DIY Network

Fence Post Stepping Stones Slice fence posts to make natural-wood stepping stones. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-129

You'll be strolling along your own wooden walkway with help from Michele Beschen.

If you want to add stepping stones to the garden or walkways this year, consider using "stones" that are made of wood instead of stone or concrete.

In this project, Michele Beschen shows how to transform 4" x 4" fence posts into distinctive wooden stepping stones that add beauty to your home's exterior while standing the test of time. It just takes a little sawing and glue to get these posts off the fence and onto the lawn.

Once you're comfortable with this easy how-to, you'll start finding more and more uses for these 4" x 4" friends. Just B. Original and keep your eyes open for places a post could come in handy.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Use fence post slices for coasters, trivets and dozens of other projects.

Fence Post Stepping Stones

Materials:

4" x 4" treated fence posts
miter box, chop saw or hand saw
hardware netting or hardware cloth
multipurpose construction adhesive

• Cut your post into 1/2" thick sections; you'll need nine of these slices for each stepping stone (figure A). Take a moment to notice the beautiful grain pattern that appears in the cross-sections—you never see it when the posts are used for fencing.

• Cut hardware netting or hardware cloth into 10-1/2" x 10-1/2" squares. Lay one of these squares out on a piece of waxed paper or parchment paper over a flat surface.

• Butter the back of the fence post slices with construction adhesive and glue them directly to the netting (figure B). Wiggle the slices a bit as you place them to make sure the adhesive gets a good bond with the wood and the netting. Set a cement tile on top of the wood squares to help hold everything in place.

  Note: Make sure you use a construction adhesive made for outdoor use; it will need to hold up in all kinds of weather.

• Once the glue starts to dry, remove the waxed paper. Let the glue cure thoroughly, then seal the wood blocks with two or three coats of exterior-grade polyurethane.

• Repeat for the other fence post slices until the stepping stones are complete. Then set them out and enjoy stepping on your new wooden "stones."