How To Install a reclaimed beam as a Mantel for $100 dollars!!!

[@ef5hunter]

Great detailed instructional video! Very much appreciate the gentle voice and gentle music versus so many other loud videos where the guy acts all cool and showy. Thank you!

[@ButchFagan]

I appreciate the comment. I feel like most of the time I'm too boring! Thanks again!!

[@wonkafication]

I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out how to mount a beam without expensive floating brackets. This looks fantastic. Thank you!

[@ButchFagan]

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. So glad I was able to give you some ideas. That’s why I make these videos!

[@Agenteightythree]

Incredibly helpful, thank you!

[@ButchFagan]

@@Agenteightythree your welcome. Glad I was able to help!

[@nhschreiner]

First off you did a great job. I am currently working on two beams myself. Here is what my take would have been. I would have secured the template material to the wall first, then drilled the studs for the bolts holes. Doing so allows perfect alignment. You were correct in suggesting to drill the holes in the beam oversized. This would have allowed the use of either a little epoxy or construction adhesive in the beam holes, securing the beam to the bolts.

[@ButchFagan]

If the holes in the beam were larger and I thought it might pull off my plan was to angle some screws through the beam into the framing. Thanks for watching!

[@JeffreyNaughton69]

Excellent video, thank you. I especially appreciated the frank section on what did not work as smoothly as it could have and the related suggestions you make for an easier install next time. That is the sign of a real pro. I have jokingly and simultaneously quite seriously told my employees for years that there really is only one way to become an expert. We chalk up those little issue costs to an account I call "educational expenses". Your end result looks great and I really cannot thank you enough for the sharing of the extra education you acquired along the way. I'm sure we will find our own educational expenses too but we have a much better starting point than we did just 16:35 minutes ago. Thank you again for sharing.

[@ButchFagan]

Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate you taking the time to write such a detailed comment. I can feel some your pain. I used to have a Remodeling Company. Afterwards I realized I should’ve made the holes larger. Would have made install easier. Glad you made it to part of the video where I talked about my mistakes 😃. Thanks again!

[@Hunter_Moon]

That beam turned out gorgeous! I so want to do this and the German smear to our 60's fireplace.

[@ButchFagan]

Glad you like the way it turned out! Good luck on your fireplace if try it!

[@bobbyleeper]

Turned out really nice.. I've just made a 150yr old cypress beam into a mantle.. filled in all the cracks and nail holes with black epoxy. Getting ready to install Thursday.

[@ButchFagan]

Sounds very cool!

[@dylanwindemaker3198]

Stunning! Great work and huge upgrade!

[@ButchFagan]

Thanks for the kind words! We have been enjoying the mantle. Funny thing my wife sort of wants me to remove the fireplace and replace it with windows. 🤦🏼

[@soil-aint-dirt4903]

Great video…thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights with us 👍🏼

[@ButchFagan]

So glad you enjoyed the video and took the time to leave a comment!! 👍🏼

[@halahb4995]

This was so helpful, I was able to follow the steps and install my reclaimed beam - it was easy and looks great!

[@ButchFagan]

That’s amazing! So glad your project turned out nice!

[@karenbruce4187]

Thank you so much for this video. You are a great presenter ~ you explain things very well and I really appreciated the detail in each step you took. Very comprehensive and understandable! I am planning to build a stone veneer fireplace surround and will be looking for a beam a little deeper than the one you had (I think you said it was 8 inches). I had envisioned wrapping the mantle around the fireplace (the surround will continue up the wall to the ceiling); but I'm not sure how to make that happen. But I'm grateful for the threaded bolt idea ~ much more economical than buying floating hangers. Much obliged!

[@ButchFagan]

Thanks so much for the kind words! I’m thinking the beam could be cut with a 45 miter on each end so it could return back to the wall. I’m sure the threaded rods could work on the returns along with some fasteners at the miter. So glad you got some benefit from my video. That’s the reason I make them!!! Good luck! 😀

[@bridgelaurie9490]

Man looks great Im doing the exact thing and really needed to see the finishing. This was super clutch thanks for posting and documenting man.

[@ButchFagan]

Thanks. I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comments. The finish was my biggest concern as well. I don’t have a ton of experience with that. Mine still looks good and the has just enough sheen. Not too shiny.

[@bridgelaurie9490]

@@ButchFagan no problem brother hope to see you make more content soon. And I have ZERO experience so I literally just needed to see someone do it and see what poly to use ! Appreciate it

[@daviddavis148]

Great job Butch!!

[@ButchFagan]

Thanks Dave!

[@kevinkearns4164]

Best one I have seen, thanks.

[@ButchFagan]

I appreciate it Kevin! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@winniejochumsen379]

Hi Butch! I just found/subscribed to you. I love this beam! I’m in the planning stages of a electric fireplace w/ shiplap surround for a family member (in their brand new home…NO stress here 😳). They love this mantle too!! Can you please tell me the height and depth of the beam? And the approximate weight? Thank you so very much for all the details you provided in this video! You ARE appreciated more than you know!

[@ButchFagan]

So glad you enjoyed my video. That’s the reason I do them. My beam is approx. 3-1/2” x 7-1/2” x 5’. I’m not sure about the weight. It wasn’t light but I could handle it myself and I’m an old man 😀.

[@kodabug9]

Great video! Thank you. You mentioned you wanted the beam to look as natural as possible. Why not leave without finish after it was sanded? Just curious. Thanks again.

[@ButchFagan]

Thanks for the compliment! I didn’t think I would be happy with the mantle without a finish on it. Even though it was sanded I feel it would have rough spots and eventually splinters. Moving decorations around wouldn’t be as easy. I really like the mat finish I used.

[@donrobertson9081]

Butch, I really like your style and thought process. I'm getting ready to do something similar for my sister-in-law. I know you said it was 8" wide, but how thick is it and the length? Looked like it was about 4 or 5" thick. Also, it looked like pine, do you know for sure? She may want hers to be oak. Lastly, any idea about the weight? Thanks a lot for your videos. Don

[@ButchFagan]

Mine is about 4” thick. I’m pretty sure it is something like pine. Definitely not as dense as oak. Not exactly sure about the weight lighter than an oak one I’m sure. I was able to handle mine by myself. But I wouldn’t want one any heavier. Thanks for watching and leaving a comments. Glad you got something from my video. That’s why I make them!!

[@mzsaad]

Hi, great video. I’m planning to repeat what you did. For drill bit, can I use regular bits instead of spade bits ?

[@ButchFagan]

Sure. You don’t have to use spade bits. Good luck on your project!!

[@The.jenshow]

Did you add the screws from the top into the studs that were mentioned in your pre-planning?

[@ButchFagan]

I did not. The beam was so hard to get up against the wall I didn’t need to. If I had of drilled the holes a little larger, which I would do if I did it again I would install the screws into the studs.

[@bobwillix4229]

For the dowels what specifically did you end up using? did you cut the ends off after you screwed it into the wall or before?

[@ButchFagan]

I didn’t have to cut the ends off since I used a threaded rod or stud. There is no head on the end. They are fully threaded. Thanks for the question!

[@SusieAtkins1]

Is your beam a 4 X 8 or a 6 X 8?

[@ButchFagan]

My beam is closer to 4 x 8. Thanks for watching!!