Building A Garden Obelisk

 

    Hi everyone. Springtime is here and I've been wanting to build a few things for the garden. I've always loved a obelisk.  I want something that I could grow stuff on vertically. After looking at lots of pictures and doing some research, I came up with this design. Follow along with me and I'll show you how I made it.

Supplies:

   Proxxon Table Saw FET

   Proxxon Micro-Bandsaw MBS 115/E

   Proxxon Cordless Belt Sander

   Pressure Treated Pine 1"x 2"   10 pieces 8' long 

   Pressure Treated Finial 

   Outdoor Wood Glue (Gorilla Brand)

   Drill and Drill Bit

   Screws

   Brad Nailer and Brads

First thing is I determined how tall I wanted the obelisk to be. I decided on 7' without the finial. I laid out my wood on the floor. Marked 4 of the pieces at 7' and cut with the Proxxon Table Saw.

   Lay 2 of the pieces on the floor and put a clamp at one end just to hold them together.  Open the legs on the other end. I made mine 24" across the bottom. I tacked my legs to the floor temporarily just so it would stay still while I figured the sizes of the side stretchers.

I decided I wanted a side stretcher every 21".  I marked that along each leg. Then at each mark I laid a piece of wood under the les and just drew on the angle that it had to be cut. So much easier than doing all the math.  Cut with Proxxon table saw and dry fit in between legs.

          Take all the 3 pieces out and get ready to glue. Glue and let dry. Repete for the second side

Once those side stretchers are dry then I removed the clamp, cut and secured a top piece with glue and brad nails.  I also measured up an inch and added a stretcher to the bottom.

After both sides were dry, I drilled and put a screw in at each stretcher, to add extra stability.

                    Now the sides are done enough to stand up and clamp together at the top.  keeping the top clamped, lay piece on its side so we can measure the side pieces for sides 3and 4.  again I measured 24" spance at the bottom.  I wanted these side pieces to go on the outside of the legs and each one to cover the screw holes.  Lay a piece of wood across and mark the angle with a pencil. Cut angles with either the Proxxon bandsaw or the Proxxon table saw. Glue and nail on the with brad nailer.

Repete for side 4.  Now stand the piece up.  I decided each side needed a strip going up the middle for style and extra stability.

Two of the sides I shortened. the strip and cut a point on one end using the band saw, then again attached with glue and brads.  I also cut another top piece for these two sides, I glued and nailed with the brad nailer

Now there was some places that the brads came all the way through to the other side of the wood strips. I didn't want any sharp nails exposed so I grinded them off with the Proxxon belt sander.

I sat my piece up. Screwed the finial on the top and started to paint.

 My obelisk is complete!  I'm thrilled at how it turned out.  I cant wait to place it in my garden and start growing stuff on it.  Thanks for following along with me.   Colleen :-)

 

How to use metal to make a decorative plaque.

 Hi again.   Time for another little project.   I was reading up a little bit on some of Proxxon's tools and I found out that the micro bandsaw cuts metals.  Well, no kidding I should have known this long ago, but in my past. I dealt with a bandsaw that only cut wood. In fact, it was written all over the saw itself, "wood only", and I'm not one to argue with an ornery looking giganto bandsaw.  Finding out that I can cut metals has opened a new door.  Let's walk through it and try a small project.  

 Equipment and supplies

Thin piece of metal

masking or painters tape

Wood plaque or other backing for cutout

Proxxon micro bandsaw

small files

Proxxon OZI/E delta sander

tProxxon drill press and small drill bi

hammer

small nails..

Small piece of dowel (to make nail holder)

saw tooth picture hanger

First thing I did was to place masking tape on the front side of all my tiles and draw my design.  Bearing in mind that there can't be any inside cuts, make sure that you can enter the closed letters at some point that won't interfere with it's stability or readability.  I got my inspiration from my friend.  I asked her what she would like to see on a plaque and she told me, " Beyond Blessed".  Guess who gets the plaque when it is finished.    In the picture above you can see the progress I was making cutting out the saying.   PLEASE MIND YOUR FINGERS-  This cutting requires some up close holding.  Nope, the red on the letters is not blood, it is where I marked the way in to the closed areas.  I guess I should have used green or blue paint.  The Proxxon micro scroll saw cuts easily into this thin metal.  Another word of warning.  Please wear eye protection.  You surely don't need a metal splinter in your eye.  

This is what I wear when there is any danger of eye injury.

Here is how it turned out.

I sand it a little bit using the OZI/E delta sander.  This makes it shiny.

Now over to the Proxxon mini drill press to make some holes.

I want to use a lot of nails as a decorative feature. 

Now lets nail it to our wood piece.  Oh but the nails are too small to hold.   Hint- make this (below).  Take a dowel or small piece of wood and drill a small hole about 1" up that will hold the nail you are going to use.  Make a cut from the end of the dowel to the small hole.  (It doesn't have to be pretty)

Nail holder!  Lightly tap the nail to get it started and pull out the dowel.  Finish tapping in your nail.

Add a picture holder to the back and it's done.  

Give it to someone you love.  

Thanks for visiting.  Come back again and meanwhile play safe

Carol