Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Feb 11, 2009 10:00pm | #1

   I would strongly recommend you avoid any type of film finish for your prototype or you final project. Bare feet, water and a smooth film finish is very dangerous.

   Let me say that teak is an excellent choice for your application. When you build it, do not use a film finish like varnish or poly varnish. Both are exceptionally slipper when wet and walked on with bare feet. Teak is used on boat decks because it is naturally non-skid. If you want to use a finish, use a marine teak oil but no finish is a perfectly good solution with teak.

   Howie.........
2. 
   ring | Feb 12, 2009 08:23am | #2

   Best choice is to use the teak, and leave it "au naturel".
   You could also use ipe, if you don't want the expense of the teak.

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?lang=e&id=1

3. 
   Don01 | Feb 12, 2009 09:07am | #3

   Don't use a finish for your prototype. Once you decide on you final design, use teak or one of the very dense stable hardwoods like tigerwood or something light like cedar or redwood. White oak may be an option as well.
   Who knows, maybe the cherry prototype will be what you want.
   Don't use oil. Spar varnish or Sikens marine. Any finish will likely have to be renewed regularly.

   Don

4. 
   terrylee86 | Feb 12, 2009 06:04pm | #4

   I agree with Howie and Dave, I would not use a film finish. If you have ever been inside a sauna (wet or dry) they use unfinished teak or cedar and that is it. There is no finish on my teak boat deck, just power washed a couple times a year.

5. 
   WillGeorge | Feb 13, 2009 04:34am | #5

   Without reading the other posts.  White Oak...

   EDIT: BUT OAK splinters!

   
   

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   Edited 2/12/2009 8:35 pm by WillGeorge

1. 
   jhrob1 | Feb 20, 2009 07:18am | #6

   Thanks to you all for the good advice. I finished the cherry prototype with a single coat of tung oil. I also sealed the end grain on the bottom of the legs with diluted yellow glue. It came out fine and if I can figure out how, I will attach a photo. If and when I build the version in teak, I will not be putting any finish on it.