Building A Raised Garden Bed And Trying Out DeWalt Framing Nail Gun! | ASMR | #33
Stop Wasting Wood
Generate clear cut diagrams instantly with our new Cutlist Optimizer. Plan your cuts to make your next build easier.
I needed to build a 4ft x 8ft raised bed for the spring planting season. I also needed an excuse to rent a Framing Nailer (specifically the Paslode cordless gas nailer).
Usually, I screw these beds together. Screwing takes time. You have to pre-drill. Nailing is violent and fast.
The Specs
- Size: 4ft x 8ft x 12 inches deep.
- Material: 2x12 Construction Heart Redwood. Heavy, wet, and rot-resistant.
The Framing Nailer Experience
If you have never used a framing nailer:
- It sounds like a gunshot.
- It drives a 3-inch nail through solid wood in 0.1 seconds.
- It makes you feel like a construction god.
The Build
Step 1: Cutting
I took two 12-foot boards. I cut 4 feet off each one. Now I have:
- Two 8-foot pieces (Sides).
- Two 4-foot pieces (Ends). Zero waste.
Step 2: Assembly
I stood the boards up in a rectangle on the driveway. POW. POW. POW. Three nails per corner. The entire assembly took less than 2 minutes. The joints were incredibly tight because the nail gun impacts them together as it fires.
Step 3: Deployment
I carried the frame to the backyard. (It weighs 100 lbs—lift with your legs). I leveled it on the dirt.
Step 4: Filling
- Volume Math: 4 x 8 x 1 = 32 Cubic Feet. Since there are 27 cubic feet in a Cubic Yard, I needed roughly 1.2 yards of soil.
- Cost: Buying soil in bags is a rip-off. Go to a landscape supply yard and buy "bulk soil" by the truckload. It is 1/4 the price.
Conclusion
The framing nailer was overkill, but it was fun. If you have to build 10 of these (for a community garden or farm), rent the gun. It pays for itself in time saved. If you are building one, just use screws. But you won't feel as cool.