Finishing an outdoor trolley

[mkcl]

Hi,

I'm currently building an outdoor trolley (like a BBQ trolley, but using a gas ring burner instead). It's a frame-panel design with enclosed cabinets beneath the shelf where the burner is. The frame is blackbutt and the panels are mostly plywood.

The trolley will get some protection living under a balcony, but will need to be moderately weather-proof, and able to take the heat/inevitable dents resulting from regular use.

What should I use as a finish? My preference is for a clear finish, because I like the natural appearance of timber. I realise this might mean periodically reapplying the finish, but I'm happy to do that.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Michael.

[ubeaut]

FLAME RETARDANT

Hate to put a damper on things but I think you will find the heat from a gas ring will burn through the timber beneath it in no time.

A gas ring puts off almost as much downward and outwards heat as it does upward heat. I have seen approved wooden framed BBQ's with propper burners catch fire. This is one reason why most new now are metal framed.

What you are building sounds like a sure fired recipe for disaster (pardon the pun). I would have a serious rethink about the whole thing before worrying about a finish.

Hope this helps.

Cheers - Neil

[DarrylF]

C'mon Neil, surely you can put together a special mix of your white goo and asbestos

I was thinking the same thing when I read your post Michael. I would assume that using a portable gas ring burner designed to be used on a benchtop would probably work - but I would at least tile the top of the trolley to help insulate it. Put a normal BBQ ring burner straight into a timber trolley and you're probably creating a beatifully finished custom bonfire

Take a wander around say BBQs Galore or a similar outfit and check out how they build theirs.

[mkcl]

Hmmm ... now you've got me thinking ...

To be honest, I hadn't really thought that heat would be a major problem. The burners I've got originally came with a pine stand, and after a few years of use, it has never looked like coming close to burning the timber or catching fire. In fact, while I would have thought that the heat would have spoilt the finish, it didn't--the worst that's happened is that the weight of the burner has dug numerous small ruts in the top surface. (To counteract that problem, I was going to make the benchtop surface out of timber flooring offcuts I salvaged from a neighbour, which are a considerably harder timber than pine.)

However, I may want to upgrade to a bigger burner at some stage, so I should design for that. I've got a BBQs Galore near my place, so I'll ask them what type of benchtop is OK for a larger burner. I might also go the protective tiling route, because I have a whole range of suitable materials in the garage (from low-profile pavers, that would definitely be overkill, to floor tiles, to kitchen wall tiles).

Assuming I can manage to resolve the heat issue, my original question still stands--what would be a good finish for the trolley?

Thanks for all the input.

Michael.

[DarrylF]

Sounds like the burner is designed to be used on a bench surface - must include some insulation or enough space between the burner & the bench.

For a BBQ I'd probably go for a marine type varnish. It would seal the timber completely, protect it from UV, and of course from the inevitable fat splatter/spills from a BBQ. Make sure you also seal the inside of the cabinet as well.

Remember to make sure the hinges & other hardware are also reasonably weatherproof.