Outdoor wood?

[joefrog]

Okay all,

My dad's birthday is coming up, and I want to carve (yes, carve, not turn) a fish name sign for him. Big fish, with our names carved into it.

My question is, what would be the best wood to use for it so it lasts? It will definitely be out in the weather and direct sun as an outdoor sign.

Thanks in advance!

 

[PTsideshow]

Ok coming from the sign biz the two top choices are redwood and cedar the cedar is used for the routed type sign and both for the media blasted signage. Then like the chain sawed carvings all other go do down the list as their durability to be outdoors and no longer growing.
:clown:

 

[Chasper]

Catalpa holds up very well outdoors and it is relatively easy to carve. Mahogany holds up but is stringy to carve, it takes a little more time. A good dried Black Locust slap would be ideal but it is so hard that sparks fly when you carve it.

As mentioned redwood and western cedar are good, but for me they are so soft that they are hard to carve with hand tools. Eastern red cedar works too if you can find a large enough piece without knots. All of them will bleach out over time, but they are very rot resistant.

 

[Jim Smith]

What about cypress wood. Seems to be fine grained and looks good weathered. Just a thought...

Jim Smith

 

[joefrog]

I think that gave me the info I needed -- thanks guys!

 

[Justturnin]

White Oak is some of the most bug and rot resistant wood there is.

 

[KenV]

Green Locust -- or green osage orange are both carvable and durable. Make sure you are using green wood or go to carbide burrs.

 

[KenBrasier]

I make a lot of outdoor signs and I use mostly Eastern Red Cedar or Cypress. Then several coats of polyurethane. You can leave either one unfinished if you want that aged look.

 

[corian king]

I was also in the outdoor sign business at one time.I agree with the redwood it holds up very well.