The Planter Walls
Well, we've run out of things to do. We are waiting for an
engineer to look at our framing so that we can get approval
from the county to put in the glass. The framer made some
changes that he shouldn't have and so we're even further
behind. It's also winter and it isn't too warm out on the praire!
We had REALLY hoped to have the building weathered in by
now and then we could be working inside. Didn't happen.
engineer to look at our framing so that we can get approval
from the county to put in the glass. The framer made some
changes that he shouldn't have and so we're even further
behind. It's also winter and it isn't too warm out on the praire!
We had REALLY hoped to have the building weathered in by
now and then we could be working inside. Didn't happen.
So we've been putzing around. We
thought that we should try this idea for
the planter walls. We took all of the
scrap two-by that we had from the
framing and picked through it. We
tossed anything that had a bunch of nails
or was too small. Then we fired up the
table saw and ripped the scrap into
alluminum can-width pieces.
thought that we should try this idea for
the planter walls. We took all of the
scrap two-by that we had from the
framing and picked through it. We
tossed anything that had a bunch of nails
or was too small. Then we fired up the
table saw and ripped the scrap into
alluminum can-width pieces.
Then we cut them to can height, so that the
finished block was pretty close to the same size
of a can. These scraps had been sitting in front
of the house for months and were pretty dry but
once we had them cut, we let them sit a few
more weeks. We want all of the moisture out
of the wood so that it doesn't shrink once it's in
the wall.
We had a few warm days and so we started on
the first planter wall. We mixed cement and
started laying the blocks just like we would a
can wall. This was a lot of fun. We alternated
the direction of the blocks and we were very
sure to get cement all the way around the blocks
so that they were not touching each other. As
we got higher, we built a little square so that we
could easily check the plum.
finished block was pretty close to the same size
of a can. These scraps had been sitting in front
of the house for months and were pretty dry but
once we had them cut, we let them sit a few
more weeks. We want all of the moisture out
of the wood so that it doesn't shrink once it's in
the wall.
We had a few warm days and so we started on
the first planter wall. We mixed cement and
started laying the blocks just like we would a
can wall. This was a lot of fun. We alternated
the direction of the blocks and we were very
sure to get cement all the way around the blocks
so that they were not touching each other. As
we got higher, we built a little square so that we
could easily check the plum.
It looks like this will work very well so far. It's
only been a few weeks though, so it's too early
to tell. Once we get the wall built all the way
up, we will plaster it and that will add a lot of
strength and durability. The idea here is that
maybe I can recycle all of the cans that I've
been collecting!
only been a few weeks though, so it's too early
to tell. Once we get the wall built all the way
up, we will plaster it and that will add a lot of
strength and durability. The idea here is that
maybe I can recycle all of the cans that I've
been collecting!
We were going along quite well and then a real cold
spell hit. You can't lay concrete if it's going to freeze
before it cures some, so we had to quit and head
inside. Once the wall is tall enough, we will put in a
row of blue Arizona Iced Tea bottles. We're going for
a pretty neat effect here.
Our first step was to collect several hundred of these
bottles. It's taken us a few years, but I think that
we're done (now that we are addicted to the tea!)
Next we removed the labels. The best way I found to
do this is to warm the bottles a little bit in the oven or
in the sun then peel them off. Then we got a bottle
cutter at a hobby store and started cutting. You etch
the bottle then heat it just a little (we used a propane
torch) and then dunk it in ice water and it cracks
along the etched line. This worked very well for
about 100 bottles. Then the blade got dull and
required more force to etch the bottle, which in turn,
resulted in the mess below and 13 stitches in my
hand. Oops.
spell hit. You can't lay concrete if it's going to freeze
before it cures some, so we had to quit and head
inside. Once the wall is tall enough, we will put in a
row of blue Arizona Iced Tea bottles. We're going for
a pretty neat effect here.
Our first step was to collect several hundred of these
bottles. It's taken us a few years, but I think that
we're done (now that we are addicted to the tea!)
Next we removed the labels. The best way I found to
do this is to warm the bottles a little bit in the oven or
in the sun then peel them off. Then we got a bottle
cutter at a hobby store and started cutting. You etch
the bottle then heat it just a little (we used a propane
torch) and then dunk it in ice water and it cracks
along the etched line. This worked very well for
about 100 bottles. Then the blade got dull and
required more force to etch the bottle, which in turn,
resulted in the mess below and 13 stitches in my
hand. Oops.
After that fiasco, I decided to try a different method.
On advice from one of the ESSA list members I
rented a wet saw for cutting tile. I was a little
worried about sticking a glass bottle onto the wirring
steel blade, but it worked. The cut isn't as smooth
and as clean as with the bottle cutter, but it goes a
whole lot faster. I found that the wet saw threw
little bits of glass everywhere, and so I put up a little
plastic curtain. I also used a face shield and several
heavy layers of clothes. Oh, and notice the leather
gloves. I ain't too smart but I learn quick!
On advice from one of the ESSA list members I
rented a wet saw for cutting tile. I was a little
worried about sticking a glass bottle onto the wirring
steel blade, but it worked. The cut isn't as smooth
and as clean as with the bottle cutter, but it goes a
whole lot faster. I found that the wet saw threw
little bits of glass everywhere, and so I put up a little
plastic curtain. I also used a face shield and several
heavy layers of clothes. Oh, and notice the leather
gloves. I ain't too smart but I learn quick!
Index
