She'd put them in the garage in the winter but they were outside for most of the year. Untreated wood like pine or Douglas fir are also options, but the lifetime of your chairs may be only five to ten years.

Eucalyptus is a good wood for making chairs because it often does not need to be sealed, painted, or polished.

Cedar has a Janka rating of 350lbs, while redwood has a Janka rating of 450lbs.

Have a good one. People group the Cypress with hardwoods because it takes a long time to mature, making it rare and expensive. Plus, it's a beautiful clear hardwood that not everyone has.

And on the PT wood. Personally, I like the natural look of weathered cypress.

To prevent this, you need to oil and seal it with routine maintenance.

They also have Atlantic White cedar #2 in 4/4x6x16' @ $1.20/bf, with which I have also had great luck and almost no waste. It's fairly soft, but does weather beautifully. They are incredibly strong and resistant to weathering and fires. I have read nothing that indicates a problem as a result of casual contact with PT wood.

Acacia will also fade and warp in hot weather or high humidity.

Teak is a good material for outdoor furniture because it weathers well. Its cheap if you buy a least a mbf. So what is it going to do to the insides of my planer, dcand saws.

The deeply contoured back, wide arms and curved seat make this chair our top seller! Also skin contact.

And then, I think PT is fine for furniture from a user point of view. As they dry, some boards become almost useless--they are cut up for thin seat slats.

I didn't see it.

I think that's a little over the top.You do whatever you want. I also use a deck wash to leach the excess out and I topcoat or paint them.I wouldn't make the top of a picnic table out of one. Maintenance is important to keeping mahogany looking its best.

It can also be buried in the soil without being damaged.

Just remember, you are contributing to rain forest destruction.

We tried using the cows disguised as horses to haul lumber wagons but they couldn't make it to the border. Am fascinated by the amount of designs of Adirondacks,some are a bit low and not popular with the oldies.Me included:-).

But the treated lumber industry is changing the chemical mix and taking the arsenic out.

It has a rich golden to dark brown color that looks good with just a coat of polish. But many people might wonder if it is as tough as it seems. True there are some old (150 years) homes on the Bayous in Louisiana built from it, but that was old growth, virgin timber. Especially if you stain them with the Olympic stains-which are not really like furniture stain. That is not a typo, yes, 14000-(came from virgin cypress forrest in the swamp land from about 100 years ago). make them.

A piece of Ebony will also be included for the plugs.

If you want to make an Adirondack chair, this article can help you choose the right wood. what about yellow pine? Rounding planes on most wood tear out splinters. Let us know how they come out. If it's harmless, why did they agree to remove it from the market?There were a bunch of articles in the WW pubs about it a year or so ago when the PT mfgs agreed to change their formula. Acacia is a type of wood that is easy to find.

You're absolutely right that PT is a viable alternative to the more expensive woods. You just have to plan ahead, sticker it, and let it dry for somewhere up to 6 months or so. The deck boards I use to make my adirondack chairs out of are the result of careful picking at the lumberyard.

No matter how good my dust collection system I am sure I am going to breath it in not to mention getting it on my skin. Sounds like scare tatics doesn't it? As a result, it makes an excellent material for building boats and outdoor Adirondack chairs. Even the PT lumber manufacturers warn against using the material where food could come in contact with the surface. Building the project can be a little challenging.

PT either contains arsenic (being phased out) or copper and other heavy metals. Every couple of years we'd scrape them off and repaint them.

If you're careful with the planer you won't have to sand--these are yard chairs. When you buy Douglas Nance Douglas Nance Atlantic Adirondack Chair or any product product online from us, you become part of the Houzz family and can expect exceptional customer service every step of the way. One of the most popular types of wood to use when building a house is Douglas fir.

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Short of the sinker wood you can getat times there's not much real mature cypress left. (850)-674-5991 is the phone but ask for 'ED' in the 'Board Room' where they sell the KD. Teak is a beautiful wood that doesnt need to be painted to look good. You should choose the wood that does not need to be retreated, revarnished, or repainted often. I'll bet they were 60 years old the last time I saw them.

Choosing the appropriate type of wood for your chair can be difficult, but it is well worth it in the end.

It's grain pattern is very similar to pine. Cypress is a beautiful type of wood because it has straight grains and no knots.

Moisture content is a big problem.

Clear cedar is most likely also available in your area -- but you'll probably have to get it from a specialty yard. When it comes to specifying lumber sizes, we recommend looking for short lengths in the lumber you choose. They containvaluable information about chemicals in the wood, exposure issues (contact, ingestion, inhalation, etc.)

The tree is also good for staining and painting.

Teak is not grown in the United States. In Louisiana,where the weather is hot and humid in the summer (up to 95% humidity is not uncommon), we use Cypress and at one time was plentiful. You are missing incidental contact issues that can be problematic. I have been paying $1.10/fb for 8/4 x 8 x 16' planks.

