Actually, all of me is tired, because we did a TON of work this weekend. But check out the results at Heidi's Blog.
Once again, mad props to Kelly for helping direct the faucet installation, Adam for completely ROCKING out on the cabinet installation (this guy is a genius!) and of course, Heidi, for sticking it out with no kitchen for all this time and helping all along the way. It is really satisfying to see the results now that we're in the "you-can-actually-see-the-work-that's-getting-done" phase. I'm hoping to have the floor tiled in the next 6 days. The holiday break should really help with getting that done.
Yay, PROGRESS!!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Once again, can I say how much the Wilkeys RAWK.
I have so many shout-outs and updates on prizes and general pics I need to post that I feel bad just posting with no pics. But really, I just want to say a couple of things. 1 - the Wilkeys are the bizz-omb. whatever that means. Second, after a couple of days of wood-cutting frustration, I think we'll be set tonight because Justin sent over his jigsaw to fill in for my jigsaw that I broke last night trying to get through the beast of a slab of wood that is the IKEA Numerar countertop**. So hopefully, tonight we'll finish cutting that and then install the sink and faucet and connect the plumbing. And I'm really hoping the plumbing will drain because Justin's suggestion about potential problems causing the upstairs sink to not drain makes me wonder if the downstairs drain will work after all. Pleh. Anyway, I'm glad Heidi's been posting progress pics because I've just been working and working to get this thing done and I've been too grumpy/tired to take and post pics. I love looking at them, though, so keep them coming, Heidi!
**If you googled "Numerar" "countertop" "cut" "blade" or "I'm going to shoot myself in the face now that I have a giant slab of counter and cant' actually cut it to size or cut a hole in it," and that's how you end up here, here is what I know.
1 - Numerar actually has a good face and a bad side. DO NOT mistake the two. You will know in one of 2 ways - either you will be looking at the good face thinking that both are the same, or you will flip it over and know right away that there really are a top and bottom. The bottom is uneven and has glue smears all over it, as well as a big ugly black IKEA stamp. Again, if you open the thing in such a way that you see the front side, you might not realise that there is a bad side lurking under there. And that comes into play when you start making cuts.
2 - I have read online both complaints that this stuff is a b*tch to cut and people saying it's not bad at all. Actually, both are true depending on your circumstances. I bought a new SKILSAW for the job, because it's not really a project until you have to buy a new tool. I tried cutting the counter with the 24T carbide blade that came with the saw. Bad idea. I bet that blade is just fine for cutting pine framing lumber, but for the glued-up 6/4" hardwood this countertop is made of, you are going to need something with a little more bawlz. And the one that worked for me is the Freud Diablo, 40T. I wavered a bit between it and the Freud Avanti, 40T, but in the end, I read a review that said the Diablo was a little beefier and that's what I wanted for this job. Turns out that was just the trick. That thing went through the countertop like butter. I felt like I was sawing through MDF - just smooth and even. I had a few binding spots that were my own fault for letting the saw drop - I'm still getting the hang of the weight of it - but otherwise the cut is smooth as glass. Now, they say you should cut bad-side-up with the circular saw and that's what I did. But I'm also going to tell you that the 40T gives you such a smooth cut that it probably won't matter which side is up. I didn't have any splintering or tear-out at all. I am actually in love with this blade, and honestly, it was so inexpensive, I'm going to go back and get one for my 10-inch saws, too. Yeah, I know, I sound like a commercial. But man, this thing is sweet. Oh, and I had been under the impression that a lower tooth count was better for cutting thick boards. But this 40T was excellent at it, so I guess I missed something in my reading or else they mean "lower" as in "not 200 teeth". Whatevs.
I have to give mad props to Naomi, Single Mom extraordinaire, whose blog I found while frantically searching for a way to cut this stuff. Seeing her cooktop cutout gave me the confidence that I could actually cut the thing without losing my mind or any fingers. Thanks, Naomi! (The kitchen looks great!)
**If you googled "Numerar" "countertop" "cut" "blade" or "I'm going to shoot myself in the face now that I have a giant slab of counter and cant' actually cut it to size or cut a hole in it," and that's how you end up here, here is what I know.
