Picnic table ideas?

[Mike Priest]

I am looking for some good ideas on outdoor furniture, so if anyone has any good links for some nice furniture please share them. I am specifically planning on a picnic table, and maybe some Adirondack style chairs. I saw some "comfortable" Adirondack chairs posted a while back that would fit the bill nicely, but seem to remember that plans were not available for them. I googled a bit, but havn't found the right stuff yet.

What materials would be good for outdoor furniture that needs to last forever :) Anyone ever build any outdoor furniture with that artificial decking stuff? Kinda curious how it would work out.

As always thanks for the info

[Joe Chritz]

Can't help on the plans right now but for the wood cedar is always a popular choice.

I am thinking about doing some benches out of Ipe or Purpleheart out around my pond.

I have built a couple decks with the composite material and it is great for walking on. I don't think I would care for it as a table surface, even for outdoor furniture.

I am curious to hear what others have used as well. After looking at Ipe for my front deck I think it would be great for outdoor furniture.

FYI, I cheaped out and used treated decking for my porch. :(

Joe

[Rick Doyle]

I am looking for some good ideas on outdoor furniture, so if anyone has any good links for some nice furniture please share them. I am specifically planning on a picnic table, and maybe some Adirondack style chairs. As always thanks for the info

hi mike,

i've got a link to a page of outdoor plans on my website that includes adirondack chairs and a picnic table:

http://www.rickswoodworking.ca/outdoor_plans.htm

i hope this isn't against the 'rules', but i understand it is o.k. to post links in answer to a specific question. if not, my apologies! there are also some links to free plan sites on the plans page if you don't see anything you like there.

good luck.

[Mark Rios]

The chairs that Gail made sure were nice. Wouldn't mind building those.


http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=29696

This is the thread but I can't get the pics to come up.

[Ron Jones near Indy]

Some friends have chairs made from Norm's NYW plans. They seem very nice to me.

[Howard Rosenberg]

Cedar.
Ipe.

Cedar's light, greys out nicely and is rot-resistant but it dents easily.

Ipe's great.
It weighs a TON.
Greys out to a really odd but striking silver.
It'll last forever.
But you've got to start with sharp bits and be prepared to sharpen planes and chisels regularly.

Last year I designed and assembled two eight-foot long benches.
This is the year of the matching table.

I used a Kreg-brand pocket hole jig and their proprietary screws.
Works like a champ - both benches are as solid this year as the day I finished them.

Contrary to what Kreg says, you've got to pre-drill the receiving hole in ipe because ipe is reeeeal hard.
There are a number of separate, simple steps to do if you're interested in using pocket hole joints on ipe.
I'd be happy to help if you're interested.

HTH
Howard

[Dave Dionne]

and at least for the chairs White Oak is a great wood, it will weather to a silvery grey. Cypress is another chioce and both will last forever with a up keep. I love cedar but it is very hard for me to come by here in NH. Western Red is expensive