REAL Barn Wood Beam Mantel

In our recent remodel videos we've been ripping out walls and exposing brick fireplaces basically in every room. So to properly address those fireplaces,
I decided to add some real reclaimed Barnwood Beams I salvaged from a barn 2 years ago. This process is a lot more simple than one may think, and can add some beautiful character to your home!
#HomeRemodel #FireplaceBeam #Barnwood
NEW MERCHANDISE - bunkerbranding.com/pages/john...
SPONSORED BY: Woodcraft -bit.ly/JM_Woodcraft2020
Tools Used in this Video
Beam Saw - geni.us/IMCN2 (Amazon)
Prazi Beam Cutter Attachment - geni.us/rd6LL1 (Amazon)
Cordless Chainsaw - geni.us/RKHq (Amazon)
Makita Brush Sander - geni.us/AlmB (Amazon)
Porter-Cable Sander - geni.us/7Ws2 (Amazon)
Braided Wire Wheel - geni.us/IB8685Y (Amazon)
Soft Wire Wheel - geni.us/hSiYWrJ (Amazon)
HVLP Sprayer - geni.us/sIivd (Amazon)
EPIC AWESOME SAFETY GLASSES - geni.us/wCSyk8 (Amazon)
Masonry Sleeves - geni.us/q810c (Amazon)
General Finishes Endurovar - geni.us/IlYwiPl (Amazon)
Proudly Supported By:
Armor Tool Company - bit.ly/JM_ArmorTool
Woodcraft - bit.ly/JM_Woodcraft2020
Timberland PRO - bit.ly/JM_TimberlandPRO
Lincoln Electric - bit.ly/JM_Lincoln
My Top Tools and Product Affiliates
Woodworking Tools - kit.co/JohnMaleckiBuilds/wood...
Metalworking Tools - kit.co/JohnMaleckiBuilds/meta...
Favorite Finishes - kit.co/JohnMaleckiBuilds/fini...
My Camera Gear - kit.co/JohnMaleckiBuilds/came...
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John Malecki
224 Braddock Ave.
Braddock Pa 15104

[@kandjlumber]

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

[@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 !

[@holdemNE1]

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

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you Big Mike!

[@markshatto8699]

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

[@MikeTheMaker1]

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

[@John_Malecki]

The really do!

[@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

[@colm.8139]

Nice job Walter.

[@John_Malecki]

Hahahaha many Walter comments !

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@AdamRich1785]

Great stuff as always John and Sam!

[@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. :)

[@tooljunkie555]

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

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Joe ! 💪🏻

[@Officialshayne]

Good stuff my dude

[@magenhunter]

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

[@MrJmayes23]

Your personality has just earned you a new subscriber 😎

[@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?"

[@BearCreekWoodworking]

Awesome Work John!!!

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you my friend !

[@emilydebiasio1217]

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

[@new2dayuser151]

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

[@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 !!

[@ftwtexasstephens9629]

Beautiful mantel. Entertaining video.

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you my friend!

[@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 😝

[@zsoltsworkshop7866]

Big work friend! Well done. Rest then!

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you !💪🏻

[@rugerp9736]

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

[@WoodcraftSupply]

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

[@John_Malecki]

Hahahah yes !

[@ThomasCustomWoodworks]

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

[@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

[@emmamarkwell9130]

Beautiful.I love it.

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Emma !

[@jimgam730]

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

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you my friend

[@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!

[@OneManBandWoodworks]

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

[@FredMcIntyre]

Awesome work John! 😍👌🏻👍🏻👊🏻

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Fred!

[@hungryarch7319]

Gorgeous

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks hungry!

[@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 !

[@daviclemons6910]

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

[@tedjordan7567]

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

[@biscuits671]

Beautiful big man 👏👏👏👌

[@MarioRossi-ik9th]

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

[@steveallen9581]

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 !!

