REAL Barn Wood Beam Mantel

[@johnraffety6111]

Was looking for ideas to mount an old big solid wood beam to mount as mantel on fireplace. Stumbled upon your video. It became quickly obvious that John has become my favorite DIY guy for advice. His great instructions along with humor made me feel like I’d known him for years. Thanks from Germantown, TN 16:42

[@julietphillips1991]

I was feeling crappy and trying not to laugh or even smile watching you do your thing...but, not possible. You are like therapy.

[@John_Malecki]

Haha I’m I could add some value Juliet !

[@ironwood1621]

Nothing to do with this video but just wanna say you are, by far, my favorite person to watch on YT. And it has nothing to do because we’re both Pennsylvanians. Thanks

[@holdemNE1]

Wowski - That Polish for wow. That looks really attractive. Well done.

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you Big Mike!

[@kdurham98]

Not too keen on home remodeling vids in general, but I appreciate that you’ve always got a new tip or trick I hadn’t seen before. Congrats on the nuptials, too!

[@John_Malecki]

Glad you dig it Kyle!

[@ThomasCustomWoodworks]

Well now this is on my to-do list. Thanks for sharing!

[@MikeJones-dr8os]

love to see this not staged, you see what a pain it can be do do stuff. not the perfect take after 5 bad tries. Thanks for that. :)

[@danconlan8735]

Nice job! You have great taste John that mantle looks perfect. Also glad you showed how things don't always go as planned with the cutting part! DC

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Dan! Yea that did not go as planned hahaha

[@kandjlumber]

I’m used to John’s newer videos, I almost didn’t recognize him when the video started playing.

[@AdamRich1785]

Great stuff as always John and Sam!

[@threetentimber]

Hahaha pure savage on the band saw! We ended up using a reciprocating saw with a REALLY long blade to trim the ends. Worked well for us and left a really nice "rustic" texture on the end grain so it matched the rest of the mantel.

[@MrJmayes23]

Your personality has just earned you a new subscriber 😎

[@MikeTheMaker1]

Solid beams just have a look you can’t beat.

[@John_Malecki]

The really do!

[@colm.8139]

Nice job Walter.

[@John_Malecki]

Hahahaha many Walter comments !

[@tooljunkie555]

Some cool tools I never even knew existed until now. And nice mantle!

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Joe ! 💪🏻

[@emilydebiasio1217]

Used your method with fantastic success! Thanks for an awesome tutorial.

[@markshatto8699]

Thanks, lot of ideas with some beams for patio redo.

[@thelittlestpunky]

Saw Squatch for the win! I just bought one, haven't used it! When project too big for power brush I bust out the power washer to clean up the wood, let it dry and give it a light sand. 0 dust!

[@John_Malecki]

That’s a solid move too !!

[@jimgam730]

Awesome job John. You make these videos super entertaining and interesting.

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you my friend

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

Beautiful. You found a fireplace and then made it even better. I need to replace a mantel at some point. Mine will be easier than yours but this is still a great reference video. Thanks!

[@new2dayuser151]

I can tell you enjoy what you do!! That looks great man!

[@ChynaU27]

Love watching these kind of videos, and these ones are even better because you make them more entertaining with all the comedy!

[@John_Malecki]

Thats my goal Chyna! so glad to her you enjoy it!

[@SpencleyDesignCo]

Awesome video! Love to see how you struggled in the beginning with cutting them haha

[@John_Malecki]

Glad you enjoyed my struggle! I enjoyed it too haha

[@BearCreekWoodworking]

Awesome Work John!!!

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you my friend !

[@magenhunter]

Oh my word, I just found you and I love you. I am learning and laughing!

