I recently salvaged some used white oak flooring (1/2” x 4/ 1/2”, tongue and groove) after seeing a neighbor stacking them outside. Even though I didn’t have any idea what I would do with them, I grabbed as many as I could fit in the back of my truck, took the time to remove all of the nails and staples (hours of work), thinking that I would eventually find some something that I could build out of them. Most of the pieces are about 2 ft long, (70-80 pieces), but there are about 20 pieces about 5 ft long. I was careful not to split the wood while removing all nails and staples. The only thing I made so far is a table saw sled (The Family Handyman, June 2008, page 64). I glued enough pieces together to do the sled. Sanded it smooth, kind of looks like a butcher-block top, it actually looks very nice. Thought about making some kind of table top, but I thought it would look too much like eating off the floor. They would make a nice woodworking bench top, but I don’t need any more benches. Anyone have any ideas for a good use of this wood ?
I could do that, thanks. The only tough part is that after gluing them together, one side could be off by 1/8 ” or less as I discovered while trying to square up my 24”x24” top. I suspect the tongue and groove joints had some play that accounted for the uneven dimensions. I did glue and clamp though. Fixable. Also, bottoms of the planks have ridges, I assume to allow air and moisture to escape. So for the inside of a box, it it’s important, I’ll also need to shore up the ridges.
By the way, what kind of finish did you end up using for your cherry doors. Thanks-Dave
I’d do frames, boxes, or maybe a shadow box/knick-knack box to hand on the wall. Maybe some small shelves? Decorative trim for another project? Ship it all to flink? I dunno.
-- Made lots of sawdust and pounded some nails. Haven't finished anything, though.
I was thinking about this post when I replied to another about some oak flooring, but here is what I’d do with this surplus.
I like the idea of using these for a sort of modular tool wall…
I’m indecisive on my preferred layout for tool hanging above my bench. I also don’t want to allocate the room for a cabinet with doors, etc.
Back to my tool wall… I selected different planks with unique characteristics to serve as modular tool racks. I drilled 3/8” holes at a 5* angle about 6 inches apart to hang my wood planes.
I used another plank to mount my chisel rack, another for squares, tapes etc…
I used drywall screw to mount the individual sectons to the wall studs.
With your tongue and groove already built in, you could rearrange your wall if the need suits you.
It also makes a nice backdrop behind your woodworking bench…
Q
-- I don't make sawdust...I produce vast quantities of "Micro Mulch."
I wanted to say Thanks to everyone who made suggestions for uses for my white oak flooring. So many ideas I never thought of. It would make very nice picture frames, boxes, serving trays, modular tool racks…I’m still contemplating the gnome doors. :) While making the Table Saw Sled, I used common 2×4 pine for front/back saw blocks, but after completing the project, including finishing all areas with an oak finish, the 2×4 pine blocks just didn’t stack up to the eye against the finished oak sled. So, I removed the 2×4 blocks, squared them off on my table saw, and laminated them with the oak flooring ripped to 1/8” on my table saw and beveled 45* on the edges, and applied an oak finish.. WOW, it did the job, and looks great. I used a featherboard set in oak runners to hold the oak planks against the fence and ripped away. The featherboard jig idea I discovered somewhere else and am very pleased to now know how to rip precise board widths on my table saw. ALso, I have a Freud LU83R010 10-Inch 50 Tooth ATB Thin Kerf Combination Saw Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor and PermaShield Coating(sry, I cut-n-paste this), [mounted in a cheap Craftsman 2.7hp 10” 15yo saw] that does a nice job at ripping. So to save some of this white oak, I just might do more laminating, and I have to say that is the most satisfying use I have found for my oak flooring in this, my first oak reuse project. But more projects float through my mind every night I lay down to go to bed. (Funny, does anyone else have this strange mind-play just before sleep?) Thanks LJWW’s
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