Using Beech Outdoors

[Dorset Treeman]

I milled some beech into 2" planks as a first attempt with my Alaskan mill and thought I would make a simple bench out of it for my father-in-law as he keeps asking for one. I was going to treat it with fungicide then oil it but I know beech is prone to swelling then shrinkage (more than some other species!) causing excessive splitting so is it worth me making anything for outside with this beech?

[farmer rod]

if you are going to all the effort to make something, use a more durable wood for outside

[prj88]

From my experience Beech isn't great for outside use, unless covered in thick ship varnish or something similar. It does tend to rot quickly if in contact with the ground. You could use a better hardwood for the legs and that may help

[delabodge]

beech is a defo no no outside mate,,but ,,,if you made a bench with it and put it under a porch/lean too,,you`d be fine,,,,

[Dorset Treeman]

Thanks guys.