[@albekayl041]

So just have to say! Love you! Love how you randomly popped up! Love how I learn something I might use once in my life! Love your sense of humour! Love Sam!! And love (oh what do the young kids say these days) “bromance?” Lol and I was a tad off on the measurement! Lol 😝

[@OneManBandWoodworks]

John I normally do circ saw both sides then sawzall to knock out the middle. Great video mate, love your style

[@Officialshayne]

Good stuff my dude

[@Za-ei7ni]

Can't believe haven't came across your videos sooner love um man

[@wendymaddock7705]

Wow that looks great would love to have a go at doing a mantel am a gardener and florist and I use chain saws you make it look easy .love the fire 🔥 place and I love your channel xx

[@ghita.herdean.1979]

Some epoxy on the bolts would make a nice insurance against falling. Nice job and great video. Oh, and I hate you for having all those great tools.

[@John_Malecki]

Yea some 2 part epoxy is never gonna hurt !

[@babidavi6910]

@@DB-cz9uu I'll make a note of that! 2part Epoxy + Butt Crack = No Thanks! 😂

[@ftwtexasstephens9629]

Beautiful mantel. Entertaining video.

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you my friend!

[@MarioRossi-ik9th]

nice job man !! love the size of that beam !!

[@WoodcraftSupply]

Awesome mantle work, you make it look easy....well, with a mighty Thor type brawny effort we might add!

[@John_Malecki]

Hahahah yes !

[@JkCanvas]

Bro you look like Walter from The Big Labowski. Awesomeness.

[@RobinsonStevens]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@John_Malecki]

Hes a legend!

[@JkCanvas]

@@John_Malecki "Walter what are you doing?"

[@mickysmithiii1213]

I've seen it done with basically the same method. Only using rebar as the anchors. Much stronger, and could never be pulled down by the rug rats. Nice vid though Mr. Malecki.👍

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks micky, was the re-bar mortared into the bricks ?

[@mickysmithiii1213]

@@John_Malecki , Nope, just a little two part epoxy.

[@FredMcIntyre]

Awesome work John! 😍👌🏻👍🏻👊🏻

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Fred!

[@emmamarkwell9130]

Beautiful.I love it.

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Emma !

[@biscuits671]

Beautiful big man 👏👏👏👌

[@daviddamora232]

Looks good and your videos make me laugh you’re one funny dude. I was debating on just getting larger lags and gave the bolt heads as character on the face but that clean look makes me want to now do it your way. Thank you great video

[@rugerp9736]

Finally someone who shows you how it really is when you're working 😂😂

Great job. you are so strong👋

[@John_Malecki]

This is true haha

[@zsoltsworkshop7866]

Big work friend! Well done. Rest then!

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you !💪🏻

[@pistolpete5356]

This is the same way I install beams. Also install floating shelves this way. Nice work

[@hungryarch7319]

Gorgeous

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks hungry!

[@bearallb]

The most awsomest safety glasses

[@John_Malecki]

Hell Yes! Did you get a pair ?

[@bearallb]

@@John_Malecki I bought Pyramex Emerge SB7910DRX Safety Glasses only $10 the ones you have would cost me $25 canadian

[@donnakkasper6634]

A porta band saw....who knew? I may have to get one for the hubs! (Cause I like it). Good job!

[@John_Malecki]

It’s awesome !!

[@stevenbridges5685]

What masonry bit size did you use for your hammer drill? What’s the overall length of the lag bolts you used? Thank you

[@bartoszzelezny3908]

Bardzo fajna kompozycja, belka wyszła Tobie zajebiście!!!

[@santiagogrenier7224]

Fenómeno... more videos!!

[@tedjordan7567]

15:00 “Pass block it into the wall” LOL

[@angiebirt6977]

Did u use a lag bolt?

[@rchavez5056]

Great job.

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you my friend !

[@jlambo9757]

I construction adhesived the bolts and the holes and ain’t falling off now!

[@jamespolucha6911]

If the lag is 1/2 inch isn’t the lag a little bigger? And can you run a bolt into it or does it need to be a lag bolt ?

[@JeffreyThomas]

Badass!

[@DAaaMan64]

The Masonry Sleeves in your link don't look like the ones in the video. Did the link expire? Do you have suggestions? Thank you. This seems to be the only missing piece to the project for me.

[@user-lo3dl1ew7o]

Probably not, but do you think there is any way I can do this on drywall? If there is some crazy support bracket out there to support the weight?

[@adammoran7849]

I stumbled across this video & 3min I was hooked! You are a cut up just like me, I can't count the number of times I've made "sound effects" during a build. AWESOME WORK!! #WhoNeedsARespirator

[@timmsawmill429]

Hey John, we here at the mill have been enjoying your videos for some time now! but watching this mantle video really wanted to make me comment. have you ever used a keyway method for mounting a mantle? it's more work but its a much more stable end product, it also makes for an easier install. If you are ever in Minnesota look us up and we will give you a tour of the sawmill our grandpa built. that is how we resize timbers most of the time.

[@scottwepfer]

Did you use 1/2" Lag Bolts?

[@magicalfruitstudios4162]

My dad should have saved his ancient eye glasses. They looked like your safety glasses, and now they are in style again.

[@John_Malecki]

Hahahaha ancient 🤣🤣

[@phillipgreene4494]

If you want to continue having fires, do you need to worry about drilling into the inner sleeve of the fireplace when mounting the beam? Thanks.

[@John_Malecki]

I’m actually not sure. May want to check local fire code

[@twotierneys]

AWESOME! My husband has tool-envy

[@John_Malecki]

Yea these specialty tools are awesome I will admit

[@kenmaira]

What's the two part catalyzed lacquer that you like to use?

[@John_Malecki]

I like the medium rub from Sherwin Williams

[@kenmaira]

@@John_Malecki Thanks! Also that's a lot of VOC's for a "shirt mask" ;)

[@vigilantezack]

You could hog out a ton of wood and hollow the beam a little to reduce weight if the wall were sketchy or couldn't take the weight.

[@mikethompson6713]

Hell John, the way you handle that beam saw makes it look like a 7-1/4 circular saw. 😁 respirators, you’re wearing one, (tee shirt) I can’t pass block the mantle to the wall, I’m from Cincinnati 🏈

[@John_Malecki]

Pass blocking in Cincy seems to be something no one can do right now!

[@fleshnbone831]

What size was the masonry drill bit? Drill into brick or Mordor? I’ve seen both. Which is the best option?

[@jeanniealford4234]

Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@maggiesue4825]

Beautiful against the old brick!

[@ryancrotty8245]

Awesome overview. I'm trying to squash in pretty much the exact same mantel (dimension), but it looks like those masonry sleeves are on back order... Any chance you have another source I could buy from (they non-existent at Home Depot).

[@olivierstraehler6790]

In the last video I saw you without glasses and I thought, wow, he's not so old after all, but these glasses with gold around, make you 20 years older :-D , lol

[@jsmith629]

This guy's awesome...

[@yttaughtcarpenter92]

IT feels good donating plasma an watching malecki people around me wondering why I'm laughing

[@John_Malecki]

Hahaha what a tandem of things to be doing !

[@yttaughtcarpenter92]

@@John_Malecki my wife brought it to my attention I was so into the video my wife text me to look up that when I seen everyone looking at me.. enjoyable love woodwork an anything with it specialty when is fun an full of good information. Thanks for the videos. and may God keep blessing you

[@jimkalafatis5471]

How would yo fasten the mantle to drywall

[@Skipull69]

Why wouldn’t you Apoxsee, the holes that you drilled to hold it to the wall instead of tap cons

[@mountainviewturning5319]

Mental looks great

[@davidthompsen464]

"I'm gonna pass block it into the wall?" -- sweet move!

[@John_Malecki]

It’s a tried and true technique

[@84Merna]

Yooo! Can this same technique be used on sheet rock or ship lap?

[@ronbelldvm]

Nice job. I love your work. I noticed you have a Black Rifle Coffee Company in the background at 5:00. I have been drinking black rifle coffee for a good while now and would love to have one of those banners for my car barnm but can't find them anywhere. Can you share where you got yours? Thanks.