1 - Numerar actually has a good face and a bad side. DO NOT mistake the two. You will know in one of 2 ways - either you will be looking at the good face thinking that both are the same, or you will flip it over and know right away that there really are a top and bottom. The bottom is uneven and has glue smears all over it, as well as a big ugly black IKEA stamp. Again, if you open the thing in such a way that you see the front side, you might not realise that there is a bad side lurking under there. And that comes into play when you start making cuts.
2 - I have read online both complaints that this stuff is a b*tch to cut and people saying it's not bad at all. Actually, both are true depending on your circumstances. I bought a new SKILSAW for the job, because it's not really a project until you have to buy a new tool. I tried cutting the counter with the 24T carbide blade that came with the saw. Bad idea. I bet that blade is just fine for cutting pine framing lumber, but for the glued-up 6/4" hardwood this countertop is made of, you are going to need something with a little more bawlz. And the one that worked for me is the Freud Diablo, 40T. I wavered a bit between it and the Freud Avanti, 40T, but in the end, I read a review that said the Diablo was a little beefier and that's what I wanted for this job. Turns out that was just the trick. That thing went through the countertop like butter. I felt like I was sawing through MDF - just smooth and even. I had a few binding spots that were my own fault for letting the saw drop - I'm still getting the hang of the weight of it - but otherwise the cut is smooth as glass. Now, they say you should cut bad-side-up with the circular saw and that's what I did. But I'm also going to tell you that the 40T gives you such a smooth cut that it probably won't matter which side is up. I didn't have any splintering or tear-out at all. I am actually in love with this blade, and honestly, it was so inexpensive, I'm going to go back and get one for my 10-inch saws, too. Yeah, I know, I sound like a commercial. But man, this thing is sweet. Oh, and I had been under the impression that a lower tooth count was better for cutting thick boards. But this 40T was excellent at it, so I guess I missed something in my reading or else they mean "lower" as in "not 200 teeth". Whatevs.
I have to give mad props to Naomi, Single Mom extraordinaire, whose blog I found while frantically searching for a way to cut this stuff. Seeing her cooktop cutout gave me the confidence that I could actually cut the thing without losing my mind or any fingers. Thanks, Naomi! (The kitchen looks great!)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Woefully amiss
I know, I know. I'm long overdue for SOME kind of update. But I just haven't been able to make the time to do it. Oy vey.
I'm going to refer you over to Heidi's blog for occasional updates on the kitchen project. It is pretty much taking over my life, which is part of the reason for the lack of updates of late.
Oh, and we are currently down to ZERO functioning kitchen sinks as the upstairs sink has become hopelessly clogged. That's a story in and of itself. ARGH.
I'm going to refer you over to Heidi's blog for occasional updates on the kitchen project. It is pretty much taking over my life, which is part of the reason for the lack of updates of late.
Oh, and we are currently down to ZERO functioning kitchen sinks as the upstairs sink has become hopelessly clogged. That's a story in and of itself. ARGH.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Um.
This:
Was stolen from my yard this morning. Or possibly last night. Sometime between the hours of 8pm and 8am. Whatever. I mean, really. Who in the world steals an 8-foot sign that's nailed to 2- 2x4s and sunk into the ground? This entire time, I've expected to come out and find it kicked over, slashed, spray painted, or smeared with baby poop. But I honestly never expected to find it just stolen. The only trace they left was the 2x4 cross-brace you can't see in the pic. It was just lying there on the sidewalk like a metaphor for the honor and respect of the democratic process that says "when your candidate doesn't win, you suck it up and figure out what you can do to change things in 4 years".
Like I have done for the past EIGHT.
Was stolen from my yard this morning. Or possibly last night. Sometime between the hours of 8pm and 8am. Whatever. I mean, really. Who in the world steals an 8-foot sign that's nailed to 2- 2x4s and sunk into the ground? This entire time, I've expected to come out and find it kicked over, slashed, spray painted, or smeared with baby poop. But I honestly never expected to find it just stolen. The only trace they left was the 2x4 cross-brace you can't see in the pic. It was just lying there on the sidewalk like a metaphor for the honor and respect of the democratic process that says "when your candidate doesn't win, you suck it up and figure out what you can do to change things in 4 years".
Like I have done for the past EIGHT.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Heidi is 2-for-2
First, the Bengals win on Sunday, in honor of her birf-day, and now, the election of our 44th president, Mr. Barack Obama, on her actual birthday.
With this kind of streak, I think she’s a keeper.
Happy belated b-day, Heidi!!
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