GTA
General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Back Room => : WhittTX January 24, 2010, 03:20:41 PM
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Need help deciding how to finish up a project. Had some friends over Saturday for a shoot and I have "finalized" the three person guest table. Basically a 24x96 piece of 3/4 inch b/c plywood wrapped in 2x6 on 4x4 legs with reinforcement, much better (and cheaper) then the plastic 6ft tables I was using previously. This table will stay outside so I need to protect it from the elements. So how do I preserve it?
Thanks, Ron
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I am not a wood works man. Some of the guys here are good with it.
The only idea I have below.
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??? already have the shade. Very nice arrangement you have.
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Thompsons water seal? It's worked great for me on my fences. You could also hit it with a few coats of polyurethane. Then theres always the old stand- by... oil based paint hehe
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Ron, if you want it to weather, marine (spar) varnish is the thing. I might recommend just wood sealer if you mean it to be for shooting purposes....
Is it quality plywood that you intend to sand and finish, or do you just want weather protection?
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Whatever you use, be sure it doesn't stick when you sit on it, especially in shorts! Some outside products aren't intended for furniture use or food surfaces. I'm sure a good hardware store (as in a real one) can help you.
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Jerrycup has the right idea. Go with Marine Spar Varnish. It should do the trick for you.
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Hey Jerry! It's just a 3/4" B/C plywood top with 2x frame on pressure treated 4x4s. Just want it to last a few years. Don't plan to prep, just seal it and protect it from water and sun.
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That's my idea of a shooting rest... :)
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I would agree on the Marine Spar Varnish as best longer term choice, there are also some exterior poly urethane I have used is cheaper also works well. One thing I do know is the prep of wood surface is critical to it adhering properly and working well, for example if you have any sealer like Thompson on it or anything with silicone for that matter the vanish will never stick to it for long, so you will be stuck with silicone system on that wood, additives in treated wood can be a problem too. I hate to say this because I am the worlds worst, but you will have to read the labels. (BTW I concider this type of silicone base water repellant as only temporary and will need constant maintenance and refreshinging as time goes by) Tony.
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I think marine varnish is expensive, and maybe you'd want to apply several coats and sand to produce the attractive finish it is meant for. But it would work, and is meant for boats, etc.
I'm thinking a polyurethane finish is durable, and covers well. Dano, you are up on this stuff.
I have a teak table and chairs on my back porch, and I have applied teak oil a couple of times, but no sealer.
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Magnum the wood is fresh from HD, nothing has been on it other then what rain blew under the awning on Saturday. Really don't intend to do a lot of prep work, function over looks here. Had outgrown the three plastic tables for when friends come over an really didn't want to invest in more of them. I ran the numbers and I can build three eight foot three person tables for about the same price as two plastic six footers from Sam's which is the best price I have found locally. Plus I was thinking with a nice bench to shoot off of Jerry might decided to make the long drive over again :)
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I'd do it Jeffs way. Work in a whole bunch of animal fat.... :p 8) :p 8)
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Having worked in boatyards for many years I was surprised to see how long a shooting bench covering lasted at our gun club.
The club's caretaker built the bench out of 2x4's and plywood. Then he covered the top by stapling heavy duty vinyl over it, down all four sides, and under the edges. He didn't miter-cut the vinyl at the corners where it would leak. He just neatly folded the extra at the corners and tucked it under the sides.
That bench was there when I joined and lasted well over ten years being outside year round that I know of. It finally gave out because he didn't use pressure treated 2x4's for the legs and the bottoms of the legs started to rot off unevenly from being on wet ground for all those years. However, the top was like new when they took it apart.
I know from experiance that if it had been clear coated with the best marine varnish it never would have lasted as long.
After a rain, or snow, all I had to do was tip it over and the little bit of water that remained was easily wiped off by hand ready to start shooting. And with the vinyl being thick and soft, it didn't mark guns placed down on it.
Paul.
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I am a fan of Thompsons WaterSeal for some projects, BUT for even casual furniture, be aware that it keeps a somewhat tacky, sticky consistency. I wouldn't use it for this application.
Spar varnish is probably the way to go, or white outdoor primer and cover as suggested. I have seen the regular HD polyurethane flake off in direct sunlight applications over a relatively short time.
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I'd use at least 2 coats of West System epoxy on all surfaces...
105 rosin, and 207 hardener.. that hardener will give you a clear finish when it cures...
You can google West Systems, to find out more about them..
http://westsystem.com/ss/product-selection-chart/
This will give you a hard, weather resitant finish, more coats will build up a thicker finish...
73
Semper Fi
Ed
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Two things Poly or varnish either marine or just ext. will peel after time outdoors we had to sand and recoat marine varnish every 6 mo. in Fl.on Hatteras yachts. and as far as west system or any other epoxy it is not ultraviolet protected and will also peel. the cheepest idea was to use thompson'e water seal it comes in colors too and can be pressure washed and recoated as needed. we are only talking about BC ply and the outdoors. Howie
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YOU CAN APPLY TO IT MINWAX POLYURATHENE WITH BRUSH. IT IS USED FOR BOATS AND FOR OUTDOOR WOOD APPLICATIONS.
/ GERALD
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Appreciate all the input. Made a run by HD on the way home and looked at several options. Some items were just to expensive for the price point I needed. Picked up a sample that "seemed" to be the answer. Will post pictures when the project is finished.
Thanks again, Ron