• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • John F Dean
  • Timothy Norton
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ranson
  • Jay Angler
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • paul wheaton
  • Tereza Okava
  • AndrĂ©s Bernal
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • M Ljin
  • Matt McSpadden

Cedar boards splitting when fastened...

 
gardener
Posts: 5420
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio,Price Hill 45205
1114
forest garden trees urban
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Circumstance has made my fence building a priority.
So I have sturdy frame completed, and I am ready to skin the whole thing in the irregular 1/2" x 4" cedar boards we purchased for the purpose.
But, when I use screws without predrilling, the ends split, despite being 3-4" from the end of the board.
Predrilling each one seems like madness,given how many I have to do.
I am looking for affordable solutions, but obviously saving labor is important.

I'm considering TEK screws, which are self drilling( for metal), but not as pricey as SPAX and GRK.

I could ditch the cedar, but the wife really likes it, and its paid for. It did not seem as fragile when I used it last fall on a different stretch of fence. Could wetting the cedar help prevent splitting?

If predrilling is a must, I might build it on the ground as panels. This would mean an easier time predrilling, because I would not need to switch back and forth between bit and driver. I might even be able to get help from the wife and minions!

I am even considering a version of the Junkpole fence. I would need two 2" x ?" x 10' for each 10' section. A screw at each end of the 2"x ?" boards about 5/8" off the existing top and bottom rails.Slide in the cedar pickets, maybe run a screw in between the picketsinstead of through them. HMM, that last bit makes me think I could use screws and washers, and catch the edges of the pickets...

So those are my crazy ideas! I would loe to hear from anyone, but especially builders with experience in dealling with similar problems.
 
gardener
Posts: 3074
Location: Central Texas zone 8a
821
2
cattle chicken bee sheep
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Wetting the boards seems like a decent idea. Predrilling is not that time consuming if set up with a quick way to change between bits.
 
William Bronson
gardener
Posts: 5420
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio,Price Hill 45205
1114
forest garden trees urban
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
As a father's day treat to myself I tried three things in the fence today.
First I set a bunch of cedar planks to soak in a bucket
Next I tried using some TEK screws I had in hand. They worked like a charm, no splitting at all.
Then I tried the junk pole inspired scheme.This was best of all.
I used more screws than a junk pole fence, but less than any other method I am aware of and mostly for peace of mind.
Instead of 2"x?"x 10' lumber,I used two of the 8' pickets and made up the difference with off cuts.
 
To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. -Elbert Hubbard. Please critique this tiny ad:
physical copy of the SKIP book
https://permies.com/wiki/160690/physical-copy-SKIP-book
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic