Conference 7.286::home_work

sounds like a request for the CONSUMER notes file.

-mark

do the kp-7 thing...

    Wish I had known last week since I just sold my set for dirt cheap
    since the new setup came in. It was a table, four chairs, umbrella
    & stand. Dirt cheap was $100.
    
    My suggestion is try LANDO::CLASSIFIED_ADS for your best results
    in persuing further. 
    
    					Good Luck, gfc_@NIO
    

    
    I have tried to get into Classified_Ads with no sucess. Does anybody
    know what times it is available?
    
    Jim.

    re: .3 - I think the classified ads are available between 12 and
             1 during the day, and then after 4:30 - in other words,
             during "off hours" - when you get into the note, check
             note #1 for details...
    
    re: .0 - 
    
    Last year, we went looking for a set of 4 chairs and a table (no
    umbrella or chaise lounger - it was for inside of a screen porch).
    We looked at all of the things Bradlees, Sears, Wards, etc. had.
    To get something NICE was expensive, but to get something made of
    PVC was easy to find and inexpensive, but not really rugged.  We
    eventually went to a place called Namco in Hudson (across from
    Mc Donalds and Alexanders on 102, just north of the downtown
    Nashua bridge - in NH).  They had a good selection of both PVC
    sets, as well as metal ones.  We ended up getting a metal set
    with solid, comfortable chairs, and a strong table - but the price
    was about $375 or something like that - kind of like you get what
    you pay for.  This place delivers for free, and has a good selection
    for you to try out in their showroom (they're kind of a seasonal
    store - pools during th summer, christmas trees during the winter).
    Another possible place to go is the Seasonal Specialty Store in
    Simoneau Plaza in Nashua - similar place, similar items - maybe
    a different selection.
    
    In general - they're all about the same, although the seasonal
    stores tend to have a slightly better quality of merchandise..
    
    andy
    

    Just a note about buying outdoor furniture from Bradleys.  Last
    spring they ran a sale on outdoor furniture.  When you got there
    you had to take a rain check because "the truck didn't come in".If
    you asked (and only if you asked) when the furniture would be in,
    the answer was October.  Who wants to wait until October to get
    outdoor furniture?  It's just in time to put it away for the season.
    
    Chris D.

    I agree with Chris (.5), but I just bought a large patio set and
    checked the prices at Seasonal Specialities Stores and the chairs
    I was interested in cost $134. each...Then after sticker shock wore
    off, I checked out Service Merchandise and became quite pleased
    by the selection and prices. The same chair was only $79.82 and
    all but one item was in stock. The out of stock item I picked up
    in Tewksbury instead of Salem,NH.
    
    The set consists of 3 standard chairs, 2 rocking/swivel chairs,
    a twin seat glider, 7 1/2' umbrella w/stand, 1 chaise, and a glass
    top table...all this for $660. w/o lacking on good quality stuff.
    
    					Just me, gfc
    

    
    I just bought some unfinished lawn furniture and was wondering if
    anyone could recommend how exactly to finish it.  I've heard
    that you don't want to use polyurethane, but don't really know why.
    
    Looking through the hardware store I found something called 
    marine varnish (the kind for boats, not Ollie North) that looked like
    it might work.  My current plans are to use minwax to stain the piece
    and then seal/protect the piece with this marine varnish stuff.
    
    Anyone have some advice or comments on finishing outdoor furniture?
    
    thanks,
    
    -Randy

    Marine Spar Varnish is used for outdoor applications.  It will stand
    up to weather better than other clear finishes.  It can take the
    hot sun better, the moisture better, the abuse better.  All outdoor
    finishes will break down.  The ultra-violet rays break down the
    finish which usually starts cracking and then peeling.  Poly does
    not take strong sun well. 
    
    Whatever finish you choose, apply only to dry wood.  Several light
    coats are better than 1 heavy coat.  Light sanding between coats will
    rough the surface to give the next coat something to stick to. 3 coats
    of Marine Spar varnish will probably last 2 to 3 years before needing a
    sanding and another coat. 
    
    Stain will change the color of the wood but does not offer as much
    protection as you probably want for furniture.  My Grandmother use
    to take old tin cans, flatten them and stick then under the legs
    of her outdoor chairs.  She claimed that discouraged root.  A brick
    or concrete pads would probably work just as well but are more
    difficult to move when moving the furniture around the lawn.

I could swear that this has been talked about before, I had this note write 
locked and was replying with the duplicate message, but I couldn't find the 
duplicate.  Note 922 is close, but...

