What projects do you like doing?

[Germanicus]

My project for a few months was aquireing materials to make a billet knife.
On Ebay i bought all the things i wanted, wood glue, brass rods, leather sheath, Danish oil.
The blade is Damascas, that means it has been heated up red hot and turned over and beaten again and again over 100 times to give the grain effect and the strength and hardness to the steel.
The wood for the grip is African, and is substainable, it is a very hard wood.

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/003-6.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/004-3.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/002-8.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/001-3.jpg

[Psychonaut]

I enjoy doing woodworking. I don't make particularly pretty objects, but I'm pretty good at making useful things:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2006/3540716355_e07f2c9266_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/3453794481_260d9b64ea_b.jpg

[Germanicus]

[QUOTE=Psychonaut;71582]I enjoy doing woodworking. I don't make particularly pretty objects, but I'm pretty good at making useful things:

You are the same as myself then, i usually think about the design i want for a few days then get the materials, then i start making it, here are a few of my humble attempts.

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/008-6.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/012.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/017.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/008-1.jpg

[Barreldriver]

Some projects I enjoy are taking old European myths and legends and trying to combine them with current studies on the genetic origins of Europeans and archaeological finds, and writing some pretty insane essays. :D

[Barreldriver]

[QUOTE=Psychonaut;71582]I enjoy doing woodworking. I don't make particularly pretty objects, but I'm pretty good at making useful things:

You are the same as myself then, i usually think about the design i want for a few days then get the materials, then i start making it, here are a few of my humble attempts.

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/008-6.jpg


^ You made a dog!?!?!?! and a toy to go with it!?!?! :D

[Germanicus]

My new project for the summer months is making a new Hunting knife, i have ordered the blade and the wood blanks for making the handles.
The wood blanks are Black Cherry Crotch, they have great wood grains.
This knife will have silver embedded in the handle.

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/NewDamascasblade.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/blackcherrycrotchgrips.jpg

[Liffrea]

Probably easier to ask what I don’t like doing…….

Currently I’m still working on my allotment, building beds, fences, bean frames.

I like to paint models (blondes usually but red heads as well) when I can’t get them I stick to bits of lead and plastic, I have a few diaromas (spl?) planned.

I’ve got several study projects on the go, including an essay I’m working on. I purposely have to stop myself here as I read just about anything and have piles of half read books (I need to develop a system).

Finally I’m working on my body, I’ve just started back with exercises I want to bulk out more and build my stamina.

Oh and finally, really, I need to finish my rune staff, which is sitting here looking at me….

[Bloodeagle]

I enjoy long walks on the beach and building things.

[tired]

I am renovating my house

[Jägerstaffel]

I set up aquariums as a hobby.

[Fintorah]

This is my main hobby... don't really get much money out of doing it. Basically, I modify computer enclosures (extensively) and set up custom water-cooling loops.

Also, my current computer is a little nicer, but less expensive; just your basic (upgraded) Core i7 @ 4.4GHz/8GB DDR3/6 TB/5870 workstation in an ATCS 840. I already posted a thread on that but nobody cares :P.

This was a very easy build for under $2000 that I did for a customer a couple months ago. I'm on my netbook so this is the only picture I have.

http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy38/kingdededede/042.jpg


I set up aquariums as a hobby.

I also do that :). I have a 55 gallon tropical cichlid tank and a 10 gallon nano reef.

Again, not on my regular computer so I can't provide any pics :(.

[Germanicus]

Whilst surfing sites for design ideas for my new Damascas blade that came in the post today, i came across this informative Forum.
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/4097507647_06435d6441_o.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php%3F90258-Damascus-Steel-Blades&usg=__wL4fsPnmmDvZIz5-SUkxb0AtXPA=&h=480&w=640&sz=149&hl=en&start=484&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=SqzFvSFJ8gJdWM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dimage%2Bof%2Bdamascus%2Bknives%26star t%3D468%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1R2GGL L_en-GBGB339%26ndsp%3D18%26tbs%3Disch:1

Although i do like this design, it's called a "Tactical"
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/Agooddesign.jpg

This is the Damascas blade that arrived in the post today.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/Mynewdamascasblade.jpg

[julie]

reading and chatting

[Germanicus]

Mrs Germanicus asked me to make her a Potting Table for her plant pots, i started work around 11.00am and finished it around 2.30pm

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/014-5.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/015-2.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/016-2.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/018.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/019-2.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/023-2.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/025-2.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/032-2.jpg

You can see the shadow moving across the patio as i work on it.

