Weekend crafts: do you prefer building from scratch or upcycling old stuff?

WEEKEND CRAFTS: DO YOU PREFER BUILDING FROM SCRATCH OR UPCYCLING OLD STUFF?

Totally agree about the character of old wood—sometimes you just can’t fake that patina. I’ve found upcycling works best when the original piece is solid, but sometimes the hidden damage can be a pain. One thing I’d add:

- Upcycling’s great for small projects, but if I need something super specific (like a custom fit), starting from scratch saves me headaches.
- Old hardware can be gold, but matching it with new stuff isn’t always easy.
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“old wood is just… better sometimes? Less warping, more character.”

Guess it’s a toss-up depending on what you’ve got lying around and how much time you want to spend troubleshooting.