Woodworkers Thread

[07Clone]

Do you get a lot of overspray or mist hanging in the air that settles down on stuff in the room?

Yes, you definitely have to account for that. By the time it floats in the air, it dries before landing on things, but it still leaves a layer of "dust" on things. In my Johnston house, I made a poly "tent" in the garage, but now that I have a dedicated shop, I just spray in the open.

I have seen some Wood Whisperer episodes where he will actually spray outside. I did that once with my airless spraying latex on cabinets....it didn't dry fast enough, and bugs were an issue.

 

[Cytasticlone]

Do you get a lot of overspray or mist hanging in the air that settles down on stuff in the room?

Yes, you definitely have to account for that. By the time it floats in the air, it dries before landing on things, but it still leaves a layer of "dust" on things. In my Johnston house, I made a poly "tent" in the garage, but now that I have a dedicated shop, I just spray in the open.

I have seen some Wood Whisperer episodes where he will actually spray outside. I did that once with my airless spraying latex on cabinets....it didn't dry fast enough, and bugs were an issue.

I'm going to be spraying some speaker coating soon and I plan to put some poly up in my garage. I also saw where someone used a cheap "tailgate tent" as the frame and clamped the poly to that. Might give that a shot since it would be easy to put up and take down. Just trying to control over spray as much as possible in the garage. This will be my first time spraying anything so we'll see how it goes.

Anyone every used an HVLP gun to spray a thicker finish like a speaker coating before? Or HVLP in general? Any tips?

 

[07Clone]

I'm going to be spraying some speaker coating soon and I plan to put some poly up in my garage. I also saw where someone used a cheap "tailgate tent" as the frame and clamped the poly to that. Might give that a shot since it would be easy to put up and take down. Just trying to control over spray as much as possible in the garage. This will be my first time spraying anything so we'll see how it goes.

Anyone every used an HVLP gun to spray a thicker finish like a speaker coating before? Or HVLP in general? Any tips?

I can't help much with spraying thicker finishes with the HVLP - I have always used my airless for that kind of work. I have made quite a few speakers in my day, and have had great luck rolling on Duratex with a smooth foam roller - it gives a tiny bit of texture, but you can get a pretty consistent look by doing that. You can see the speakers hanging in the background of my picture in post #850 in this thread (hard to get too close of a look though). If you are going for a glossy piano black finish, or similiar, I imagine you would NEED to spray.

 

[JM4CY]

Does anyone have any tips in buying material right now that isn’t priced insanely high? My god...

 

[cb1030]

Does anyone have any tips in buying material right now that isn’t priced insanely high? My god...

I was going to ask this too. Have a porch with a couple treated posts that were allowed to sit with dirt piled up on them above the footing. Rotted almost to the point that I can put a screwdriver through them. I bought two 8’ 4x4 treated posts last night for almost $50! Insanity

 

[cb1030]

Anyone ever sourced wood from Liberty Hardwoods in Ankeny? Buddy of mine that is a shop teacher recommended them.

 

[AgronAlum]

Does anyone have any tips in buying material right now that isn’t priced insanely high? My god...

Good luck. I’ve been keeping busy with scraps and leftover sheets stashed in the corners of the garage. Or doing stuff for other people and letting them pay the crazy price.

 

[Tri4Cy]

Yes, you definitely have to account for that. By the time it floats in the air, it dries before landing on things, but it still leaves a layer of "dust" on things. In my Johnston house, I made a poly "tent" in the garage, but now that I have a dedicated shop, I just spray in the open.

I have seen some Wood Whisperer episodes where he will actually spray outside. I did that once with my airless spraying latex on cabinets....it didn't dry fast enough, and bugs were an issue.

I was thinking about this in my garage. My thoughts were to run a thin strip of steel across the ceiling then I can use magnets to hang poly and make a temporary tent. Would help with dust control as well as paint. I'll never forget the time I plastidiped a part of my truck. I was REALLY careful and taped/papered about 5' past my tape lines to ensure protection against overspray. I'm sure it helped but I had black dust EVERYWHERE. Lesson learned!

 

[CloniesForLife]

Yeah I bought 4 crappy 2x4s and it was like $35 bucks this weekend.

In more exciting news I finally pulled the trigger on a planer. Been trying to find one used but they are either almost full price or really old. I went with the Dewalt 13" one as in almost every head to head comparison I read it won. Figured I can sell it for almost as much as I bought it if I need to.

 

[07Clone]

Anyone ever sourced wood from Liberty Hardwoods in Ankeny? Buddy of mine that is a shop teacher recommended them.

They are my go-to place to buy woodworking lumber; they have great plywood too! Just know how you want it worked up: thickness, surface treatment, planed thickness(if you want), SLR. My go-to order is 4/4 red oak (choose the grade you want), S2S, planed to 3/4" (I don't own a planer yet), with a straight-line rip.

