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I just went through this with a desk I built: https://twitter.com/jlongster/status/370760915735420928 https://twitter.com/jlongster/status/370760915735420928. I

I just went through this with a desk I built: https://twitter.com/jlongster/status/370760915735420928 https://twitter.com/jlongster/status/370760915735420928. I spent way too many hours balancing my tool budget. I had to do exactly the same thing: cut 4x4s with a circular saw. I also had to make several crappy jigs for various uses. I would love a real tool rental service that had everything and at good prices. EDIT: my 4x4 cuts were straight. I can't imagine trying to do a 45deg cut with a circular saw...

j2d3 13y ago
Your desk looks really beautiful :) What species of wood did you use, and what did you stain it with?
- jlongster 13y ago
  Thanks! It's my first serious wood project. I used red oak for everything but the legs, which are cedar. I didn't know this until now, but untreated 4x4s are hard to find, much less made of oak. I finally found some at the local specialty lumber factory, but they only had cedar and redwood, and cedar was cheaper. It stains so differently, but I think I got it come out ok. A benefit is that it's a soft wood and much lighter, so the overall weight isn't too bad. I used General Finish's oil-based stains. First coat is Mahogany (where most of the color comes from), and the second coat American Walnut. When wiping off the second coat, it seemed to remove some of the first coat color sometimes, which was weird (I let the first coat dry for 24 hours). But it's mostly the Mahogany color. I finished it with 4 coats of Waterlox Tung Oil Finish. That stuff is amazing. It's so easy to apply without any errors, and the tung oil really gives it a rich depth. It's also waterproof. The downside is you have to apply several coats.
dusing 13y ago
Home Depot has pretty cheap tool rental, I'm sure some other hardware stores do as well.
- j2d3 13y ago
  Home Depot's tool rentals are not cheap, they do not get delivered, and they are only for tools that are VERY expensive and usually large and bulky otherwise - things like stumpgrinders and trenchers, concrete saws and jackhammers.
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j2d3 13y ago

Your desk looks really beautiful :) What species of wood did you use, and what did you stain it with?

jlongster 13y ago
Thanks! It's my first serious wood project. I used red oak for everything but the legs, which are cedar. I didn't know this until now, but untreated 4x4s are hard to find, much less made of oak. I finally found some at the local specialty lumber factory, but they only had cedar and redwood, and cedar was cheaper. It stains so differently, but I think I got it come out ok. A benefit is that it's a soft wood and much lighter, so the overall weight isn't too bad. I used General Finish's oil-based stains. First coat is Mahogany (where most of the color comes from), and the second coat American Walnut. When wiping off the second coat, it seemed to remove some of the first coat color sometimes, which was weird (I let the first coat dry for 24 hours). But it's mostly the Mahogany color. I finished it with 4 coats of Waterlox Tung Oil Finish. That stuff is amazing. It's so easy to apply without any errors, and the tung oil really gives it a rich depth. It's also waterproof. The downside is you have to apply several coats.

dusing 13y ago

Home Depot has pretty cheap tool rental, I'm sure some other hardware stores do as well.

j2d3 13y ago
Home Depot's tool rentals are not cheap, they do not get delivered, and they are only for tools that are VERY expensive and usually large and bulky otherwise - things like stumpgrinders and trenchers, concrete saws and jackhammers.

deleted 13y ago

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