Best Wood for Columns

[Hallowennie315]

Hey everyone! I just have one quick question - i am going to make new cometary columns and I wanted to know what kind of wood you think I should use. I have a spare piece of 2 x 4 in my garage but thought that that was a bit long. Does anyone have any suggestion for me as to columns? I would like them to be light too so i don't become a dead body when i'm lugging them to my basement. Thanks! (By the way... HALLOWEEN IS ONLY 6 MONTHS AWAY!!!!!!!:googly:)

[eanderso13]

Hey, Halloweenie! For my columns I used some old 2X2's, and some new ones, and built a light frame. Then I glued 3/4" or 1" (I can't remember which) extruded foam to all sides and carved that and painted it to look like bricks. You can see them here (http://www.freewebs.com/eanderso13).

They are a little awkward, but not very heavy at all. I think using 2X4's may make them way too heavy to deal with.

[Frighteners Entertainment]

Depends on how long your display sits outside.
Luann would be light as well as what EEric mentioned. Easily blown over by wind.
I used 1/2 OSB but also had large gates attached as well. They usually sit out for 60 days. These are heavy to move around.

[Bone Dancer]

e13, I like you columns and with some good anchorage you should be ok, maybe a sandbag in the bottom. Anyway, I had been thinking of using the cardboard tubes (12") that are used to make cement piers. All depends on the look your going for and your budget.

[Whispers in the Park]

Hey Halloweenie....I have used 2x2's in a box frame covered with styrofoam. I also attached a long piece of PVC inside the columns attached to the frame so I can slide them on top of a piece of rebar to keep them from tipping (or being pushed) over. I tried both a simple box frame and one with reinforcing pieces. The simple box frame is fine and both are light enough for me to pick up by myself. http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk88/ricmacneil/IMG_0855.jpghttp://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk88/ricmacneil/100_0009.jpg

[Lotus]

I built my colums following one of Zombie-F's how tos they arn;t that heavy and look awesome as for holding them down I drilled 4 holes in the base and then hammered 12" nails into the ground it is very hard to get out from the ground.


Where you get those skulls Whispers in the Park?

[Whispers in the Park]

The skulls were from THEHALLOWEENGROUP out of PA. I don't think they are around anymore and honestly I had problems with them and wouldn't recommend them. Too bad, because they had some nice props. I took the skulls and added the LEDs to them and eventually want to add foggers in the columns and have the fog come out the mouths. I would love to make a mold of them, just haven't done that before and don't know the best way to do it.

[Front Yard Fright]

I'm actually going to be building my columns today and I'm going to be using 2x2s for the height and 2x4s for the base...
I'm trying to make the bottom base as heavy as possible. (For obvious reasons)
I'm also thinking about maybe adding a compartment for some bricks or sandbags as Bone Dancer mentioned.

Anyways, I'm hoping to do a how-to for my columns so maybe that will be more inspiration for you!
Good luck!
:).