For many years now, I have wanted to build an attractive gateway at the beginning of my driveway to my house. I finally broke down this summer and completed the project.
Just for your information, my house is 1/2 mile further down the driveway back in the woods where I like it.
The question now is "Is this fine woodworking?" Lets examine this.
1. As I said, I have been wanting to do this for a number of years and have now completed it. I like the results so I would say that I am FINE with it.
2. It is WOOD, good ole pressure treated southern yellow pine.
3. I am 65 years old and am stubborn to a fault when asking for help. I almost always work alone, as I did on this project. The four fixed panels and two gate panels are 4'x9' and use seven 12' 2x4s to make. They were cut and assembled in my basement shop and hauled out to the end of the driveway. They are heavy, bulky and somewhat difficult to handle, especially by yourself. The two gate post are 10' 6x6s in the ground 3'. The four fixed panel post are 8' 6x6s also in the ground 3'. For those of you who have had the "pleasure" of digging post holes in hard southern clay with two handle manual post hole diggers, you are aware of how quickly the "fun" wears off of that tool, especially when digging down 3'. That is precisely why I used a tractor mounted, pto driven auger to dig these holes. Hey, Mama may have raised a fool, but she didn't raise an idiot. (clarification; there are a number of people who would probably challenge the last part of that sentence). In any event, while this was a fun project it was a lot of work, especially in late July and early August. To sum up, I was WORKING my tail off assembling the panels and completing this installation.
So there you have it, FINE WOOD WORKING! Yes, I win. I just wish my wife would let me have a cold beer now.
Rob
Just for your information, my house is 1/2 mile further down the driveway back in the woods where I like it.
The question now is "Is this fine woodworking?" Lets examine this.
1. As I said, I have been wanting to do this for a number of years and have now completed it. I like the results so I would say that I am FINE with it.
2. It is WOOD, good ole pressure treated southern yellow pine.
3. I am 65 years old and am stubborn to a fault when asking for help. I almost always work alone, as I did on this project. The four fixed panels and two gate panels are 4'x9' and use seven 12' 2x4s to make. They were cut and assembled in my basement shop and hauled out to the end of the driveway. They are heavy, bulky and somewhat difficult to handle, especially by yourself. The two gate post are 10' 6x6s in the ground 3'. The four fixed panel post are 8' 6x6s also in the ground 3'. For those of you who have had the "pleasure" of digging post holes in hard southern clay with two handle manual post hole diggers, you are aware of how quickly the "fun" wears off of that tool, especially when digging down 3'. That is precisely why I used a tractor mounted, pto driven auger to dig these holes. Hey, Mama may have raised a fool, but she didn't raise an idiot. (clarification; there are a number of people who would probably challenge the last part of that sentence). In any event, while this was a fun project it was a lot of work, especially in late July and early August. To sum up, I was WORKING my tail off assembling the panels and completing this installation.
So there you have it, FINE WOOD WORKING! Yes, I win. I just wish my wife would let me have a cold beer now.
Rob