What is a good outdoor surface for a table

Redwood is good, but like cedar its soft. Then there are exotics used for decking and such, but they get spendy.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/mad/3947930996.html

HTH

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/58228

-- Clint Searl....Ya can no more do what ya don't know how than ya can git back from where ya ain't been

Russell, you may have seen my project “Summerdale table”, the whole thing is cypress, which as I’m sure you know is just about rot proof, but very soft. I think white oak would be a great choice, as it resists rot well and is hard. Wacto exterior oil, protects wood and it’s easy to touch up. Any outdoor finish is going to need to be redone sooner or latter, and the oil finish makes that easier to do. I did put a high gloss spar varnish on the top of said table as the wood is soft and I want the surface protection, which I think is a good idea on any thing that people are going to eat off of. Spar, because it is better for outdoors use as it has more flex than ploy, gloss due to better resistance to UV rays.

-- Fredj

cypress, cedar , redwood, and white oak are among good long lasting outdoor species (cypress and cedar are softer then the other 2 though)

-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

My sawyer has some mulberry that I think I’ll use if she goes for the quote. If she wants it cheaper, it’ll be cedar all the way, but likely a rectangle instead of a square table.

-- A positive attitude will take you much further than positive thinking ever will.