I have build 20 or so Adir chairs and have had the best results with clear cedar from the local lumber yard.

The Atlantic Adirondack Chair is our premier design. Softwood is a less expensive option that is easy to work with tools.

I just want to be talking, arguing and exchanging ideas with you folks in 10-20 years. I know you can't stain ipe or teak.

I have seen wood with a blue color and it is magnificent. Get complete site access to video workshops, digital plans library, online archive, and more, plus the print magazine.

I think you'll also find that the day you spend ripping and planing will move along quickly, give you a lot of satisfaction and you'll exchange some time for a big chunk of money you won't be paying the retail lumberyard.If you could set up a display of your chairs along a main road to the local lakes and cabins, have a couple of small similarly styled tables to set between pairs of chairs--you'll probably sell everythng you make. I don't have a problem working it, but I always wear a dust mask -- and my TS does have a dust collector. Think about it. This wood is water-resistant and naturally repels insects. ">>Yes this is true -- hence all the surging interest in dust collectors and air cleaners over the last five years. Once you have the wood picked out, the rest of the construction process will go smoothly, and you will be able to create an incredible chair that will last for a long time. Even experienced wwers have trouble identifiying it; and I always get a smile when I tell them it is plain old PT.As I noted in an earlier post, the main problem using this stuff for anything other than general construction is the the moisture content.

But then, I always sand and/or plane it, and treat it with an oil/varnish concoction.Fasteners: I use stainless steel screws. (nice folks to deal with), My grandmother in Michigan had a couple of Adirondack chairs made out of pine. And as you already know the only other wooden chair as comfortable, and relaxing as an Aditondack is mabye a Morris chair at 20 times the price. Ionly harken back to my previous post: If it keeps the bugs and rot away it's got to be some bad stuff. Price out the cost of the wood you'd like to use add in the cost of ripping it down on the tablesaw and the cost of buying a Delta surface planer.

You should expect a lot of care if you use acacia for Adirondack chairs in the sun, rain, and wind.

That is strange because there was a long article and instructions in a recent Family Handyman magazine.Regards. The wood will dry out without a protective sealant, become brittle, and crumble under pressure. With your collective experience.Will cedar hold up? The seat is sunken in, so you can easily slide into it. Ben Franklin. The Adirondack style footstools are popular too-especially to the mom or dad who's just driven 200 miles with three kids in the backseat asking every three minutes, "Are we there yet?". If there was a problem, however, I'm sure the my phone would have rung by now. We also accept returns on damaged large or oversized items that ship via freight, as long as you report the damage within 5 days of delivery. That has been my major problem with using PT wood--it comes sopping wet.

I was originally going to use Clear "D" western red cedar but when I discovered that the IPE was close to the same price it was a no-brainer.

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What Is the Best Material to Make Adirondack Chairs Out of? There is a slab at the State Capital building in Baton Rouge that came out of a tree that had over 14,000 b/f of timbe in it.

Cedar, when used as a decking surface (horizontal) will last 10 - 12 years.

It is found all over the place and is very versatile. For our full return policy, click here. Start your 14-day FREE trial - and get building! Other woods, like pine, oak, bamboo, or wicker, do not weather well and require a lot of maintenance.

As far as being outside, I'm no expert on finishing for that. Your spending the labor no matter what wood you chose, why not spend a little extra and use teak, cypress, redwood, mahogany or cedar. It is also water-resistant and easy to work with.

Good Luck and letus know what wood you finally decide to use. That's the "A" in CCA.PT's not that much cheaper than cypress or untreated SYP.C'mon, gang. But the bottom line in woodworking is if an operation or material makes you nervous, or gives you pause, don't do it or use it. Whether you use hardwood or softwood, applying a couple of layers of protective paint and a sealant like polyurethane is a smart idea. I've never built a picnic table out of pressure treated wood.

Mahogany is a tough wood that doesnt have many pores and is resistant to insects and rot. Cedar comes in a few different types, but the Western Red Cedar is the best type to use for Adirondack chairs.

I disagree with you about the use of PT wood. The following factors will help you choose the right wood.

There are many plantations of it in America and other parts of the world.

Polywood lumber is heavy-duty plastic made from recycled materials.

and so on.

In fact, fir is one of the best woods for Adirondack chairs because it is reasonably priced and durable.

Are your hands going to touch the table perhaps repeatedly? Red, brown, and cream are just a few of the many shades available. Frequently Asked Questions About Best Wood for Adirondack Chairs. It is so corrosive now that you have to use special fasteners or they corrode away in one year. There are a lot of different options for building an Adirondack chair! At Houzz we want you to shop for Douglas Nance Douglas Nance Atlantic Adirondack Chair with confidence. UNLIMITED membership - Get access to it all. People see'em, recognize the classic style and can picture them on their back decks.

