Protect Your Outdoor Furniture with Epoxy Feet!

Video - September 6, 2017

Mother Nature always wins. So when you make outdoor furniture you have two choices: commit to a regular maintenance schedule or come to terms with the weathered gray look. Personally, I don’t like the weathered look so I generally try to make my furniture look “new” for as long as possible. An easy thing you can do to help the cause is to prevent moisture from entering into the legs. Usually, those legs result in end grain being in direct contact with the ground which is a recipe for rot, decay, and eventual failure.

This simple trick requires nothing more than epoxy and masking tape. West System Epoxy is expensive, but the 1 gallon size with pumps will last you for many years! The masking tape I use is standard blue painter’s tape.

Of course, this isn’t a cure-all for all outdoor furniture but it’s at least one more layer of defense against Mother Nature’s wrath!

Discussion

WoodyHg September 7, 2017 5:04 am

How do you make sure the epoxy doesn’t lengthen each leg after all the work to make the feet level? Could you err on the side of thicker epoxy layer then drag along the floor to level all four feet at the same time?

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- Marc Spagnuolo September 7, 2017 1:38 pm
  
  I usually don’t even think about it since outdoor furniture rarely sits on a truly flat and level surface.
  
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Allen McGruder September 15, 2017 6:15 pm

Hey! That’s pretty cool.
But, I’m more blown away by that chair!
Is that a guild project?
Okay, I just Googled it and, yes, it is a guild project.
Hmm.
Looking that up now!

Thanks,
@

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Gord January 11, 2018 4:31 pm

do you think that polyurethane glue (Gorilla Glue) could achieve similar result?

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- Marc Spagnuolo January 11, 2018 4:35 pm
  
  I have never tried it so I don’t know. I’m not sure it would work as well though. Doesn’t that stuff like to foam up when it cures?
  
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Justin Ford February 16, 2018 9:37 am

Hey Marc,

I want to do this on some Cedar Adirondack chairs I made. Is there a clear or cedar color epoxy I can use?

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- Marc Spagnuolo February 16, 2018 1:17 pm
  
  Most epoxy is clear. The stuff I used has aged and is now a dark amber color. You can add dyes to the epoxy to tint it slightly if you need to.
  
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Shaun Stelley February 26, 2018 2:37 pm

Hey Marc, for those of us who don’t want to spend big on the West Systems, do you have a feel for how well something like System Three T88 would work?

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Bryan Krueger July 8, 2018 2:37 pm

how do you think a silicone caulk/sealant would work

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- Marc Spagnuolo July 16, 2018 4:21 am
  
  Probably not well. I don’t think that stuff cures hard enough. I imagine it would just scrape off.
  
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Nick May 13, 2019 6:19 am

Hey Marc, I am finishing an outdoor table with just some coats of decking oil. Would it work if I soaked the legs into the oil keeping them submerged for a while? If, yes, how much time would you suggest?

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- Marc Spagnuolo May 13, 2019 8:27 am
  
  Well the legs will soak up the oil. The question is whether or not that will actually do anything helpful. I guess it can’t hurt, but you have to be careful not to put so much oil on there that it gets all sticky and doesn’t cure. Depending on the product, if it’s a true oil, soaking generally isn’t a good idea since the oil needs access to oxygen to cure properly.
  
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  - Nick May 13, 2019 8:15 pm
    
    Thanks Marc!
    The following question is: do you strongly recommend West System Epoxy or any epoxy will do the trick?
    It’s the first time I’ll be using it and I am a bit reluctant to buy a big quantity.
    
    Reply
Terry April 15, 2020 5:10 pm

Thank you for the information!

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Robin April 17, 2020 10:33 am

Hi! Will this work to build up 2 or 3 inches of a wooden chair leg that rotted at the bottom and broke off?

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- Marc Spagnuolo April 19, 2020 2:41 pm
  
  Epoxy isn’t really a wood replacement so I don’t think that would work all that well. I would recommend cutting the leg and trying to attach a patch piece or replace the entire leg if possible.
  
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Scott Dunn May 6, 2020 11:13 am

Hello Mark,

I am trying to trouble shoot a blushing/hazing issue that I have with an exterior marine spar varnish finish? It is a pair of solid wood front entry doors that I refinished a year ago and top coated with 2 coats of Helmsman marine spar varnish. This is in Jacksonville FL. where we have extreme heat and humidity & the doors get direct sunlight 6-7 hours per day. The finish itself is still sound after a year however there is blushing or hazing (cloudiness) developing in the varnish. It is my understanding that it is caused by trapped moisture? What is the best way to address this without having to completely re-finish the doors? Is there a chemical that can be used or should I sand it back with 400? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks! Scott

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- Marc Spagnuolo May 7, 2020 8:03 am
  
  I honestly don’t know. There are some tricks out there for removing moisture from a finish but not sure those would be appropriate. Also not sure you won’t be right back there again in 6 months.
  
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Woody May 7, 2020 7:36 am

Hey Marc, I am wanting to use this type of technique on some wooden chairs that will stay, for the most part, around our property and be on grass. Is there another technique or added tips you would do for where these chairs will find their home?

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- Marc Spagnuolo May 7, 2020 7:58 am
  
  Nope. This technique will work for your situation too.
  
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Mike Bond June 15, 2020 1:23 pm

I’m having some issues with a table I just built. I can’t seem to get the legs level. Can I epoxy the bottom of the table legs so it will give me a level surface to start with? Btw I love your show, i purchased Amazon prime just for the show.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo June 16, 2020 7:30 am
  
  You can certainly try that. But not sure if it will be obvious when looking at the table or not. But if getting it level is your goal and you know which legs need material added, that’s one way to do it.
  
  Reply

Protect Your Outdoor Furniture with Epoxy Feet!

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