[@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

[@pistolpete5356]

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

[@davidthompsen464]

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

[@John_Malecki]

It’s a tried and true technique

[@bartoszzelezny3908]

Bardzo fajna kompozycja, belka wyszła Tobie zajebiście!!!

[@Za-ei7ni]

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

[@rchavez5056]

Great job.

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you my friend !

[@twotierneys]

AWESOME! My husband has tool-envy

[@John_Malecki]

Yea these specialty tools are awesome I will admit

[@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

[@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!

[@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!

[@santiagogrenier7224]

Fenómeno... more videos!!

[@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

[@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.

[@JeffreyThomas]

Badass!

[@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 🤣🤣

Great job. you are so strong👋

[@John_Malecki]

This is true haha

[@jeanniealford4234]

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

[@jlambo9757]

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

[@maggiesue4825]

Beautiful against the old brick!

[@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?

[@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).

[@mountainviewturning5319]

Mental looks great

[@jsmith629]

This guy's awesome...

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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?

[@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

[@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.

[@GibClark]

Nice 👍👍👍👍

[@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

[@MyLizzys]

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

[@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.

[@mikethompson6713]

29-3/8’s right now

[@chrystalb4011]

It's got to be said...John you have big wood😜

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you Chrystal !

[@fleshnbone831]

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

[@Skipull69]

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

[@randynewtonsr9659]

Sawwweet , looks good dude!🤘🏻🙂 Sometimes you just gotta “Squatch” it in the hole!🤔🤦🏻‍♂️

[@John_Malecki]

Yep, just squatch it!

[@jmc0610]

@@John_Malecki if this isn't already a tshirt it for sure, should be!

[@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.!

[@andrewchristian1910]

I really enjoy watching your vids. You are very talented on both sides of the camera which helps a ton. Might be time to invest in some wireless wearable microphones for the two of you though. ;)

[@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?

[@mikecnelson]

buy like 3 or 4 more respirators, so you have them no matter where you are.

[@John_Malecki]

Keep one in a truck ?! For all occasions ?

[@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

[@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

[@MrJoeyShells]

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

[@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

[@84Merna]

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

[@charliehilbrant]

Hahaha. “What the hammer drill does is, blrggblrblrrrrbbbblrbbblrrruhhh!”

[@filamphibian2980]

i live in the Philippines. i have kids and monkeys. But no Tapcon. But I have a bottle of Jim Beam to rest on the beam. That'll address all concerned. Thanks for this supercalifragolisticexpialadocious video

[@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 ?

[@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.

[@HCCTHETECH]

what model is your Mirka sander? nice videos man.

[@John_Malecki]

Deros 5.0!

[@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)?

[@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?????

[@angiebirt6977]

Did u use a lag bolt?

[@scottwepfer]

Did you use 1/2" Lag Bolts?

[@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

[@debbydhill]

I feel like Mr. Rogers....John, won't you be my neighbor?.... Nice beams... #toolenvy

[@tombaker3794]

I found the mounting method to be somewhat difficult, having to drill the holes exactly spot on and perfectly at 90 deg. to the face of the shelf. If one hole were as little as 1/32 inch off, or one hole drilled slightly off the right angle, pushing the shelf onto the bolts would be a challenge at best. I do believe the woodworking gods were smiling on you that day.

[@John_Malecki]

I dunno tom I’ve done probably 25 of these and they’re all basically the same. As long as you have enough length on the bolts they’re not too hard

[@tombaker3794]

Well, as they say: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", or in your case if it works for you, don't change the method. 👍👍

[@John_Malecki]

Haha nailed it. It’s easier to me than to use a cleat. Also stronger since it basically has tenons now. Some people route and drill custom brackets that slide inside. I just use the bolts tho haha

[@mikez4132]

@@John_Malecki Some pl premium between the back of the mantel and the brick would work too. There's lots of ways to skin a cat. Can we still say that? *&^k it...lol... I just did. Looks great. Still waiting to get an autograph at the orange box store someday if im down that way. I live up river from you.