Originally Posted by notorious (Post 12723086)

Oh, the way I read it is that you were wetsanding the wood before stain, which wouldn't make any sense but I didn't want to be an asshole. :D

Originally Posted by HemiEd (Post 12723420)

ROFL Yeah, that would be kind of silly, sorry for being so unclear. I even give the thinner wipe extra time to dry before finish.

I actually don't really like to use stain at all and prefer the natural color.

I am going to play around with some staining on this white oak though just to see how it comes out.

Originally Posted by Iowanian (Post 12723416)

I like to build things out of wood, but I'm a shit finish carpenter. I've built some pine log beds with my brothers and build things out of old stuff more than the fine quality finished things I've seen from some of you over the years.

My power tools for woodwork are old and sad. I don't have half of what I need to do things the right way for finishing wood.

The coolest thing I've worked on was a project for a mentor...I helped him build a wooden canoe made of 1" strips of wood.

My next two planned projects are barn wood related. I plan to build a chandelier for our table and I'm debating between a design using old barn wood, making a shadow box with a flat, rough piece with wires hanging old jars over LED lights or one made with barn trolleys and a couple of old lanterns. Wiring them right is my biggest concern because I'm worse with electricity than fine cut corners.

I also am planning a "railroad cart" style table. I cut some large cat iron wheels off an old safe and want to built a barn wood coffee table out of that.

Additional projects I'd like to do include a free hanging mantle for a large bland wall made out of rough cut beams or old barn beams. I'm also planning to fire up the welder and do some shitty welding to make some 2-3' dinosaurs out of a big pile of old rust wrenches I've picked up along the way.


Maybe I'm just better at these projects because they're supposed to look like hell on the corners.

Originally Posted by notorious (Post 12723614)

I just finished 2 white oak floors today! One has Special Walnut stain and the other is Early American.

I like white oak better than red. For one, the grain is usually a little tighter, two, the color is is more of a neutral brown instead of a redish color to start.


Little known fact: Most prefinished oak floor is white oak, not red even though red is a lot more popular for everything else.

Originally Posted by HemiEd (Post 12723661)

That has to be quite a challenge doing those natural floors. Do you buy it from places like lumber liquidators?
I wish we hadn't have gone with laminate in 2012 when we built this place, but that was all we could swing. It isn't holding up for shit here on the lake.

Originally Posted by MahiMike (Post 12725434)

Cool thread. I used to have lotsa tools. Laid my wood floor and then made chairs out of the leftovers. My granddad made his own grandfather clocks. I took after him.

Was the teachers assistant in wood shop in high school. Sucks my kid didn't get this class. He enjoys helping me build stuff around the house. Just finished a barn door project to the bathroom.

Originally Posted by Al Bundy (Post 12725436)

I made my own entertainment center.

Originally Posted by notorious (Post 12725652)

I have been doing it so long it's like breathing.

I use the best equipment made. Lagler Hummel Belt Sanders, Lagler Trios, Clarke 7R edgers, etc.


I purchase all my product from distributors in KC, Springfield, OKC, Seattle, and Denver. I get Acacia product out of Atlanta.


Check your PM. ;)

Originally Posted by HemiEd (Post 12725668)

Would love to see pictures! I think it is a travesty they aren't teaching these skills anymore to our youth.





What kind of wood did you use? Pictures?

Beautiful work! I have hardly a clue how the current wood floors are done. Are they "tongue and groove?"

Originally Posted by notorious (Post 12725673)

Yep. The only difference now compared to 1969 and earlier is that heavy staples or L cleats are used instead of nails. We also use pneumatic nailers.

It amazes me how much patience the old guys had putting in floor with a hammer and nails. :eek:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO (Post 12725685)

I would lose my shit if someone built me a deck with nails.

Originally Posted by notorious (Post 12725687)

Wow, they used nails on a deck?


Lazy. It takes a second longer to run a screw ffs.

Originally Posted by HemiEd (Post 12725712)

I did, and I am the bad guy from Chicago that comes down here expecting things to be the same as they are up there. I spent a lot of money with that contractor and he has one of the best reps around. Not with me.

I have put actual bolts and lag bolts in the back deck where the runners attach to the uprights. He had about a dozen nails where they joined.



Exactly. I have been replacing them with screws as I have time. Flipping the decking boards over as the nails damage them. The upstairs deck railing that is now four years old and is not safe IMO and I am going to have to put bolts where the uprights attach to the sides.

I am coming to the conclusion that it is the way they do things around here. Half assed and close is good enough.

Originally Posted by Buehler445 (Post 12725724)

I'd have wrecked his shit man. That is completely and totally unacceptable.