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I got into woodworking during the pandemic, built several pieces of furniture, my favorite is a firepit table [0]. The top is made out of concrete, and the res

I got into woodworking during the pandemic, built several pieces of furniture, my favorite is a firepit table [0]. The top is made out of concrete, and the rest is wood. The propane tank fits inside so it is out of view. I did buy the piping and the grill from where the fire comes out of, but other wise all done in my basement. Other builds include a kitchen island, a coffee table, and a live-edge standing desk. I think the next thing I want to build is outdoor seating that goes with the firepit. [0] https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPUzkh4ukWZ7XPD5cPvE1D6eocVz-v9CmYrsqqLzlg0hp-b4Z9LD_OIO8yQDK61yA?key=MG9NQ3dPbnp6dlN1WGN6eVA1WGdnNk52c29mM193 https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPUzkh4ukWZ7XPD5cPvE1D6...

dr_orpheus 3y ago
For me woodworking is also produced the coolest physical things that I've made. If I had to pick one, I think I would pick the kitchen island that I made. But I think my favorite moment came from the trim I did in the basement. We have been re-doing a lot of our basement and I did all of the trim that is in there now. There is a transition in floor from carpet to tile right near a corner. Looked kind of like this [0] Lots of angles to make everything match up and tiny cuts to finally get it to match up correctly (made more difficult because of course the wall isn't a true 90 degree angle). Turned out really well and looks seamless, but not something most people would ever notice. But one of my friends who is also an avid home DIYer was in my house saw it and said "dude, that trim is fire!". Felt good to have someone recognize the work that went into it. [0] https://kyimages.kyinbridges.com/baseboard_different_heights.png https://kyimages.kyinbridges.com/baseboard_different_heights...
nkozyra 3y ago
I know that fire pits (and outdoor stoves) need high heat mortar ... did you use that here or is the heat level low enough that it's not necessary.
- huevosabio 3y ago
  Here the heat is low enough that it wasn't necessary. It's only the table top that is concrete.
- avar 3y ago
  You don't need high heat (refractory) mortar for many outdoor fire pits or stoves. It's mandated in many places (and for good reason) for indoor fireplaces, chimneys etc. That's because regular mortar will crack when subjected to roaring fires, and you don't want the heat, fumes or fire itself to escape the chimney. But e.g. for a fire pit it's usually no big deal, as the outside of the pit is presumably soil, or the open air.
  - nkozyra 3y ago
    This is true at all. Explosive spalling is a very real thing and you can see many examples of this online. Cracking is a minor manifestation but it can be much more violent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV0saM5IFwE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV0saM5IFwE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxJPX0lssIQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxJPX0lssIQ
    - avar 3y ago
      (I'm assuming your first sentence is missing an "isn't") We're talking about mortar here, not concrete. I.e. the "paste" that's put between bricks and other stone work to "glue" it together. But of course normal bricks are also subject to spalling, but it's very rare that they'll Gail catastrophically, mostly you'll get a crack or two. Europe's full of old brick houses that cone chimneys that were made before using specialized materials for them was mandated. You can safely build such structures, they just require building and usage techniques that go along with them, e.g. using a double layer of brick, or gradually heating up the chimney to get the humidity out of the bricks and mortar.

dr_orpheus 3y ago

For me woodworking is also produced the coolest physical things that I've made. If I had to pick one, I think I would pick the kitchen island that I made. But I think my favorite moment came from the trim I did in the basement. We have been re-doing a lot of our basement and I did all of the trim that is in there now. There is a transition in floor from carpet to tile right near a corner. Looked kind of like this [0] Lots of angles to make everything match up and tiny cuts to finally get it to match up correctly (made more difficult because of course the wall isn't a true 90 degree angle). Turned out really well and looks seamless, but not something most people would ever notice. But one of my friends who is also an avid home DIYer was in my house saw it and said "dude, that trim is fire!". Felt good to have someone recognize the work that went into it. [0] https://kyimages.kyinbridges.com/baseboard_different_heights.png https://kyimages.kyinbridges.com/baseboard_different_heights...

nkozyra 3y ago

I know that fire pits (and outdoor stoves) need high heat mortar ... did you use that here or is the heat level low enough that it's not necessary.

huevosabio 3y ago
Here the heat is low enough that it wasn't necessary. It's only the table top that is concrete.
avar 3y ago
You don't need high heat (refractory) mortar for many outdoor fire pits or stoves. It's mandated in many places (and for good reason) for indoor fireplaces, chimneys etc. That's because regular mortar will crack when subjected to roaring fires, and you don't want the heat, fumes or fire itself to escape the chimney. But e.g. for a fire pit it's usually no big deal, as the outside of the pit is presumably soil, or the open air.
- nkozyra 3y ago
  This is true at all. Explosive spalling is a very real thing and you can see many examples of this online. Cracking is a minor manifestation but it can be much more violent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV0saM5IFwE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV0saM5IFwE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxJPX0lssIQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxJPX0lssIQ
  - avar 3y ago
    (I'm assuming your first sentence is missing an "isn't") We're talking about mortar here, not concrete. I.e. the "paste" that's put between bricks and other stone work to "glue" it together. But of course normal bricks are also subject to spalling, but it's very rare that they'll Gail catastrophically, mostly you'll get a crack or two. Europe's full of old brick houses that cone chimneys that were made before using specialized materials for them was mandated. You can safely build such structures, they just require building and usage techniques that go along with them, e.g. using a double layer of brick, or gradually heating up the chimney to get the humidity out of the bricks and mortar.