I made this! - Shelf from creosote driftwood - 11 feet long!
I MADE THIS!
A couple of years ago, I retrieved a very long and heavy piece of lumber driftwood from the drainage canal behind my house. the canal is 15' across at the waterline. The banks are about 12' at a 45 degree angle.
It took me a couple hours to get it out of the canal and pull it up the bank.
It's waterlogged weight was 450-500 lbs.
It took me another couple hours to put it on level bricks, on the patio area that got good sun.
I decided that It would become my new shelf-Plank.
The distress and occasional hole in this 3" thick plank, leads me to project that this plank had been roaming around the waters for 2 to 5 years before I grabbed it.
The worn ends, the distressed underside, and especially the random holes through 3" of a creosote plank!...
shelf-Plank 11" x 2&1/8" x 11'
When the shelf-Plank started drying, I could see that it was very old creosote.
I let it dry in the sun all summer. Rain sometimes, but nothing close to be floating in water - especially a board that had about 30% creosote remaining.
3 MONTHS LATER
The shelf-Plank is fully dry , and weighs about 250lbs.
The shelf-Plank had Lots of splinters and other sharp edges.
Instead of sanding first, I conducted several controlled burns - one 3 foot section at a Time - I used zippo lighter fluid.
This proved to be a substantial time-saver, as the shelf-Plank was not square at any point. It even had a couple of small holes, as driftwood often does.
After splinters & points removed by burns, I sanded the char by hand.
Then I sprayed remaining char with flat clear whatever, can't remember, paint, acrylic, something very flat.
I Sanded some stubborn parts, then stained the sanded parts dark brown.
[Center brace. Only One!]
Under-Side, supporting plank: I drilled pilot holes in the supporting plank and 3 studs, 16" center.
Then put 2.5" screws through the supporting plank and into the studs.
I'm pretty sure that this is also creosote that I found in the canal.
Then, attached shelf-Plank to supporting plank: with 4" star-tipped fortified screws -
And lastly, drilled pilot holes in shelf-Plank and drilled from the top-down into the head of the Center brace.
I installed the shelf myself.
I can't remember how I lifted that thing!
A couple of years ago, I retrieved a very long and heavy piece of lumber driftwood from the drainage canal behind my house. the canal is 15' across at the waterline. The banks are about 12' at a 45 degree angle.
It took me a couple hours to get it out of the canal and pull it up the bank.
It's waterlogged weight was 450-500 lbs.
It took me another couple hours to put it on level bricks, on the patio area that got good sun.
I decided that It would become my new shelf-Plank.
The distress and occasional hole in this 3" thick plank, leads me to project that this plank had been roaming around the waters for 2 to 5 years before I grabbed it.
shelf-Plank 11" x 2&1/8" x 11'
When the shelf-Plank started drying, I could see that it was very old creosote.
3 MONTHS LATER
The shelf-Plank is fully dry , and weighs about 250lbs.
The shelf-Plank had Lots of splinters and other sharp edges.
Instead of sanding first, I conducted several controlled burns - one 3 foot section at a Time - I used zippo lighter fluid.
This proved to be a substantial time-saver, as the shelf-Plank was not square at any point. It even had a couple of small holes, as driftwood often does.
After splinters & points removed by burns, I sanded the char by hand.
Then I sprayed remaining char with flat clear whatever, can't remember, paint, acrylic, something very flat.
I Sanded some stubborn parts, then stained the sanded parts dark brown.
[Center brace. Only One!]
The center brace is screwed into the shelf-Plank at top, and middle stud at bottom. shelf-Plank was balanced and center of gravity placed directly above Center brace.
Then put 2.5" screws through the supporting plank and into the studs.
I'm pretty sure that this is also creosote that I found in the canal.
Then, attached shelf-Plank to supporting plank: with 4" star-tipped fortified screws -
And lastly, drilled pilot holes in shelf-Plank and drilled from the top-down into the head of the Center brace.
I installed the shelf myself.
I can't remember how I lifted that thing!
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