Glenn,
Oak, if it's white, not red is good. Resistant to rot but a bugger to work, Very hard, make sure blades ore sharp. Cherry, not so sure it would hold up well outdoors. I love the stuff, made a set of stirs and newl posts and handrails from from a bunch of 2 X 8 stuff friend had left over from a big job at his millwork shop. Was under a buck a brd ft, not the 5,6 or 7$ they get today. And no sap wood. Teak lasts forever but you'll be paying for it that long. And as far as the composite stuff no strength, will bend like crazy. Although that might make for a cozy cuddle for you and the missus. You'll just keep sliding to the center. My recommendation, Ash. Just made up a bunch of the slats for a couple of garden bench restores that I did for my son's lady friend. You know the type, cast metal legs and about 4 ft long. I's send you a pix by about month or so after I delivered the benches, they split. After 3 1/2 yrs. I told him she was with him to get to me for the woodwork.:sidelaugh He doesn't think that's funny.:hide: Jeez, you'd think at 40 yrs old he'd be able to take a joke. Wouldn't you? Especially with me as his father.:ROF
Pretty easy to work with (the Ash, not my son) rip to size, Use a router with a rounding over bit, (table router works great and easy but handheld will do it) and finish. I generally put on 4 coats spar varnish. The first coat if cut and used as a primer.
There you have it. Just another bit of my 2¢.
MikeC

 

I got a porch swing this summer that was left at the curb with a "free" sign on it..

Its in nice shape other than the seat cushions are roached..

I was thinking of making wood slats instead of the foam rubber and fabric seats,and I have a bunch of used cedar fence panels..figured cedar weathers well,but splinters might be an issue..

A friend suggested maybe some of that "Trex" decking thats half wood and half plastic might be a better option...what do you guys think of that idea ?..I have never used that before,not sure how hard it is to cut,sand,etc..

 

That stuff is A) Hot, B) slippery as all get-out, and C) will bend. See notes in previous post. That "plastic / wood composite works on stuff with lots of support beneath it, like a deck, but for most other stuff, I have found it to be worthless. Plus it generall cost much more that a niece piece of wood.
Just my 2¢.
MikeC

 

Thanks-Mike for the response and that helps me a lot...:thThumbsU
Still zoning ideas here......
I'll have to enlist my other friend (his name is Glenn also) across the road for his wood-shop help...

glenn

 

Personally id look into white cedar. Easy to work, ages well, pretty rot resistant, light weight, and pretty strong. Its not oak strong, but at 3/4" thickness, should have no issue supporting a person in a 15' span. Its been used in small crafts for hundred of years for this same reason.

 

Thanks for the info Newsman...looks like I'll be trying the cedar fence boards on my swing if I go with wood..
The swing costed about 150 bucks new,and you can still buy new seat cushions for it--for about 200 bucks!...what a bargain.....

 

Well/well--revisiting this older thread I started....this little project been on the back burner over the winter--but lo and behold--after talking to several different people---I found a local man (Two counties away)--that has a small saw-mill operation @ an old farm. Has all kinds of wood stock-piled and drying. Gets it from a lot of different places and sources.

So I ordered up some cedar, and will pick it up shortly.
Pictures as we go--

glenn

 

? is cedar strong enough
have seen 3 on mine at close to 200# each

john

 

Oh yes--cedar is used out West, especially in Texas and Oklahoma where it is native--to build fence lines and pole sheds.
It'll more then do this little job.

*Got the wood slats back here, and already started finish-sanding them over in my buddie's little shop. About 1/2 -way done now--depending on the weather--we may finish up this next week.

glenn

 

Almost done (finally) wood slats outside drying after several coats of tung oil....
Pictures coming up-:tango_face_smile_bi

 

LOL gotta love when a new project thread shows up, and you find you replied to it years ago. Should last about forever with the cedar on it.

 

Shows you've been around a long time, Paul...:kens:

glenn

 

As a retired farmer, I always used Red Oak for fence posts. IMO red oak is tops for outdoor rot resistance. Good Luck.

 

Quick peek--as the slats dry--three coats of dark tung oil really brought them out--and protected hem...


The arm rests/platforms for a drink turned out almost identcal. Had a hard time finding the ';nut-serts' for the screws--odd size metic threads.

glenn

 

Looking nice!!!!

 

And here's the metal frame stripped down/sanded--then primed and two coats of Rust-oluem oil based smoke gray. (Thanks to my wife). Had to replace a couple of the little bushings where the swing part pivots--I put some little brass ones back in there....:tango_face_smile:

Rinsed it off this morning--gotten dusty sitting under the tree--hope to get it done today or tomorrow...

Finally finished all the landscaping /rocks around my pool , also. In midst of painting the outside metal panel we fixed a while back where it had rusted out.....
Life /work continues...

 

Pool is done and covered for the winter...Shouldn't have any more metal problems long as we are here.......(fingers crossed)..
Nighty-nite -pool...

 

Glider wood just about done also--last few slats going on today--and she will be covered for the winter.
The cedar wood slats I got really turned out nice, after sanding them down--three coats of Master's Tung OIl--and then my friend across the road made me the two end arm rests in his little wood shop.
As close to OEM as we will get....

* I'm another one here that drag's's my feet on stuff sometimes----:tango_face_sad:
glenn

 

That's some nice looking wood, Glenn :tango_face_glasses:

 

Yes--it really did turn out good--so many little different grains and colors--all out of the same two big slabs of wood. I'm happy.....

Little backstory--cuz I know you folks like the 'fill -in'...Found this guy out in the country, not too far from me--with a 'farm'based sawmill enterprise going on. All different kinds of wood, he has stockpiles--covered up an waiting. He has a big kiln that can heat and dry the wood faster than nature alone if need be...Also just bought a big machine to make copies of wood moldings--all computerized.....He says he can duplicate any molding or decorative stuff from a 12" sample, after he plays with it a while. Reminds me of an old fashioned duplicate key machine type thing. The good part is as word of his ability gets around--he is going to get real busy. There is a TON of restoration work on old homes/businesses going on across this area.(Remember--Richmond was capital of Confederacy, and there are still homes from the 1700's.) He doesn't want to get too busy, thou--just a couple people operation and he's happy.

This fellow also has cut and trimmed four pieces of nice maple that my buddy across the road that helped with my slats, is going to make into a retro-type kitchen table.

glenn