Saturday, August 25, 2012

Mirror, Mirror

OK, it's time to finish the mirror on the vanity. Today I stain it and, hopefully, glue the mirror in place.  I have ordered lined mirror clips (HARD TO LOCATE) on Amazon, thanks to a "can find anything" doctor I work with.  If you need to know ANYTHING, just tell him and if he doesn't already know....he will find out for you before day's end!  Love it.

So, I have the frame all sanded.  I realize I did not need to be so complete in my sanding here, as most of this would be covered by the mirror.... but I could not bring myself not to be thorough and perfectionistic in this area.  Perhaps because it's an area I can control and be perfectionistic in?  Other areas of my life I just say, "Eh...close enough!" 

These are the before and after shots.  I will put on the stain today, go to my grandson's first flag football game, then return to glue the mirror.  I have decided to leave the scrape spots on the mirror backing alone.  I do not want to go thru the hassle of taking it to be re-silvered, and I think it adds a little character. Check back later to see my progress.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Vanity Part II

Well, the process has started. 1st I neede to take it all apart.  There are more piceses than I thought.  That's ok... I just hope I know how to put it back together!


I actually enjoy this part.  Just gently pounding out the slightly loose nails.  Most of this was held together with nails.  The only screws were located on the back to hold the mirror in place.  There was some old glue along the inside cabinet part that helped hold the center piece in place.  It pulled the veneer off when it was removed, but since it would be covered again when back together, I was not concerned.  I used wood filler and glue to repair it and it will not show at all.

Then came all the sanding.  Like the dresser, I could not use the palm sander very often.  So mostly, I wore out my fingers, hands, arms.... back, shoulders...   But I love sanding!  It's therapeutic for me.  There is nothing like getting covered in wood dust, (mask and safety glasses in place), sweating in the 98 - 105 degree temperatures we have been having, and dealing with the smoke in the air from nearby forest fires.  Pretty sure our poor little state is burning up!  Then to go in the house when it is too dark to see anymore, showering it all off, taking Aleve and sleeping soundly thru the night.  Waking is painful...sore shoulders, fingers, hands! 

Then there are the different pieces of veneer all over this thing.  Grains going all different ways....


But  I always had my helpers.... and Gordon Lightfoot on the MP3.
So, I got it all sanded and began the stain and acrylic.

And here is that patch on the one side where the veneer pulled off:

And, as I said, it would be covered by the middle section. Which reminds me, I have to replace the veneer on the middle section or "repair" what is there


Hmmmmmm...... Gonna look for new veneer. I hear it is expensive.  I show my husband. and tell him my possible plans.  If all else fails, I can make a cushion for it and it becomes a little bench.  Not really practical with a mirror behind it, but oh well.  He makes a few calls (Between growing up around here and knowing everyone thru sports, his social personality, AND the fact he's an electrician so knows people who work with wood, this man can find anything).  He tells me to take a piece to his dad.  Seems he has a cousin who does cabinets.  Less than a week later, my dear father-in-law appears with a large sheet of walnut veneer.  He's so cool!  He even offered to take the whole thing to his cousin and have him professionally glue it.  BUT, being that "I can do it myself" girl.... I did:


I am pretty pleased.  It could have been better.  There are some small little bubbles that my husband thinks are unacceptable, but I am ok with it.  Now that all the acryllic is dry, I need to put it together.  Wish me luck!









Monday, August 13, 2012

Vanity

My latest obsession.  This does not include the HUGE mirror with it.  I love old waterfall vanities. I don't know why; I just do.  I found one months ago at the local salvation army. It was solid black, no mirror, but a pretty solid piece.  They wanted $40.  I am cheap.  I decided to wait and see if it was still there a week or 2 later, and offer less.  Since I didn't need the project at that moment, I waited. A week later, it was gone and I felt deflated.  I made a decision, if I ever found another, I would grab it if it were under $50.00. 
Fast forward about 6 months and I am working on a beautiful chest of drawers named, Francis.
I am on my way back to work from the bank one payday and there is a "Deseret Industries" a block away.  I stop (just to look... you never know), and there in the little furniture room sits a waterfall vanity. Pretty rough, the lower piece of veneer completely shredded.  But complete, with no other broken pieces. 
No price.... Ugh....
I find someone to ask, at the same time making a deal with myself.... "If it is $25 or less, you have to get it."  Of course it will be MORE than $25.  I set it low to save myself!
The pleasant manager located the price behind the piece attached to .... the mirror!  $25.00.  Well, it was a sign from God.  I had to do it.  My friend, also a refurbishing nut, went with me after work and let the helpers load it into my little SUV.  (What was I going to tell my husband???)

