For years, I built our homes, barns, decks and some remodeling. Then after retirement from Delta, my Daughter said, Daddy would you build me two Adirondack Chairs ? Then finally after completion, she said, why not sell these ? That was the beginning, now after 16 years and some 70 plus items later on my website, I am still enjoying building furniture.
I purchase all my wood I use now from McIntyre Wood, in Georgia. The store there sells all kinds of wood, including (KDAT) pine. It is a hybrid pine, with a closer grain, with more character and beauty. The word KDAT means, Kiln Dried After Treatment. The wood I buy is almost knot free and has 14% moisture content. Then I store the wood after purchase, until ready to build on drying racks, free from sun and rain. After I select the wood to build from and build, it will be ready to stain or paint after customers pick up their furniture.
Some of the processes I use take more time and hopefully you will receive a better piece of furniture. All my 4×4 I use in building either posts for tables or foundations for SwingBeds, I build myself. I use two each 2×4, and one 1×4, glue them together, clamp and let dry and then plane the piece to a perfect square, that will not warp or twist.
My Porch Swings also have a process. The bottom and top foundations are connected with a Half/Lap miter joint, then glued, clamped, dried and then I drill and insert two Oak dowels. Then the top and bottom foundations look like one piece of wood, also very strong. Also for strength I install a 2×4 under the swing as well in the back, to attach the chains to, also very strong. Just like my Dressers and night stands, no drawer glides to break. The glides are made of wood from front to back, a 1×4 cut end to end, glued and screwed together, attached front and rear, glue and screws, again will not break or twist. Just a little bar soap on the glides for lubrication.
From beginning I select the wood by size needed, plane it top and bottom until smooth. I then cut the wood as per the pattern you want and start the building process. On assembly, each piece of wood is then sanded smooth with a belt sander using #120 grit paper. Keeping all pieces square is another effort, but is an absolute necessity. All joints are glued using TiteBond #2 waterproof glue and then fastened together with Stainless steel screws.
All of my PorchSwings are furnished with #30 feet of 1/4 loop chain and SwingBeds with 40 feet of 3/4 Manila rope. One thing I always suggest to my customers is finishing properly. Termite treated wood is just that (Termite Treated). The biggest problem you will encounter is Rain and Sun. I recommend always to finish using an Oil base product. Water base is a top coating and Oil base is a penetrant. You want your furniture to last.
I have added some pictures that hopefully will explain my building processes, better than I can. I would be glad to build for your family someday. If you do not see what you want on my website, just give me a call and we can put together a plan that will work for you. Remember one thing, I am a ONE OLD MAN shop and stay very busy, be patient with me and we will build together. Thanks for your time, Norman 678-699-2029
