[Woodworking] A picnic table for squirrels

[DAB]

if you watched enough MASH episodes, you likely saw the one with the local woodcarver who was hired to make a wood bust of Col. Potter. before he was hired to do that, he was asked for a sample of his work, so he pulled out a 2x4. the guys said, 'um yeah, that's nice', the local replied "it used to be round"

you try making a straight 2x4 from a round branch, not as easy as it sounds.

[BOTY]

Originally Posted by Mick

I have a similar talent! I buy large pieces of lumber from Home Depot, and keep cutting the boards to incorrect lengths, but finding other uses for the shorter miscut pieces, but then I miscut them too. The process goes on until I have a medium sized pile of sawdust, and a large pile of chopped up waste wood. Then, I go back to Home Depot and buy more big pieces!

I know its not exactly glamorous, but a man needs a hobby!

I do that with PVC.

[Cybercowboy]

Love the use of wire on it, that's smaht!

[DAB]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

Love the use of wire on it, that's smaht!

the wood pieces are so small and thin that any nail or screw would just split it or pull out. so i grabbed some re-bar tie wire. bends easy and doesn't break too easily. glue would hold initially, but under weathering, it would let go over time.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by DAB

ok, now you are thinking that I need some fresh air after being at home for the last 9+ years (got a head start on all y'all). No.... our favorite Squirrel Girl (Wendy) asked if I could make a squirrel sized picnic table for her furry friends. After a little thinking and some trial and error, I came up with this:

I showed that pix to wife Linda, she is a tree rat person, feeds them all the time, and we have room for one, .....

SO one glance at that pix, and she cracks up laughing.....


SO....YER HIRED!!!!! make one for her please........


go PM , we make a deal....


GENE

[DAB]

Originally Posted by mrvette

I showed that pix to wife Linda, she is a tree rat person, feeds them all the time, and we have room for one, .....

SO one glance at that pix, and she cracks up laughing.....


SO....YER HIRED!!!!! make one for her please........


go PM , we make a deal....


GENE

oh good grief.....

i actually made two: one for Wendy, and one for Mrs. DAB. Wendy's is shown, stained. Mrs. DAB's is painted black (not shown).

give me a day or so, i have more scrap lumber laying around (i use some scrap 2x6 material). the pieces are about 1/3 the scale of 2x4s, so the top pieces and the seat pieces are 1/2 x 1-1/8, so they look like 2x4s shrunk down.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by DAB

oh good grief.....

i actually made two: one for Wendy, and one for Mrs. DAB. Wendy's is shown, stained. Mrs. DAB's is painted black (not shown).

give me a day or so, i have more scrap lumber laying around (i use some scrap 2x6 material). the pieces are about 1/3 the scale of 2x4s, so the top pieces and the seat pieces are 1/2 x 1-1/8, so they look like 2x4s shrunk down.

Lemme know, Linda been into feed the tree rats out front for many years.....peanutz in the shells, unsalted......so the wood worker neighbor built a little bin/shelf he fastened on side of the oak tree, and so the feeding is greatly reduced on account of another LARGE tree was cut down on account of rot at the base.....Linda still has the nest from that tree in the back atrium....

I married a country/flower child......see the pix around this house, you would know it....fur shure.......

[MadInNc]

...

[DAB]

Originally Posted by MadInNc

...

That’s what prompted this nonsense

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Originally Posted by DAB

stained today, color is called "Honey"

I'll let it dry overnight, and then 2 coats of Spar Urethane tomorrow.

Love this!!

You should set up an Etsy shop and sell stuff like this.

[DAB]

Originally Posted by NEED-A-VETTE

Love this!!

You should set up an Etsy shop and sell stuff like this.

nah.....

the shipping alone on these is about $20 (flat rate large box). the lumber is only about $2 worth.

[snide]

Originally Posted by DAB

nah.....

the shipping alone on these is about $20 (flat rate large box). the lumber is only about $2 worth.

So, you sell them for $69.99. Profit.

[DAB]

Originally Posted by snide

So, you sell them for $69.99. Profit.

start up a business in NM: $500

raw materials and shipping: $25

sell for $70? potential profit: $45 each.

but....

Fed FICA - 15.3% ($6.89)

Fed income tax - say 20% ($9)

state income tax - 5% ($2.25)

state gross receipts tax - 8.5% on total ($5.95)

total: 6.89 + 9.00 + 2.25 + 5.95 = $24.09

net profit = 45 - 24.09 = $20.91, and there is about 2-3 hours of time into each one, so about $7/hr...... pass.

[snide]

Originally Posted by DAB

start up a business in NM: $500

raw materials and shipping: $25

sell for $70? potential profit: $45 each.

but....

Fed FICA - 15.3% ($6.89)

Fed income tax - say 20% ($9)

state income tax - 5% ($2.25)

state gross receipts tax - 8.5% on total ($5.95)

total: 6.89 + 9.00 + 2.25 + 5.95 = $24.09

net profit = 45 - 24.09 = $20.91, and there is about 2-3 hours of time into each one, so about $7/hr...... pass.

You didn't say there would be math.

[Anjdog2003]

Originally Posted by DAB

i take big pieces of wood and make them into small pieces of wood, and then join them together in a pleasing manner.

I have the same skill working with wood.

[BOTY]

Originally Posted by Anjdog2003

I have the same skill working with wood.

Same.

[DAB]

first coat of Spar urethane

another coat tomorrow sometime.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by DAB

first coat of Spar urethane

another coat tomorrow sometime.

Um, can you weave a tiny straw pic-i-nic basket to put on the table? You know, to keep with the theme?

[DAB]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Um, can you weave a tiny straw pic-i-nic basket to put on the table? You know, to keep with the theme?

i considered drilling a hole in the center for a small umbrella....

[DAB]

Others had a similar idea

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/ma...l-people-build