Timber Advice - outdoor workbench

Hi first time poster here!

I'm looking to build a general purpose workbench that will be outdoors and only partially protected from the elements (note: I live in Australia). I'll be using the work bench for anything and everything from fixing furniture, to small painting projects etc.

I would like some suggestions on the best timber to use for outdoor projects, specifically a workbench as it will need to be a hardwood to endure over the stretch, and I'd probably want it heavy so it doesn't move about too much. I know that both Treated pine and cedar are good woods to use outside, but pine is boring and cedar is too soft for a workbench?

Any other tricks and tips would be appreciated!

Regards,
p3z

Maybe if you told us where you are in Aus we could make some recommendations?. I live in Townsville and the timbers I would suggest would not be available to you if you live in Adelaide.
Rgds,
Crocy.

What do you mean by “partially protected” from the elements? Direct sunlight will probably be the biggest problem as it will dry out and crack the timber, then rain can get in and cause localised swelling causing more cracking... etc etc etc... If it’s out of the sun then so long as you apply a waterproof treatment and reduce exposed end grain as much as possible (eg mitred corners or breadboard ends) you should be able to construct it from whatever locally milled timber is available.

Early last year I built my outdoor workbench, the top was made from treated pine sleepers which were then varnished. It lives under a carport and has shade cloth behind it so it isn’t exposed to direct sunlight although rain can be blown onto it. It’s also within crapping distance of a couple of Cadaghis trees so the surface needed to be easily cleanable to remove sooty mould. It’s still looking good; there has been no cracking and the top hasn’t warped or anything.

I live in Victoria, about 2kms from port phillip bay.

The workbench will be under a verandah at one end, so mostly protected from the sun, but may get some direct sunlight for a couple of hours in the morning. It will get some rain.

Hi,

I recently made a workbench, in fact it was my lockdown project.

I had way, way, way too much time on my hands and chucked a fare amount of time, energy and (some) money at it. Although i say so myself (backed up by some of my friends) the overall result is fantastic and it truly is the Tawzer's Testies!

My biggest mistake is I MADE THE DAMN THING TOO GOOD and now I am reluctant to bash it about and use it for what it was truly intended for. I probably need to take a hammer to it all over so i can just suck up the pain and get on with it.

Anyway that's my thoughts, hope it helps you.

MJ

VicAsh would be my go to wood for this.

i'm sort of in a similar position: wanting a picnic table for the shady spot in the back yard; don't want to deal with treated pine

i've been thinking about using bunnings' "durable mixed hardwood" fence posts and sleepers, reasoning that if the timber is meant for unfinished outdoor/landscaping use, that it'll last a good while, especially if i take some care and actually finish it. though, having checked over the stock at my local bunnings, it looks like it'd be a day's work picking the good bits out of the stacks, because 80% of it is rubbish (unsurprisingly, i guess). and if i'm hand picking it, i'd need to rent a ute/van, and hope they have full pallets in stock on that day, etc. which is all enough of a pita that i've stalled out, and might not ever bother with it...

haven't come up with any better options though :?