Using Cherry for Outdoor Furniture?

[dkerfoot]

Does anyone have any information about the use of Cherry for outdoor furniture/projects?

I have the chance to pick up a load of cherry rips - essentially furring strip size for dirt cheap. I have seen some stores selling cherry outdoor furniture, but I can't find any information on its suitability and weathering characteristics.

Anyone have any good experience, references and/or links?

Thanks!

[sparkeyjames]

I don't see why not. What else can you really use it for given it's small dimensions? As long as you put a good outdoor sealer of some sort on it. I don't see a problem.

[Hoover]

Here's a list of suitable woods for use outdoors

Table 1. Decay-Resistant Species Baldcypress (old growth)
Catalpa
Cedar
Cherry (black)
Chestnut
Cypress (Arizona)
Juniper
Locust (black)
Mesquite
Mulberry (red)
Oak (bur, chestnut, Gambel, Oregon white, post, white)
Osage-orange
Redwood
Sassafras
Walnut (black)
Yew (Pacific)

http://www.toolbase.org/Best-Practic...posed-outdoors

[cabinetman]

Cherry isn't usually used for outdoor use, mostly for interior furniture and fixtures and moulding. If it's cheap enough, you might try it for outside use properly coated, and I would use just a Tung oil finish. It will get darker with subjection to light, and be prepared for regular maintenance and re-oiling.
.

[poolhound]

As long as you put a good weather protecting finish on it and as CabMan says keep it renewed it should stay reasonably safe from the elements. A lot of the prefered woods for outdoor use are also bug resistant e.g. Teak, Cedar and Redwood. Not sure wether bugs like Cherry or not.

If you are getting a good enough deal its worth a try. When you say that its mostly "furring strip" size do you mean 1x2? Wether its for inside or out thats going to mean a lot of lamination to make stock strong enough for legs.

[Russianwolf]

I did a beach out of Cherry a couple years ago. It will become nearly black pretty quickly if in a sunny spot (I can take a pic if you want) and ground contact should be minimized as it will rot and be eaten by insects.

I was using up a bunch of shorts so I didn't mind, but cherry wouldn't be a first choice for outdoors. For what you have in mind, go for it.

[dkerfoot]

They are cheap as in $10 for 100 9' x 1 5/8" x 5/8" strips

I have been planning on building an Adirondack(ish) chair similar to the attached anyway. I was planning on cedar, but cherry would look really nice I think. I don't know if I would laminate the strips for the legs/sides or just use solid wood. 5/8" is a little thin for the slats, but I think they would still work well, provided they don't have to be planed down much.

Of course, I could also use them for face frames, edge banding, and laminate them together for ... well, I am not sure yet! I am thinking that a slatted outdoor table might be really nice too.

A company selling cherry outdoor furniture claims it is insect resistant.

This is one of those solution in search of a problem deals - I wouldn't pay a lot for them, but that is just too much cherry to walk away from, even if it is broken into 100 pieces!

[LinuxRandal]

I wonder what they/others consider outdoors?

It's one thing to be outdoors on the lawn, it is quite another, to be on a porch/gazebo, etc.

(soil contact, insects, rain, sun, etc)

[ironhat]

Cabot's makes a product called Australian Timber Oil which is purported to have UV blocking component. The swing that I made isn't a good example for you to use since it's on a deck and seldom see direct sunlight. http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...ght=Chiz+swing