[Germanicus]

Here as you can see i have started work on my new Damascas blade, the resin glue had set so i started to shape the handle, the handle is made from a nice piece of Kingwood from south America, it is a substainable wood.
Shaping and a lot of sanding down are ahead of me:)


The Glue used is epoxy resin, it is in 2 tubes, you mix the same amount together.
The brass rod is cut to length and inserted into the holes in the knife, after glue has dried you cut off sand down as with the wood.
The brass guard is glued also, but i have drilled on the hidden side a brass rod into it for more security.





http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/Mynewdamascasblade.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/009-5.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/012-4.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/010-3.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/015-3.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/014-6.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/013-2.jpg

[Osweo]

I'm trying something new to me.

A few week ago, I was walking the dog roound the village and took her through the churchyard. Leaning on the outer porch of the church was a long beam, obviously very old, and fulll of holes from woodworm. They've been doing up the inside of the belltower, so this was obviously a beam they'd replaced with a new one. I wondered at the potential use of the joist, but put it out of mind, as it was too big to carry home on foot, really.

A few days later, me and the dog saw the same piece, this time broken into three parts, lying on a burnt out bonfire at the bottom end of the churchyard. This time I resolved to have it, and came back later on in the dark. I heaved the main piece up on my shoulder, and carried the others in my other hand. There were only six or so houses to pass before I came to the little lane that goes round the back of the main road, through fields, where there'd be less people to see me. I don't think I was doing anything particularly wrong, it's just that I see no need for everyone here to know my business... :p And I put the beam in my ruined outhouse, where it'd be out of the rain. Here it is, on top of the blue rubble sacks;
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/6545/201006050130.jpg

Now, on closer inspection, the woodworm were pretty thorough, but they usually concentrate on the outer layers and leave some core relatively intact. THere's nothing particularly practical I can do with it, so I'm going to try my hand at some more indulgent craftwork/handiwork or whatever you want to call it. I'd actually appreciate a few suggestions as to little projects; there's a lot of wood! :)

BUT, my main idea is this; I'm going to try something my Bernician ancestors might have appreciated; make some wooden Futhorc 'tablets'. Twenty four wooden 'tiles' with a rune on em. I don't know what exactly I'll do with them, we'll wait and see. I'll just make them first. It just seemed right to use wood from a holy place for such a thing. As I see it, this is probably English Oak and it deserves something properly English to be done with it. The Church was renovated in the 1870s, so the timber might be 140 years old, from a tree that might have been as old when it was felled. There is a lot of established forestry round here, on the estate the village is in, so there's no reason to suppose that it came from particularly far away. I bet the tree I was sat up the other day is a close cousin, even! It's very local. Very Devon. And it's been sucking up holiness for a century and a half - if not much more - and there may be some older mediaeval wood in the building, reused or left in situ in the 1870s, who knows? So this wood is quite special...

ANd all this means cutting slices of wood. To do this, I'm using my best saw, which is one I found buried in this very garden. It has five holes through the rusty blade, and God knows how long it's been in the ground, but it cuts much better than my newly bought shiny one. Heh, it reminds me a bit of how the heroes in old sagas would find a sword in some barrow. And to my mind, shaping the runes has a bit more... gravitas to it, if I'm using proper manual labour to cut the wood, instead of an electric saw. Here we are:
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/8592/201006050129.jpg

While making them, I'm envisaging the respective rune in my head. It's almost like a 'prayer' of sorts, if you'll indulge me in that little fancy. Here we are about two thirds of the way through;
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/8264/201006050134.jpg

...and I've cut the lot now. I started getting thicker as I went on, but I kind of like the idea that I cut them in order, and the grain in the wood is a clear sign of their sequence. I'm not quite sure how to shape them next... I'll let it come natural. I've cut some other slices from the other end of the wood, and am practising with them first, and making a little present for somebody special... ;)

SHould I be treating the wood quickly, I wonder? Is there a risk of it cracking if left for a while?

