I’m quoting a job to rebuild a porch that has decorative brackets. The originals are rotted and need to be replaced, they were originally made of pine. I’m having trouble finding 1 3/4″ thick pine, my supplier showed me some spanish cedar which he says will hold up better outside. My question is the spanish cedar has an open grain like mahogany and I’m afraid if I paint it the grain will still show unlike pine which would have a smooth surface. Anybody use spanish cedar and how do you fill the grain to make it smooth or am I off base here. I attached a photo of the brackets that are on the rear porch which are the same has the ones I’m quoting on.
Thanks
Jim
Replies
You might want to post this at Knots, too. I can't think of what it's called, but the more serious woodworkers should be able to tell you what you should use to fill the grain.
Edited 5/11/2007 11:31 pm by SBerruezo
Jim
You can use cypress and it'll do the same thing that the cedar will. The grain on cypress is not so porus as that of other wood.
Cypress isnt all that expensive and I prefer to use it outdoors.
I tried to see in your profile where you lived but you dont have anything in there! Cypress seems to be a little scarce in some areas and I dont know where your at is why I wondered.
Doug
Edited 5/11/2007 11:38 pm ET by DougU