Thread: Timber of Choice For Outside Furniture? (Regional NZ)

Not sure what's readily available on your side of the pond, but Teak is commonly used for outdoor furniture as it is rich in oils/resins and is naturally quite weather resistant. Kwila/Merbau is also good, but it tends to move a bit if not sealed well. If you're going to do an oil finish, I'd highly recommend New Guinea Rosewood; looks amazing, smells great and is graded as Class 1 for durability. Most Eucalypts will also be suitable.

I'd avoid treated pine, mainly because it's ... treated pine But, if you do decide to use it, make sure you have a GOOD dust mask.

Hi elanjacobs

Happy New year to you.

Thanks for the 'heads up' on some wood recommendations. Was talking to my neighbor today and he mentioned Merbau and I thought of Kwila. But he said "Merbau hasn't been seen around on the market for a while". I wonder why?

Kwila on the other hand is readily avail - 90 x 20 and 150?? wide with Deck Tread pattern.

Yeh I hear you on Pine ... And am surprised you mentioned Using a "Dust Mask" while working it! Crumbs the Number of years I have used it and 'abused it' with out the thought of the "Treated" wood Chem's being a issue. Obviously a Standard dusk mask was not what your thinking of though... are you?

Please what would you say would be a standard one preferred?

Thanks.

Treated pine is usually pumped full of copper-chrome-arsenate (water pipes, car bumpers and rat poison), not the kind of stuff you want to be breathing. Personally, I wouldn't use anything less than a half-face respirator; the silicone seals around your breathing bits much better than the disposable masks, but disposables are still better than nothing.

Also, to the best if my knowledge, Kwila and Merbau are just different names for the same stuff.

Hi,

Like elanjacobs, I would steer clear of treated pine, for the reasons he gives and also it looks crappy.

I probably wouldn't use the Mahogany either, particularly if its Fiji Plantation stuff. While this has been getting better over the last few harvests, it still is subject to warping.
So IMHO, use the Merbau (Kwila) I have an outdoor table made of this which I made six years ago. I give it a coat of Intergrain natural oil every couple of years. It's still in beautiful condition. Joints are all tight, no warping, solid as...

Regards,

Rob

Thanks Guys

well better check out the "Mask" market over here and take some "precautions". Sounds a bit like ... "wear your life jacket - it will stop you drowning!" stuff. mmmm

RCK out