2X4 Winter Contest #1: The beginning

Well, I started working on my 2×4 project today. Last weekend I picked up a bunch of 2×4’s at Lowes to construct a new lumber rack, with 1 to spare for the contest. I was a little afraid that one 2×4 wouldn’t be enough to complete the project, but it looks like I will have a few scraps left.

I cut some of the pieces today, 4 – 18” long pieces have been jointed and edge-glued together to form one plank (needed it to be a little longer than what is required so that I can shape it on the bandsaw), and the remaining length has been resawn and 1 piece of it shaped on the scroll saw which gave me a bit of scrap to use for some other things on the project.

I had a hard time trying to come up with an idea for the contest, but finally I went with something that I love other than woodworking (hint, hint). I am making my favorite one of these, and this is something that I have wanted to do for a long time, but never really thought about making it from one 2×4. It won’t actually be functional, other than a piece of art to hang on the wall, since you really couldn’t have a functional one out of softwood, but for ‘the most part’ the dimensions will be full size and not scaled. I am still trying to figure out how I will make a couple of the things that will be part of the project, but it shouldn’t be a problem…

Hopefully I didn’t give out too many clues… :)

-- Jamie, Kentucky