Day: February 25, 2010

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Bucket Chairs are GONE!

Today was one of those calendar marking days.

Normally, when I say a project will only need another 20 minutes, it usually means another couple of hours, if I’m lucky. Today, I was bang on!

I conceded defeat with the angle grinder, concluding that I was missing a wrench to change the disc. Off to Home Hardware I went, hoping that someone could help me. My last resort was to schlep all the way to Home Depot to buy a new grinder.

Home Hardwares are, in my opinion, the stores with the most helpful staff. From Wakefield QC to Whitehorse YT to Campbell River BC and in some small town in Alberta the name of which I forget, I’ve never come out of a Home Hardware feeling like my business doesn’t matter.

I came into the store today and was promptly greeted by an associate who couldn’t help me. She scurried off to find someone who could. He confirmed that I was missing a wrench and got one, then showed me how to change the disc. He did not want to sell me a new disc because I had one and he did not want to sell me a wrench because Croft might have one. I insisted on buying both. For one thing, I don’t think it’s right to go ask for help at a store and not buy something. For another, Croft most definitely does not have that wrench and is going to need one! Plus, what if I wound up needing to switch discs again?

Once back home, I got down on my hands and knees again and away I went. Twenty minutes later the chairs were out, vacuumed, and stacked in the garden shed awaiting their new owners. Tabitha and Neelix seem so bereft without their lounging spots!

Please, no comment on the mess or the mountain of metal shavings still on the floor. 🙂

Had I not had people waiting for those chairs, I would have probably procrastinated on this project. I’m so glad it worked out the way it did! Now, I just have to finish dismantling the other dinette bench and rip up the rest of the flooring.

Before I dismantle the bench, however, I need to figure out how I’m going to get in and out of the loft, even if only temporarily. I have three three ideas for that.

As for what I have in mind to replace one of the bucket chairs, I’m flashing back to my student days as the solution then might be the solution now. I just have to find the right one…

Off to clean up the lounge. What a mess metal shavings make!

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Bucket Chair Progress

One bucket chair is now sitting outside. I’d call that progress.

I have two and a half bolts left to get through and I need to change the disc on the grinder. With no instructions for how to do so and no information on the tool as to what type it is so I can look up a manual online, I’m hoping it’s not as nice a day in Mexico today as it is in Campbell River and that Croft is online! 😀

Grinding through the two bolts I needed to grind through to get to where I am right now was scary! There was no way to control the incredible amount of sparkage going on. I just got everything out of the way and had wet cloths and a bucket of water handy. It didn’t matter if the floor got dinged since it was coming out anyway.

Once I get the disc changed, I’m looking at another twenty minutes, tops, to finish this project. It’s going by a lot better than I would have expected.

Word of warning when grinding: if you don’t have a face shield expect to get a mouthful of (thankfully cool) shavings. 🙂