Hello folks,
I finally got around to installing my brick patio today, and now I've
got a woodworking project in mind for it. I've already made the patio
furniture, but it's awfully dark in the backyard if I don't make a
fire. There are plenty of giant spotlights and motion-detector
systems around, but I'd prefer something more subdued like
carriage-house lanterns hanging off an arbor. I don't think walkway
lights would cut it, as the intent of the lights would be to allow me
to read or cook outdoors in the evenings.
Of course, being a cheap bastard with a bunch of tools, I'd rather not
pay $60 or more each for a pair of metal lamps. I've got some
reclaimed redwood down in the shop that might make a good set of
shades to affix to some less expensive outdoor fixtures, but I'm
wondering if there's any chance that they'd survive the extremes of
heat and cold, especially in the winter when flipping on the lights
might mean a dramatic change in temperature in a relatively short
period of time.
Here's what I've got in mind-
I plan on making a very light frame, perhaps 1/2" square sticks of
redwood rabbeted to accept panes of frosted glass with 1/8" or 3/16"
thick false munions laid over them. Joinery will probably be locking
rabbets, as it seems a bit too fussy to try and make mortices in stock
that small, and I don't want rust stains from pin nails. I'm
undecided as to whether I want to turn finials for the bottoms of the
lamps or leave them open, but the tops will almost certainly be
closed. I'm also undecided as to finishing- I'd almost like to let
them weather naturally, but they might get a quick spray of spar poly
or similar depending on what it they look like they need.
Now, I know redwood will hold up well outdoors when it's a larger
timber- but does anyone have any experience with doing thin projects
like this out of the stuff? If the ends tend to crack into splinters
(as they were where the nails had been sunk on the stuff I nabbed from
a renovation job), it may not be worth the effort. It seems like a
nice project, but I hate to spend time- and more importantly, the
redwood that is getting harder and harder for me to find- on something
that is likely to fail after a couple of months.
Any experiences or suggestions on this would be appreciated!