Update : Platform Bed

So we have assembled the outer frame. Jenn and I had already assembled the 4 Effektiv brand Ikea shelves, but they had no backing, no way of connecting to each other, and I wanted to add lighting to them. 

The backing was a simple idea that took quite a few revisions and backtracking to get together. We saved the long tops from the Ikea boxes and upcycled them into the backings of the shelves.  We took a trip to Joanne's fabrics and hit the remnants bin for 13 inch squares of cast-offs. We found quite a few, and purchased some cute ones in the clearance aisle that we couldn't pass up.

After marking the panels and cutting them out with pinking shears to resist fraying. I taped the cardboard to the shelf and traced the openings with a pen to verify the placement. Then it was just a matter of hot gluing the fabric to the cardboard. We tried to mix up the colors, patterns, and contrast as much as possible to create a patchwork feel. 

Once all four cardboard panels were traced, glued and cooled, we proceeded with attaching them to the shelving. Jenn did the bulk of the stapling with her new staple gun. I came in behind and cut a hole into the far corner of each shelf's backing to pass through the lighting cables.

Attaching the shelves to each other was tricky. The outer frame was far too big to assemble and then move into the bedroom, which means it would be too big to move OUT when we move. So we needed an idea that held the shelves in place and still allowed them to detach easily. I thought of door hinges. I screwed in the hinges at the corners where the shelves met, and then simply removed the pin. 4 hinges for 4 corners. Assembling the hinges was an easy matter of lining up the hinges and lightly hammering the pin back in.


Next was the lighting. I wanted the shelves to be lit. I dunno why, I just thought it would be kind of cool. And if we need something from the shelves after they're filled with...whatever, having installed lighting would be a good thing to have. So I took a trip to the hardware store and bought some round wood boring augers and went to work. I measured the width of the rope lights, grabbed the next largest bit, and drilled through the shelves, one at a time. This produced mixed results. The particle board the shelves are made of had unpredictible responses to the drill bit. Sometimes the drill cut cleanly through. Other times it  raggedly tore the hole open. As you can see in the picture here; clean... clean...ragged as all hell...clean. One of the ends needed to be drilled through as it butted up against the back of the following shelf. The hole was easy to drill here. Too easy. apparently Effektiv shelf ends are hollow.

Here's the rope lighting prior to installation. I think its really cool. Much brighter here than it looks when in the darker shelves, but that's okay.

Next time, we put the whole bed together and see how it goes..

Update : Platform Bed

Collected materials (only one shelf shown, but there is 4 assembled)

So we started assembling the platform bed. I started with the interior frame. I drilled holes in all the 2x4s and the 4x4 posts. Measuring  was more difficult than I thought it would be, as the edges were rounded off. I made a couple mistakes, but nothing I couldn't recover from.

The clutch on the drill gave out partway through the drilling, and I had to buy a new one to finish with. It was a second-hand drill that I got years ago, so I'm grateful it lasted as long as it did.

I attached the posts to the frame sides with lag bolts. easy to put on, and easy to disassemble when we move. Once each post had a 2x4 I moved it onto the bedroom and started attaching them to each other.

I made a mistake measuring the center beam. Since the lumber was cut at home depot, I was rather upset about having to go back and buying another 2x4 (they wouldn't cut one brought in from outside). Fortunately, the drill dying turned out to be a boon, cause now I needed a saw too. I picked up a multi-tool kit for much cheaper than they would have been alone.

Once the center beam was re-cut the inner frame was complete.  Next we get to assemble the outer frame.

Update : Platform Bed

Here's some pics of the shelves we bought from Ikea. They're Effektiv shelves. We realized that since they were kitchen shelves, they had no backing, so we're trying to come up with a solution for that. We're going to attach them to each other in a spiral square with door hinges, so that when it needs to be disassembled we can just pull up the pin and the hinges will pull apart.

I have gathered all the materials together to start this monster. Jenn has helped a lot in this. She even helped assemble the Ikea shelves. Somehow when we purchased 4 black shelves, we ended up with 3 black and 1 birch being delivered. I would be a huge headache to try to arrange to have it returned so Jenn and I decided to roll with the punches and spread out the birch colored parts.

 Here's what one if the mixed shelves looks like.