In my mind, I think PT should only be used for exterior framing. use a poly primer, use a poly outdoor paint, I make a living making these. It will bow and twist less over time than lumber that isnt kiln dried.

All the same one of them is arsenic, which can't be good for you.

Also, THANKYOU for the customcypress.com website-- I have explored some suppliers, but that one is the best I've seen.

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Youve built an outdoor kitchen space and someplace to keep drinks cold, but do you have enough seats for everyone? I know lots of stuff can "get us" but I don't think we need to help it along, do we?

Since the fasteners for this project will be exposed to the weather, youll want to use corrosion-resistant fasteners. However, this may not be the best choice for your chairs. Copper dogs.

They are available on line and generally download as PDFs.

Some people say let it dry a year, but I don't have the time for that.

Oak is a type of wood that doesnt decay and is resistant to termites. Several ways to have contact with it. I've made a half-dozen adirondacks out of it, and I'd make a half-dozen more. The Douglas fir is a popular tree due to its attractive appearance.

It will stay strong no matter the temperature, humidity, or pressure.

On the plus side, its simple to work with. To discuss shipping optionspleaseContact UsBEFORE placing your order. Well go through the different types of wood usually used for Adirondack chairs in this blog post and help you pick which one is suitable for you!

So just about anyt wood you use should hold up.

There is some discussion of banning the pressure treated wood altogether.

If you want to build your own Adirondack chairs. There are some interesting woods coming out of South America these days that are great for Adirondack chairs. Teak and Ipe are pricier than cedar at the lumber yard (unless you're buying the clear stuff that they have planed and sell by the linear foot, the jerks) so hey, PT does make a bit of sense pricewise.

In response to several posts:PT species -- around here (MN) what is commonly available is Southern Yellow Pine.Splintering -- has not been a problem with any furniture items I have built.

:), up here, in NNY there are lots of Amish sawmills.

What am I missing here? besides my own bias over the PT material, i think ADK chairs are charming. I think it cost about $5 to $10 per chair for the wood. I'm thinking of bird poop and mold spores, and squirrels crawling around the piece.

We've built and bought a lot from the Amish sawmills, you can't beat the pricing and you get what you pay for as well, seems nice in this day and age to actually get what you pay for. Napie.. We are going to start giving a free cow with every load of soft wood Lumber.

I buy 2-3 MBF at a time, but I believe they will ship small quantities with no cost penalty. I've made three pairs of Adarondack chairs out of PT I bought at Home Depot. .70 to 1.00 per bf rough cut. A simple Yahoo search "treated wood" will give you more info than you can read in a lifetime. Cypress is softwood, so it dents and scratches easily. How Long Will Pressure-Treated Wood Last Outside? It has precise curves and angles in the joining pieces. This chair is perfect for relaxation.

Plus, it supports all the right places, so you can relax in comfort.

Cedar and redwood are great choices since they are naturally water- and bug-resistant and last for a long time.

The following woods are the best choices for this type of chair. Local deliveryor curbside pick-upavailablewithin Los Angeles area only.

Pallets would be free, although you would spend a lot of time hunting and carefully taking them apart. Although it is not as heavy as teak, this wood is quite durable and strong.

You can leave your Cypress untreated if you plan to make indoor Adirondack chairs. *We do not accept returns but are happy to offer store credit*, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. This type of hardwood is available in multiple colors, from beautiful pink to deep red and brown colors. Buzzsaw, Just use this as a guide.

The school systems have generally stopped building playgopurnd equipment out of it. And any finish you put on, oil or water based, short of paint, fence stain or waterproofer(Thompsons) will give it an un-attractive finish. Enter now for your chance to win more than $2,000 worth of woodworking equipment from Woodpeckers.

Working with cedar is a breeze because of its lightweight and delicate texture. Some types of paint need to be maintained every year.

Also, around here (MN) PT is available in what they call "brown treated" -- as compared to the more common green treated. In-depth articles, up-close photography, and detailed illustrations, I am sure this question is asked all the time but so far I have not turned up the answer I am looking for in my searches. Who wants to eat cow?

To me, it's just not worth the risk. Typically, conditioner used to prevent blotchingrefers to a thinned shellac, but shellac doesn't like water much, and these benches will be outside in NC all year. More time is better. some wood is much cheaper green, all you need is patience and a little knowledge. Staining your Adirondack chair makes it look nicer and also helps it last longer.

Try Cypress. It is resistant to rot, which means it can survive in these environments. I have seen discussions on the best woods but on afforadable alternatives to the best woods. Anyone hears this too? We are talking jointing, planing, cuting, routing etc of the material.