[Jarl]

I think its old enough and as long as its kept dry and unexposed to extreme temp. there is absolutely no risk of it bending or cracking. I just think you should have asked the vicar first.... although robbing the churches is very English :P

[Germanicus]

Old English Oak eh?..........hmmmm my suggestion would be Chess pieces, down load some Chess piece designs, buy a good set of wood chisels and start carving.....(that idea is off the top of my head):)

http://images.theage.com.au/2009/09/30/761042/3009wo_bergman-420x0.jpg

http://nishitak.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/chess_1.jpg

[Germanicus]

Here i have done some more work on the Damascas knife handles, the shape is going good so far, a little more work is needed, as you can see i've added some Danish oil to it to see how good the grains are.



http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/012-5.jpg

[Matritensis]

I'm no gunsmith,but I changed the springs in my Smith & Wesson and I changed the hammer too(it broke).It is smooth as butter now,and I'm proud of having succeeded without fuck-ups (after extensive reading about the subject,of course)

These are the parts changed(not a picture of my gun):

5127


And this is my toy reassembled:


5128

[Matritensis]

Here i have done some more work on the Damascas knife handles, the shape is going good so far, a little more work is needed, as you can see i've added some Danish oil to it to see how good the grains are.



http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/012-5.jpg


Great looking blade.Do you buy them sharpened or do you sharpen them yourself? I'd love to have one of those,but they are quite expensive...

[Piparskeggr]

reading, writing, brewing and cooking, mostly, but also puttering about in the garden and workshop.

Here's a sword I made about 25 years ago from a leaf spring. The pommel is a sheet metal heel dolly welded onto the tang. Grip is oak scales wrapped in leather cord.

http://www.theapricity.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=166&pictureid=1208

Thors hammer is the 2nd one I ever bought, back in 1994; 1st was in 1989, which I still wear.

[Germanicus]

Great looking blade.Do you buy them sharpened or do you sharpen them yourself? I'd love to buy one of those,but they are quite expensive...


This blade i bought came unsharpened, there is a Blade forum i use that advertises a guy that sharpens blades like no other, so when i finish my knife i will be sending it to him for sharpening...(thanks for the question)..:)

[Piparskeggr]

...pommel is a cast steel, heel-shaped "dolly" for shaping sheet metal...got it in the automotive tool section along with some other "dollies" and metal-working hammers.

Yeesh :D

[Germanicus]

I rested all afternoon in the sun today, but when the temperature dropped i started work on the new flower bed i promised to make Mrs Germanicus.

Luckily i had some wood that was ideal in the garage to use.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/051.jpg

Having all the tools and materials before you start a job helps.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/054.jpg

Tomorrow i will finished the wood staining and fill it full of soil for her.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/056.jpg

[RoyBatty]

reading, writing, brewing and cooking, mostly, but also puttering about in the garden and workshop.

Here's a sword I made about 25 years ago from a leaf spring. The pommel is a sheet metal heel dolly welded onto the tang. Grip is oak scales wrapped in leather cord.

http://www.theapricity.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=166&pictureid=1208

Thors hammer is the 2nd one I ever bought, back in 1994; 1st was in 1989, which I still wear.

Myself and a friend got the idea to make ourselves these huge knives after watching Rambo. We also used a leaf spring as metal source. It was a hell of a job trying to straighten it out. We were bashing away at the thing with 5 pound hammers lol :D

[Germanicus]

Today i finaly finished the new flower bed i promised to make Mrs Germanicus.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/003-11.jpg

She got straight in and put her potted plants into it.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/004-7.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/005-11.jpg

[NSFreja]

Tattooing :)

I loooooooooooove the pain when getting a new tattoo
...but i also love to see other people almost cry when i tattoo them ;) and to see their faces when i just tell 'em "feeeeeeeeeeeel the pain" :biggrin:

I will do another tattoo on myself tomorrow, if i get done with the design in time that is.
I usually get really bored on sundays = perfect time to get a new tattoo...too bad my left arm don't have much space left for tatts....:whistle:

[Germanicus]

Whilst i was away working in the week my 2 staffies broke the springpole.
Poppiona is nearly 20Kg now, and Brodicus is 22Kg, so their combined weight pullinb on it made it snap at the base.
So when it was cooler in the afternoon i got the tools out and made a new one from scratch, luckily i had some spare wood in the garage.

