I made this set of child-sized picnic tables from some pine boards I took down when redecorating our summer-cottage and I would appreciate opinions and advice on how to finish them.
The sets are assembled solely with outdoor glue and standard dominoes, so no nails or screws in them.
[attachimg=1]
I know this topic is very close to another recent topic, but since I am in Denmark, I'm not at all familiar with the types of finish or the brands being mentioned (and they won't be available to me either) so I hope you will be patient with me and describe the types of finishes in generic terms (terms that I have a chance to find in a dictionary). This also means that I have difficulties in explaining in English the stuff I normally use.
Anyway I've seen so much expertise and willingness to help in the FOG, so I decided to try to overcome the technical language barrier. [smile]
The boards were originally washed with a lime-solution. I have sanded them down and washed them carefully with a vinegar-water solution and rinsed with clean water and I believe I got all the lime out and a clean surface to start on.
My first idea was to treat them like I normally would do with outdoor stuff, i.e first a rot-preventing and deep penetrating grounding oil, followed by two coats of a water-based top coat, we call it (literally translated) "wood-protection", but I guess it is basically a kind of paint, made for outdoor use including some fungicides. It is normally recommended that you need a pigmentation for UV-protection, so it would have to a colored top coat. My idea was to choose a grey color.
Now, when I had finished the sets, I find the it really a pity to cover the nice wood with paint, so I was thinking of possible alternatives that more or less would keep the look of fresh wood.
The sets will be outdoors most of the year and they will have their share of rain, for sure with sunny days in between. They may also see snow and frost. Further - they are picnic tables for kids after all - they could also see some ketchup and other stuff, and it would be nice to be able to clean them rather easily.
I certainly don't expect the tables to be pristine looking forever, but I would hope to keep them in good operating condition for more than a few years. Annual re-treatments could be considered if necessary.
My ideas are either some kind of oil-treatment (like you would do for Teak or other hard-wood furniture) or a lacquer (varnish?) like you would use on a boat.
Would this work on these pine sets?
Thank you for any advice!
Ole
The sets are assembled solely with outdoor glue and standard dominoes, so no nails or screws in them.
[attachimg=1]
I know this topic is very close to another recent topic, but since I am in Denmark, I'm not at all familiar with the types of finish or the brands being mentioned (and they won't be available to me either) so I hope you will be patient with me and describe the types of finishes in generic terms (terms that I have a chance to find in a dictionary). This also means that I have difficulties in explaining in English the stuff I normally use.
Anyway I've seen so much expertise and willingness to help in the FOG, so I decided to try to overcome the technical language barrier. [smile]
The boards were originally washed with a lime-solution. I have sanded them down and washed them carefully with a vinegar-water solution and rinsed with clean water and I believe I got all the lime out and a clean surface to start on.
My first idea was to treat them like I normally would do with outdoor stuff, i.e first a rot-preventing and deep penetrating grounding oil, followed by two coats of a water-based top coat, we call it (literally translated) "wood-protection", but I guess it is basically a kind of paint, made for outdoor use including some fungicides. It is normally recommended that you need a pigmentation for UV-protection, so it would have to a colored top coat. My idea was to choose a grey color.
Now, when I had finished the sets, I find the it really a pity to cover the nice wood with paint, so I was thinking of possible alternatives that more or less would keep the look of fresh wood.
The sets will be outdoors most of the year and they will have their share of rain, for sure with sunny days in between. They may also see snow and frost. Further - they are picnic tables for kids after all - they could also see some ketchup and other stuff, and it would be nice to be able to clean them rather easily.
I certainly don't expect the tables to be pristine looking forever, but I would hope to keep them in good operating condition for more than a few years. Annual re-treatments could be considered if necessary.
My ideas are either some kind of oil-treatment (like you would do for Teak or other hard-wood furniture) or a lacquer (varnish?) like you would use on a boat.
Would this work on these pine sets?
Thank you for any advice!
Ole