I arrive home 45 minutes later deciding it truly is best to beg forgiveness than ask permission.  Afterall, it was only $25!  I work hard, earn good money.... right???  Here is how it went:

Me:  Honey, I have a problem.
Him:  What's wrong.
Me:  You may have to have an intervention or get me some professional help.
Him:  OK. What did you DO?
Me:  I bought a beat up vanity.
Him:  What's a vanity?

Here is where I told him the story of the other missed vanity and the deal I made with myself about the $25, and yada yada yada.... he laughed at me.

Him:  Whatever makes you happy, Dear.

Do I have an amazing man, or what?  I'm already a recluse.  Add to it these little projects I keep picking up and I can be in hiding for weeks on end. Just me and Gordon Lightfoot!  (OK; maybe a story by Harlan Coban to break up the day).  Anyway.... I'm off to work on this little gem and will keep you updated as to my progress!  Tschuss!



The Plan


The plan of this blog is to show that "I can do it".... whatever "it" may happen to be. I have found that I love to take old things and make them into something useful and (hopefully) better looking! For example; the old dresser I found at St. Vincent's a month ago.  When My husband saw it, his first comment was: "What are you going to do with THAT?"  A reasonable question since our tiny house has no room for anything, and it wasn't exactly a beautiful piece of furniture.  BUT, it had gone on sale and I picked it up for $50.  I thought that was a good price. It appeared solid, as you will see, and dressers are expensive! Have you seen the price these used furniture shops put on old, beat up dressers?? It's ridiculous! So... I set out to make this one beautiful. (Or so I hoped.) Here is the adventure.

Very solid drawers and cabinet.  I didn't need to really do much in way of repair.
I have read in other blogs that the key to any project like this is "lots of sanding".  I think it is true. You have to be diligent in preparation. Sand, buff, sand, fill, sand, and sand some more!
I started with 60 grit.  I have read that this is probably too course, but I could not get thru the lacquer of this thing with 100. Once I seemed to "scratch" thru the surface, I switched to the 100, then 180, then 220.  In between sanding it was helpful to brush off with mineral spirits or even a tack cloth.  I had very sore knuckles and fingertips.
The nice part about all that sanding? An mp3 player loaded with books and Gordon Lightfoot's "Best of"... It was all very relaxing and wonderful.  I thought of the old dresser and who might have used it. It reminded me of my grandpa Hoefer (Mom's side) so I named him Francis, in honor of gpa!
I did use a palm sander for the larger areas, although the lacquer seemed to clog up on the paper and ... well... it just seemed easier to do by hand most of the time.



I was going to  change out the knobs for pretty brass or antique brass pulls.... then I priced them! Wowser. OK, first of all, they were an odd size. The screws holding them on were 2" apart instead of the standard 3" ones you find at Lowes or Home Depot.  A very helpful Home Depot salesman instructed me to search online and I found some. Not many, but some.  Most seemed to be little animals... cute... but not what I was looking for.  The one I kind of considered (althought it was not speaking to me, you know?) was $15.00.  EACH.  Note:  There are 2 per drawer, and 4 drawers.... I was a math whiz in school. That means, 8 knobs at $15 (not including shipping and tax) would run me $120.  Add the shipping and tax and it is 3 times what I paid for the dresser.  No thank you.
Intense sanding, some quick dipping, a little rubbing, seal with acrylic and put a coat on!  We were ready to go.!


The staining part was fun.  I used Minwax Special Walnut.  I love darker wood; but especially wanted to see the grain.  I had hoped the cabinet and drawers were of decent enough quality there would be grain to show!
There was.... and it was turning out pretty.  Then I used Minwax water-based Polycrylic seal (semi-gloss). with 3 coats.  I let it dry a couple of days before adding the knobs; and a few more days before allowing anything to be placed on it.  Just to be sure... 
I think "Francis" looks nice with my mother's picture, mother and father's wedding picture, husband's grandmother's clock, and old bible and study books from various ancestors on my dad's side.  (The dogbed is a nice drooled-on addition, too, don't you think??)