Hello from Upstate South Carolina

 John.   from Redding, CA. Lots to learn here and lots of friendly folks to learn from. In return, we like to see lots and lots of pictures -- before, during, and after.  I'm a free-form old school SFGer, so I can't help with your grids, but I'm sure some of the experts will be around soon to help you with that.

Eagle,  Welcome to the Forum from Central California!    It looks like you are in the Middle South Region where you can grow year around with a little freeze protection, just like I do in the No. California Region.  If you haven't already, I recommend that you read All New Square Foot Gardening, by the Founder, Mel Bartholomew.

For lattices, I use Home Depot's screen door trim, 1/4" x 3/4".  For a 4' x8' bed, I recommend two lattices of 4'x4'.  My husband screwed the intersections together with machine screws.  They can be folded up and stored for the winter if not in use.  I have cotton string grids on some of the newer beds that are only 7" deep but have the wood grids for the 10" deep beds that are only filled to 7".  Why do I have string when it is not recommended?  Is this a do as I say and not what I do moment?  Kind of.  I religiously use grids and if the string breaks, I just mend it.  I would never, nor do I think I could anyway, plant without grids.  It's just not SFG without them.

Up to now I have used slats from aluminum venetian blinds to make my grids. I use small bolts to fasten them together at the intersections. The white color of the slats really stands out against the MM. The downside is that the aluminum can get bent. I've been thinking of changing to wooden grids. I can't find lath and pre-made trim (even from HD) is crazy expensive where I live. So I may have to use my table saw to cut my own trim from 3/4" spruce boards.

Hi John! Here's a hello from central Pennsylvania:
I haven't spent much time in SC, but I believe you're about an hour roughly west of the Giant Peach?
I tried the lathe for grids but found it wasn't right for me - most of my beds are also 4x8; I used two four by four grids, connected by one in the middle. Instead, I now have small nails in the top of my beds, and use red yarn wrapped around them and back and forth, one way |-|_|-|  and then the other
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|_
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so one piece of yarn per a bed. Red is easily visible, doesn't get dirty as quickly as something like white, and by having one piece I can add extra wraps around the nails so the grid stays taut and doesn't get all floppy. Whereas twine in my garden seems to disintegrate, some of the yarn is on its third year, and though faded to a bright orange, it's still doing pretty well.

BeetlesPerSqFt wrote:Hi John! Here's a hello from central Pennsylvania:
I haven't spent much time in SC, but I believe you're about an hour roughly west of the Giant Peach?
I tried the lathe for grids but found it wasn't right for me - most of my beds are also 4x8; I used two four by four grids, connected by one in the middle. Instead, I now have small nails in the top of my beds, and use red yarn wrapped around them and back and forth, one way |-|_|-|  and then the other
_|
|_
_|
so one piece of yarn per a bed. Red is easily visible, doesn't get dirty as quickly as something like white, and by having one piece I can add extra wraps around the nails so the grid stays taut and doesn't get all floppy. Whereas twine in my garden seems to disintegrate, some of the yarn is on its third year, and though faded to a bright orange, it's still doing pretty well.

BeetlesPerSqFt,
I am about an hour west of the Giant Peach.
I like the yarn idea. I will probably go with that.

Welcome from Coastal NC.
Sounds like you are off to a good start with your beds.

Here is a suggestion for your grids. I am using PVC pipe because I thought about trying to make a watering grid but may consider using this instead:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Royal-Mouldings-6578-1-4-in-x-3-4-in-x-8-ft-PVC-Composite-White-Screen-Moulding-0657808049/202089998

RT, Having heard of the composite screen molding. I use the wood screen molding but after 48 months of year around gardening, 2 pieces have finally broken in two. Is anyone using the composite (1/4" x 3/3"). Critique?

Welcome from Atlanta, GA, EagleStar. Sorry I'm so late chiming in... Been out of town.

I'm AtlantaMarie, your regional host.

Looks like you are off to a good start. And everyone's been chiming in to help you. Thanks, everyone!

I use the nylon string surveyers use. Seems to work pretty well.... And I know it's not recommended.... But it works for me.