"Nothing ruins happy hour faster than snagging your shirt (or worse, your hand) on a rusty nail."
Haha, been there...ouch. Totally agree on the natural oils—I've used tung oil myself and loved the results. One quick tip though: if you're impatient like me, mixing in a bit of citrus solvent can speed up drying time significantly. Plus, it smells amazing while you're working. Just make sure it's fully cured before hosting your next backyard bash...sticky elbows aren't exactly party-friendly.
Haha, citrus solvent sounds like a great idea—I wish I'd known about that before I spent three days awkwardly avoiding touching my own bar top! Speaking of sticky elbows, has anyone else had trouble with bees or wasps being attracted to the citrus smell? I remember using a lemon-scented cleaner on my patio furniture once, and suddenly it was like hosting a bee convention in my backyard. Not exactly the kind of buzz I was hoping for...
Also, since we're talking home bars, I'm curious—are most people building theirs from scratch or repurposing old furniture? I recently saw someone turn an old dresser into a pretty cool outdoor bar setup, drawers and all. It looked awesome, but I'm wondering how practical it actually is when exposed to weather. Wouldn't the wood warp or drawers stick after a while?
I'm still in the planning stage myself (first-time renovator here, so wish me luck), and I'm torn between going full DIY or just buying something pre-made and weatherproof. The DIY route seems more fun and customizable, but knowing my luck, I'll probably end up with something that looks more like abstract art than a functional bar. Has anyone else faced this dilemma? How did you decide which way to go?
"I recently saw someone turn an old dresser into a pretty cool outdoor bar setup, drawers and all."
Did something similar for a client once—looked great initially, but yeah, weatherproofing was tricky. Even with sealant, humidity eventually warped the drawers. DIY is fun, but outdoor durability is key...
Yeah, humidity can really sneak up on you, can't it? Did you try adding any ventilation holes or gaps to help airflow? I've seen some folks use marine-grade varnish or even boat paint for outdoor furniture projects—wonder if that would've helped with the warping issue. DIY bars are awesome, but keeping them looking good outdoors definitely takes some trial and error...
"I've seen some folks use marine-grade varnish or even boat paint for outdoor furniture projects—wonder if that would've helped with the warping issue."
Marine-grade varnish can definitely help, but honestly, I've found it's not always foolproof. A client of mine built a gorgeous outdoor bar and used high-quality marine varnish, yet still ended up with some warping after a particularly rainy season. Sometimes wood just has a mind of its own... Switching to materials like teak or even reclaimed composite decking boards can be pricier upfront, but they can save headaches down the road.
