Be Green When Going the DIY route for Garden Furniture
Taking the do-it-yourself route to furnish your piece of garden earth is a popular subject for many homeowner carpentry hobbyists. But there’s now an addend responsibility to be more conscious about the environment than ever before. Woodworking is one hobby activity that, if not constrained within certain rules, can start to harm the environment. In short, crafting our own outdoor furniture can be both rewarding for you as well as eco-friendly on the side. Here are some things to consider in that regard.• Many people go into DIY because of those electric power tools that make the task a breeze. But consider going manual. Remember that energy consumption is a big part of being eco-friendly. You not only saving on power and electricity cost, but you do your body a favor when your DIY efforts turns into an exercise routine to burn those unwanted fats from your body. Invest on a good handsaw, a hand-planing lumber, sand papers and hammer. Also remember that garden furniture has appeal in being rough on the edges and a bit crude. So you don’t need to be a perfectionist when making one.
• If you simply have to use a power tool, go for lithium-ion based cordless types. Nickel Cadmium based batteries in older cordless hand tools can be recycled by risky. Cadmium is poisonous and there’s no known antidote. It’s safer to use lithium-ion batters as to do not pose the same threat to the environment and to people.
• Use low-grade lumber as a cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative to using high grade lumber from old growth trees cut from lush forests. When treated and crafted properly they can be as sturdy and strong as using high grade lumber. Processed wood from glued wood dusts such as plyboard can be just as good as using real wood.
• If you have to use real wood, go for lumber grown from sustainable tree plantations that carry the DSC (Forest Stewardship Council) seal. Go for pinewood for your wood outdoor furniture as almost always carry the FSC seal.
• Use organic linseed oil, tung or hemp oil to finish your wood furniture for that natural look Avoid volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which easily dry to give off toxic substances into the environment. There was water-based solvents and finishing compounds that emit low levels of VOCs but it’s still better to go for natural finishing oils.