Paul

    
     Yes, MArine Spar Varnish IS the right clear coating to put on outside
    furniture. Don't feel bad, but you'll STILL have to recoat every
    2-3 years.
       Polyurethane peels too easily and recoating properly is difficult. 
    (the trouble with poly is it doesn't like to stick to itself)
    
    					Kenny
    

    Is Marine Spar Varnish preferred over poly, for finishing exposed,
    wooden, sliding glass doors as well. I tried exterior stain w/ no
    finsh last year, and my 12 foot slider does not look like it weatherd
    well. I would like to put on a prtective finish and am looking for
    suggestions.
    
    
                bob

    
        A little while after Poly came out, all the boat yards started
    to use it (because it was *supposed to be so good). The boat yards
    are now going  (or have gone) back to the Spar Varnish. It holds
    up better and it is easier to recoat properly.
    
    					Kenny

    Thanks everyone for the confirmation to use Marine Spar Varnish and for
    the explanation of why poly isn't the way to go for outside finishes.
    
    At first when I saw the write-lock note I was surprised since I had
    (I thought) done a careful look through of all the pertinent notes
    listed under the keywords DECKS&PORCHES, STAIN, and WOOD_FINISHES and
    found nothing.  But Joe was right, note 922 and its replies contains
    a lot of similar information on outdoor finishes--922 is listed under
    the WOOD_FINISHES keyword and I just plain missed it.
    
    Matter of fact, anyone reading this note to find out about outdoor
    finishes should also read 922.* since there is more information there.
    
    Thanks again,
    
    -Randy
    
    
    

    If someone can direct me to a solution already in this notefile
    I would appreciate it.
    
    The plastic cushions on my outside lawn furniture are developing
    brown stains. They are off white and blue in color. I have tried
    everything to try to remove the stains with very little results.
    
    Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can remove the stains.

May as well resurrect this note...

I'm contemplating picking up some PVC and making my own set of 
chairs. Has anyone else done this? It seems like a pretty 
straightforward and simple job.

Thanks for any input.
daryll

    I think the only hard part would be getting the cushions for the
    finished product.  Chair design has been fairly stable for the last
    several hundred years.  Measurements could be copied from another chair
    around the house.  You could be real sneaky and buy 1 chair you like,
    take it home and duplicate it, and then return it the next day and say
    your wife did not like it. ;^)

    Schedule 40 pipe would probably be the best type of pipe to use because
    of its rigidity.  I think you can wipe the green lettering off the side
    with some common cleaners.

    re:8 Talking about cushions, I've been trying to find cushions for
    my wrought iron set and they want a fortune for them. I saw some
    for sale this weekend for $69 a set and I need five sets.  I was
    thinking of having someone recover them for me, what do you think?
    Anyone know of a place to buy cushions for such a set?  The original
    ones have zippers so you can take the foam out and redo, but no
    one seems to carry the replacement covers.  This set is 6 yrs old
    and I don't know the brand name.  Help!
    
    Loraine
    
    P.S. If this note should be somewhere else, please advise. Thanks!

    Lorraine,
    
    I had a quote last year to recover my sofa and chair for $35 a cushion,
    or $70 a set.  That's a buck more than what you've been quoted and my
    estimate is a year old.  I too thought the price too high so I
    purchased material, zippers, thread with the intention of recovering
    the cushions over the long winter.  Well, here it is the end of May so
    it must be time to get out the sewing machine.
    
    You might try inquiring for someone to do the job in the threads notes
    file.  It's located at ERIS::THREADS.
    
    		Marlene

Well, I finished a set of 4 PVC chairs last Saturday. Before I 
started, I went out to check on the cost and various designs that 
were out there and discovered that actual PVC pipe furniture 
isn't sold in most of the outdoor/pool stores. I did find a shop 
on Lowell Rd in Hudson NH called Creative Pipe Design. They had a 
few different styles on display. The salesman went into great 
detail (1.5" PVC, Sch40, etc) and handed me a color brochure.
The price: $72.00 per chair + the cushion = $120+ per chair.
 
With brochure in hand I drove down to Builder's Square and picked 
up the pipe, T's and elbows and adhesive to build 4 chairs.
Total cost: 101.00

It took about 1 hour per chair to cut and glue them and remove 
the printing and about 20 minutes per chair for my wife to sew
the sling for the cushion to sit on. (The salesmen suggested that
an awning shop would do the slings for you if they needed to be
redone in a few years)
Total cost of canvas for slings: 30.00

Went down and picked up 4 cushions on sale @$25. = 100.00

PVC      101.00
Canvas    30.00
cushions 100.00
         ------
         231.00

Price of 4 chairs: $480.00
Savings: $249.00

daryll

    I purchased a 5' glider for my parents porch.  It consists of enamel
    coated metal tubing with Honduras mahogany 1x2's for the seat and
    back.  I'm looking for recommendations on what type of finish I could
    put on the wood.  They don't want to paint it but they would like to
    keep it from getting ruined by the elements.  Will polyurethane stand
    up to being outside (but under some degree of cover)?

