Mesquite porch

[ForestMan]

First major project with my sawmill.  Using 1" thick mesquite.  Live edge slabs for steps.  I sanded down the steps yesterday and applied mineral oil.
Cedar post and handrail.

[Chuck White]

Sure is a beautiful project Forestman!

I never thought that mesquite got any bigger than just a little thorny bush!

Nice.

[jueston]

that is beautiful, i really like the 4 inch wide boards and 6inch wide boards mixed togather.... it really came out well.

[Red Pill]

Really beautiful. That notch in the top step looks a bit like a leg-breaker, though. Perhaps it looks like more of a gap than there is.

[ForestMan]

Thanks for your comments.  The gap on the top step is less than it appears.  I have an arthritic mother-in-law that climbs those stairs probably twice a day with no problems.  I'm really pleased with the red hues coming out, it's nice.

[zopi]

The fellow who originally sparked my interest in sawmilling, has run the same circle sawmill since the sixties, Has a rather nice house...there is not a square inch of sheetrock in the entire house, amd each room is done in a different species...the cherry bedroom is breathtaking...and his entire porch is solid white oak...mind blowing.
I wish I had a few hundred bdft of mesquite...would make some sriously nice kitchen cabinets.

[Brad_bb]

Nice!  I want to know about the post at the bottom step.  Was it driftwood?  How does it have those pronounce splits on the sides?  Did it have bark on it when you found it?  Did you sand it before you finished it?  Was it grayed to start with?
Thanks

[gandrimp]

Thats nice. Of course, we want pics of it finished.

[redbeard]

Nice job i love seeing live edge projects. The steps are great! and the colors in the wood really compliment the project.

[ForestMan]

The post for the handrail is a cedar post we bought for fencing.  We simply stripped the bark and sanded it for two days, then put Cabot sealer on it.  I cemented the post in.  It is very solid. 

I am also using mesquite for skirting around the porch.  We are going to create guardrails all the way around the porch as well.  It is an ambitious project.  I still have about half the flooring to install.

I have never built anything like this before.  It is such a thrill for me!

[WDH]

That is a creative and "one-of-a-kind" porch.  You should be very proud!

[customsawyer]

That looks good enough to make you not want to step on it.

[ForestMan]

I custom cut each board to fit, then I coutersink the screws in after I drill pilot holes and countersink holes.  It is very time consuming, but I think the result is worth it.

[mad murdock]

Nice job forestland! Crank up the barby on that porch and you can claim with confidence that everything is grilled on mequite :D it looks soo good you could eat it ;) (thought it about time to bring flood into the conversation).

[ForestMan]

That's the nice thing about working with mesquite wood.  None of it needs to be wasted, as you can always barbque with your cutoffs.  ;D

[MotorSeven]

I really like the live edge, and these days I don't think it is used very much. I am using live edge Hemlock vertical board on board right now to close in my gables. I also bought a LogMan Tennon maker and will be making railings, furniture etc with it.

[MotorSeven]

Oh and this is 50/50 Tung Oil & Mineral Oil on Eastern red Cedar...first coat:

[kelLOGg]

Tell me more about using mineral oil for a finish. Does it attract dust or remain sticky to the touch? How long after applying it can it be walked upon or touched?

I like the look of it (and everything about your project).
Bob

[Burlkraft]

I use mineral oil a lot around here. I have a full log house with N white cedar and white pine walls.

It never gets sticky, just oily for a day or so. The look on the wood fades after a while. Usually after we are done oiling, the next day we take a soft cloth and wipe everything down.

We have a kat and a golden retriever and have not had a problem with hair sticking to the walls.
It was way worse when I bought the place. The inside was all rough cut white pine stained dark brown.
There is sumpthin' that'll keep and hold animal hair without bein' sticky!  :D :D

Very nice porch Forestman  ;)  I love mesquite it is so stable you can turn it green let it dry and it's still not out of round.

Good Job!

[Magicman]

There is just no way to measure the satisfaction of completing a project from "trees to finish".  Congratulations ForestMan, on a job well done.

[dnalley]

Great looking work.  The live edge steps look appealing too...but they would scare the heck out of me.  Seems like the mind is programed to expect steps to be uniform (we don;t always look at each step...especially if we wear bifocals or transition lenses).  Just seems to be inviting disaster, especially in the dark :-\  Only an opinion ;D

[ForestMan]

Thanks for all your comments.  The steps are not really that scary.  We have not had any problems at all.  Friends come over with their small children and no one has ever had an issue with it.  We have walked up and down the steps in the dark and never had a mishap. 

The nice thing about it is that I own a sawmill.  If I ever need to switch them out, I'll just slab some more mesquite.

[tyb525]

I love anything live edge...but many people have been programmed that a "board" must have 2 straight edges....otherwise it does not compute and they get really confused when they see a live edge board.

[ForestMan]

I have added a few more planks to the porch.  With two small boys, it's hard to get time to work on it, but slowly and steadily it is coming together.

[toolman18]

Mesquite cutoffs and two Turkeys in the front yard, doesn't get any better than that ;D!