How can i make a wooden outdoor post shaped like a pencil?

[hareeshk94]

Hi everybody,

First time poster here. I was wondering if somebody how any idea how i could make one of these outdoor pencil sculptures that i could concrete into the ground. I'm just not sure how they even were able to cut these and if bunnings sells the correct type of wood for something like this.

Hope somebody could help. Thank you!

[EricL]

Hello @hareeshk94 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about the giant outdoor wooden pencils.

If the pencils you are looking at have lasted several seasons, odds are they are made of 75mm 3.0m Pole H4 Treated Pine Round CCA. These are round fencing posts that have the ends cut at an angle to mimic the look and feel of outdoor pencils. Please note that these are treated pine posts, I highly recommend painting them with primer and topcoat all around to reduce the amount of chemical exposure. If you don't have the tools to cut the tip, I suggest engaging the services of a handy person to cut the timber tips for you.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @hareeshk94 

I think the pencils would look great, just trying to figure how to easily cut the ends (desciption wise )

MMmmmmm 

So take the 75mm width of the post, I am aiming for a small rectangular point 25mm square. Lets cross hairs to find the middle of the post. Then you can come out 12mm from the center on each of the cross hairs to draw a 25mm square on the end. Extend the squares side to the edges. 

Depending on how sharp or blunt you want the point (Im am thinking a 30cm point for no real reason) Go along the pencil post and mark the 30cm point. (draw a circle all around the post)

Clamp the post to your horse or something so it wont roll. With the cross hair drawn on the end level in regards to the horse you have clamped the post to. (I am picturing looking end on two vertical lines near center)

Then using a straight edge (a level if handy) draw from one of the extended lines from the side of the squares you have extended to the edge of the post. We are after a line from the 30cm mark back to the 25mm square edge. Using a hand saw you cut that wedge, repeat for the other side. and then rotate the post 90deg and do the opposing angled cuts. This should leave you with the 25mm point. 

You will need to paint the post as @EricL has suggested. 

If you want a sketch to make it easy to visualise (I know what I mean but I think I have made it over complicated) just let me know and I will draw one up tomorrow.

Dave

[Noyade]

Hi @hareeshk94 

How tall are you wanting them?

Cheers.

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @hareeshk94 

Here are a couple of sketches that may help show what I was describing.

Dave

[Noyade]

Evening @hareeshk94 , @EricL and @Dave-1 

I worked out roughly the diameter to height ratio for the 'average' pencil at around 1:18, otherwise it could end up looking like a pointy tomato stick.

I think a lotta props exaggerate the diameter to show clearly to the audience - "yes, it's a pencil!"

It works.

So with that in mind - I thought 100mm square wood minimum...say 1.8m height maximum?

https://www.bunnings.com.au/100-x-100mm-2-4m-post-h4-treated-pine-sawn-cca-2-4m_p0051349

Then I thought - hexagon. For that pencil look. To my surprise a young girl proved to me - you cannot make a pentagon from a square without losing surface area...

So having followed the origami - my thought was to scribe the hexagon onto the 100mm X 100mm end and use a good table saw to rip the profile.

You will need to lose 13mm from one side.

Then four cuts at 60 degrees.

Create the point with a sliding drop saw, say at around 15 degrees (the other end being propped), making multiple cuts and finishing up with an electric planer and/or a 6" powered sanding disc.

The hexagon shape will then give you that lovely corrugated look with the conical end that everyone identifies when using the traditional sharpener.

But it still looks small in surface area - hence my height question. Note the 50c for scale and the 75mm diameter insert.

See what you think.

Remember the TV series -  Land of the Giants - 😁

Cheers!

[EricL]

Hi @Noyade 

I can't believe someone else saw this episode! At the time I was thinking in terms of, how did the props department build that pencil to be light enough to be moved by a single person? A very entertaining series along with the "Time Tunnel" and "Voyage to the bottom of the sea!" Plus, Kirk, Spock and McCoy of course.  

Eric

[Noyade]

Don't forget the original, Lost in Space @EricL 😉

[EricL]

Hi @Noyade 

Yes! Omg! Lost in space! I wanted a Jupiter 2 in my garage despite poor engine design and difficult maintenance.  😁

Eric

[Noyade]

Thunderbirds!

Should we stop? 😂