Project Name
januarys project is a custom quilt stand for dear friends. The woods (Cumaru, Curly Maple & Mahogany) and the design I sorta stole and built upon.
Januarys unplanned project turned out being a side gate that was in desperate need of doing and was a great stress reliever! the quilt stand is still in the cue, but I am getting more proficient at using my new planer before potentially damaging the limited wood I have for project. Plus, I really don't like working on projects that are love based when I am feeling stressed or angry, not worth the mistakes. pics are at the bottom if you scroll down!
Many of us are familiar with this predicament. The "well crap, the gate has fallen apart" and either time or money or both are an issue, but you wish to dissuade any animals are small children from roaming into your back yard. Plus, it feels "efficient" because you can rationalize putting off the dump run needed to purge whatever crap you're covering the gaping hole with.
Whoooohooooo! When you feel like you literally found treasure in the heap behind a shed in backyard of usable materials!
Using the pieces I scored out of backyard, I added 2 more pressure treated pieces from ACE and was able to create frame out of a 8' and 12 ft' piece. I cut down the 2*8's from backyard and screwed together to build the face off of. Pipe clamps were needed as the 2*4's were warped at ends which is often the case. The pipe clamps and sone metal reinforcement saved the day!
Pipe clamps can be a bugger to get lined up if you don't have the upper body strength, but worth the patience as they are a game changer wit warped wood!
On the right corner you can see the gap that hasn't been forced in yet. Good placement of exterior screws and additional metal corner braces etc save the day!
Once I get all the pieces screed in that would act as the front I turned over to check out and then got to work attaching to original fencing.
Under normal circumstances I would have attached the face before doing install, but when working on a project by yourself you do need to think ahead and ask yourself will I be able to move around myself once all the pieces are on? All the scrap wood I had saved are hardwoods and none of them albeit dried out, are particularly light. It was easier to install each piece once the frame was installed. On the plus side, it was easier for me to visualize with it already vertical as I had no plan in mind and just got to work. A tip here: try not to get too hung up on preplanning a pattern. it is like a large Tetris game and has a more organic feel if ya just wing it! Try and remember the best part of building something yourself? If the glue isn't try yet, you can change it.
Almost done and not only getting dark, but after working on for hours this 53 year old body still trying to get in shaped needs a break. Next will be to dig out some redwood runs I am pretty sure we have in our arsenal and apply vertically to the side to reinforce the older structure and of course I will close in the backside before getting to work with the Marine Spar varnish. Paying attention to weather forecast is your friend with a project like this one. 100%