    Suggestions appreciated.

    Kevin

Try a marine store.  Ask what they do for the exposed mahogany on sailboats.
That should cover you even if they live on the ocean and have waves crashing
on the porch.

Stan

    
    Try Marine Spar Varnish.   Thin the first coast 25%-50%.  Apply two
    more coats and you should have no problems for at least 5 years.  Most
    "landlubber" type hardware stores should carry it.
    
    I used it on an oak swing 4 years ago which hangs under my carport.  I
    get a lot of water splash on that side of the carport and it has held
    up well.   When the swing was new, I slapped a thick coat on and by the
    time I finished the first coat I applied a second coat.  It took a
    while to dry because it was too thick.  I was impatient.  I plan on
    sanding it and applying one new coat this season to make it look real
    nice.
    

    Polyurethane will stand up to the elements if it has UV inhibitors
    added.  Also try applying a coat of sanding sealer first to seal up the
    wood prior to adding the finish.  This is of course if you want a
    glossy finish.  Water seal (Thompson's or equivalent) will also help to
    preserve the wood but will leave the natural grain and texture pretty
    much unchanged.  The spar varnish is also a good idea, this is what
    yachties traditionally use.  Again, UV inhibitors are the big thing to
    look for.  Sunlight is a killer on finishes. 
    
    Brian 

	I too am looking for advice on cleaning my outdoor lawn furniture
	cushions which are starting to get what looks like mildew stains.

	Any suggestions?

	Thanks.

A mild bleach solution with detergent should take care of the mildew, but
check th emanufacturer's care instructions to be sure.

		Steve

	    I heard that you can soak lawn furniture cushions in a chlorine
	pool overnight to clean them.  Not much help if you haven't got one.

					Tim

    To the advice in .2  - I took a white lawn chair cushion that was made
    out of the plastic mesh with a form filling that had turned very soiled
    (cushion is about 6 years old) and used water & bleach with some
    detergent and scrubbed the cushion - this removed some of the stain, so
    I figured with the cushion being 6 years old, what do I have to lose, I
    took a spay bottle filled with bleach only and sprayed evenly the
    cushion, waited, then spayed off with the hose. To my eyes delight -
    presto, the cushion looks almost new, no stains, etc.... 

    	So I did the same to our table umbrella that was darken though 7 years
    of being left outside, also with mold, and it looks almost new....

    	The colors did not fade, but I would first test on a underside before
    doing, to insure that the colors will not run/fade...

How do I clean plastic that has been outside and is discolored from acid
rain?  I have outdoor furniture and also kids toys.

Renee

    
    If it's really been affected by acid rain (or more likely by sun
    bleaching), I don't think any cleaning will restore it.
    
    Anything that can be cleaned off plastic will usually succumb to
    soap, water and scrubbing; for mildew or algae staining, add some bleach.
    

    I have a wonderful umbrella, table and chairs that were quite
    expensive. Every year by the end of the summer season they are
    discolored with what looks black dirt.  In the spring, when I take
    them out of storage for the new season I clean them.  I take a 
    bucket of water and mix bleach, liquid dishwashing detergent
    and a heavy duty scrub brush.  Once I have scrubed everything down
    I let it sit in the sun with the bleach on it for an hour or so.
    Then I hose it down and let it dry in the sun.  It seems to take
    almost everything from mildew to dirt off the fabric and refresh it
    as well.  I am not sure what the fabric is called but it is a woven
    type plastic that is used most often in outdoor furniture.  I have
    been doing the process for about 5 years know and the fabric has
    held up quite well.
    
    Maybe someone else has another process but this has worked well for me.
    
    Lee
    

    Just read the back of the dishwashing detergent bottle before doing
    this; some explicitly say "Never mix this stuff with bleach!"
    
    And remember: Always add acid. Never add water to bleach, always do it
    the other way around..
    
    ...tom

    same story with our white resin plastic furniture, we use 409
    and it all comes off
    
    		Dean

    
    
    We have an older set of PVC pipe furniture. I'm looking for
    someone to repair or make new slings, as some have torn.
    Contacted the store where the set was purchased and they no
    longer perform this service. The slings were a fine, plastic
    covered mesh, not canvas. 
    
    Central MA area preferrable.
    
    Thanks, Phil