cedar garden bench & a finishing question

[rickd]

hi,

i've just completed this cedar garden bench i've been working on for the past 3 weeks or so:



now, i have to decide whether to leave it 'natural' and just let it age and turn grey; or, to use sealers, stain, poly etc. to try and preserve the look and color. i've had advice both ways, so i'd really appreciate any ideas anyone here may have.

here's a link to the some of the project progress pics i took along the way:

http://www.rickswoodworking.ca/current_project.htm

thanks.

[John Hunter]

Very nice!

[JR]

I made a ver similar bench using redwood. I used uv-resistant poly. The results have beed decidedly mixed.

The poly has worn away in some places. Where the poly is still in place the color has stayed like new. I touched it up last spring by sanding the bare areas and rea-applying the poly. It wasn't too difficult, but it wants the same treatment again this year.

I asked at the unfinished furniture store about this problem and got a big shrug. There doesn't appear to be great alternative. Spar varnish would be my suggestion if you want to go down this path.

JR

Oh, BTW, great looking bench!

[cabinetman]

Rick

Glad to see it together. I like the natural look. Maybe think about just an oil finish, one that is easy to maintain. Great looking - good work!



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[jackellis]

We have cedar (California, Western?) plank decks at Lake Tahoe and use a stain called Duckback Natural to protect it from UV. The wood has gradually turned golden, then progressively more reddish as we've reapplied the stain every year.

The more pigment in your treatment, the better the wood is protected, but of course you lose the natural look of the wood that way also. Duckback Natural has a little pigment in it, which means annual or biennial reapplications for us (Tahoe is at 6,000 feet and UV is INTENSE). However we do get lots of compliments about the condition of our decks.

By all means protect the wood. You'll be glad you did.

[Wood_workur]

I like that. Looks like the wood mag. plans.

I agree on using oil- very easy. You can apply it with a garden sprayer. (the hand pump kind, not the ones you hook up to a hose)

[Tom Miller]

Looks great, Rick!

Concerning finish -- I'll have better data for you in a couple years, but for now:

Up until this spring, I was in the "let it go natural" camp regarding our back deck (cedar), and we originally had a spar varnish on the front porch decking (tongue-and-groove cedar), which I think lifts prematurely. We had the house painted this spring after last year's addition project, and needed the front porch decking re-finished. So, we decided to have the back deck done, too. They used a penetrating oil stain on front and back (Cabot, IIRC), which cures to a much more substantial finish than I imagined. And, boy does it look nice, now!

I don't think this type of finish is very finicky to apply, so reapplying every two to three years should be pretty easy.

Regards,
Tom

[dlminehart]

I believe that Cabot is top rated in Consumer Reports. It costs more, but seems to be worth it.

[mater]

It looks great. I enjoyed the progress pics.

[Woodwerker]

Looks GREAT
I used cabot oil stain for the cedar fence I built and can't say enough about how great the stain enhanced the wood. I love cedar, its easy to work with, and gives great results.

[SHADOWFOX]

Rick,

That bench is amazing!! Good job, sir!

Regards,

[Ken Weaver]

That is really nice looking Rick - great job. I used deck sealer on my adirondack stsuff in the garden and it seems to hold up well. The difference is I didn't make them out of such great looking wood as yours. I think I'd try to stay with a sealer or such that will allow the wood to retain as much of its chracter as possible.

[Ken Massingale]

Another real nice piece, Rick. Thanks for the progress pics.
ken

[lrogers]

That is a tuff question Rick. The natural look is good, but look of "fresh cedar" is also good. I think it would be toss of the coin. What ever you decide on finish, that is one fine looking bench.

[GPA61]

Great looking bench Rick.