Thursday, June 8, 2017

The gardening tool station

Another of my "quick" yard project in a day. Well actually that one was built in a day, Friday, except for installing the door, hardware and the protective finishing.
So yeah, doable in a day.... if you don't have grandkids running around, make a trip to the vet and basically have a life to interfere :-)

Earlier I installed a post, left over piece of 4X4 from the barrel stand project, and put in two hanging plant's bracket.  Its location will also help running the
irrigation lines to the beds above ground. There are height differences to be respected for my solar drip system


Construction was simple, butt joints, glued and nails.
I used a water resistant outdoor glue, Titebond II, galvanized finish nails, 1-1/2 in and Liquid nail adhesive to seal the roof panels.
Galvanized nails have a hot zinc dip which makes them somewhat lumpy. This rough coating makes them grip more tenaciously than your regular bright finished wire nails, plus they won't leave rusty streaks on the wood later on.


3PM Friday, almost done

There was no plan in the magazine, just a picture of the finished product, a material list and a partial exploded view. A one page skimpy article basically.
Not that there is anything complicated about it...

The only weakness I can find with this sketchy design in the magazine, was the front gable attachment. I added a 1-1/2 screw on each sides of the gable to help reinforce the connection. That connection is thru end grain, not the most solid... But If I built another one, I would redesign that connection to be attached more solidly.

Before the grand peanuts arrived after school, I had two roof panels 
to put on and the door blank.

Door panel dry fit into opening.  I cut everything to the specified 
dimensions and amazingly, all the parts fitted... :-)

Just in time for the grand peanuts arrival.
The rest would have to wait...

 I am pretty happy with the boards I found at my local box store (Kent Building supplies) 1X12X6 pîne boards for about $6 each.  I had to culled the pile to find mostly clear boards, but I was able to cut off most of the knots. My only gripe has to be my 1X12 actually measured 11-1/4 wide... exactly the specified width for this project... One of my roof panel had a cup in it, it split when I nailed it flat. I simply worked some more of my exterior glue in the partial crack.

Did not got to work on it until today, Thursday, Cut the gain for the hinges, and install door

Put on hinge on door, scribed around, removed hinge
then cut shallow groove with chisel

My small router Stanley 271, set to the thickness of the hinge 
is then used to mark the thickness 

The resulting hinge gains

Similarly the router was used to cut the hinges gains 
on the cabinet parts

Outside, I gave it a coat of Thomson water seal and wood protector

Installed on post and filled with some tools.
It is secured by two screws from the inside, to prevent twist
 and two metal brackets from under

My door panel has developed a significant cup, so that the door does not closed flat unless I put some pressure on it, which of course created some stress cracks. Similar to what happened with one of my roof panels.
I may have to revisit that door panel and make a new one. If and when I would used laminated stock instead of relying on a large piece.

Only thing left is to install the door handle and locking hasp, but that would have to wait until the temp drop down a bit, it is brutally hot today, but the wind is keeping most of the bugs away. They don't seems to fly well with these shearing winds :-)

When she got home, she added more tools.
I will have to organized them better, with holders and hooks of some sort.
The plant hanger's hooks are a great place to hold Rudy's leash 
while working in the garden :-) 

My sophisticated, temporary locking mechanism...
Until I get around making a new door...

Bob, sipping a refreshing cold one and re-thinking the door

10 comments:

  1. A frame and panel door and you might be able to use some of the cupped door for it.

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  2. Yean....I thought of that, but I like the look of a "flat" door. Maybe exterior plywood? Either that or a glued up flat panel, would be less susceptible to cupping...(??)
    Either way, I am going to have to do something about it...

    Bob

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  3. Bob,

    With the door living outside keeping it flat I expect will be a problem, flat or frame and panel. Like Ralph the frame and panel should work better. Either way it will add to the "charm" of the tool box and you can always say it was planed that way :-). Rustic you know.

    You are having too much fun in the yard, could almost make me want to do some yard work. Almost.

    BTW, over my comfort zone yesterday afternoon. Over 110F on the truck thermometer. No outside work gets done, just pool time with a hat and whisky in hand. Monsoon may start early this year, there was a large afternoon thunderbumper just southeast of the house. It never came closer than a mile or two but we felt some of the cool wind.

    ken

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  4. HI Ken
    I thought about the frame and pane; door idea, but since it lives outside, in the rain & snow, I would be worry about the frame getting water ingress and demolishing itself (?) Maybe Im just worrying too much :-) A simple batten door should do

    Bob, who is gonna have another +25 C day :-)

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  5. I agree that a couple of battens with nails clinched on the inside would look fine.

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  6. So how does the door stay closed? Magnetic catch?

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  7. Hi Matt, yes it is supposed to use a magnetic catch, but for now, until i get around to make a new door, im using a very sophisticated door locking mechanism, two push pins and a small hairband elastic borrowed from her :-). Updating pictures shortly

    Bob, watching the water beads nicely on it in the pouring rain

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  8. Bob,
    what happened with the solar power station thing-a-ma-bob?

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  9. Hi ralph, not installed yet, I needed this post to make it happened, and it is pouring rain, so it will have to wait :-)

    Bob, singing in the rain

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