Thread: What to expect using wet pine fence palings tapered planter boxes?

I have a very easy and very cheap goto project to keep me busy when my hands start to hurt from not making things.

I started out with never used old fence palings. they were dry and super light. Some were twisted and cupped.

I run them thru the planer on one side till they look even.

Cut to size and glued and pinned the first few.

Monday before last I went to bunnings to get more fence paling and was happy to find they we're $1.65 each.
I can make 2.5 planters for $16.50.

The palings were what I thought were left overs from the weekend.
Some cupped and twisted but not all.

The hardwood battens I use were old and dry when I got 5 years ago for ~$1 each.

Last Saturday morning, I returned to Bunnings to find what looked like a new palette just opened.

Almost all were wet and I could swear none were cupped nor twisted.

They were all heavy and damp. I could only carry 5 at a time to the car. And had to return for 5 more.

When planed they were perfect. But damp.

When built the planters are very nice and all lengths fit together really well.

And look fantastic.

I didn't use glue this time but 3 pins on each side of each length makes it sturdy enough for putting around potted plants.
And NOT using the planter sides as retaining walls to retain dirt.

I'm just wondering what I can expect once the pine starts to dry.

Even though I've pinned all and only glued a few, will I still get bowing and twisting over a 450mm length max and 150mm x 17mm palings.

IMG_2630.jpg
The exposure on my phone makes the planters look dark.
They are very light and almost white. Kinda off white.