DIY Outdoor Wood Laundry and Work Table

In this video we will show you our outdoor workbench/laundry table build and how we are protecting it from the sun, rain, and wind with Shou Sugi Ban, also known as Yakisugi.

Hello and welcome! We are Douglas and Keri and we recently quit our jobs, sold everything, and in September of 2022 we took a leap of faith and moved onto our off grid homestead property in the high desert of Cochise County, Arizona. Follow along with us as we build our off grid homestead property with our two rebels, Willow & Zoey and our 16 y/o kitty, Boo.

I decided to build an outdoor laundry table that will also double as a workbench. Since the table is outside, made of wood, and will have water on it frequently, I decided to use an ancient Japanese technique for protecting wood called Shou Sugi Ban which is the common term here in the US, but in Japan you may hear it called Yakisugi. This technique is very simple and is a great way to use inexpensive, untreated wood for your outdoor projects.

Here is how I built the table…I used 2 x 4’s to build a rectangular frame that is 24 inches x 72 inches (2 feet x 6 feet). For the top, I cut 24 inch lengths of 6 inch x 1 inch wood and screwed them into the frame with 3” wood deck screws. For the legs, I flipped the table over and used 29 inch long 2 x 4’s and screwed them into the corners of the frame with 3” wood deck screws. Now for the protective finish!

SHOU SUGI BAN/YAKISUGI PROCESS

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:

*Blow torch connected to propane…this is the torch I used https://thd.co/3dZcact
*Stiff, metal bristle brush…this is the brush I used https://thd.co/3V6SXXc
*Finishing oil like hemp oil or pure tung oil…I used tung oil because it does not have a strong smell…this is the oil I used https://thd.co/3RwRDd3

Start by making sure your wood is clean, dry, and free of debris.
Use your blow torch to carefully burn the wood…the heavier char you use, the more protected your wood will be.
Gently scrape the char off with the metal bristle brush…be careful not to scrape too much…you are essentially opening up the wood to receive your finishing oil.
Remove the char scrapings with a vacuum and/or soft, lint-free cloth.
Apply your first coat of oil following product directions.
Allow your first coat to dry for recommended time according to product directions.
Apply a second coat of oil following product directions.
Allow your second coat to dry for recommended time according to product directions.j

That’s all there is to it! Now you have a beautifully finished wood item that will hold up outside much better than untreated wood would :)

DISCLAIMER: Douglas and Keri are not professional contractors and the information contained in this video is for entertainment purposes. Please make sure to do your own research!

Once again, thanks for following along with us and we hope to inspire you to live your best life, whatever that might mean for you!

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All the artwork for this channel are original creations by Douglas because he is an incredible artist!