Thread: What timber to use for picnic table

Probably to paint it with a good quality exterior house paint. Not sure if that's the sort of look you wanted but paint will preserve the timber and last for quite a few years before you need to repaint it Otherwise, if you want to keep the "timber" look, maybe a few coats of good quality varnish would do the trick and retain the look of timber.

Hi Mike and welcome to the site.
If it is outside 24/7 then I am sorry to say structural pine wont last long at all whatever you do to it. Under some sort of cover then it is an ok option. My first BBQ table was recycled pine and I used exterior paint with undercoat but it was a bit shabby after a couple of years. Rot set in at the screws and joints. Sure treated pine has nasties in it but it can be painted over and so far I dont know of anyone who was poisoned by one. The people who have been affected are workers cutting the stuff without protection and a few muppets who lived in cabins made of treated logs.
Another option is a fold up table you can store under cover. Can be done in hardwood decking.
Regards
John

Hi Mike and welcome. As the others have said pine won't do it. Use a hardwood that will put up with the elements and a bit of abuse.

If you are not planning to move it all over the backyard the use spotted gum.

It will be heavy and spotty is fairly rot resistant but give it a good coat of varnish/oil/decking oil....and it will last a long time.

One of the best timbers to use is cypress pine. It is easy to work and won't rot and termites hate it. I have an outdoor setting made out of it and it is over 20 years old. I give it a coat of decking oil every 12 months to help keep it looking good.

I bought a picnic table about 30 years ago it was made out of pine studs I coated it with 3 coats of esterpol A & B pack. Can't think of the correct name for it, and it lasted out side for about 20 years. There is still some of the pieces sitting up the back, not that you could glue, screw or nail them together now.

Regards

Harold

Happy New Year all, and thanks a lot for your replies.

I want a natural look for the table so I'm off the idea of painted pine. I will start looking for an alternative type of wood like cypress or spotted gum as has been suggested, although I have no idea where to start looking for this type of timber. All the places I use, eg Mitre 10, Bunnings etc, I think they would not stock this type of timber other than cypress posts.

Can anyone suggest where to get such timbers in Melbourne, South East suburbs.

Thanks

Matthews Timber in Vermont is worth checking out.

Jarrah & Merbau would be good choices as well... naturally oily and look good when left natural. (Well... oiled every year or two, but you know what I mean.)

That's why they're so popular for decking, etc.

And I wouldn't write off treated pine. Even CCA. You'd have to pulp up and eat a significant amount of it before it even started affecting your health. (It's one of those cases where "It contains traces of poisona? Let's ban its' use then!" has more bearing on opinion than actual recorded effects. )







...and before anyone starts ranting about how they know someone who knows someone who was affected adversely by CCA, I'd just like to point out that such a person is in the very remotest minority... and regardless of what timber you use... or finish, stain or glue... somewhere in the world there will be someone who is allergic to it.

what he said

Harold

Mike,

I made this one a few years ago, the top is second hand merbau decking and the base is reclaimed origan.

The feet have merbau plates fitted to protect the base, the whole thing is sprayed with a marine clear. I would have just oiled it but it is under cover.
hope it helps.

Pappy