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Is this an outside bench? After a few years of exposure, I replaced what looked like trash tree wood from asia with some nice oak that I had in the shop. It lasted about one season. If I had to do it again, I would use Ipe or some deck material. Think 5/4 thickness like deck boards.
Replace it yourself. It is an easy project. Good luck.
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I had one of those. It was cheap and the dimensions were all a little scant. I think mine were red-oak, but it could have been some other Asian species.
My brother-in-law re-did his deck in Ipe. I think it would make a suitable replacement. It won't alter the fact that the bench was a little small in all dimensions, but it would last a long time.
One of the castings cracked and I threw mine out.
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I have. Watch for knots in the new wood. I have used pine and Doug fir. The fir is nice.
Matt
If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason.
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I replaced the slats on two benches with white oak slats.
The original slats were supposed to be teak, lasted 5 years.I doubt the slats were teak, too much stain and finish to tell.
mike
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I just did this today with a small child's bench. Cast iron ends and a cast back splat.
I used 4/4 cypress. Took about an hour. Amazingly, nearly all of the fasteners came right off and were reusable, even after sitting outdoors for a number of years.
If I had to use thicker wood, I'd probably opt for western red cedar because price and availability.
Ray
(formerly "WxMan")
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Had one I was gonna redo in wood but decided I didn't want to constantly be repairing/replacing the slats. Thought about composite decking, but it wasn't strong enough. Almost went with metal slats but then came up with this: Expanded Metal
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