One project may bite the dust

[Ronn W]

Several year ago I built a garden bench for my wife from reclaimed redwood.  She informed me that she may discontinue her garden area and switch to pots on the patio.  She has asked me to cut the back and arms off of my beautiful bench so it can be used to hold the growing containers.  This is going to be painful.  In addition she wants a second flat surface for more containers.  Our cedar picket fence is to be replaced in the next couple of weeks and I think I will salvage 4-4x4 posts and 6-2x4 rails to use for that platform.   I think that I will just put and old blade in the table saw and slice the paint off to expose the cedar. 

[Tom King]

I'd build a new bench for the pots and keep the old one.

[Chet]

On 9/14/2023 at 8:59 AM, Tom King said:

I'd build a new bench for the pots and keep the old one.

+1

[Immortan D]

On 9/14/2023 at 12:59 PM, Tom King said:

I'd build a new bench for the pots and keep the old one.

I agree. 

You may need the bench back in a couple of years when she changes her idea again.

[pkinneb]

On 9/14/2023 at 1:31 PM, Immortan D said:

I agree. 

You may need the bench back in a couple of years when she changes her idea again.

LOL almost spit up my pop on this one...such a wise man 

[treeslayer]

Yeah don’t cut it up, build what works for her, it would be a shame to cut up something you’ve already made 

[Ronn W]

OK, OK you convinced me.  The fence guys arrive in 3 days and I have estimated how many posts and rails I want them to leave for me in order to build to slatted surface plant pot stands.  I plan to cut the white paint off with and old blade on the table saw.  I plan to do this with first piece they remove just to be sure that this is a good idea.  This should exposed the original wood color and then I will stain them with the same stain the we will be putting on the fence.  I realized as I was falling asleep last night that I will have to remove hundreds of ring shank nails that held the pickets onto the rails along with all the screws that I used to re-attach pickets over the years.  Time to call my grandson for help.  Is there such a thing as  nail pulling party?

The old garden bench has long since most of its varnish and it will be a bear to try to sand down to the original redwood color so I will sand as best as I can (it has slats in the front apron, back and seat).  I am not going to get carried away getting all the old varnish from between the slats.  I will seal it with  a couple of coats of rattle can spray shellac which will adhere to any old varnish and the paint it with a latex exterior paint.  MIght as will re-paint the mail box and post while I am at it.   I am resigned to resanding and repainting as required.

I

[Mark J]

You could just leave the bench alone -- natural patina and all that.