outdoor table top help

[Brian Runau]

This has been outdoors @ a month now. Built from Cypress with "One Time" finish. There was no cracking in it when glued up. I used a butt joint on the top and the width of the frame is @ 5-1/4" wide not counting the lip the marble insert sets on. Was thinking of using miter corners, but thought better of it and went with butt joints. Two dominos in each corner joint.

Pictures show four spots where I now have cracking after a month. Anything I can do to relieve the stresses or keep water from penetrating inside the wood?

Thanks.

Brian

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[Rod Sheridan]

Hi Brian, those look like cracks from the wood drying, which means the wood wasn’t dry enough when you made the table.

I don’t use film forming finishes outdoors, I use a penetrating type finish.

Yo may be able to rip out the cracks and recluse the top if you want.

Regards, Rod

[Brian Runau]

Hi Brian, those look like cracks from the wood drying, which means the wood wasn’t dry enough when you made the table.
I don’t use film forming finishes outdoors, I use a penetrating type finish.

Yo may be able to rip out the cracks and recluse the top if you want.

It was in my garage on a lumber rack for 6+ years and in my basement shop for 2-3 months before using it.

I forget who (i'm old), but someone here said they had used this on an outdoor table and had no mildew for 3+ years. Has a 7 year guarantee. I used a marine stain on the previous table and the legs were black from mildew after 1 year. Take a router and a straight edge and plunge route the crack out and fill it with a cypress patch? Thanks. Brian

[John TenEyck]

It was me that recommended One-Time. For those unfamiliar with it, it's a penetrating acrylic that cures by UV light, not a film forming finish.

The cracks you now have are from the wood drying out. I had the same thing happen with some black locust that was air dry that I used to build a piece of outdoor furniture. Once the sun got on it, many stress cracks developed. I did have a film finish on that project and, yep, water got in/under it and required quite a bit of work to make sort of right.

In your case, I would try brushing One Time into those cracks. It's worth a shot before taking more drastic actions.

John

[Richard Coers]

Does outdoors mean direct sunlight? Basement shops get really humid in the Midwest in the summer. 2-3 months would be enough for the wood to pick up some moisture.

[Brian Runau]

Does outdoors mean direct sunlight? Basement shops get really humid in the Midwest in the summer. 2-3 months would be enough for the wood to pick up some moisture.

My dehumidifier is set at 50% year round? Brian

[Brian Runau]

It was me that recommended One-Time. For those unfamiliar with it, it's a penetrating acrylic that cures by UV light, not a film forming finish.

The cracks you now have are from the wood drying out. I had the same thing happen with some black locust that was air dry that I used to build a piece of outdoor furniture. Once the sun got on it, many stress cracks developed. I did have a film finish on that project and, yep, water got in/under it and required quite a bit of work to make sort of right.

In your case, I would try brushing One Time into those cracks. It's worth a shot before taking more drastic actions.

John

Think I will try injecting finish in the cracks and live with it. I will cover it during the winter. Next table aluminum!

Thanks brian

[Andrew Hughes]

Why are the boards so wide Brian.
There plenty of good outdoor table designs to follow. Never can we make a table outdoor like one indoor unless the parts are unusually large. Picnic tables are probably the best example. For a more refined table look at any example sold at the pottery barn or crate and barrel. Real teak or plantation grown the parts are small maybe 1 1/2 wide a exception for the legs. I could go on and on. I think I’ve made my point
Good Luck

[Holmes Anderson]

Does the board in the second photo include the pith?

[Brian Runau]

Why are the boards so wide Brian.
There plenty of good outdoor table designs to follow. Never can we make a table outdoor like one indoor unless the parts are unusually large. Picnic tables are probably the best example. For a more refined table look at any example sold at the pottery barn or crate and barrel. Real teak or plantation grown the parts are small maybe 1 1/2 wide a exception for the legs. I could go on and on. I think I’ve made my point
Good Luck

The marble was 36" square and I wanted the table to be at least 44" . The 2 x stock let me go that wide so I did. Brian

[Andrew Hughes]

I was thinking you made the top out of pieces that wide. I don’t why but that’s what I was thinking I apologize for my mistake.
I do sorta remember you asking about building a outdoor table last month. Wider pieces around the perimeter of outdoor tables is pretty common I think.
At my home I have a deck made from port orford cedar every board has cracks but the stock is 1 inch thick so it’s still good for walking.
Good Luck

[Brian Runau]

I was thinking you made the top out of pieces that wide. I don’t why but that’s what I was thinking I apologize for my mistake.
I do sorta remember you asking about building a outdoor table last month. Wider pieces around the perimeter of outdoor tables is pretty common I think.
At my home I have a deck made from port orford cedar every board has cracks but the stock is 1 inch thick so it’s still good for walking.
Good Luck

No worries, I think it will be OK, stock is 2 x, but pi---s me off it starts to crack one month into using it. Oh well, wood being used outdoors. Brian