5 tips for choosing the right wood for your project

Through much trial and error, my husband and I learned a few things about the wood choosing process that we wished we'd known sooner! There are a few things to keep in mind when you are planning your next DIY wood project for your home. First, you need to keep in mind that not all wood is necessarily safe to use. Second, depending on the project, you need to consider several aesthetic components of the wood as well. So, here are a few quick tips to consider while choosing the materials for your project..

1. Check for black mold! As I mentioned before, not all wood is safe to use. Nowadays, it seems that the hottest trend on Pinterest is the repurposing of wood pallets and converting them into various decor, projects, etc. While this is a great idea and can turn out beautifully, there are still a few safety components to be aware of. Wood pallets can often be found leftover at job sites, in new construction neighborhoods, left over from moving, etc. However, if the pallet has been sitting outside it may have black mold. This is a very dangerous type of mold that simply painting over will not mend. Try to avoid using pallets with this black discoloration. If you are out of options and HAVE to use the blackened wood, make sure you use a power washer and a mask to ensure the removal of all mold from the wood before handling. 
   
2. Check for nails! As mentioned before, some of the easiest places to find lumber, pallets, and wood are from the dumpsters in new neighborhoods or after the completion of previous projects. When this is the case, it is common for nails to be popping out throughout the wood pieces. Be careful when handling those pieces.
   
3. Make sure to investigate each piece of lumber individually to ensure that it is not bowed or twisted. Not all lumber is straight!! The easiest way to obtain lumber for your project is to simply go to your nearest hardware store and buy it there. If you make furniture using wood that has even the slightest bow/bend in it, you risk throwing off the measurements or having flush joints. The easiest way to check your lumber is to put one end of the board on the floor and to simply look straight down from the other end to make sure that it does not bend one way or the other. 
   
4. Check the edges of the lumber to make sure they are to your liking. Some pieces of lumber are cut with rounded edges while others are cut with straight edges.   Depending on how particular you are about the look of your project, this may or may not matter to you. (My husband and I rarely use lumber that has round edges because of our rustic decor style which typically utilizes wood with straight edges. 
   
5. Check the price! Lumber at hardware stores comes in all different lengths, sizes, wood types, and QUALITY. Higher grade lumber is more expensive but is higher quality (minimal bowing, smooth edges, etc). If you are doing what I like to call, "building on a budget" then the higher quality lumber might not be for you. In that case, make sure you are buying the cheapest version of that size board! Boards of the same size and length can differ in as much as $20 per board depending on the quality.     

How to split one mirror into three

One of my most recent projects was taking a large vanity mirror and converting it into three separate tall mirrors for my dining room. Described below is step by step instructions for how the glass cutting portion of this project was accomplished. 

 BEFORE 

AFTER

1. To cut the mirror, you will need a glass cutter (I use the type that holds and releases the oil as you go), clamps (bar clamps work best for this large of a mirror), and a clean oil (I just use WD-40, but you can also purchase oil specifically made for glass cutting). All of these materials can be found at reasonable prices on Amazon or at your nearest craft or hardware store.
2. First, use a permanent marker and a yard stick to mark and divide the mirror into three sections (for this particular project, I split each section to a width of 12 inches). 
3. Once the mirror is marked into three sections, take your yardstick, lay it on the mirror, and place its edge along the line in which you will cut the mirror. Either use clamps to hold down the yardstick, or have someone hold it in place for you.
4. With the yardstick in place, take your glass cutter and start at the very edge of the mirror. (Keep in mind that these glass cutters do not actually "cut" the glass. The glass cutter is used to score the glass which allows you to then split the mirror in a straight line.) With the glass cutter at the edge of the mirror, apply moderate pressure as you slowly run the cutter along the edge of the yardstick to ensure a straight line. Do not stop and do not go back over the line with the cutter when finished. Apply just enough pressure that you hear a very slight sound as you cut. It will leave a very thin line that looks like a strand of hair on the glass. If you are using the cutter that automatically releases oil, then you do not have to worry about that part as it is doing the work for you. However, if you are just using a general glass cutter, make sure you spread some oil along the line before cutting it. 
5. Once the line is cut, wipe off the excess oil, clamp a clamp on each side of the mirror right along one side of the cut line. Put pressure on each clamp in a direction that is ultimately "bending the mirror." At this point, the mirror should split evenly along the line that you previously scored. Careful! The edges will be very sharp!!
6. Repeat steps 2-5 for the remaining sections of the mirror. 

If you like the look of the frames that we created as well, please stay tuned for an upcoming post to include steps for how we made them!

Please comment with any questions or concerns! Good Luck!