Replies

1. 
   Michael_Rimoldi | Oct 21, 2001 02:50am | #1

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   C,

   Unless hes paying some decent money, it'll take a bit of work to do this without a lathe or something similar.

   Is using PVC pipe in that dimension a possibility? You can get PT posts that have been rounded but they're mostly pine.

   Maybe some composite posts that look like wood? From Outwater or some other supplier...

   Mike

1. 
   Ross_Welsh | Oct 21, 2001 03:23am | #2

   *C:I guess what matters is, to what round posts are you comparing your project. In other words how smooth how round etc. As Mike suggested plastic pipe is a possibility, peeler cores from plywood manufacturing are often sold for various landscaping and rougher uses. Rounding an octogon really isn't that tough. If the wood is clear and straight even a hand plane will work and actually may be very satisfying to see all those curlings. From an octogon, plane the high spots until you have 16 equal flats and then just keep going, it will be round in no time.Good luck,Ross

1. 
   Rich_Beckman | Oct 21, 2001 04:34am | #3

   *A couple of years ago I bought round posts at Lowes in the fencing area. I bet they would do the trick. Maybe you should call around before starting to make them!Rich Beckman

1. 
   BarryO_ | Oct 22, 2001 12:07pm | #4

   *Here in Oregon, round posts are readily available for fence posts, but their pressure treated for ground contact and have a greenish hue. They're sold green (from the PT treatment), but are paintable once they dry.You maybe could find un-treated peeler core, but it would be a hunt.For turning a square post into a round one, I'd first turn it into an octogon on the table saw. Then I'd build a jig, something like a giant lathe, that would let me (manually) turn the post on its axis. A couple of horizontal runners would support a plunge router that I'd use to incrementally knock down the high spots. I'd use KD lumber.In a FHB several years ago, the same idea was used to make fluted columns.

1. 
   Stray_ | Oct 22, 2001 04:07pm | #5

   *Make your cedar posts into an ocatgon as you suggest, then take them to a local cabinet shop that has a BIG shaper. They should have a "2 roundover bit. A little $ for them, and a lot less headache for you. Take a palm sander to smooth out any seams between. For the 4th corner rounding, they may find it necessary to scab on a straight 4" piece to ride along the table in the proper plane. but the holes for this could be easily plugged or filled.

2. 
   Joe_Hennessey | Oct 22, 2001 04:52pm | #6

   *C, why not just use some steel tube? If your sign is big enough to see, the wind load might be a bit much for a pair of 3" poles.If you're stuck with using wood, a sharp plane is going to be faster than you think. You're not going into production, just 2 pair. You'll probably be good at it by the fourth one. Joe H

3. 
   Nanuk_ | Oct 22, 2001 05:23pm | #7

   *I live in northern Minnesota, and we have two wood treatment plants a few miles out of town. I believe they both sell treated posts, so I'm sure you could buy them from them prior to treatment. I'm not sure who mills them for them, but they have mountains of them piled up. Just contact a treatment company and buy a couple of the pre-soaked posts.

2. 
   C_Peterson | Oct 22, 2001 05:23pm | #8

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   I have a job for installation of a sign for a developer. He wants the sign supported by two round 4x4x8 to match some larger columns he has on site. Does anyone have a trick for taking a square cedar 4x4 that is 8' long and turning into a round column. I can saw off the corners to make an octagon but I think it would be difficult to plane or sand it round. Any help would be appreciated. I have two signs so four round posts are needed. Thanks.