raising4boys.com » How To http://www.raising4boys.com parenting tips, tricks and commentary Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:20:44 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 How to Remove Marker Ink From Your Carpet http://www.raising4boys.com/2009/10/28/how-to-remove-washable-marker-ink-from-carpet/ http://www.raising4boys.com/2009/10/28/how-to-remove-washable-marker-ink-from-carpet/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:46:12 +0000 dad http://www.raising4boys.com/?p=667 As I write this, there’s a guy cleaning the carpet in the other room, and I’m starting to lose hope…

Ink on the carpet…

Six or eight weeks ago, Son #4 (currently four years old) went through a scribbling phase. He scribbled on the door frame and his desk with a pencil (no big deal), he scribbled on the hardwood floor with a black Sharpie (despite being “permanent,” it eventually came off), and he scribbled on the carpet in his bedroom with (supposedly) washable markers.

Unfortunately, we got sidetracked and didn’t get around to cleaning the marker off the carpet until today. My wife started out trying to clean one of the spots with Resolve. When that didn’t work, she called a local carpet cleaner. They were actually able to make it out here this afternoon, but the last I checked, the news wasn’t good.

…and it won’t come out

The worst of the scribbles are in the dead center of the room, and the steam cleaner was unable to make a dent in them. When I walked in the door from work, the cleaning guy was telling my wife that he was going to try a “heavy duty” cleaner, but that he suspected our son had gotten his hands on permanent markers.

We dug the markers out and, sure enough, they said “Washable” right there on the barrel. I’m guessing that what they really mean by “Washable” is more along the lines of “Washable, but if (and only if) you take care of the problem immediately.” We didn’t, and we might now have to live with the consequences.

Update: The carpet cleaner managed to make the stain fade, but the ink is still there, and it’s still fairly obvious. Oh well, I guess this is just something else to help us remember the “Terrible Fours.” Lesson learned… If you want to remove “Washable” ink from carpet, you should start cleaning immediately. If not, it will magically morph into permanent ink.

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]]> http://www.raising4boys.com/2009/10/28/how-to-remove-washable-marker-ink-from-carpet/feed/ 6 Building a Double Desk: Installing the Finished Product http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/09/20/how-to-build-a-double-or-single-desk-on-the-cheap-part-3/ http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/09/20/how-to-build-a-double-or-single-desk-on-the-cheap-part-3/#comments Thu, 20 Sep 2007 12:03:50 +0000 dad http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/09/20/how-to-build-a-double-or-single-desk-on-the-cheap-part-3/

As promised, here’s the third and final installment of my series on how to build an affordable double desk. So far I’ve laid out a list of supplies and talked about putting together and finishing the desktop. Today I’m going to talk about installing the desk.

Step 1: File cabinet placement

This is pretty easy step, in that I simply placed the file cabinets along the wall such that the outer edges ride just inside the trim on the ends of the desktop. Just be sure you have them square relative to the wall. Ideally, you’ll arrange things such that there’s an electrical outlet between the file cabinets.

Step 2: Installing the wall cleat

While the ends of the desktop are supported by the file cabinets, the back edge is supported by a four foot long, 2″ x 4″ cleat. I centered it between the file cabinets, leveled it with the tops of the cabinets, and then anchored it to the wall with 3″ wood screws driven into the wall studs.

Step 3: Attaching the desktop to the file cabinets

Next up, we need a way of securing the desktop to the cabinets. To this end, I drilled a series of small holes through the top of both file cabinets (approximate locations are indicated with the black dots below). Once the desktop was laid across the cabinets (and the cleat) I screwed it to the cabinets (from below) using 3/4 inch wood screws and washers to keep the heads from pulling through the metal.

Step 4: Attaching the desk to the wall

In order to further secure the desktop, I attached it to the wall cleat using metal L-brackets (below). Here again, I used 3/4 inch wood screws to attach the L-brackets to the desktop, and 1-1/4 inch wood screws for attaching them to the cleat.

Here’s a shot of the desk once the top was in place and secured. Note the quarter round trim to dress up the edge along the wall. I nailed this in with a nail gun. Also note that the trim around the edge serves to keep pencils, crayons, etc. from rolling of the edge. Finally, the plastic grommet is for running power cords down to the electrical outlet.

