Outdoor table project

I need to make an outdoor dining table. Was hoping to find some guy with locust but came up empty. One local guy had some catalpa which I learned is also rot resistant. They were live edge slabs and I want straight so yesterday was spent cutting.

Will take to my friend’s place with a planer. Any thoughts on finish? Was thinking just linseed oil.

Oh and there was a bullet in the wood.

 

I like Danish Oil for wipe on applications like this. Can't wait to see the end result.

 

Bullet = character.
Leave it there.

Not sure on what I would use to finish. I think linseed oil tends to be sticky?

 

Unfortunately it popped out. Had to do a second pass.

 

Might be a while. I need to fill some holes with the bane of my existence…epoxy

 

I learned something new.....I had no idea catalpa was rot resistant.

 

How about Thompson water seal?

 

Is it food safe? Just googled and saw mixed messages

 

I had looked that up before I posted and couldn't get a definitive answer. However, there are a lot of YouTube videos that show people refinishing picnic tables with it. I've eaten off of enough pressure treated picnic tables which are treated with God knows what. Probably safe, especially after it dries good. You're going to use plates lol

 

Oh yeah…my brain wasn’t working when I wrote that. Of course pressure treated is eaten off of all the time!

 

Don't feel bad, I was thinking about that too

 

Here it is. I had an extra piece, so it’s a bench.

Waiting on the legs. Found a guy near me who will weld them.

 

Looks great! What did you use to finish it?
I used a live edge catalpa for my bathroom counter, but still need to finish it.

 

I didn't finish it. Someone near me does a good job and since I am using it outdoors, I wanted a top notch job done. He used an outdoor lacquer. Not sure what brand, or anything.

 

Turned out nice