Is it quiet here or is my feed fouled up?
Me... I've been working on live edge walnut slab window stools, vanity tops and a service window counter top for my sportsmen's club. Seems crazy to be using all that walnut for this! Then again, one of the members has a tree service and a bandsaw mill so the walnut cost the club nothing. My labor is free too. It's a nice club house!
Should have sold the walnut, bought pine and some walnut stain, and put the net proceeds into the club's coffers (or yours). ;-)
I've been swamped with upholstery for the past 5 months, some chair repairs in those efforts. Upholstery projects are booked up through February.
Lately, I made a few ER cedar mallets, one to replace a broken one and the others for oddity gifts.... easy to make, cedar limbs cut to length for heads and handles.
I picked the last cucumber from the garden today. Our temps have been in the 70s for the most part of Nov. & Dec. Weatherman says we may not get our first frost until January. I mowed the lawn Friday.... hope that's the last until spring.
Did an inspection of the house, recently. Have few areas needing minor repair. The shop's exterior needs cleaning, mold and mildew on the siding in areas. The windows, sills and trim need cleaning, also. I need to declutter some aspects in the shop. The 14" bandsaw needs a bearing replaced.... I've had the bearing for 6-8 months, now, just haven't made time to install it.
Sonny
Just quiet, I have been working on 17 small boxes with multiple woods and box joints for the corner joints. 14 were not enough last year. ;~)
The Shaper Origin was made for this type work. It has cut all box joint pockets, grooves and stopped groves to receive the bottoms, and engraving for the tops.
Walnut is pretty much cheap/worthless in some parts of the country. About 12 years ago we went on vacation with Swingman and his wife in Arkansas. We visited a guy, that ran a saw mill, that had some fence posts sitting out side. We bought probably 20 of those fence posts. All were silver in color from sitting in the sunlight but once plained they show their color. Imagine walnut fence posts. $2 each. I also got two walnut fireplace mantels, IIRC $7 each.
The main trunk was sold... the boring straight part that commercial sawmill guys like. ;~)
The slabs I worked with came from higher up in the tree and some had decent grain and figure.
I just looked up local hardwood prices. Walnut is $16/bf (over 25bf).
At those kinds of prices, I should try to sell some of my lumber.
John Grossbohlin -
Top of tree Arts & Crafts - Long ago I used a section of the top of a cedar tree to make a decor water bucket. I left a bit of limb on the trunk and installed another limb onto the opposite side for the handle. I reamed out the inside with a chain saw and installed a rope handle. Mom used it as a pot plant holder. It was a fun project.
Sonny
Yeah! I wish it was more reasonable here too. IIRC I paid about $13 per board foot a few weeks ago for what they called "rustic". That is cool wood with lots of character, knots and stuff like that. Really better for book matching slices vs. for furniture.
Wow, LOL not what I was expecting. But very resourceful.
Have you thought of building a Flintstone's mobile? ;~)
That is way cool.
Hey, now! No reason to be mean.
What was the learning curve like? Are you using Sketchup for design?
At that price the smallest window stool had about $100 in walnut in it... the service window about $600.
LOL. I use to tinker with all sorts of odd ideas as that. Everyone liked that water bucket and wanted one. I never could find another tree, that was already down, that accommodated that log-with-limb profile section, to make another. During those times I made lots of cedar mallets, also, limbs cut to length for heads and handles, easy to make. Gave many to friends and family.
Is that a police evidence photo?
LOL. I think that pic is from 9 yrs ago. I think the police were directing traffic. The city bought the (then) USL (college) horse farm (over 100 acres in the middle of town) and were to turn it into a city park. The PlantFest festival was to commemorate the acquisition. The local Master Gardeners were a big part of the festivities. I often donate to the MG fund raisers. There's a 4 lane main road fronting the park and a dedicated parking lot had not yet been established, so there was some traffic issues. The police were there to help with any traffic issues.
After 9 years of planning and construction, Moncus Park will officially open in January. Some of the pre-opening festivities have already started. I think there's still a few planned projects in the works.
Never saw cheap walnut. Generally, when a saw mill finishes cutting a hardwood log, like oak, maple or walnut just the center pith of the log is left and will be used for firewood or pallet wood. Fence posts are normally cedar or locust, Oak is pallet wood. Walnut and maple pith cuts are mostly firewood as rot resistance is low.
If he was selling walnut fence posts for $2, he was either stupid, or selling pith wood with little rot resistance and little value.
Are pressure treated boards better or worse than using cedar or locust? I once lived in an old house with solid locust tree posts (some still had the bark) as support beams in the cellar -- sitting on the dirt floor, none-the-less. Circa 1880 home, and they seemed to be holding up fine.
There isn't a lot of water in the cellar. Wood tends to rot at the waterline. Some of the exotics like teak and ipe are very good. Pressure treated rated for water contact is good too. They make docks out of the stuff (and boardwalks out of ipe).
Ah. Unfortunately, I've also been in cellars that regularly have a foot of water (or more) if the sump pump goes out.
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