I've always enjoyed moderate soreness. Mucles burnt out, smouldering with lactic acid, yet building rather than withering away somehow makes me feel more alive. I forget this too often. I've let my workouts slip away like a drunk's memory. Yesterday and today, though, I've been working on my yard despite the triple digit heat, and as I sit on my cushy couch, my body speaks with twinges and pangs and that steady, moderate discomfort in the muscles I have failed to tax on their regular schedule.
I made planters from used tires and salvaged lumber. My plan initially didn't involve lumber, and the lumber serves no practical purpose, but sheerly for my sense of aesthetics. Below are photos of the project as it progressed.
To cut the sidewall off the tire, I first drilled a pilot hole right around the point that the sidewall meets the treadwall. On all the tires I've dealt with so far, there are convenient points to follow all the way around the circumference and maintaining a decent circle. Precision isn't terribly necessary, though.
Some will tell you to use a saber saw to cut the sidewall off. I had far better luck with a jigsaw for both control and speed.
After the sidewalls (both) are removed, I recommend using simple green and good scrubbing to clean the tires inside and out. And doesn't my watch look cool?
The first tire, cleaned and clad with salvaged lumber. Each section of 2x6 was cut at nine and 1/16th inches in length, then screwed onto the tire using one and a quarter inch coated deck screws, three screws per board. I acquired the lumber from various building sites. I would always try to find a house that was actively being framed then asked the supervisor on site if I could haul away their discarded lumber. Never did one say no, and often they recommended other sites I could choose from.
These are four completed planters in place. The two on the left have a mix of my local earth and Amend Gardening soil (2 parts local earth to 1 part Amend). One has the beginnings of a compost pile and the final one is empty so far. I haven't planted anything yet, but I'll update as progress is made.
2 comments:
Congratulations, you are now a dirt farmer. Hard to market, but easy to maintain.
And what will become of the sidewalls? An oversized game of ring-toss perhaps? Erosion blocks? Really large and funky earrings?
Two words: Christmas Gifts.
Well, not really. I have a couple of things in mind. First, I've read somewhere that you can bury them about six inches beneath where you plan to plant grass and it will dramatically reduce your water usage. I've spent about fifteen minutes trying to find the article to list it here, but it's eluded me.
I may also cut them up and use them as ground cover around the playground equipment and trampoline. They actually sell tire chunks commercially for that purpose, though they're usually painted first. I've read that some golf courses use finely ground up tires on their grass which seems to improve the health of the lawn. I'm not sure if I want to try to partake in the fine grinding of tires, but ... who knows.
I do plan to make use of them one way or another.
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