Tuesday, October 04, 2005

odds 'n ends

Picture from Hometown














For the past few days I've been doing some simple carpentry upstairs in my house. Specifically, I've been installing baseboards, which requires the use of a miterbox (to cut the corner angles, if you're not into carpentry). I value my fingers (they come in handy when I want to write, among other things) and anyway, making mitered corners is just an occasional activity for me, so I use a miter box with a manual saw rather than one with a power saw. I've been fastening the baseboards to the walls with both Liquid Nails and nails into the studs to give a nice, tight finish, and then I countersink the nails, fill in the holes with wood putty, caulk the gaps, do a final sanding, and put a topcoat on the baseboards, which are already primed. The work is looking good, if I do say so myself...this is one of those times when it pays to be a perfectionist. I like working with my hands, whether I'm writing or doing carpentry or kneading bread dough. I like the physical aspects of simple carpentry; the feel of the wood and the scent of freshly cut pine and even the sound of the saw. There's work to be done outside my house...I need to repair my lawn sprinkler in a couple of places, including splicing a couple of wires back together which requires the use of shrink tubing...I love shrink tubing...and the flower beds need to be cut back and readied for winter, but it's close to a hundred degrees outside, so those things will have to wait until the weather breaks...

In the meantime, as I finish up the baseboards, I'm considering tackling crown molding, which by all accounts is very difficult to do well, but it really dresses up a room, and I like a challenge, sooooooo...I'll keep you posted.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

delightful post.


judi

Anonymous said...

Wow, you've been busy lol Sounds like fun though. I like doing that kind of thing too. Makes you feel like you've actually accomplished something, doesn't it?

Good luck on all the other projects! ;o)

~Lily

Anonymous said...

You can do the Crown Molding!!

V

Anonymous said...

Wow!!! I am so impressed. I am a lazy project-er, unfortunately. I wish I were more tenacious as I'm sure my project outcomes would be alot better. :) Great job - let us know about the crown moulding and if you're for hire...

Anonymous said...

I feel for you. Our home is under construction.

Gabreael

Anonymous said...

You are just as a busy bee... Can I rent you?

Best,

Judith

Anonymous said...

The amazing thing is that some of my rooms are exactly the same. Benjamin Moore fiddlehead green walls, white woodwork, hardwood floors. Cool.

Anonymous said...

You are so talented! I have never tackled anything to this extent and you make it sound so effortless which I know it is not. Way to go!

Donna

Dust Bunny Protector

Anonymous said...

A hundred degrees outside? Don't you all know it's fall now? You can have some of our cool, damp and rainy if you want it...

Lisa :-]

Anonymous said...

Wow.. I am in awe of you! I am sooo sooo stupid when it come to home repairs, and here you are just remodeling and working like Martha Stewart junior!
I wish I could do that!

Jackie

Anonymous said...

You are one brave soul! I could never do that! At least I don't think so, painting a room is a major undertaking for my!

Anonymous said...

Nice job on the floors and trim work. I prefer to use my Mita powered miter saw but wish I had a compound one. I've redone all the trim on our main floor of the house and now we are working on our top floor. The finished basement is last on the list. Great job you're doing!

Chris