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| Beans are one of the most popular vegetables grown in the garden. Properly supporting the bean stalks is a key factor in producing a bumper crop of beans. And a trellis used to support beans not only is functional, but also can be an appealing structural feature in your garden. Our bean trellis is a simple rectangular box set on its end. The sides of the “box” are made of cattle fencing and the ends are left open. We used cedar to make the frames for supporting the cattle fencing since it is a durable wood outdoors. Materials:Two 2”x4”x10’ cedar boardsGalvanized cattle fencing (6” x 8” squares) (3/8” diameter wire), sufficient for making 4 panels 12”x72” #10 stainless steel screws, 2 ½” in length Exterior wood glue Tools:Table saw w/ ripping blade¼” Dado blade Miter saw w/ finish blade Drill #10 countersink drill bit Framing Square Tape measure 36” clamps Palm sander Bolt cutters Directions:Using miter saw, cut two 2”x4”x10’ cedar boards into two 7’6” & two 2’6” lengths. On table saw, rip down all 4 lengths into 1 ½”x1 ½” posts. The longer pieces will be vertical posts and the shorter pieces will be crosspieces.Setup a jig on your miter saw to hold post perpendicular to the saw fence. Set miter angle to 10 degrees and cut bottom end of each 7’6” post four times to create tapered point. Scribe stop mark 74 ¾” down from top of each long post (i.e. mark will be closest to pointed end). Create groove on two adjacent sides of each long post; galvanized fencing will rest in these slots. Install ¼” dado blade in table saw and set rip fence 3/8” from blade. With blade set to a depth of ½”, cut groove lengthwise down post from top to stop mark. Set fence 15/16” from blade, turn post a quarter turn, and cut groove down length of adjacent side. Using bolt cutters, cut 4 panels of galvanized wire, each 2 squares x 9 squares. Leave ½” of wire ends around perimeter of the 4 sides of each panel. Insert first panel section into groove of post; slide another post onto opposite side of panel. Align posts and clamp in place. Cut one 2’6” lengths into two 12 5/16” crosspieces. Set rip fence on your table saw ¼” from Dado blade and groove each crosspiece to receive wire ends. Glue ends of crosspiece and slide it – groove side up – over bottom edge of wire panel. Bottom edge of crosspiece should be 75 ¾” from top. Drill pilot hole though post into each side of crosspiece and secure with 2 ½” stainless steel screws. Install top crosspiece, aligning flush with top of posts. Repeat steps 6 through 8 to construct second panel. Assemble structure by attaching two remaining wire panels to finished sides completed in steps 1 – 9. Cut remaining two 2’6” lengths into four crosspieces and dado grooves, as in step 7. Install remaining crosspieces with glue and screws, as in step 8. Allow glue to dry, lightly sand trellis. Apply finish of choice or leave unfinished to weather. |
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