Planed rounded Scandanavian redwood - 8 seat picnic bench

[jiz]

Hello,

My mate has a great 8 seat picnic table but the shop do not have any more.
As construction is straightforward I will make one. I looks a little like the one in the attached picture.

I need some advice on the material, how about untreated 5ths grade planed rounded Scandanavian redwood?
How should I paint/varnish it to protect it from the elements?

I will cover it when not in use and it will be placed on paving.

Happy to hear any advice.

Regards
jiz

 

[John15]

Hi Jiz,
The timber in the photo appears to treated. This is preferable and will give the redwood several years protection against decay.
Regards,
John

 

[Jelly]

Use treated (at least Use Class 2, ideally Use Class 3b) redwood is Not Durable and will readily decay if left outside.

These guys might be worth a look in sourcing redwood which is treated, but not also stained as it usually seems to be....

Alternatively, would you consider western red cedar?

 

[jiz]

I'm having some issues finding a supplier of treated planed rounded timber (western red cedar or scandanavian redwood), I'm in Birmingham.
I've heard western red cedar can dent so I may go with scandanavian redwood.
A lot of places do untreated, if its treated its square edge.

When I ask about treatment they say to paint/oil it with off the shelf paint.
Should I just get treated square edge and route the edge myself? Will the new exposed surface need some re-treatment.

Any advice is welcome.

 

[Jelly]

Howarth Timber (Nearest Branches are Corby, Derby and Newcastle under Lyme, none exactly close, but if you regularly travel in one of those directions it may be worthwhile) will be able to supply you with exactly what you're looking for, from their ArborDeck range of products.

Other timber merchants may also be able to supply similar material if you look at their decking materials rather than the timber in the yard.

In terms of rounding over treated PSE material, with a small enough round it would be OK, but if you go down that route I'd advise that you get a small piece or off-cut to try first, if the treatment is shallower than the depth that the round-over takes off, then it's not going to be a good solution. Also wear a mask if you're routing it, whilst we've moved away from CCA's timber treatments are still not much good for you.

 

[thick_mike]

You could just run a hand plane along the edges to chamfer the sharpness. It would only take a couple of condos and you can control the depth of cut easier than faffing about with a router.

Not round though.

 

[John15]

Have you considered treated round edge yellow pine. I recently bought some for the deck boards on a small footbridge in the garden - it's 140mm x 30mm. It looks fine and would be suitable for your table top. I got it from Barlow's Timber near Woodstock but there's bound to be a stockist nearer to Birmingham.