Here you can see the springpole broken at the base.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/025-4.jpg



Work has started but as you can see Brodicus wants me to play ball.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/027-2.jpg


The design of the old one was pretty good, but i have made adjustments.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/028-3.jpg


It's in it's metal base finally.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/029-3.jpg


The new horizontal bar should do the trick to stop the dogs twisting the pole.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/030-4.jpg


Here's the old one.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/031.jpg

I've shortened the poles outbar and waterproofed the wood and finished off everything.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/032-4.jpg

[Germanicus]

Here is the new Tanto Damascus blade that came yesterday, i'm undecided which wood to use for the project, i have seen some designs which are pretty nice.
The wood here is Rosewood, it has outstanding grains.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/003-12.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/004-8.jpg
The other wood is Black cherry crotch, again this also has outstanding grains and colour.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/blackcherrycrotchgrips-1.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/007-7.jpg
So which one do i use?
Here is the design i like.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/possibleproject.jpg

[Germanicus]

Yesterday i bought myself a new belt driven sanding machine, it made a great difference and helped shape the handles perfectly, once i had fine sandpapered them i applied the Danish oil in 3 coats, tomorrow i will add 3 more, so more or less i have finished it, i am very pleased with the end result.

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/007-8.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/008-13.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/015-6.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/010-7.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/017-6.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/021-6.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/020-7.jpg

[Germanicus]

I was undecided which wood to use on my Tanto blade, i chose the Rose wood blocks.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/007-7.jpg

Yesterday i started work on it...:)
I slotted both blocks, allowing the blade to sit snug into the sheath and the blade.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/003-14.jpg

I had some very hard African wood saved so i've decided to use it too.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/004-9.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/005-13.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/007-9.jpg
Once i'd glued and prepared everything i started to put it together.

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/011-10.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/009-10.jpg
As you can see i have sanded the items to a better shape.

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/015-7.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/017-7.jpg

[Germanicus]

The hardest part of the project is soldering the brass to the knife, i tinned both the brass and the knife with solder before soldering both items together.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/010-8.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/009-11.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/008-14.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/007-10.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/006-11.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/005-14.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/004-10.jpg
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/003-15.jpg

As you can see i have given it a basic shape by sander, but i have a lot of work yet to finish the project. :)

[Osweo]

I finished a little project of mine today;
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/1715/201009260029.jpg

I'm considering trying to flog a few at local furniture and picture shops and the like. :strokebeard:

[Guapo]

I like to dink around with cars, installed a fuel tank.

[Germanicus]

Finally i have finished the Japanese Tanto blade.

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/006-12.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/004-11.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/008-15.jpg

[Germanicus]

My next project will be either one of these 2 blades.


http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/013-5.jpg


http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/015-8.jpg

As you know i have already finished one of the 2 larger blades, shown in this picture
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/016-7.jpg

But i have not attempted to make a lock knife before, so it might be a challenge?
This example from Google seems very nice, i may copy it, what do you think?
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/SKGIANTW1_400lockknife.jpg

[Liffrea]

Mine will be turning my fathers workshop into a gym, he can’t use it anymore with his health so he’s given it me, it will be better than the landing which is my current gym.

[Germanicus]

Today i had a few spare hours to spend on the new weather shelter for the Staffies, having acquired all the wood this week i thought i'd waste no time seeings as it's getting colder.

first i made a general base so i could work out the dimensions, as i do not ever work from a drawing.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/004-12.jpg
As i add the wood the idea forms of what i want.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/005-16.jpg
Having a good supply of wood makes it an easy task.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/006-13.jpg
Forming the roof is the hardest part, tomorrow if the weather holds i may have a topping out ceremony :)
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/007-12.jpg

[Bloodeagle]

Forming the roof is the hardest part, tomorrow if the weather holds i may have a topping out ceremony :)
In my quest for cultural exchange, I was curious as to the extent and style of topping out ceremonies, the English are accustomed?
We use to erect a tree and a fly Old Glory, in commemoration of topping out a structure, with one hell of a party to follow. Now, we usually must sneak the tree and flag onto the job and then celebrate after cashing our layoff checks! :D

[Germanicus]

In my quest for cultural exchange, I was curious as to the extent and style of topping out ceremonies, the English are accustomed?
We use to erect a tree and a fly Old Glory, in commemoration of topping out a structure, with one hell of a party to follow. Now, we usually must sneak the tree and flag onto the job and then celebrate after cashing our layoff checks! :D


In the 70s and very early 80s we used to have some great topping out ceremonies, a dignitary would come along, say a few words and then celebrate with a barrel of beer, canned lager and sandwiches, not forgetting the obligatory cooked chicken legs.
Nowadays with your health and safety brigade all of the ceremonies have had their day:(

The roof was put on just after midday today:)
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/005-17.jpg

Poppiona is a bit unsure of what to make of this in her garden
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/007-13.jpg

Later on this afternoon i gave it a coat of wood preserve.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/009-13.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/010-10.jpg


Brodicus loves it, he goes inside it quite happily, whereas Poppiona will not as yet:(
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n449/ruffusruffcut/011-11.jpg

[Tolleson]

That is a lot of hard work on your birthday! :D

I raise a Pumpkin Ale (from Great Lakes Brewery) to you, sir!

Cheers, my friend.

[Magister Eckhart]

Anyone else here do any bookbinding? I've done some larger pieces, but I'm presently working on some much smaller specimens (it's a little harder to make smaller binding, surprisingly). I'm presently working on binding Muamar al-Quadafi's Green Book because even at size 12 font it's only about 36 pages total.

I wish I had some pictures but I don't have access to a camera; I'll borrow my brother-in-law's and get some pictures posted of my work.

[Germanicus]

Anyone else here do any bookbinding? I've done some larger pieces, I'll borrow my brother-in-law's and get some pictures posted of my work.

I eagerly await the photo's...:thumb001:.

[Osweo]

I wonder if anyone can help me with their opinions on my coming task, doing this new house up?

We're putting down a new floor, of 'real wood top layer flooring'.
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=1832583&c_3=3|cat_27773919|Real+Wood+Top+Layer+Flooring|27 773964&c_2=2|cat_16849237|Flooring|27773919&c_1=1|category_root|Flooring+and+Tiling|16849237
There are about three layers of wood, the top one being of the best quality. They kind of hook together.
http://www.woodenflooronline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Engineered_wood_floor.jpg

In the shop, they say it should be put on top of some special rectangular pads. Slightly spongey, a bit like the rolls you put under your sleeping bag when you go camping.
http://www.woodenfloorshop.co.uk/productimages/fiberboard-underlay-x60.jpg

Anyway, we are wondering if we can just put the wood down on top of the standard carpet underlay ('Tredaire') that we've already got here in the house, and in so doing save a fair few quid?!? :p
http://www.applegate.co.uk/images/items/02/16/18/227_8.jpg
(There's a load of it, and in pretty good nick. Shame to waste it, but a pain to store!)

I can't think of any good reason not to do this. What am I missing? Do they really sell the special underlay only to squeeze money out of naive customers, or is there some reason that this stuff is the only appropriate base to put the wooden planks on? :chin:

[Germanicus]

I shall put your questions to the top carpenter on site tomorrow sit tight and do nowt :)

[Bari]

I wonder if anyone can help me with their opinions on my coming task, doing this new house up?

We're putting down a new floor, of 'real wood top layer flooring'.
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=1832583&c_3=3|cat_27773919|Real+Wood+Top+Layer+Flooring|27 773964&c_2=2|cat_16849237|Flooring|27773919&c_1=1|category_root|Flooring+and+Tiling|16849237
There are about three layers of wood, the top one being of the best quality. They kind of hook together.
http://www.woodenflooronline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Engineered_wood_floor.jpg

In the shop, they say it should be put on top of some special rectangular pads. Slightly spongey, a bit like the rolls you put under your sleeping bag when you go camping.
http://www.woodenfloorshop.co.uk/productimages/fiberboard-underlay-x60.jpg

Anyway, we are wondering if we can just put the wood down on top of the standard carpet underlay ('Tredaire') that we've already got here in the house, and in so doing save a fair few quid?!? :p
http://www.applegate.co.uk/images/items/02/16/18/227_8.jpg
(There's a load of it, and in pretty good nick. Shame to waste it, but a pain to store!)

