project ideas

[Magicman]

Building mats requires some support equipment.  You gotta handle those cants, drill through them, insert the threaded rods through the entire mat, secure them, and then stack/load the assembled mat.  We have a couple of outfits that build them locally and they are big operations.

[paul case]

Magic,
I think the mats they are talking about are just 2x4 and 2x6 nailed or bolted together to make a wider footprint for trucks in the swamp.
Not those heavy thick crane mats. Entirely different. PC

[Larry]

Also storage sheds!!!!!!!! they sell like hot cakes. But you need to be able to deliver them. I charge $2 a mile with a min of $100 evin if its just going next door. GOOD LUCK  and you will have fun doing it too.
                                         

When I was in north Missouri I had a guy ask me to saw out a storage shed for him out of his logs.  He wanted the same design that the local Amish were building.  We worked out a cut list and he compiled his list of additional material.  With my saw charge, the cost savings over buying one from the Amish was just a few dollars.

I couldn’t figure out how they were building them so cheap so I went to see.  Any scrap from the storage shed was used to build big dog houses.  Any scrap from the big dog houses was used to build little dog houses.  The whole family worked together building these things...little tikes were gophers for the operation.  I made friends with them and got paid to deliver and set up a few. 

What may be a money making project for one could be a looser for the next in a different area.  Creative thinking and finding the right niche is the secret I think.  If your building the same as others, with good quality the only thing left to compete on is price.  Not good.

[Magicman]

Paul,  Maybe those are Oklahoma mats.  We got to have heavy duty ones here and in Louisiana.  We have real mud and swamps.   

[dlabrie]

Does anyone have links to good plans for smaller items like full and kid-sized picnic tables , benches or Adirondack chairs?

Also, do boards have to be planed after they come off of a bandsaw mill for these types of projects or does a good sanding suffice?

[paul case]

Paul,  Maybe those are Oklahoma mats.  We got to have heavy duty ones here and in Louisiana.  We have real mud and swamps.   

Oh yeah I forget you guys have dirt, we have rocks.
I saw a truck load of those heavy crane mats going down the interstate the other day. It looked like they were all 8x8 bolted together. I was thinking of the ones they use on swamp loggers. They look to me to be built out of 2x4 and 2x6. Hey, what do I know?
I cut out some crane matting for a bridge company in Joplin the other day. They wanted full2x12, 4' long. PC

[Magicman]

I really had never thought about it, but different areas do require different matting materials.

[4speed]

dlabrie,

   I located the plans I base my picnic table off of: http://www.buildeazy.com/kiddies_bbq_table_imp.html

Since i started making them, I just use all 1x4, using 2 for the seats. I also made a jig for assembling the end frames. That speeds up the process a great deal. I can't locate the link to the plans for the chairs. Just google "kid's adirondack chair plans". You should be able to find a good set of plans.

[ChuckinVa]

If you take a look at this current craigslist ad of mine the first picture is a table that goes for $250.00.

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/for/2789607279.html

What are the items in the picture number 9 from the top ? They look interesting.

[dlabrie]

dlabrie,

   I located the plans I base my picnic table off of: http://www.buildeazy.com/kiddies_bbq_table_imp.html

Since i started making them, I just use all 1x4, using 2 for the seats. I also made a jig for assembling the end frames. That speeds up the process a great deal. I can't locate the link to the plans for the chairs. Just google "kid's adirondack chair plans". You should be able to find a good set of plans.

Thanks! There are a lot of plans at that site. I think that kid's table will be the first I'll try when I get my mill.

Can a table like that be built with green pine or would I have to let it dry a bit before using it?