Project Information
This is a patio screen door I just completed construction on. I used cypress from the same load I have used to make a morris chair and and end table. This thing is 1 1/8" thick and solid as a rock, with the drawbore joinery. I got the idea for this from RunnerDuck.com. This is the first time I have used drawbore joints. I was really impressed with the resulting tightness and fit of the joints. SOLID.
I used a roll of aluminum screen I've had laying around for years. It was a bit "bumpy" and was difficult to pull tight enough to remove the unevenness. I may well replace before I hang the door. Replacing the screen is quite simple. Just remove the molding, via the screws, remove the staples holding the screen and mount new screen.
As you can probably tell I have not applied finish yet. I plan on using the wiping varnish approach that I've used on the other cypress pieces I have done. But in this case I am debating whether to get more Spar Urethane or go with some Waterlox Original Marine Tung Oil Finish. According to what I have read this finish is much easier to renew than the Spar Urethane. Mainly you should only need to lightly sand and apply new coats. The Spar Urethane, I am led to believe, requires getting back down to the wood so the new coats will bound. I'd be most curious to hear any experience/opinions/advice on this topic.
I did find some excellent hinges for this thing at House of Antique Hardware.
I'm looking forward to getting this finished and hung.
You can find a Sketchup model here.
Finally got this thing finished and hung. I've added a couple of pics. One shows the setup I used for finishing this door. Got the germ for this idea from something I saw in one of Alan Little's (Woodman) videos. Drilled a 3/8" hole in each end of the door and inserted a walnut dowel. Mounted a block, with a matching hole, on each dowel and clamped the blocks clamped to tables. With this door now spinning in this setup applying the finish was a snap.
I used a roll of aluminum screen I've had laying around for years. It was a bit "bumpy" and was difficult to pull tight enough to remove the unevenness. I may well replace before I hang the door. Replacing the screen is quite simple. Just remove the molding, via the screws, remove the staples holding the screen and mount new screen.
As you can probably tell I have not applied finish yet. I plan on using the wiping varnish approach that I've used on the other cypress pieces I have done. But in this case I am debating whether to get more Spar Urethane or go with some Waterlox Original Marine Tung Oil Finish. According to what I have read this finish is much easier to renew than the Spar Urethane. Mainly you should only need to lightly sand and apply new coats. The Spar Urethane, I am led to believe, requires getting back down to the wood so the new coats will bound. I'd be most curious to hear any experience/opinions/advice on this topic.
I did find some excellent hinges for this thing at House of Antique Hardware.
I'm looking forward to getting this finished and hung.
You can find a Sketchup model here.
Finally got this thing finished and hung. I've added a couple of pics. One shows the setup I used for finishing this door. Got the germ for this idea from something I saw in one of Alan Little's (Woodman) videos. Drilled a 3/8" hole in each end of the door and inserted a walnut dowel. Mounted a block, with a matching hole, on each dowel and clamped the blocks clamped to tables. With this door now spinning in this setup applying the finish was a snap.
