This week's project was to use the boards I had so carefully learnt to glue together in previous weeks to create, complete and install a linen cupboard/shelves. As projects go, this one made greater use of tools than any project I've undertaken so far, setting me that much further apart from lower life forms.
Once I had my cupboard, though, I had to find some way of perching it twenty feet above a flight of stairs, in a corner opposite the drying rack. And to make the challenge that little bit more challenging, I had to do this on my own. And because the walls are plaster and masonry, I would need to install wall plugs to make it work.
So this is what I did:
(1) I designed a way of attaching the cupboard to a series of cords which would not foul the positioning of the cupboard against two walls (after all, I had to be able to remove the cables once the cupboard was in place). I also designed a cup-holder-like-thing on the base of the cupboard so that I could get a purchase on the cupboard from underneath with a bundle of timber I had to hand.
(2) I harnessed the cupboard to the pulley system and Mr Winch, and I lifted the cupboard into the air.
(3) I tied a cable from the harness to a door jamb on the other side of the stairwell from the pulley system, giving me lateral maneuverability.
(4) I pulled this slightly towards the door jamb and then propped it against the wall with the help of a bundle of timber and a strut.
(5) I then tightened the winch, repeating step 4, until I had the cupboard up in the corner.
(6) I then made this fast by screwing the support timber into place and using a G-clamp to affix the edge of the cupboard to the wall to the left hand of the cupboard.
(7) I drilled pilot holes into the wall through the cupboard's lateral supports. This involved climbing onto the staircase banister and hovering, with one hand for support, over the 20 foot drop....(8) I then slowly worked the cupboard back down the wall and out of the way, so that I could drill holes in the wall and insert wall plugs.
(9) Finally, I worked the cupboard back into position, secured it, screwed it in, removed the cup-holder, removed the harness and, voila! All done.
(9) Finally, I worked the cupboard back into position, secured it, screwed it in, removed the cup-holder, removed the harness and, voila! All done.
(10) Oh yeah, and I hoovered for an hour to get up all the sawdust and plaster dust.
Finished product:
