I am going to build a porch swing style swing for my daughter. It will be hanging from an A frame and will be exposed to all types of weather. The sun out here is brutal on wood at this altitude (5800 ft)  I am not too familiar with the wood types available out here, but do know that big box carries a lot of red wood, cedar and some spruce.

 

Questions

 

1. What wood would you use?

2. Will the wood be as strong as the harder woods I have worked with? Oak, ie.

3. Should I cut the wood thicker to compensate for any loss of strength?

3. would you leave it as it is, with a sealer, or paint it? 

 

Thanks

Ron I have and am building some for a client and they are out of white oak. The seat supports and back supports are 1 1/2" think and the slats are 1 1/2" wide and 1/2" thick. I am on my iPad now so I can't post a picture but I have posted some of those. I see some woodworkers around here that make them out of cedar. I have also seen some made from cherry and of course I see the out if treated lumber.

My client was painting the white oak ones. I have seen some where they put varnish but you will have to do that probable each year. I think it would be the same if you used poly and it is outside.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

I agree with John on the white oak.  Red oak is way too porous for the weather.  The ones I make have 1/2 slats also with no problems.  I spray a spar urethane on mine.  About 3 thin coats.

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Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

The one I built of Cherry and coated with spar varnish, it looked really bad after just one year exposure out here.That is why I was considering the woods like cedar ,spruce,& redwood. The fences out here are built of unfinished cedar and last quite a while, mine is 15 years old. It is weathered and dry looking, but still pretty solid. 

So Red Oak is the better choice?

John, you mentioned treated wood, I had not thought about that. Not a bad idea. What are the cons on using it?

I would think cypress would be the best for outdoor projects.  

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www.thepatriotwoodworker.com Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops

white oak resists rot and is strong.

I have a set of 9 Adirondack chairs that are permanent residents by my pool  in NJ and they are PT spruce and painted.

They've been good for about 5 years now.