[Jaxxq]

Hi, I'm starting my first project of making a simple outside workbench.

So I started at Home Depot got some 2x4s and started the frame and legs... I'm still confused on the different types of 2x4s available?
Pine, fir, vs spruce? PT or non PT?

I used pine non PT, I probably should have gone with PT, but now maybe I can just stain and seal the wood?? Danish oil?tung oil?

I also need a suggestion for the top,
A gas burner will be on top so some cooking will be done so I want to have something easy to clean.

Thanks , hopefully I can learn some more to start a better second project.

 

[Steve Neul]

Hi, I'm starting my first project of making a simple outside workbench.

So I started at Home Depot got some 2x4s and started the frame and legs... I'm still confused on the different types of 2x4s available?
Pine, fir, vs spruce? PT or non PT?

I used pine non PT, I probably should have gone with PT, but now maybe I can just stain and seal the wood?? Danish oil?tung oil?

I also need a suggestion for the top,
A gas burner will be on top so some cooking will be done so I want to have something easy to clean.

Thanks , hopefully I can learn some more to start a better second project.

You might have been better off making the bench out of pressure treated pine but if you don't have it in contact with the ground it will last a long time. If the treated wood is done right termites won't touch it. Using construction lumber all you will have to worry about is rot. If you paint it or put an oil finish on it you should be alright. I wouldn't use the Danish Oil as it is an interior oil finish. You should be alright with tung oil or something like Thompson Water Seal.

Normally when you find pine at one of the box stores it is a grade known as SPF (spruce,pine,fir)meaning the stack of wood is a mixture of spruce, white pine and douglas fir.

Keeping the top clean may be difficult with any oil finish while cooking. You might put a piece of formica or sheetmetal under the gas burnier while in use.

 

[Jaxxq]

Steve,

What do you mean by not touching the ground?? I have it sitting on concrete, under a open patio roof.

HD and lowes has some ready made 2x4 panels I can use for my table top. I was thinking of maybe birch plywood??? Or hardboard?

 

[woodnthings]

wood is like a straw

When the end of the legs are in contact with the ground and or water it will "wick" up into the wood because the pores are open.
You need to seal the ends of the legs by putting them in a pail of preservative.

The wood will last much longer if treated:
http://www.cps.gov.on.ca/english/plans/E9000/9401/M-9401L.pdf

 

[Steve Neul]

Woodenthings is correct about the water wicking up from the ground however my thoughts were more toward termites. If you have it on concrete then termites shouldn't be a problem. Assuming there is good drainage if you would just put nylon tacks on the bottom of the legs it would keep water from wicking up on the legs.

The birch plywood is made with interior glues and would delaminate from humidity alone. Hardboard is better however it is just paper. If sheetgoods is what you want then I would recommend pressure treated pine plywood. Most of it doesn't look very nice however it will hold up in the weather for years with nothing on it.

 

[Kelvartis]

un-treated wood + concrete = rotten wood. simple as that


inexpensive surface? Plywood type product with oil based paint to seal it. Not the greatest but it'll hold up quite a few years. while you have the oil based out do the non-pt 2x4's you got including the end cuts!

toss a sheet of metal under the bbq, prob solved


P.s. edge the plywood a little so it's not so square, wont splinter you and holds paint better not being a really crisp edge.. little sand paper should do

 

[Jaxxq]

Ok so for the top ill put together some PT 1x6 decking board. Tung oil on the non PT 2x4.