Never trust wood cut by Home Depot...

froggsong · #1 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 12:03 AM

OMG, I have been soooooo mad today... I have been trying to get the CWD vive BUILT, as in the enclosure and the cabinet to go underneath, not any of the BG stuff or anything... and I have come to realize, now that I have the cabinet part built, that you cannot trust Home Depot to cut your boards to the size you ask for, NOR can you trust them to even cut them straight!!!!! I got my cabinet built, and it is not level... I didn't measure the boards before I started building, and I can't take it apart because it is glued AND screwed, and on the left I have 24 inches on the front, and 24.5 on the right... On the back, I have 24.25 on the left, and 24.75 on the right!!!! GRRRRRRRRR!!!!! Stupid jerk... Not only that, but that board I was measuring across the back is ONE board, so it isn't even cut STRAIGHT!!! The darn thing isn't level in ANY direction...
I guess I am going to have to sand it level, but it is going to be SUCH a pain... How much of an issue would I face later if I don't sand it? The level says it is ALMOST level, but not quite. If I don't sand it, I am going to have to put my water area on the opposite side that I wanted it, so that is is "downhill", so to speak... I guess I am just going to have to sand it... Maybe I can do that with a sanding wheels that came with the drill bit set I bought... Otherwise, it is going to take FOREVER! ugh... I hate even thinking about it...

Anyway, a build log for this tank is coming soon... I have to take some pics of what I did today when I find my camera.

Jordan · #2 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 12:24 AM

I am with you on this subject. I got them to cut up some plywood I was going to use for a chameleon cage with three solid sides. It was hard to eyeball in the store. One of the sides kind of had a bow to it. When I got it home and started messing with it I found it was a full 1/4" off. I guess that is what I get for trying to make things easier and quicker.

froggsong · #3 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 02:22 AM

Yeah, I shouldn't have trusted it, but the only saw I have is a jigsaw... Not very good for cutting straight lines. I knew it wasn't going to be 100% accurate, but JEEZ! a whole 1/2 inch?!? And on top of that, not even straight? I think the guy was pissed at me because it was the second set of wood he cut for me, and the last time, I was planning to use OSB sheathing, and it has a tongue and groove, and he used the tongue side when he was measuring, so my measurements were waaaaaaaay off, and I had to take it back. I just need to get a good circular saw or something...

Evilwezal · #4 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 04:25 AM

I would not trust those high school drop outs at Home Depot or any other Big Chain place to cut my lumber. I would just use your local Lumber Yard. They at least know what there doing.

JohnEDove · #5 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 08:30 AM

Wow, I thought I was bad when I cut stuff and it ends up a sixteenth off. A half inch I would take my saw to and try to even it up in place.
I don't know how long the run is but it might pay you, in time, to re-cut the wood in place yourself rather than trying to sand it down. With a sanding bit on a hand drill it will take forever.

griffen0218 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 08:49 AM

circiular saws are worth the money my mom has one and has for many years and its still running strong

we use it for everything

Fisherman 1991 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 05:16 PM

Get a wood planer to take the excess off. It'll be much, much faster than sanding. You should be able to get one at Home Depot or Lowe's. Like this: http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/p...4_front200.jpg

My dad (and his brother) own a company that is a distributor of doors, wood trim, etc, and a few windows here and there. This means we have unlimited acces to multiple tools, including the easiest way to cut seets of wood: the table saw. This eliminates us having to get anything cut by any idiot at home depot.

But for what you're using it for, a circlular saw would be a great tool to have. I'd definately get one. Get an electric one, unless you want to pay a lot of money for a good cordless one.

Just make sure you practice on a scrap piece of wood with the planer before going at the cabinet. Even though it sounds like anything would be an improvement over the 1/2" off wood.

fisherman

Fisherman 1991 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 07:29 PM

froggsong, I talked to my dad when he got home form work and told me that circular saws are actually very hard to cut straight lines with. He said the best way to get a straight line with a circular saw is so clamp a straight edge to the board you are cutting, and run the saw along it. His suggestion was to go to a real lumber yard like Evilwezal said.

mh32 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 07:49 PM

It is very hard to cut a perfect straight line with a skill saw. You could get a cheap table saw that is quite easy to use and will cut a nice straight line for around 100 bucks.

Waterkeeper · #10 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 08:03 PM

HD should have used that huge guiding circular saw to cut your wood. if it is off because of size or angle, they have not been taking care of/calibrating their equipment. That thing should lock down and measure/angle/cut perfectly.... they only cost around $5,000 a piece for a mediocre one.

3 rules to live by.
find the oldest man at the lumber yard to help you
find the youngest kid at Ace Hardware to help you.
stay the hell out of home depot.

Sorry for your frustrations...