I can't think of any good reason not to do this. What am I missing? Do they really sell the special underlay only to squeeze money out of naive customers, or is there some reason that this stuff is the only appropriate base to put the wooden planks on? :chin:

- Well they do serve a purpose in regards to humidity and keeping heat. I don't think it makes the best base to have the floor on either, you'll end up with the floor literally screaming in time when walking on it. To avoid this clickguard silicon could be applied to keep out water and avoid the sounds. Is it concrete underneath this or just wood? Especially on concrete humidity can be a bitch. The floor is a long-term investment and there are other places where one might easily save a few bucks withouth it leading to severe consequenses.

[Osweo]

- Well they do serve a purpose in regards to humidity and keeping heat. I don't think it makes the best base to have the floor on either, you'll end up with the floor literally screaming in time when walking on it. To avoid this clickguard silicon could be applied to keep out water and avoid the sounds.

Thanks, Man! :thumbs up

Interesting that you echo Bloodeagle's chief concern (many thanks to him too!) - the noise - which he expressed on my profile page thus:


In the U.S. we call that (engineered hardwood flooring), it's cheaper and more environmentally stable, but cannot be refinished as many times as (solid hardwood flooring), due to the thin veneer top layer. It is usually applied over a vapor retarder of some sort, such as #30 pound felt paper, or something that will slow down moisture transfer from floor to floor.
I have seen thin layers of foam sheathing used with plastic laminate flooring, but never with engineered hardwood, so I am unfamiliar with this. I am pretty certain that carpet padding would be far to thick and have too much deflection, to work with any sort of tongue and groove or other locking system. I bet it would squeak like hell.

I'm still tempted to at least try it, you know. :chin:


Is it concrete underneath this or just wood? Especially on concrete humidity can be a bitch. The floor is a long-term investment and there are other places where one might easily save a few bucks withouth it leading to severe consequenses.

I should have said what the floor was. :o It's thick plywood boards, on top of batons, themselves on top of concrete. Part of the room near a former open balcony area is strange square tiles of some nasty fibrous thing (asbestos? God knows... :suomut:) however, so your humidity comments might well apply there (and I just poured a lot of self-levelling cement there today, to even out a small trough). More than 4/5 is the plywood, though.

As for long term investments... Ho ho ho... :dev

We intend to put this flat on the market as soon as possible. Our chief consideration is to have it looking superb, and of ... acceptable quality construction, designed to last ... as long as it takes for us to disappear... ;)

I think I'll fit the kitchen first, and we're waiting for the electrician, so there's time to consider the matter. Will be interesting to see if Germanicus has any feedback later tonight. :)

[Logan]

House, BMW and library, but in another order.

[Germanicus]

The site foreman who is a carpenter told me when i asked, that you need the cushioning for expansion and contraction, due to the different linnear expansion effects per degree of heat due to the wood and the floors surface differential. Also the cushion will insulate the wood from the colder base floor,also it is a good leveler and noise reduction agent.

In short.......buy some and use it me old tight northern matey.:p

[Osweo]

Ah, here he is! Cheers, G! :cheers:

The site foreman who is a carpenter told me when i asked, that you need the cushioning for expansion and contraction, due to the different linnear expansion effects per degree of heat due to the wood and the floors surface differential. Also the cushion will insulate the wood from the colder base floor,also it is a good leveler and noise reduction agent.

In short.......buy some and use it me old tight northern matey.:p
Hey, we're not all rich bluddy Sutherners, tha knows! :D

Eeeeeeeee... Difficult matter. 'noise reduction' he says too. :ohwell:

Damn, looks like we'll end up buying the square tiles at this rate. :cry2

I'll have to roll up the underlay and hope it comes in useful next time, I suppose.

[Allenson]

How did I miss this thread for so long?

Projects? I always have projects--whether I like them or not is another story.

Currently renovating the house which means dealing with insulation, dry-wall, mud & tape, some carpentry and soon to be plumbing as an upstairs bathroom will finally added.

As for projects that I enjoy--tinkering with my motorcycle can be fun, working in our woodlot, cutting firewood, hauling it out with the tractor, etc is always pleasant as I like to work outside. Gardening & general horticulture, of course and even plowing snow isn't so bad all the time. ;)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2125/2327021186_2db49b3280.jpg

[Bloodeagle]

My house is my project, but between the busy summer work season and my newborn baby, the projects are proceeding at the pace that a medieval church was erected. :(

Here are some random pics of my house projects. :)
Starting in the living room, up the stairs and outside.

http://www.theapricity.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6746&d=1294703350