The tools we use:

As any craftsperson knows, tools are where it's at!  Here's a look at the tools we use to build our boxes:

Power saws and saw blades are the mainstay of our operation.  Building boxes in many styles requires a wide variety of wood components.  I cut the many pieces needed on a DeWalt 12" compound miter saw fitted with a Freud Diablo 80 tooth blade.  This business lives or dies on its saw blades, and the Diablo line provides excellent service at a reasonable price. 

We then perform finish cuts, rip cuts and final sizing of panels on a Grizzly Industrial 1023SL 3HP cabinet saw.  Currently I am running this saw with a Forrest Woodworker II saw blade, and although these blades are very expensive, they are worth every penny of their price! 

Once all the parts, biis and pieces are cut to size, they have to be assembled and for that we use Porter Cable and Hitachi air nailers and staplers.  These tools really earn their keep as an air nailer not only works much faster than my "arm and hammer," they almost totally eliminate the occurance of splitting wood.  For long-lasting beauty no matter what the weather, we now use T-304 stainless steel fastners throughout.  The use of such high-quality materials does add a couple of dollars to the price of each product, but we feel the added cost is worth it to avoid the unsightly rust staining common on lesser quality wood planter boxes. 

 We believe our boxes to be among the strongest planter boxes you can buy, and to achieve that strength we use Franklin International's Titebond III waterproof glue.  In a recent test of several types and brands of woodworking glue (Fine Woodworking magazine; Taunton Press. August 2007 pp. 36-40.) Titebond III came out on top, earning the number one rating. Giving all that, we still don't trust our strength to just nails and glue. 

To be sure these boxes can take all that Mother Nature can dish out, each corner of the top and bottom frame receives a stain-resistant Deckmate screw.   Those screws are countersunk using a Hitachi18V cordless dril in holes pre-drilled by a Craftsman 18V cordless drill.  Dust is kept under control with a combination of a Grizzly 2HP dust collector and ambient HEPA filtration.  It seems that some dust still sneaks through, however.

I would be remiss not to mention our greatest tool, shop dog George.  George is a white German Shepherd dog who we rescued from the Skagit Valley Humane Society.

"Curious" George, my  loyal helper out in the shop!

  George and his big buddy, Joe.