Should I polyurethane my cedar BGE table???

coastrat · 02-09-2013, 07:14 AM

Need advice:
I am putting together my cedar BGE table and would like your opinion on protecting it. As you know, cedar turns gray pretty quick when it's exposed to the elements. I purchased a can of clear polyurethane (satin finish) to prevent the graying and protect it from BBQ sauce stains, etc.

Am I making a mistake by "painting" my cedar table?

I'd rather be smoking on my 1990 Imperial Kamado.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Freddy j · 02-09-2013, 07:18 AM

Make sure it's the "helmsman" made for outdoors (and uv protected). Of course you won't be using it as a cutting board so lay it on nice nod thick.

MattCom · 02-09-2013, 08:19 AM

I wouldn't. When moisture gets under the finish (and it will) you'll start to see a lot of blemishes and peeling. that will be the moisture trying to escape from under the finish.
Cedar will go silver without a finish on it and it will not rot unless it's in constant contact with water.
Let it go silver like the rest of us.

coastrat · 02-09-2013, 08:22 AM

I should mention that I keep my smoker on a covered patio.

It was an expensive table, so I hate to let it turn gray.

I'm now leaning towards just a dark stain. Mostly so it will "match" the dark bronze patio columns and furniture. Is that gay?

I'd rather be smoking on my 1990 Imperial Kamado.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gore · 02-09-2013, 08:31 AM

I put 5 coats of the boat-grade on ours some three+years ago and it still looks great. Even with the UV protection, it still fades. I have some tiles on it to rest hot items and the color under the tiles is quite a bit darker. Ours is under a patio roof too.

DubfromGA · 02-09-2013, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy j

Make sure it's the "helmsman" made for outdoors (and uv protected). Of course you won't be using it as a cutting board so lay it on nice nod thick.

Sounds about right to me.

el_matt · 02-09-2013, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coastrat

It was an expensive table, so I hate to let it turn gray.

I think you've answered your own question. I say stain and seal it. Just make sure you use the exterior stuff. An interior sealant will start to flake in nothing flat(don't ask me how I know, I just know,It's not like I've ever made that mistake, that'd be crazy)

Matt

Bob in St. Louis · 02-09-2013, 10:35 AM

How about some kind of oil rub?
That way it'll be protected, won't peel, and is easy to reapply.
There's butcher block grade (food grade) carnuba wax too.

Just a couple ideas. But I'm not an "outdoor wood" woodworker.

kds9547 · 02-09-2013, 10:44 AM

What freddyj said.

LM600 · 02-09-2013, 04:14 PM

What Bob said, I would go with an oil, soak in, leave to dry, soak in again, repeat.

A Family member has some hardwood decking that is over 20yrs old and looks brand new....it get's oiled regular, that's the secret.

Water based stains or 'preservatives' will eventually peel and/or allow moisture in.

Red Valley BBQ · 02-09-2013, 07:36 PM

Make sure you have given it a chance to weather some. If there is moisture in the wood you will get peeling. I would wait until you get some good warm low humidity weather.

Big dawg · 02-09-2013, 08:29 PM

I stained my table with a weatherized stain its been close to a year and it looks new still. I just wipe it down once a week or every other week and its good to go. I did not use a finish because it starts to peel after a while. Here are a few pics.

Before stain
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1360463095.764733.jpg

After stain
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1360463148.756474.jpg

With the akorn
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1360463217.156099.jpg

Let us know how she turns out.:)

Jrow

Bob in St. Louis · 02-09-2013, 08:37 PM

That's sexy lookin' right there!!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Love the bottle opener, that'll be on mine (when I get around to building it).

coastrat · 02-10-2013, 07:01 AM

Thanks for all the replies fellas. Especially the tip about using the exterior stains. I ended up going with a stain + sealer in one by Olympia. Thats the only brand Lowes carries in a quart size. I didn't stain the bottom of the planks or legs. Figured that would give moisture a route to escape. Still not sure if I'm going to poly the top and I need to add the bottle opener when I find it.

Here's the money shot with my antique Kamado:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1360501087.058110.jpg

Zoomed out:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1360501155.055998.jpg

I'd rather be smoking on my 1990 Imperial Kamado...the predecessor to the BGE.

javahog2002 · 02-10-2013, 08:24 AM

Looks great except for the lonely Weber left out to survive the next hurricane. Where did you get your kamado ?

02-09-2013, 07:14 AM	#1
coastrat On the road to being a farker Join Date: 04-28-12 Location: gulf coast, ms Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Should I polyurethane my cedar BGE table??? Need advice: I am putting together my cedar BGE table and would like your opinion on protecting it. As you know, cedar turns gray pretty quick when it's exposed to the elements. I purchased a can of clear polyurethane (satin finish) to prevent the graying and protect it from BBQ sauce stains, etc. Am I making a mistake by "painting" my cedar table? I'd rather be smoking on my 1990 Imperial Kamado. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ I'd rather be smoking on my 22 yr old Imperial Kamado.