And here’s a shot of the finished product, complete with a pair of desk chairs, desk mats, lamps, etc.

That’s it! Relatively cheap and very easy (although it did take a bit of time). It would’ve been even cheaper if we’d have gone with used file cabinets. Given that we wanted to build two identical desks, however, we decided that it would be easiest to buy the cabinets new so we could be sure they’d be the same. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions…

See also:
How to Build a Double (or Single) Desk on the Cheap, Part 1
Building a Double Desk, Part 2: Finishing the Desktop

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]]> http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/09/20/how-to-build-a-double-or-single-desk-on-the-cheap-part-3/feed/ 9 Building a Double Desk, Part 2: Finishing the Desktop http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/09/14/how-to-build-a-double-or-single-desk-on-the-cheap-part-2/ http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/09/14/how-to-build-a-double-or-single-desk-on-the-cheap-part-2/#comments Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:40:07 +0000 dad http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/09/14/how-to-build-a-double-or-single-desk-on-the-cheap-part-2/

The other day I started describing how to build a double desk on the cheap. In that article, I provided an overview of why I decided to build desks for our boys as well as a shopping list. Today I’m going to start talking about how I put things together…

I should start by saying that I designed the desks to run lengthwise along a wall, such that the boys will end up sitting side-by-side.

My first step was to prepare the 24 x 80 desktop for finishing. I thus put it on sawhorses in the garage and sanded the edges to smooth them out. I also ran the sander over both surfaces using a high-grit sandpaper to smooth out any irregularities. I then measured the length and depth to double-check it and cut the corner trim to fit, complete with mitred ends to make the pieces fit together nicely. I ended up with two shorter sections for the sides and one longer section for the front.

Once I had the trim cut, I laid it out on the desktop to get it positioned properly. I then ran a bead of carpenter’s glue down the back of it, clamped it down, and nailed it in place. Once the trim was secured, I sanded the mitre joints to even them out and then moved on to the hole for the grommet. I positioned this hole by finding the midpoint along the length of the desktop, then lined up the hole saw such that the hole would end up being a couple inches in from the back.

The last little bit of woodworking involved cutting the quarter round trim to fit. The untrimmed back edge of the desktop is ultimately destined to be butted up against the wall, so the quarter round will serve to ‘finish’ that edge against the wall. I started by measuring the length of the desktop from the inner edge of the trim on one end to the other. I then cut (and sanded) the quarter round trim to fit the length of the desk.

Next up, finishing the wood. Once I had the major woodworking done, I rubbed everything down with a tack cloth. I ended up doing three coats of polyurethane on the upper surface (and trim) and two coats on the underside. Between coats, I sanded the finish lightly with high-grit sandpaper and then rubbed it down with a tack cloth to remove the resulting dust.

Jumping ahead a bit, here’s a closeup picture of one of the mitred corners on the finished desktop (the different colors along the front and side are a lighting artifact):

At this point, the desktops were done and ready to be deployed. In the next installment, I’ll go through the installation process with numerous pictures.

See also:
How to Build a Double (or Single) Desk on the Cheap, Part 1
Building a Double Desk, Part 3: Installing the Finished Product

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]]> http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/09/14/how-to-build-a-double-or-single-desk-on-the-cheap-part-2/feed/ 1 How to Build a Double (or Single) Desk on the Cheap http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/09/10/how-to-build-a-double-or-single-desk-on-the-cheap/ http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/09/10/how-to-build-a-double-or-single-desk-on-the-cheap/#comments Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:57:04 +0000 dad http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/09/10/how-to-build-a-double-or-single-desk-on-the-cheap/

Given the size of our family, we sometimes have to think creatively when it comes to saving space. Don’t get me wrong — we have a fairly large house, but… When you’re doubling up with two kids in a bedroom, space can get tight, especially when it comes to furniture. And we’re doing that in two bedrooms.

Sons #1 and #3 (currently nine and five years old) share one room, whereas Sons #2 and #4 (currently seven and two years old) share another. Bunk beds have been a godsend, but Sons #1 and #2 in particular need some “personal space” for schoolwork, etc.

