Guest Farnsbarns Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Does anyone else find they always do things the hard way? I had this week off and part of the plan was to build a kind of outdoor side board for my bonsai trees. When I went to buy materials I hadn't really designed it, deciding to see what was readily available first. I bought some fence posts in 5' and 7' lengths and some 8' decking boards, all very cheap nasty timber but that should be ok, 3"x3" stock for supporting bonsai trees is rather over engineered anyway, right. "Screws" I thought, at the checkout. I grabbed a couple of bags of 4' coach screws. Got home and realised that I would only have an inch of screw when joining the fence posts so I got a 13mm spade bit to make recesses to get more screw through. I screwed all the fence posts together to make a frame. I remembered part way throug that there's a drain pipe runing behind where I want to put it so I set the lower cross member in slightly so it can run benind but not having paid any attention to top and bottom yet I just picked one. Later I realised that I'd picked badly, leaving myself more sawing because one end lent itself to forming legs and I'd picked the other. I have no power saw (my jigsaw wont go through 3" thinknesses). So I duly measured the length of the legs I wanted and messed about for ages trying to cut them accurately with a blunt bow saw. Later I remembered that one leg would stand on gravel abd the other 3 would be on my uneven patio so that was a waste of time, I still had to pack one leg to make it stand straight. Next I set about making the top, choosing to screw all the decking boards down and then trim them. Big mistske, broke the only fine jigsaw blade I had and had to finish the job with with one that was far too course. Jigsaw bouncing up and down. Nightmare. I have forgotten about the other trip to the hardware shop to buy more screws and more decking board. Never had enough screws and had decided to put a shelf in the bottom. I still need one more decking board becsuse I still hadn't planned properly and decided to put the bosrds right yo the bsck with a small notch gir the drain pipe. Nearly there though. Next time I'll put half an hour into doing a drawing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmokeyGhost Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Love it! Both the story, which I can relate to, and the outcome. Makes people feel good to know they are not the only one who wings it in these matters. You do appreciate I trust that while there is GAS in relation to guitars and other good gear there is also TAS (Tools Acquisition Syndrome) and the hardware store becomes a fellas second home. Many a time I have made multiple trips on the same day to get stuff but it's always a case of walking in to get driver bits and walking out with a MIG welder then returning to get the drill bits because you've forgotten them. Drives women mad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Well you put more thought and skill into it than I would! Inspiring - I must do something like this for my pots, watering can, etc...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Looks good to me! Anyway, when about DIY woodwork, I can relate to the trouble you experienced more than I like to admit. I can create the craziest audio recording or mixing setup as fast as lightning, but building a sideboard is a hassle for me, and even planning may eat up lots of time. Doing it right from the start usually takes me sleeping on it before final design and buying material... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 That turned out great... But yeah I feel your pain. Every home project I do seems to lead to trouble. I sort it out eventually, but there are those moments... It took me 4 months to build this chicken coop because I kept getting stuck on little problems that I had to work out and fixing mistakes I made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Gibson Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 The easy way is the road to perdition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 I usually plan things out pretty good and make a list of what I need to do the task at hand but, I can remember when I used to race, I had no help and had to change the clutch in my race car Barracuda. Got the car up on car ramps high enough and pulled the manual transmission out, and changed out a new racing clutch and put everything back, and had to bench press that Hemi 4 speed transmission from my chest to get it back in. Hooked up the 4speed shifter, and was ready to take the car off the ramps, when I noticed I forgot to put the throw out bearing back in and it was sitting by the tire. Ohh, God! I thought...I have to do it all over again Back out with the Tranny! Still no help. Lol guess that's why I plan better now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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