02-09-2013, 07:18 AM	#2
Freddy j is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 11-22-12 Location: Boston Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Make sure it's the "helmsman" made for outdoors (and uv protected). Of course you won't be using it as a cutting board so lay it on nice nod thick. __________________ Big Joe Kamado WSM 22.5" wsm mini

02-09-2013, 08:19 AM	#3
MattCom Take a breath! Join Date: 06-25-07 Location: East Phatchogue, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I wouldn't. When moisture gets under the finish (and it will) you'll start to see a lot of blemishes and peeling. that will be the moisture trying to escape from under the finish. Cedar will go silver without a finish on it and it will not rot unless it's in constant contact with water. Let it go silver like the rest of us. __________________ Out of the Ashes BBQ Team "Keepin' the Bar in Barbecue" Wooooooooo! WSM 18.5" & 22" 22.5 in Weber Kettle Smokey Jones SS UDS 1.0

02-09-2013, 08:22 AM	#4
coastrat On the road to being a farker Join Date: 04-28-12 Location: gulf coast, ms Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I should mention that I keep my smoker on a covered patio. It was an expensive table, so I hate to let it turn gray. I'm now leaning towards just a dark stain. Mostly so it will "match" the dark bronze patio columns and furniture. Is that gay? I'd rather be smoking on my 1990 Imperial Kamado. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ I'd rather be smoking on my 22 yr old Imperial Kamado.

02-09-2013, 08:31 AM	#5
Gore somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-05-08 Location: Hiding out from blood suck ghost snake gods ... and Nazis Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I put 5 coats of the boat-grade on ours some three+years ago and it still looks great. Even with the UV protection, it still fades. I have some tiles on it to rest hot items and the color under the tiles is quite a bit darker. Ours is under a patio roof too. __________________ Assistant to a Mad BBQ Scientist (and a squirrel): Primo Oval XL, Small Offset, Gasser, Optigrill, UBS "I love everything about the pig, even the way she walks." -- Spanish proverb (\__/) (='.'=) This is the rabbit baby. Invests him in yours signature, (")_(") and the help rabbit baby takes over control of the world! Hmmmm, I wonder, WWGALD? Avatar courtesy of Grillman and NorthwestBBQ Promoted by Bigabyte to "Idiot #1"

02-09-2013, 10:35 AM	#8
Bob in St. Louis is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-31-12 Location: St. Louis Missouri Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	How about some kind of oil rub? That way it'll be protected, won't peel, and is easy to reapply. There's butcher block grade (food grade) carnuba wax too. Just a couple ideas. But I'm not an "outdoor wood" woodworker. __________________ -Bob- Meat eater. Woodworker. PS3 Gamer. Home Theater Guy. Beer Drinker. WSM 22.5 and random cooking stuff used to help form my shapely manly figure.

02-09-2013, 10:44 AM	#9
kds9547 On the road to being a farker Join Date: 09-18-12 Location: Lugoff, SC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What freddyj said.

02-09-2013, 04:14 PM	#10
LM600 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-16-11 Location: Milton Keynes, UK Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What Bob said, I would go with an oil, soak in, leave to dry, soak in again, repeat. A Family member has some hardwood decking that is over 20yrs old and looks brand new....it get's oiled regular, that's the secret. Water based stains or 'preservatives' will eventually peel and/or allow moisture in. __________________ Pro Q Excel 20 - Brinkmann Pro Grill - ET-732 - Various Cold Smoke Generators - Smoking Gun

02-09-2013, 07:36 PM	#11
Red Valley BBQ Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-28-09 Location: Oil City, PA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Make sure you have given it a chance to weather some. If there is moisture in the wood you will get peeling. I would wait until you get some good warm low humidity weather. __________________ Red Valley BBQ Team Head Honcho ~ Vice Pres. In Charge of Production Firefighting BBQ Team ~ KCBS CBJ

02-09-2013, 08:29 PM	#12
Big dawg Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 11-28-12 Location: Austin Texas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I stained my table with a weatherized stain its been close to a year and it looks new still. I just wipe it down once a week or every other week and its good to go. I did not use a finish because it starts to peel after a while. Here are a few pics. Before stain ImageUploadedByTapatalk1360463095.764733.jpg After stain ImageUploadedByTapatalk1360463148.756474.jpg With the akorn ImageUploadedByTapatalk1360463217.156099.jpg Let us know how she turns out.:) Jrow

02-09-2013, 08:37 PM	#13
Bob in St. Louis is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-31-12 Location: St. Louis Missouri Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That's sexy lookin' right there!!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Love the bottle opener, that'll be on mine (when I get around to building it). __________________ -Bob- Meat eater. Woodworker. PS3 Gamer. Home Theater Guy. Beer Drinker. WSM 22.5 and random cooking stuff used to help form my shapely manly figure.

02-10-2013, 07:01 AM	#14
coastrat On the road to being a farker Join Date: 04-28-12 Location: gulf coast, ms Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks for all the replies fellas. Especially the tip about using the exterior stains. I ended up going with a stain + sealer in one by Olympia. Thats the only brand Lowes carries in a quart size. I didn't stain the bottom of the planks or legs. Figured that would give moisture a route to escape. Still not sure if I'm going to poly the top and I need to add the bottle opener when I find it. Here's the money shot with my antique Kamado: ImageUploadedByTapatalk1360501087.058110.jpg Zoomed out: ImageUploadedByTapatalk1360501155.055998.jpg I'd rather be smoking on my 1990 Imperial Kamado...the predecessor to the BGE. __________________ I'd rather be smoking on my 22 yr old Imperial Kamado.

02-10-2013, 08:24 AM	#15
javahog2002 Take a breath! Join Date: 10-02-09 Location: Longmont, CO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Looks great except for the lonely Weber left out to survive the next hurricane. Where did you get your kamado ? __________________ Smokemaster OffsetSSP:'95 Blue '00 Maroon'69 22 Cado'90 Red MTWSM Mini'77 Red 18'73 WSJET-732