What Wood Do You Make Adirondack Chairs Out of? These type of chairs are a real impulse buy. If youre more interested in a contemporary or modern look without knots, look for Architect Clear and A & better grades. If youve ever sat in one, youre well aware of how relaxing it is.

), and the cedar if left weathers well also.

Been reading from the beginning and found it quite interesting about using all the different woods.

Delicious!! But I'm guessing. Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more.

How Long Do Cedar Adirondack Chairs Last?

And all test I have read say the sawdust is the WORST part.

In that case, making an Adirondack chair is not difficult.

It will be just a matter of time, before the "new" treatments will bare out their ownproblems.

Red oak and white oak are the two varieties of oak.

<<"While you're at it, I think I heard something recently about Feds classifying sawdust as a known carcinogen??? First, they have removed arsenic from the chemical solution used for treatment; it is now some kind of mix containing copper. I am building some adirondack chairs to sell. In fact, most outdoor finishes on wood Adirondack chairs will only last 1 3 years before they need to be renewed. Anyone remember where to get them or do a Google. It is long has a slanted back and wide armrests. Actually "sticks" -- maybe 1/2" square --laid on boards you are stacking, which will then provide a space to allow better air circulation. Any suggestions? thanks, JB. It also becomes more beautiful with age, turning a silverish gray color.

The chemicals in the PT leach out of the wood.

Please note that these are custom made and can take up to 4 weeks for delivery. Its fast growth means it is a sustainable option and contributes to its versatility for many wood projects, including Adirondack chairs. Thought I would add 2 cents to this thread. make plates from it. In response to the posts regarding the safety of sitting on PT wood used to make a chair: a Federally-mandated Material Safety Data Sheet exists for all the old and new PT woods. The only reason any body ever enters a consent decree is so they don't have to admint guilt. i can completely get behind using common materials in an uncommon way: i'm sure most everyone that reads this forums does to some extent. Let's move on to something else, eh?Leon Jester, I've built hundreds of picnic tables here in the Boston area over the last 25 years. I think I'll try something else instead. Cedar can be a good choice for outdoor furniture because it is resistant to rot, termites, and Powder Beetles. I mix up a batch of regular epoxy glue and coat the bottom of any legs that will sit on the ground. I use Baer deck stain and a sealer/ top coat that's supposed to help diminish the effects of UV rays. Trust me, you don't want that for something you sit on! Look for postings on the net (maybe even some on FWW) as to where you can get some good, old groath, close grained Cypress (around here, we pay up to $5.00 b/f for "sinker Cypress" (wood that was sunk when the loggers were trying to get them down the river to the sawmills or train depots). Cedar is also easy to find in North America, a native tree. Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, I get commissions for purchases made through links on this page.

No chipping, flaking, water damage) If you want to save money on wood and are going into production, your best bet is probably to buy rough lumber from the local wholesale lumber supplier.

Also cedar is availible (in my area of CT) in 2x4 and 2x6 form for adir loveseats (you need the 2x to have no center support).

I wouldn't want my kids licking the top of a picnic table made from PT stock, but that would be true of a table made from anything that sits outdoors. I only buy when the picking is good and then sticker them for a few months.

Eucalyptus is a durable type of wood and has a lower price tag than teak. Jimmy, Thanks for all the good information about my cypress benches. Its similar to building any other piece of furniture. Your oil/varnish finish may be good for a short time but if it's outside it's gone in 6 months or so. The wood usually will take on a patina of the mud that it was in before being brought up to the surface. Remember too, that in the few furniture pieces I have made from PT, I always finished them with an oil/varnish concoction. I suggest to customers they put the feet on a small block. It even paints good. While pressure-treated poles can last up to 40 years without any signs of rot or decay, decks and flooring might only last around 10 years. I have heard maybe douglas fir is a good alternative. Anyone who has spent time at sleep-away camp will recognize the classic design of this loungechair.

I finished a sizable IPE deck last fall and I'll tell you, the wood is wonderous! And the beefier thickness of the deck boards (compared to 3/4" lumber) gives the chairs presence.

builders using it as it becomes more available.

My suggestion would be to check out the big lumber yards in your area that cater to deck builders. I have actually found splintering to only be a big problem if the wood is still wet.Hope this helps youJoejoe.

I have built about a dozen of them and used a brick red latex stain. The only problems I've ever seen is where the wood meets the ground it tends to rot. Quarter sawn fir or old growth stuff would be preferable, but it is hard to come by. Stainless steel screws or hot-dipped galvanized screws will work best. You will receive enough lumber to build the chair, plus a waste factor. I would guess that a treatment, as opposed to a film finish, might work better. All the new PT is copper based: Mostly true, but so was the stuff (CCA) the gov just banned. Wak up and smell the poisen.

this business about "real men" however. NNY huh?? Sand it down or joint it and you are ready to go. The wood does not change shape when the temperature or moisture levels change, making it a stable choice.