So I built a desk out of cedar and it's really bothering my girlfriends allergies.

Is there a way for me to seal it so that it won't bother her at all? I like the look of the natural wood but if I can't figure out how to fix it, I'll have to sell it.

Thanks.

You can try sealing it with a urathane or a similar product but you might as well sell it.My wife is allergic to cedar as well.

I'd like to see how it turned out if you have pictures of it!

Are you sure that the deck is causing her allergies? Live cedars are pollinating right now.

It's just a real simple desk for cleaning guns on, fiddling with fishing tackle and stuff like that. But here it is. There is a shelf underneath not shown in the picture.

Yeah because it only bothers her if she's near it. When she goes into the bedroom and closes the door she's fine.

I'm going to put it out on the porch and let the wood finish drying, then seal it and see how it is. If that doesn't work, I'll replace the top of the desk. The cedar I used for the legs didn't bother her when I had just that in the apartment for a week. When I got the cedar pickets for the top was when the fuss started.

Move the table out of the kitchen?

Good idea

I would put polyurethane or clear lacquer on it. Leave it outside for either of those finishes to dry or it will kill both of you with fumes.

Seal it top and bottom with Zinsser sanding sealer, it will smell like he11 but dries in about 10 minutes. Then give it a finish sanding with 320 grit paper, wipe the the dust off and give a good coat of Helmsman spar finish.

The shellac in Zinsser will seal it good and the spar will give you a good durable finish. The spar is for outside use, like on boats and patio furniture, but will be good on a work table like that one.

That is a nice looking job on the table, a good finish on it will last a lifetime.

Thanks. I'll give that a try and post pictures when it's done.

I'm wondering if I should take the top off and seal each piece individually though. That way it's completely sealed and won't bother her allergies.

If you can easily take the top off I would say yes, if not if you give it a good coat of the Zinsser it should get a coat on the the wood that butts up together. Make sure you turn it over and coat the bottom of the table top. Brush it on heavy and the sanding sealer will flow into the cracks. On the top side do the same, brush on a heavy coat and the sealer will flow into the cracks.

I would do this outside, it smells and can give you a heck of a headache. It dries real fast, in about 45 minutes you can give the table a final sanding of 320 grit. Then wipe it down to get off the sanding dust and apply the spar coat. Or 2 or 3 coats of spar. Write your name and date on the under side of the table before you seal it.

Waterlox is another good sealer. Kind of pricy and interior only, but repeated applications will produce a very nice finish.

I would say you are whooped. Women would say, "What a man".

If you do that then make sure you have her be there through the whole process just to let her know how much she means to you.

Actually, allergies are bothering a lot of people now. That table may not really be the problem.

Her exact words were, "I'll be fine. Don't worry about it." But I can tell it's an issue.

For the 2 days it was inside, she couldn't be around it. Now that it's outside she is fine. So I doubt it's something else bothering her.

Minwax has a wipe on poly that I like. Sanding sealer then poly will seal it right up. Did you say girl friend? Better man than I.

Alright. I sanded it, sealed it, sanded it, sealed it, sanded it, and sealed it again.



And it's still bothering her. Anyone want to buy a desk?

Were you sanding through the sanding sealer? You are only supposed to smooth sand the sealer, not sand back to the wood. Then give it a good coat of spar, spar is a varnish, it shouldn't smell of cedar after the spar. I make a few cedar calls, and until they get coated with spar, they do not come into the house, our allergies would kill us. But once they have a coat of sanding sealer and the spar we are fine with them.

In the shop I have dust collection etc., so I don't get the cedar smell or allergies in the shop. I even change clothes so I don't bring that crap inside of the house.

Sorry DC,

I guess I should have listened to you. I literally took my phone into HD with your post and read it to the guy. He told me I didn't need to do that and to just get some Miniwax Polycrylic. I guess he was wrong.