Do we need

[unknown poster]

What I liked about reading this last time was the challenge that a piece of common lumber brings. There is something very approachable about a 2x6 or 2x10 challenge, especially for noobs like me.

How do you dry a 2x6 to make furniture out of it? Just let it sit for a few months?

[LarryG]

How do you dry a 2x6 to make furniture out of it? Just let it sit for a few months?

Longer than that, if possible. Construction lumber is virtually always kiln-dried but depending on species it's still not unusual to see 15-20% moisture contents. For use in furniture, that needs to be down in single digits.

Breaking the lumber down into pieces roughly sized to the various parts of the proposed piece will help, because this exposes more surfaces to the air and gives the moisture more places to escape. The obvious problem here is that you need a clear idea of what you're going to build well in advance of when you will actually build it.

[twistsol]

... you need a clear idea of what you're going to build well in advance of when you will actually build it.

Crazy talk if you ask me!

[aiyou]

Count me in for a prize donation..

I would be happy to offer up a collection of t-nuts, some knobs, and a pair of fixture blocks as a prize package.

Rob
T-Nuts.com

[Stytooner]

I'm always in for a Shark Guard as a prize. If the winner already has one, there is always Ebay.

[dbhost]

Heck, I'll post a project for a chance at another SG... My BIL has a BT3000 with no guard...

[Black wallnut]

So far we have pledges for prizes of:

• $100 BORG gift card from Twistsol
• some feather boards from dbhost
• T-Nuts, knobs, and fixture blocks from Rob @ T-Nuts.com
• Shark Guard from Lee

The way I see it we have enough for three divisions and one overall Best of Show. What I think we really need to make it worth while is to have a mininum of 30 contestants. That will take us more than half way from where we are to our funding goal. More would be even better.

What do you think about divisions of:

1. 2x10 construction grade lumber
2. Turned only
3. 4 BF hardwood
4. Best of Show

Keep in mind there are two purposes of this contest. First and foremost is to raise needed operating funds. Second is to increase traffic which should trickle down even more funds through our advertising partners. An added benefit is that perhaps some members will spend more time in their shops.

[dbhost]

Specifically Milescraft 1407 D/TFeatherBoard Dual or Tandem FeatherBoards for Router Tables and Table or Band Saws from me... I have a set and love them...

[Cochese]

Might depend on time frames. I'm in the remodeling phase at the moment, all of my surfaces are covered in tools.

[dbhost]

Looking at the poll results, not too promising...

[Black wallnut]

Looking at the poll results, not too promising...

I dunno.... started the thread on Monday, so far 14 said they would enter, take one of those away as I'll not enter out of fairness(to me) so in a bit less than 72 hours we are half way to the IMHO break even point. I'll be donating my $20 and buying a spot anyway, just will not enter a project. I think it is hard to appear impartial when I have a dog in the fight.

[pelligrini]

Might send out an email invite through the site. Every member who didn't opt out to get emails from the admin should get one. That should generate a bunch of intrest in the competition and remind folks that we're still here too. Anyone with admin priviliges should be able to send out a mass email.

[Brian G]

I speculate one of the reasons the attempts to keep it going failed was that each time it was brought up, suggestions of how to change it to include other types of material, categories, restrictions, and such made it seem more complicated than it needs to be.

I like the simplicity of "you get a 2"x6"x8' stick of construction lumber and that's it." Whether spruce, pine, fir, or cedar, it doesn't matter.

[chopnhack]

I have to second Brian G. Lets keep it simple for now, especially with the way the economy is right now. Lets be more creative using "cheap" wood and really trust our instincts and craftsmanship. Time to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear :-) One class, one material, do what you can to it! BW, you should still enter your project just remove yourself from judging, I would love to see what you crank out.

[Stytooner]

I tend to agree. It was called the 2 by 6 challenge. It is challenging to make something from one. Also there isn't a lot of material there, so projects should not take all that long. Granted a lot of prep work needs doing to slice it up and or glue up, but that is where the challenge comes in. The material itself is challenging as well as the competition. Right, BW?

I think leaving at a 2 by 6 by 8 would be the best. I would say that the same amount of lumber could be substituted. I would suggest that any type of wood could be used as long as the board foot calcs came out right. Mix and match wood types etc. That would allow Rod to play too using MDF.

This effectively lets more guys and gals enter because they may not have to rush out, find the perfect project lumber and store it until it's dry. They may already have some suitable material. It also doesn't eliminate those that cannot resaw stuff. This will focus the challenge on the amount of material and imagination. I feel that is more in the spirit of the original intent of the BT3 2 by 6 challenge. We can still have categories though. Something turned should be in a different class than a butt jointed plant stand.