sycamore table

[Nick Harrison]

I have had a slab of sycamore seasoning for around 10 years in my shed and now finally got around to wanting to do something with it. I want to use it as an all weather outdoor garden table but am unsure on the best treatment to use? I'd like to keep the natural colour of the wood so simply want to keep it protected from the elements, someone i know who does wood turning suggested boiled linseed oil as opposed to raw, any thoughts or other ideas please??

 

thanks

Nick

[se7enthdevil]

sycamore is not durable so it might not last long anyway if let uncovered in the elements.

 

personally i would give it loads of coats of danish oil every other week till you've applied about 5-8 coats and then you'll have to hope it doesn't rot within 5 years.

[Macpherson]

Hi, I would agree that sycamore isn't very durable outside but I've used it fairly often , if it's any help I coat it with many thin coats of rubbed on chinese tung oil thinned 50/50 with clear spirit based wood preserver as opposed to white spirit and a touch of oil paint driers {terebene} to get it to dry more quickly, the main problem with linseed oil is that there's a good chance of it getting mildew and turning black. cheers.

[Rob D]

As above sycamore is going to be tricky to get to last outside even if coated up to the nines!

[David Humphries]

Indoor table it is then Nicholas

 

 

 

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[TonyIOM]

I use Ronseal clear decking oil on all my carvings and outdoor tables. I thin the 1st coat 50% with white spirit then add neat oil coats afterwards. It provides an almost waxy like coating.

 

If using the table outside I reccomend routing out a drip groove about 1/2" from the edge of the table to stop water wicking back underneath.

 

Cheers

Tony

[Mike Dempsey]

About the only thing that has the least effect on changing the colour of white woods such as sycamore, ash and lime is water based lacquer. Even then your sycamore will not last long outside. It will get mildew/black dot after the first winter and then its downhill from there.

 

Mike

[Nick Harrison]

cheers for all the advise! as Mr Humphries has pointed out, looks like the missus is gonna have to allow this one to remain inside the house!