Wood for canopy?

[Saltyjam]

Hey, I'm building a new canopy with T5's and wondering what is the most appropriate wood to use. I don't want something that's going to rot out and I also don't want anything that could leach/offgas tannins/chemicals.

Thanks!

 

[redfishblewfish]

I've used exterior plywood for the "box" and door panels, and pine/fir for the molding. Everything gets covered with exterior paint. Plywood is more stable than any type of board lumber.

 

[Saltyjam]

I thought about birch or oak plywood but was unsure about the glues that are used in them. My other concern is that the longest measurement on the hood will be > 48" which would mean I need at min a whole sheet of plywood.

What kind of exterior paint do you use? I assume if you use latex the heat and humidity could cause flaking?

 

[boz151]

If you are going to paint it, go with Birch, it's a litle cheaper if I remember correctly. Mine is Oak ply and sealed with a good quality Marine Spar Varnish

 

[redfishblewfish]

I use Kilz primer and any number of exterior house trim latex paints. I’d say most times it’s Behr.

If you are using a furniture grade plywood (faced with oak , birch, etc), I’m assuming you are clear coating or staining and coating the piece. In that case, I would suggest you use a marine spar varnish (spar polyurethane) to finish the exterior surfaces. Standard polyurethane does not hold up well to moisture.

If you are not finishing with stains, and are going to paint the entire thing, then just get a quality exterior grade plywood with an A/B or A/C finish.

 

[RRaider]

I use Kilz primer and any number of exterior house trim latex paints. I'd say most times it's Behr.

If you are using a furniture grade plywood (faced with oak , birch, etc), I'm assuming you are clear coating or staining and coating the piece. In that case, I would suggest you use a marine spar varnish (spar polyurethane) to finish the exterior surfaces. Standard polyurethane does not hold up well to moisture.

If you are not finishing with stains, and are going to paint the entire thing, then just get a quality exterior grade plywood with an A/B or A/C finish.

That's funny, I have a hood I stained and coated with polyurethane three years ago and in spite of getting wet quite often it looks as good as it did the day I finished it.

 

[Saltyjam]

Ok, so I'm still not sure why I wouldn't just use say oak 1x6 boards or something similar with really good joined edges.

 

[reefermad619]

Use whatever material you want. Oak, pine, plywood, or 1" boards. If it's sealed properly, you wont have any troubles. I didn't use pine when facing my stand becuase it's a soft wood and when bumped or dinged, markes will be left in the wood. That's why I used oak ply.

 

[llewoh05]

pick a wood type you like. seal it and call it done.

 

[neonmkr]

I think you'll find it easier to work with the ply than solid lumber. It will be more stable and less weight. Keep in mind that depending on how you build this, you may have to remove it to in order to do any maintenance in the tank and then weight will be a factor. Edge gluing your solid lumber is most certainly an option if you have the right equipment.
You'll seal everything with paint or polyurethane, so you won't have a problem with outgassing of the glues in plywood. If you plan on painting the hood, I would suggest that you use MDO plywood (Medium density overlay). It's an exterior grade plywood with an exterier grade paper laminate on the faces of the ply. It takes paint better than any other type of ply and gives you a nice smooth finish.