Do it yourself

Do you use a strong magnet, stud finder, or metal detector on the boards before you run them through your saws or knives, to find the hardest to find little nails or metal pieces? Stud finders work pretty good and are cheap and multi-purpose.

I just learned something, about those pallet stamps, hadn't a clue. You ought to see what my planer would do to that first board in the photo.

Just a thought on the planter...I think they would look great, saddle notched with a dado blade?

Quote: petroglyph

Do you use a strong magnet, stud finder, or metal detector on the boards before you run them through your saws or knives, to find the hardest to find little nails or metal pieces? Stud finders work pretty good and are cheap and multi-purpose.

Just my eyeballs. Oh, and on that, kids, wear eye protection! I see no need to locate them as the sawsall cuts right thru. Even the table saw makes short work.

Quote:

Just a thought on the planter...I think they would look great, saddle notched with a dado blade?

I have no dado blade and the wood is kind of thin for it. I would have to see the notch idea you are talking about.

Like these cuts but with square wood, as it shrinks over time it stays together. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=saddle%20notch

I thought you were using the 2x for the planter.

Your power company is your friend for quality building materials. https://www.pinterest.com/chutcheon/cross-arm-projects/

Wire spools: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=projects+built+from+powerline+wire+spools notice the vertical boards between the wheels aren't flat, they are shaped and sanded concave. Cool stuff for planters, rounded wood?

On the metal frag warning, I was referring to the knives in your joiner or in a planer. Saw blades don't care to much, but planer knives hate metal $$.

Quote: petroglyph

Like these cuts but with square wood, as it shrinks over time it stays together. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=saddle%20notch

I thought you were using the 2x for the planter.

OK, I see now. Nice look but not going to work with the wood I am using as you mention.

Quote:

On the metal frag warning, I was referring to the knives in your joiner or in a planer. Saw blades don't care to much, but planer knives hate metal $$.

So far the parts of what I am planing are not near the nails. Thanks for the pointer, though, will watch. Blades for this planer I am not so sure how long they will be available.

OK, informal poll.



Stain or paint for the herb garden. Paint is on the bottom, stain is on top. I will use a similar but not identical stain with a poly in one step if I go stain. Paint will be the color you see. Wood is old pallets, some in better shape than others.

I want a rustic look, not like I bought a suburban-white-boy kit from THD. But I want rustic, not junky.

So, paint or stain?

Paint is more waterproof, but if you put
urethane over the stain it's the same as
painting.

Paint ain't rustic. 'Nuff said, IMO

Quote: AZDuffman

OK, informal poll.

So, paint or stain?

You may like this? I done it, it's great. Do you have a torch or weed burner, or even a propane torch? Or even archaically, fire.

Try this. Take a piece of that oak, or whatever you have and burn it lightly with a torch or fire until it burns into the grain a bit. You brush it with a wire brush back to the lightness you desire or a little lighter, than Poly it. It looks rustic and great. The fire also seals the grain, it is how they used to treat fence posts to make them last longer.

So my vote is torch it for the rustic, and poly coat it. You can blend several types of wood to appear as being of the same specie. Make a cut, hit it with torch, voila...matches everything else. Or linseed oil.

Quote: petroglyph

You may like this? I done it, it's great. Do you have a torch or weed burner, or even a propane torch? Or even archaically, fire.

Try this. Take a piece of that oak, or whatever you have and burn it lightly with a torch or fire until it burns into the grain a bit. You brush it with a wire brush back to the lightness you desire or a little lighter, than Poly it. It looks rustic and great. The fire also seals the grain, it is how they used to treat fence posts to make them last longer.

So my vote is torch it for the rustic, and poly coat it. You can blend several types of wood to appear as being of the same specie. Make a cut, hit it with torch, voila...matches everything else. Or linseed oil.

Heard of distressing with fire. Maybe I try that on a spot and see how it goes. I can't get too crazy on this first one as the projects around the house are piling up.

Nice day, time for the Spring trimming of the Bichon. The before pic shows a very shaggy dog. After my clip job, he's more presentable. I have to do his ears with scissors. He's my baby. Saves me 40 bucks to do it myself.