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+-- Thread: Park Bench (/showthread.php?tid=7275283)
Park Bench - werfrat - 04-30-2016
I have a pair of cast iron park bench ends and want to put the best wood on them. thinking 5/4 maple or oak. it will be kept outside~~thanks
Re: Park Bench - JR1 - 04-30-2016
In order of durability and appearance, best to OK :
Ipe
Osage Orange. if you can get it
Black locust
white oak /Cyperus etc. Will need to be finished and maintained.
The first woods you can finish or just let go brown /grey.
Re: Park Bench - Wild Turkey - 04-30-2016
Welcome aboard -- lots of experience here and some good folks to enjoy.
Where are you located? If we knew that we could be a little more specific about what local woods might work and what's suitable for your weather conditions.
I agree on Ipe but around here (Kentucky) I'd go with White Oak from a local mill.
Re: Park Bench - wood2woodknot - 04-30-2016
Or we could stop by and try it out when it's done.
Welcome to the horde.
-Al (wood2woodknot)
Re: Park Bench - JerGar - 04-30-2016
I was just given some cast iron ends also.
I was going to use some white oak I have laying around that was left over from doing an old Chevy pickup bed.
Re: Park Bench - Alan S - 04-30-2016
White oak sounds sufficient, not maple or red oak. About a decade ago the wood deteriorated from a bench like that we have, and I replaced it with thicker cedar, rabbeted to fit into the metal at the ends.
At the time I made sure it would drain well, with no place water could accumulate. I stained the wood before assembly, including inside the bolt holes.
I just went out and looked at it: the finish is pretty much gone and the wood is silvery and rough to touch, but it's still solid with no apparent deterioration beyond the surface appearance.
Re: Park Bench - iclark - 04-30-2016
JR1 said:
In order of durability and appearance, best to OK :
Ipe
Osage Orange. if you can get it
Black locust
white oak /Cyperus etc. Will need to be finished and maintained.
The first woods you can finish or just let go brown /grey.
Depending on your location, you might also add to the list:
cedar
redwood
teak
Re: Park Bench - Howard Acheson - 04-30-2016
White oak will be stained by being in contact with iron The tannin in white oak will stain the wood whenever it gets wet..
Re: Park Bench - daddo - 04-30-2016
Mesquite.
Re: Park Bench - JR1 - 04-30-2016
I tend to forget about mesquete as I can't get it here.
That's. A good point about the white oak. If it's going to be in contact with iron and moisture it really must be finished.