| Project by Paul M | posted 120 days ago | 218 views | 1 time favorited | 6 comments | ![]() |
Snow is gone, at least for now, so time to start thinking of venturing outside again.
Designed and built this a couple of years ago. When we downsized to our new home, the previous owner had a rose arbor that the roses had engulfed and destroyed.
Being a nice guy, I promised my wife I would get her a new one for her birthday. This let to several trips to all the local garden centers that only found ones that where too small, and sort of boring, not to mention so lightly built that one bump with the mower would dislodge them.
Even though this was planned as an arbor, it morphed into a Strombella since we decided that we didn’t really want the darn roses anyway.
The cat is a replica of one in a museum that we had sitting on the porch, so my twisted sense of humor couldn’t resist giving it a new home.
Construction is PT, using 4 X 4 for the uprights and 2 X 4 for the cross members. Arch is from 2 X 8. It is roofed with white cedar. Fastening is by ¼” and 3/8” lags with washers, countersunk in dados, and covered with the PT strapping plus some deck screws. Legs are not cemented, but are about 1 foot into the ground.
Cost of materials was more than the Garden Center ones, but well worth the extra expense.
Even with our New England winters, this has not moved in three years
-- Paul from New England "No man is a failure who is enjoying life". William Feather
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6 comments so far
Scott Bryan
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8049 posts in 228 days
posted 120 days ago
Paul,
This is a purrfect home for the cat. (Sorry I just couldn’t resist that). You did a marvelous job on the construction of this. While it may have “cost” you more than a commercial variety it is of far better quality. I had rather have quality than price any day. Very nice project.
Thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
CharlieM1958
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3705 posts in 624 days
posted 119 days ago
Nice job! Sure doesn’t look like bumping it with the mower will create any problems.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
GaryK
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8274 posts in 394 days
posted 119 days ago
Never heard of a Strombella, but it looks great though.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
MsDebbieP
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11043 posts in 567 days
posted 115 days ago
me neither, Gary…
love it.. and the statues around it.
You should post this over at GardenTenders.com. A lovely garden area.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
rikkor
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6700 posts in 280 days
posted 115 days ago
I like it, what ever you call it.
-- Maplewood, MN
Paul M
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28 posts in 126 days
posted 115 days ago
I think I spelled it wrong, should be Strombrella. Not used too much, but can be found in older books containing Gazebo’s, Pergolla’s and such.
I made another one, wider, floored, with a back for my daughter in-law. It was designed to house a hammock-seat. Maybe I should post it also.
Debbie, Thanks for the link to Garden Tenders.
Paul
-- Paul from New England "No man is a failure who is enjoying life". William Feather