I would like to build a bench on my deck. What are the best tools to use? What type of wood should I use? I have a limited budget.
They're coming to take me away, Ha-haaa!
Advanced .NET Debugging Blog
My personal blog
First, I would suggest getting a circular saw. The B&D 2200 is a good a reasonable choice, its also cheap (look at Walmart).
Regarding wood, I would suggest MDF, if you have a limited budget and it doesn't need to put a lot of weight, otherwise use pine.
I don't think MDF will hold up well outdoors. I would suggest a treated wood, or better yet Cedar or Teak.
Without a bit more information, this is hard to answer. What size of a bench (how long, how deep?) Does it need to compliment other features of deck (in terms of wood, color, style)?
As knotboy indicated, MDF (medium-density fibreboard) is a poor choice for outdoor use -- it does not handle moisture well at all, has insufficient strength, and is extremely heavy. Properly finished pine, redwood, cedar, or teak are all good choices. Teak has the best weather-resistance properties, but is both expensive and hard to "work."
If you have limited (or no) construction experience, I would strongly encourage you to get a book on outdoor furniture construction and read a little bit about what you're getting yourself into. A bench, surprisingly, is not the simplest of projects to start. It *seems* like it would simple, but ensuring that your construction is safe and stable is harder than it looks.
Got an answer for ilana? Would you like to comment on the posted answers, or vote for the one which you think is the best?
Sign up for a free account, or sign in (if you're already a member).
Other people asked questions on similar topics, check out the answers they received: