Ok, nothing fancy here but I started off building a basic box for cutoffs and scrap wood but after the basic box was done, I kept on adding pieces and overall, I really like the rustic box planter look. This was built using reclaimed redwood fence boards from my old backyard fence. The stuff is pretty neat when you plane it down but in this case, I’ve left it alone it’s gray weathered glory. Since the pic was taken, I’ve added more trim to cover the screws. I’d keep adding more but it’s getting heavier. Think I’ll put some sealant on it or something.

My wife liked it so much she wants me to build a similar box but bigger and with a lid/bench and on casters. She will use it put gardening tools on and for just plain sitting on while working outside. Great, another project…. =)

Now that the shop is up and running, these ladderball towers made a quick and easy project for a Sunday morning. Nothing fancy, just basic 2×4 construction with a dado joint where the tower meets the base. Used the steel pipe from the church pews I picked up earlier and couldnt be more pleased.

Thanks to my buddy Ben for inspiring this fun project and lending a hand. If you havent heard of ladderball, youre missing out on a good time. Backyard fun on the cheap!

First of, I’d like to say that this website and all the wonderful members and charachters on here have really been instrumental to ramping up the motiviation to set up my shop. I’m an amateur for sure but I’ve made simple furniture and decks in the past and I’ve always loved working with my hands. When my wife and I were fortunate enough to buy our current house, it signaled my need to build my own furnishings. Pottery Barn and IKEA will never see the likes of me again!

With that said, here are some pics of my set up. I was lucky enough to score a well kept PM66 as the centerpiece of my shop. You guys dont wanna know what I got it for. Lets just say the place I was taking wood/metal shop classes at purchased a bunch of Sawstops and were kind enough to let me have this perfectly working industrial beast for a song. Getting into the shop was another story but I wont get into that. Suffice it to say that it made it in good working order.

I apologize for the messy shop condition. These pics were taken before I properly tidied up. My first real project right now will be turning about 10 church pews that I picked up free on craigslist, into a custom builtin bookcase for my living room. I said I would take them sight unseen, so I was dissapointed to find that it was mostly 3/4” hardwood with an oak veneer. Still, it works very well as bookshelves. And I can say that I saved them from landfill and my wood has a colorful history (baptist church in East Oakland…) I also scored tons of steel pipe that I’m still unsure what to do with.

Anywho… this is my first post here on LJ and I look forward to sharing my progress with you all and document this new and exciting phase in my life.

Cheers!

JC