Recommendation for wood for Adirondack Chairs

[Speeddog]

What are they traditionally made out of?

Looking for good wood for outdoor, very limited direct sun, but 4 blocks to the beach environment.

Not looking to spend a ton of money on material, so I don't want to make heirloom chairs.

Found a set of plans:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/workshop/2919751.html

Anybody used those plans for making their own?

[red baron]

Cedar

[Speeddog]

Thx, cedar did seem to be a popular choice in the comments to the plan I linked.
Some folks used redwood, but I'm a little suspect of redwood's structural strength in this application.
Perhaps there's a specific type of redwood that's good, I don't have much wood knowledge.


The plans specify using 3/4 thick for some of the parts.

I'm not having success looking for local source at 3/4.

None of the good lumber places are open today, and I'm not shopping at the big box stores for this.

Anyone have SoCal references for a good lumber store?

[Rob Hilding]

If you can get it, Cypress is one of the best woods for outside

lasts (nearly) forever

[Ddan]

Cypress would be great, if you could get it, but I expect it would be pretty spendy, redwood would be fine, red cedar would be my choice.  Here (Maine) it's commonly available in two grades CVG  (clear vertical grain, really pretty but really spendy)  and STK,(sound tight knots, not as pretty but way cheaper and still nice).  I haven't used those plans but they have the curved backs so the chairs will be comfy.   

[mitt]

I didn't look at the plans up close, but it looks like most of the boards shown you could cut out of cedar deck boards, which are about 5.5" wide by 1" thick and $1/foot (here).

If you buy cedar 1X4's or 1X6's to make it out of, they will only come only finished on one side.  The deck boards are finished on both sides.

I just used a bunch of cedar boards and decking for a play house I built:









mitt

[Vindingo]

The plans specify using 3/4 thick for some of the parts.

I'm not having success looking for local source at 3/4.

are you looking for material labled 3/4"?  Nominal sized "one-bys" at a lumber yard are actual size 3/4".  On the parts that call for 1" material you can use 5/4 decking and that will give you 1"  

I didn't read the article, so I'm not sure if this is in the instructions but you should predrill/countersink all of the screws because both redwood and cedar split easily.

 

[mitt]

are you looking for material labled 3/4"?  Nominal sized "one-bys" at a lumber yard are actual size 3/4".  On the parts that call for 1" material you can use 5/4 decking and that will give you 1"  

I didn't read the article, so I'm not sure if this is in the instructions but you should predrill/countersink all of the screws because both redwood and cedar split easily.

Yep, that is what I used 5/4 (five quarter) boards fort the decking.  And yes, I pre-drilled everything, and used deck screws that were self countersink, but I didn't go crazy driving them in, just flush.  Cedar is very light and easy to crack.

mitt

[herm]

those plans are pretty good. the adirondacks with a slight curve to the seat are much more comfortable than the ones with a straight seat IMO.

i am partial to northern white cedar myself. splinter free and no need to stain/paint/treat it.
no idea what it costs these days though...........or if you can get it in CA?

[Grampa]

teak

[herm]

teak

refer to the OP's reference to not creating family heirlooms....
although i actually dont know what teak costs, i bet its similar to unobtainium

[Grampa]

refer to the OP's reference to not creating family heirlooms....
although i actually dont know what teak costs, i bet its similar to unobtainium

I had a real nice outdoor set made of teak and the set was rather inexpensive. that being said.... I've never purchased a raw plank of it.

I know a guy in town who makes them out of used pallets

[Holden]

Decent outdoor furniture exists that isn't teak?

Never thought there was much of a choice, but that might say a lot about my opinion's worth...

[ZLTFUL]

Actually, the price of teak varies greatly from place to place throughout the US. The kitchen I did was unfinished teak flooring that I finished myself and it was cheaper than equivalent oak or maple floors and looks WAY better.

I know our local woodworking mega-store has some very good selection of exotic hardwoods at very reasonable prices and teak is usually in the same ballpark of things like good maple, hickory, or quality oak.

[DuciD03]

Traditionally they used cedar. Use Cypress or also called yellow cedar; its harder that red cedar and will last longer; it is harder to find but durable; it is water and rot resistant; what they used to use for those water tanks on old buildings in NYC.

Teak is also good along with some other hardwoods.  I would not recomend using pressure treated; its waht the wood manufactuing industry has dome with pooy wood; usually hemlock; ading nasty chemicals and reselling it as outdoor wood ... it doesnt last.

If you going to go to the trouble of making a couple of adarondacks; you might as well spend a little on quality materials;  make sure any supports are oversized materials (ie cedar is not really structural wood)