Replies

1. 
   GEide | Jan 07, 2009 11:18pm | #1

   Hi Tom, what do you mean by "steamed"? A warm climate?

   Thanks, Gina

   FineWoodworking.com

1. 
   ironwoodstudios | Jan 08, 2009 01:23am | #2

   literally it will subjected to steam when in use

2. 
   GEide | Jan 09, 2009 01:15am | #3

   Hi Tom,

   Thanks for the additional information via email. To recap, here is the criteria:

   • So it sounds like this chair will be used for traditional healing and exposed to regular moisture from a pot of steaming herb infused water will be placed underneath the chair.
   • You can't use wood that is too aromatic. Plastic finishes are out.
   • You're considering boiled lindseed oil and marine ply, but you're concerned about how the glue in the plywood will hold up in moisture.
   • You're also considering a wood treatment/stabilizer called ecolife which is rot resistant and helps the wood resist warping. 
   • You're considering alder for it's water resistant properties but can't find it locally.

   I'll see if I can get one of our resident experts to weigh in on this... in the meantime, about alder... Did you read Anissa Kapsales' article that covers alder? She recommends some online retailers in her article and we also have more listings online.

   Anyway, good luck with your project.

   Thanks, Gina
   FineWoodworking.com

3. 
   JohnWW | Jan 09, 2009 02:24am | #4

   If the chair is only exposed to the vapors from a lightly steaming pot in an otherwise well ventilated area I wouldn't worry about it, the exposure wouldn't be any worse than a chair sitting out on covered porch in a damp climate. For the wood to rot it needs to be almost continuously wet for weeks at a time. The unfinished interiors of saunas hold up just fine for years.

   The expansion and contraction problems shouldn't be especially worse either, if good design and construction techniques are used there shouldn't be a problem.

   Finishes are primarily for appearance, they make little or no difference in preventing rot or wood movement. The most natural finish would be no finish at all, or just a light wiping with an natural oil or wax.

   John White