[@MyLizzys]

Do you have a finished picture or video of the rough done beam?

[@MrJoeyShells]

I have a beam that weighs about 70 lbs and is 67” long hanging on cinderblock. Would these hold it well?

[@sarahscarola4008]

not sure if you are still seeing comments on this, but I was wondering if we were to try the same process, but into drywall over studs, if that would work. Could we do it without the masonry sleeves and just use the lag bolts? Also, what size lag bolts would be necessary for a 4x6 beam (with 6" being the depth of mantel)?

[@suehardie3183]

What size screws please

[@moottzzy]

Any ideas on how to gut my beam to make it lighter. Mine is sitting in my garage aging. It is 116 inches long so it’s super heavy. I would ideally have it be a floating beam. Any suggestions would be great and so appreciated thank you. God bless

[@greglambo3]

U think this will be ok on a brick vener fireplace ?. Spell ✔

[@HCCTHETECH]

what model is your Mirka sander? nice videos man.

[@John_Malecki]

Deros 5.0!

[@Ace-zb5xr]

How do you adjust for level?

[@John_Malecki]

You make sure your bolts are level. Use a center line on your beam

[@billbenoit1607]

Great video. Instead of pocket holes for extra securing to the wall how well do you think filling the lag holes with epoxy would work?

[@John_Malecki]

Yea that would work, if you used shims and could clamp it to the wall it could work. I would use the PHs for tightness to the walls

[@billbenoit1607]

Makes sense. Thanks for the response.!

[@Mambax94]

my fire place has two 2x4s stacked and imbedded in the middle of my brick and i want to hang a solid walnut tree mantel about the size of the one in this video a family member gave me ,and also to cover up the 2x4s. would those masonry sleeves work on wood?????

[@merrymeeting1]

I have a modest log home w/ 8" solid (square) pine logs - that is what we would be mounting the beam on. Do we need to insert something like your masonry sleeve to set the lag bolts in our solid wood logs? Like the epoxy idea. What type of wood is your beam - love the grain. LOVE your video.

[@arkadiaholdingsltd3408]

how would you recommend drying out an an old barn beam thats been in the rain for a while?

[@John_Malecki]

Bring it inside and put some fans on it

[@infiltretor287]

Random question: What’s the name of the grey paint you have on your walls at home?

[@billm1651]

Looks like agreeable gray from sherwin williams or close to it. Wordly gray is another popular one.

[@danscrima]

Dude I just had to do this with a beam as a commission job, but I used one of the mantle brackets from Amazon. It was terrible! I really wish I had used the bolt method you showed. I had to drill over 5" holes on my drill press, where the slightest variation in the angle or anything caused all the poles to bend and bind before the beam got to the wall. You don't seem to go too far into the beam and aren't worried about it falling off, I wish I didn't overcompensate the depth of them like I did. Good stuff man!

[@John_Malecki]

Yea man i would nevr use a pre made bracket. Either make my own or use this technique

[@GibClark]

Nice 👍👍👍👍

[@LadyUnderhill]

This is awesome, thanks - I was looking for a way to secure a beam without relying on epoxy. Still got a lingering question - how feasible is removing those screws after the heads have been cut off?

[@nedingersoll9423]

Great video, but I have a couple questions. How deep did you drill the holes on the back of the mantel? And why only have the lag stick out 3.5"? Would having it stick further into the mantel be an issue?

[@EvilPOKES]

How does it stay attached to the wall?

[@John_Malecki]

The press fit from the bolts. Have to use holes that are the same diameter!

[@EvilPOKES]

@@John_Malecki Assumed as much, but didn't know if that would hold over time. I guess applying adhesive would help prevent. But, should be a snug fit. Well done!

[@wilhelml]

What if you get another respirator? 🤔

[@John_Malecki]

That one was at the house too 🙈

[@mikethompson6713]

29-3/8’s right now