Cedar Doormat

This is a doormat that I made from cedar 2" X 2"s and manilla rope. I sanded the wood smooth, used deck stain and roped it together. The wood and rope are cheap but the sanding is dusty. This is a Very easy project.

• As you can see by the photo I do not use very expensive woodworking equipment. I converted my $30 Harbor Freight belt sander into a stationary sandery by clamping it to one of my cheap sawhorses with a piece of wood screwed to it. This has worked for over five years with this sander alone.
• *When sanding always wear eye, ear and dust protection. The piece in the middle is unsanded the way I purchased it from Lowes. The sanding belt was 80 grit. If I do another I'll use 40 grit to get the job done quicker.
• This is not a piece of furniture for inside your house so it does not have to be glass smooth.

The width I picked was as wide as my threshold. Even up one end then use a square and draw a line to cut the pieces the same length.

• Mark the holes in the same spot in each piece.
• Drill a pilot hole to ensure the hole is straight.
• Drill the final diameter.

I used the Behr stain shown in the photo since it comes in quart cans at the nearby Home Depot.

• The Behr stain is very user friendly with water clean up.
• Because it is water based it requires multiple coats of the stain.
• If you apply multiple coats you'll be very happy with the results.
• Other brands and types of deck stains may give different results.

Use 1/4" Manilla rope to tie it all together.

• Tie a knot in the end of each of two pieces of rope cut about 6' long.
• Pull the rope through, tie a knot as close to the wood as possible for both pieces of rope.
• Repeat for each piece of wood.

Since I used four coats of deck stain I have noticed that water beads up very well. Almost like a waxed car. This should help the finish last a long time.