Weekend with an 8-feet DIY project! 🔨

blind-spot (70)in GEMS • 6 years ago

That is exactly how my weekend began. It was not a voluntary project, but oh well.

I began my day with the same ritual. Open my eyes, consider sleeping more, waking up and going about doing whatever comes at me in full speed.

This time it was our 12 year old 8x4 feet cupboard. Some of you may know it as a closet, almira, clothy hangy thingy or what not.

This massive thing has taken a beating through out the years and deserved a small refurbishing work done to it.

The structure has become loose and with a very stern pull at the door it came crashing apart. Literally tom and jerry style. Opened up like a tulip in spring. BAM!

I took friendly fire and my head was swollen up like a tangerine. That was a clear indication this thing needs some denting-shenting fixing-mixing.

This massive beauty is fully, 100% handmade. Except for the cutting, every things else is done by hand. By dad did it around 12 years back. 2 of these. In one day.

He is the handiest handy man I know. So many memories and sentiment attached to it. That is partly why I never got rid of it. That, and I am pretty lazy.

These things can get pretty expensive and rebuilding one from scratch is not a commitment I am willing to make. All said and done, just refurbish this and call it a day.

After emptying the massive thing I put it down. Room is very spacious so that helped, big time. Next, I had to detach everything from everywhere and the plan was to re-align and reattach them so that it becomes a little sturdier...or just doesn't fall apart on me for a few more weeks.

My dad was in the construction business a few years back. The plus side was being a part of a business that had the highest demand in the booming country, and that we never had a shortage of tools.

But, the business being a primitive one, the tools also are. After dad sold the business we gave away almost everything we could to less fortunate construction workers. Tools and supplies can get very expensive so it was much better to donate them to the needy.

ALthough the tools are old, they do what they are supposed too. And how could I complain having one of the most versatile tool boxes in the world.

Its like a magic pouch. You will find almost any tool you need at anytime. From sandpaper to drill bits. If the tool box doesn't have it, there always is the cardboard box waiting behind it to be explored.

After pulling out the rusting screws and a little bit of tugging and roughing up, the entire cupboard was open and ready to be realigned.

Bonus points if you know why these wooden splinters are important! One sneaky trick I learnt from dad.

The problem with ply is that it is not very sturdy by itself. A few ins and outs, a little punching and tugging and it starts cowering.

From these images it is obvious that the cupboard has been restrengthened before. That always makes it a challenge because there are just that many screws you can put in before you run out of space or the wood runs out of strentgh.

Nevertheless, adding a bottom support and making sure I apply contradicting support on the side panels gave me enough tension in the structure to piece them together.

Even if there isn't much remaining in it, adding a few support screws to just "hold" the panel in place is going to give it that extra weight.

Quick question, are we the only one who always rewired the power tools for longer cables? I always helped my dad do those and never did it once cross my mind how dangerous this could be.

Look at this thing. All these years and it does what it needs to and hasn't fried me. A win-win I guess.

And just like that, with a few hours of work and lots of sweat...VOILA!

It stands!

A few bricks were added under the lower floor to apply more support and hold the weight.

A tiny support-baby popped out to congratulate me, too!