My project started out on such a good note. It really did. Locks and hinges are now my specialty. Until last night. I found I can be the plumber, too. But let me start at the beginning of my evening.
It had been a long, hot desert day. I’ve been working on varied projects such as my college reading, written assignments, visits with new girlfriends, Bible study, and housework. It’d already been a long day.
As I usually do, I started a new list of all the projects I want to complete before returning to full time employment. Under white glove inspection, Winterpast is a dismal fail. There is dirt everywhere. When did this happen??? After returning to work, there’ll be a few weeks when my attentions will be needed elsewhere. So, I best utilize my time and complete those remaining projects.
I love projects that involve a single effort, not returning to become a project again. Like locks and hinges. Once and done. Beautiful results. Move on to the next. No extreme ladder work. Everything neat and tidy. Out with the old and in with the new.
After sitting on Main Street watching the cruisers until dusk last night, I came home to a minor problem. In my flurry of activity before I left the house, I’d forgotten that my sheets needed to dry before I could turn in for the night. No problem. While the sheets were drying, I’d just be-bop right into my bathroom and install locks and hinges on three doors. I wasn’t planning on including plumbing and woodworking into my evening chores.
The bathroom pantry door was a snap. Everything came together like it should. I got the package of lock and hinges opened without sliced off fingers. That’s an accomplishment right there. No fall from the ladder. The drill functioned properly. Proper door and latch alignment. With 35 minutes left in the drying cycle, I moved on to the privacy door for the toilet. It was there things started to go south.
Removing the middle hinge, it was obvious this door had some issues before I came along. In case you’ve never noticed, there are doors that are solid wood and there are doors that are not. Mine are not. This type of door is delicate and screw holes are easily stripped. In this situation, really long screws were needed. Three were provided should this problem arise. Problem solved.
If you’ve watched me move, you must’ve noticed one thing. I’m the first to admit it. I am painfully clumsy at the worst times. A true fumble fingers. I can drop just about anything. An important lesson was reinforced last night. When you are tired from a long day and you try to finish a project in a limited time, fumbling fingers can become a problem.
A package of hinges contain 15 screws. 12 of them are the ones most often used. Three of them are super long, in case your screws are stripped. That’s it. The exact amount of small black wood screws are included to secure your hinges. Lose one and YOU might become unhinged.
The opening in a bathroom sink is a gaping hole of unforgiveness.
#1. ALWAYS CLOSE THE SINK DRAIN OR AT LEAST PUT A TOWEL OVER THE OPENING.
As quick as I could say, “NO! NO! NO!”, my screw package was knocked into the sink. Four screws were gone. Four. One-half of a hinge-worth plus one.
No problem. My hubby taught me good. Opening the sink, I got to work loosening the trap. A J-trap collects everything heavy. There I would find my four screws. Sadly, it also takes time to get under the sink and mess with nastiness. After becoming a few minutes closer to clean, dry sheets, three of the screws were retrieved. The fourth will remain lost forever. You win some you lose some.
I smiled at a special memory of VST. When we first met, I had a plumbing issue in my bathroom at my little house in the barrio. He had a laughing fit because my J-trap was really made from a radiator hose. To me, it was no laughing matter. It worked. The important part of a J-trap is the shape not the material from which it’s made. He laughed about my J-trap for years to come. In the mean time, I learned a little about plumbing.
With the J-trap in my hand, I could hear the screws rattling around in the bottom. Into a large I carefully poured the disgusting liquid, retrieving the screws.
What do you do liquid you need to dispose? Pour it down the drain. Of course.
NO! NO! NO! NO!
Before the brain kicked in, I was now in cleanup mode, sopping up the disgusting liquid from the bottom of the open drain. Two disasters in a few minutes says it’s probably time to put away sharp tools and go to bed. I would’ve already been in bed asleep, but the drying cycle for the sheets wasn’t finished. Neither was I.
With the clean-up finished, my diversion into plumbing was finished. I just wanted to finish what I started and call it a night.
Getting up, not as spry as I was at 5 that morning, I reached for the open cabinet door to pull myself up. With a sigh and a snap, the hinge broke. NO! NO, NO, NO!!!!!!!! Add a few more words that a proper church lady just shouldn’t say. At that very moment, the clothes dryer chimed. Sadly, no bedtime for this bozo.
After close inspection of my hinge, I found it to be as filthy as many other parts of my house. Dust bunnies were living on top of it!!! Oh the horror of it all! After 20 minutes, the door was back on. “New cabinet hinges” earned a place on my Fix-It list.
My bathroom doors now have beautiful new locks and hinges. There is one cabinet door I don’t use anymore. If anyone touches that door, it will fall off in their hands. It won’t take me long. I’ll be the one.
Home projects. No matter the detours, I adore my home projects. It’s the reason I love owning a house. Always something interesting to fix or renew.
Check out your own hinges. There are so many working parts it will blow your mind. All of them can be fixed with a screw drive and a visit to You Tube. Carry on, and don’t use your cabinet doors as an assistive device when getting up off the floor. Better yet, avoid going under the sink.
More tomorrow.