work with cypress, but now I prefer 1x pine. I follow New Yankee Workshop plans but use 5/4 pine for the leg pieces. I cut the parts, sand them down, and apply an oil-based primer before painting with latex house paint. The last set I built is still going strong after 15 years with just a light coat every couple of years. I say go for untreated wood and finish it well!
For outdoor furniture, teak and cedar are top choices. I choose cedar since I can get leftover pieces from local mills for cheap, but teak is fantastic if you can find it for a good price.
You can get great results with untreated wood as long as you finish and maintain it properly. Just keep in mind that treated wood is often wet, which can make it tricky to work with due to drying shrinkage. If you're looking for something durable, white oak is excellent for outdoor use too, though it’s pricier and heavier than cedar.
I think white oak for outdoor stuff is great. They make ships out of it! Just keep in mind, it's more expensive and can be harder to work with.
Cool ... Thanx Much