A couple things to note, you will get random lengths unless you specify otherwise (extra $), and just know that their thickness planer gets you close, but if you have your own planer, it might be smart to leave some material for a nicer finish on your own. Don't forget to account for scrap, you pay based on the board footage before the SLR, etc.

I don't know if they have a particular "minimum" order, but I usually try to spend $300 minimum to make my order worth their time.

 

[throwittoblythe]

Does anyone have any tips in buying material right now that isn’t priced insanely high? My god...

Thankfully, lumber commodity prices started to ease a little last week. Of course, I don't expect them to return to "normal" anytime soon, but hopefully we've crossed the peak.



Also, here's a great article explaining what's going on with the lumber prices. The conclusion for the cause from that article was not quite what I was expecting.

https://slate.com/business/2021/05/wood-prices-expensive-explained-sawmill-maine.html

 

[CycloneBob]

They are my go-to place to buy woodworking lumber; they have great plywood too! Just know how you want it worked up: thickness, surface treatment, planed thickness(if you want), SLR. My go-to order is 4/4 red oak (choose the grade you want), S2S, planed to 3/4" (I don't own a planer yet), with a straight-line rip.

A couple things to note, you will get random lengths unless you specify otherwise (extra $), and just know that their thickness planer gets you close, but if you have your own planer, it might be smart to leave some material for a nicer finish on your own. Don't forget to account for scrap, you pay based on the board footage before the SLR, etc.

I don't know if they have a particular "minimum" order, but I usually try to spend $300 minimum to make my order worth their time.

Well said. I go there, also. It's not a "pick-out your board(s) store." You need to calculate what and how much you need, then place your order. However, my experience with their assortment and quality of different woods is good. As said, have them plane to your desired thickness (leave a little if you plan to finish plane) and get a straight-line rip on one edge.

 

[JM4CY]

Good luck. I’ve been keeping busy with scraps and leftover sheets stashed in the corners of the garage. Or doing stuff for other people and letting them pay the crazy price.

This is where I am at too. But I’ve depleted my stash of 2x4s. Daughter wants me to make her a desk and I have some of the material but not all that I will need for what she wants daddy to make for her. Anyone else I would tell to go pound sand but she’s using her little girl magic on me and I can’t tell that kid no!

 

[mramseyISU]

I always threaten my kids with buying a sawmill to put them to work like I had to do when I was 12 but until this year it's been a joke. I've been trying to figure out where to park a portable mill now that I'm in suburb hell. I think you could pay one off pretty quick right now if you wanted to hustle a little.

 

[AgronAlum]

Yeah I bought 4 crappy 2x4s and it was like $35 bucks this weekend.

In more exciting news I finally pulled the trigger on a planer. Been trying to find one used but they are either almost full price or really old. I went with the Dewalt 13" one as in almost every head to head comparison I read it won. Figured I can sell it for almost as much as I bought it if I need to.

I had to buy 16 2x4s this weekend to frame out a closet and part of a wall at my house and they were 7.50 a piece at Home Depot. They were 10.50 at menards. That’s insanity.

 

[mramseyISU]

I had to buy 16 2x4s this weekend to frame out a closet and part of a wall at my house and they were 7.50 a piece at Home Depot. They were 10.50 at menards. That’s insanity.

What did they charge for a straight one?

 

[JM4CY]

I always threaten my kids with buying a sawmill to put them to work like I had to do when I was 12 but until this year it's been a joke. I've been trying to figure out where to park a portable mill now that I'm in suburb hell. I think you could pay one off pretty quick right now if you wanted to hustle a little.

Need a business partner? I’m game!

 

[AgronAlum]

What did they charge for a straight one?

I found out HD sells straight lumber, which is also crazy. I have never shopped for lumber there before. The first 16 I grabbed were the ones i took. I would have been half a stack deep at Menards.

Menards must be jacking prices more than HD. The drywall was the same price at both and the 2xs were 3 bucks cheaper. Plus the 11% is easier to redeem at HD.

 

[mramseyISU]

I found out HD sells straight lumber, which is also crazy. I have never shopped for lumber there before. The first 16 I grabbed were the ones i took. I would have been half a stack deep at Menards.

Menards must be jacking prices more than HD. The drywall was the same price at both and the 2xs were 3 bucks cheaper. Plus the 11% is easier to redeem at HD.

I've had pretty good luck with the lumber and plywood at HD too. Lowes and Menards are a crapshoot for those things. I had a friend want me to turn him a plywood bowl so I had some leftover plywood from Menards and I glued it up and started turning. As I was getting close to finishing it up the veneer on the factory glue gave out and sent to the top of that bowl flying across my garage.

 

[AgronAlum]

I had to buy 16 2x4s this weekend to frame out a closet and part of a wall at my house and they were 7.50 a piece at Home Depot. They were 10.50 at menards. That’s insanity.

I noticed Menards in Ankeny is now 12.49 for one 2x4x8 stick of framing lumber. Holy ******* hell.