Weekend Crafts: Do You Prefer Building From Scratch Or Upcycling Old Stuff?
Funny, I’ve had that same debate with myself mid-project more than once. There’s a certain thrill in rescuing something old—like finding a hidden story in every scratch or dent. But yeah, sometimes you just want things to fit and function without surprises. I once tried to turn reclaimed barn wood into floating shelves... let’s just say “character” is one way to describe how crooked they turned out. Still, when it works, nothing beats the charm.
WEEKEND CRAFTS: DO YOU PREFER BUILDING FROM SCRATCH OR UPCYCLING OLD STUFF?
- I get the appeal of upcycling—there’s a kind of magic in giving old materials a new life. But honestly, I lean toward building from scratch more often than not.
- Here’s why: when you start with raw materials, you control every dimension, every angle. No weird warps or hidden nails waiting to mess up your saw blade.
- Sure, old wood has character. But sometimes “character” means you’re fighting a losing battle with warped boards and mystery stains that just won’t sand out.
- I’ve had projects where I spent more time fixing up the reclaimed stuff than actually building. Like, I tried making a coffee table out of an old door once—looked cool in my head, but the thing wobbled like crazy and the finish never quite came together.
- There’s something satisfying about taking a clean sheet of plywood or a fresh 2x4 and turning it into exactly what you pictured. Less drama, more precision.
- That said, I do respect the stories behind old materials. Sometimes you find a piece that just begs to be reused—like an old beam with hand-cut joinery or some crazy patina you can’t fake.
- For me, it comes down to the project. If I want something to fit perfectly or last forever, I’ll build from scratch. If I’m feeling creative (or just want to save some cash), I’ll dig through the scrap pile and see what happens.
Not saying one way is better than the other... but after wrestling with “character” boards for hours, sometimes a straight piece of lumber feels like a breath of fresh air.
WEEKEND CRAFTS: DO YOU PREFER BUILDING FROM SCRATCH OR UPCYCLING OLD STUFF?
- I get where you’re coming from with the warped boards and hidden nails—been there, cursed that. But honestly, prepping reclaimed wood is just part of the process for me. Once you get it cleaned up, it’s usually rock solid and has way more character than anything off the shelf. Plus, you can’t beat the sustainability angle. Sure, it takes longer, but sometimes the quirks actually solve problems you didn’t even know you had... like filling weird gaps or adding built-in history to a piece.