Home depot lumber cutting guy was cool, but he screamed everything, like he was always at a metal concert.

I went to Home Depot and got all the other materials. It took several trips to get it all, but I got it. Big thanks to my roommate for making most of the trips with me because his car is the only one that the lumber would fit into.

New Project : Platform Bed

Ok, heres my biggest project yet. I'm going to build a platform bed. I have very little carpentry knowledge, and i'm not terribly "handy" as far as power tools go, but I'm going to give it a bash.

After some research into styles of platform beds,  Jenn and I really like the low to the ground models, but we need extra storage space that the taller beds provide. We settled on a plan that involves two nested bed frames; a hacked set of Ikea kitchen shelves for the outer ring, and a wooden support for the mattress, topped with a flexible set of MDF slats. Its complex, but it allows a huge bed to be constructed with very little carpentry knowledge and it can be taken apart fairly easily when we eventually move.

Pics will be uploaded as the plan comes together.

Update : Bookcase/Desk Refinish

So out of the blue it started raining. All over the furniture that was stationed outside while it was being repainted. Some of it got really wet, especially the unpainted inner shelves between the drawers. We'll let the rain die down and salvage what we can.

Update : Bookcase/Desk Refinish

Here's some process pictures for the refinish of the bookcases. I'm nearly finished with the first (and smallest) if the three. It was easier and harder than I expected. The painting is fun so far, but I think I had unrealistic expectations as to the efficacy of painter's tape, and I have a lot of paint bleed to go back and touch up.

Enjoy these pictures. More to come....

Update : Summer Sarongs

So here's the first sarong I finished. This one was easy, just hem the 3 yards of fabric I bought and wrap it around me. Super easy and fun.

This sarong is very wide, but not quite as long as I would like.

Ready to go!

New Project : summer sarongs

Well, winter is passedi n Phoenix, which means its going to get very hot very soon. My jeans are much too warm for phoenician summertime, and I'll avoid wearing shorts unless i'm working out. This leaves me with unbifurcated garments for men. I already own a Utilikilt, purchased some years ago. now I'm adding to my collection by sewing some simple sarongs.

Here's the fabrics I picked up at Joanne's Fabrics. Jenn helped pick them out, and is aweome for finding these prints. I'm excited about them and will post process pics as they come!

New Project : bookcase/desk refinish

Jenn has a 2 piece desk with book shelves that she's had since she was a kid. She loves them but they take up a lot of space and don't really belong anywhere in the house. Plus they aren't very nice looking. Every time I suggest getting rid of them and getting something more space conscious or modern, we end up in an argument. She's convinced that they are nice hardwood furniture, "because they're so old and heavy". My contention was that if it WERE hardwood, the paint needs to be stripped and the bookcases stained, and if they were NOT, then we should be looking for something nicer.

Once I took my dremel and wore away some of the cream-colored paint and showed her the particle-board underneath, we compromised. I get to remove them from the office and relocate them into the bedrooom, and she can keep them provided we repaint them.

 This is the smaller bookcase/desk

 Happy desk is happy

So far I've already taken them to the patio, separated the top and bottom sections, and sanded the surfaces of all 4 parts. I'll add pictures as the painting progresses.

Update : Beanbag COMPLETE

So the "beanbag" is completed. Here's a couple pictures of the velcro flap I had sewn in. Its an awesome addition to the living room and its always being used by someone. Its location and comfort makes it currently the favorite gaming chair.

 Flap closed

 Flap open

In the future, I have some plans for it, namely adding more foam, and designing a couple new skins for it. Maybe a Cthulhu horror or a bulbasaur?

My roommate and best friend Richard lounging and playing Xbox360

It feels great to have a fully completed project on the blog. I feel like I accomplished something. Yay for me.

Update : Coffee Table

So I received the veneer glue for the coffee table. Here's a couple pictures of me applying it to the prepped tabletop.

Here's the Prepped tabletop. It was a bright day so it was hard to take the picture with the slatted patio roof. It's all sanded and ready.

Here's the veneer and the glue supplies. You can see here the nice contrast of  before and after the veneer job.

Here's the finished veneered tabletop! I put the original next to it for reference.
Next step for this project is to order the brass sheeting for the sunrays and design a new statue for the ends so they aren't so thick.