I'm starting to get a decent collection of tools! Advice for projects?

[ashauler]

I might be screwing up my terminology here. By footer, does that mean a full concrete pad, or just posts in concrete or hardware embedded in concrete plugs at points where you attach the posts?

By footer I mean a strip of concrete where the 4 x 4 laying on the ground would go, like a house foundation, just not as robust. IMO, harder to do, but better result and you don't have the wood rot to worry about.