Being somewhat forward thinking, we weren’t interested in filling the available space in each room with a desk that would only accommodate one kid. Unfortunately, we soon realized that there’s not much in the way of double desks out there, especially not the sort that would accommodate our kids as they get older/bigger. Thus, I decided to build a custom solution.

Building a desk

Because this was a relatively large project, I’m going to publish it in installments. Today I’ll provide a project overview and a shopping list. If you’re curious, you can jump ahead to Part 2 and Part 3. Before we get started, here’s a sneak preview of the finished product:

The first step was to figure out exactly how to do it. The #1 need was a nice, flat workspace large enough to accommodate two kids. We also wanted desk drawers for storing their stuff, and it needed to be sturdy. Since I didn’t want this to turn into a major woodworking project, I decided to keep it simple.

I ordered four HON series 412 two-drawer file cabinets from Office Max. They cost $69.99/each, and were by far the most expensive components of our desk building project (2 cabinets x $69.99 = $139.98/desk). The plan was to use these as end supports, with the desktop riding on top. I also planned on attaching the desk to the wall to make it ultra-sturdy.

Once I had the file cabinets in hand, I turned my attention to the desktop. While I flirted with the idea of using a door as the desktop, I nixed this idea for several reasons. First of all, the end results isn’t all that nice looking – it’s a bit too utilitarian for our taste. Second, most of the smooth doors (i.e., without sunken, decorative panels) that I ran across were hollow core, and I was concerned that the boys would eventually puncture the veneer. It’s also impossible to cut hollow core doors down to size – you pretty much have to work with what you get. Finally, even these lower-end hollow core doors are relatively pricey.

My solution? Birch plywood. I considered an oak desktop, but the grain was heavier than we wanted. I picked up a nice 4′ x 8′ sheet of birch plywood in our local Home Depot, had them cut it down to 80 inches in length and then rip it in half lengthwise. The end result was to 24 x 80 desktops for a bit over $20 total ($10/desk). Not bad.

Since we wanted this to look nice, I also spent a bit of time in the trim department. I picked up some 1-1/8 inch wood corner trim to finish out the three edges that would be exposed, and I also picked up some wood quarter-round trim to finish the edge that would abut the wall. the corner trim has the added benefit of creating a small ledge around the edge of the desktop which helps to keep pencils, pens, etc. from rolling off.

I then moved on to the paint department and picked out a clear, semi-gloss, water-based (which doesn’t yellow) polycrylic finish. One quart turned out to be enough for both desks.

Here’s a list of stuff that you’ll need…

Major desk components

These are the components of a double desk. Reduce dimensions if you are building a single desk.

  • (2) File cabinets (not over 24 inches deep; I used HON Series 412)
  • (1) 24 x 80 inch piece of birch plywood (one 4′ x 8′ sheet makes two desktops)
  • (1) 80 inch piece of 1-1/8 inch corner trim (buy it long, cut it down)
  • (2) 24 inch pieces of 1-1/8 inch corner trim (again, buy them a bit long)
  • (1) 80 inch piece of quarter-round trim (will be cut down to size slightly)
  • (1) 4 foot length of 2 x 4 (buy an eight footer and cut it in half for two desks)

Note that 1-1/4 inch corner trim will also work.

Hardware for building a desk

  • 3 inch wood screws for attaching the 2 x 4 ‘cleat’ to the wall
  • L-brackets for securing desktop to cleat
  • 1-1/4 inch wood screws for attaching L-brackets to cleat
  • 3/4 inch wood screws for attaching desktop to L-brackets and file cabinets
  • Washers for 3/4 inch wood screws (so they won’t pull through cabinet)
  • Plastic desk grommet for power cords to pass through

Miscellaneous items for building a desk

  • Polyurethane or polycrylic finish
  • Brush(es)
  • Tack cloth (not required, but helpful)
  • Wood glue

Tools for building a desk

  • Mitre saw for trim*
  • Sander (can be done by hand, but it’s far easier with a palm sander)
  • Nail gun with 3/4 inch brads (not necessary, cleaner/easier than a hammer)
  • Power drill/driver with bits
  • Hole saw for drill (use for cutting hole for grommet, cords)
  • Saw horses to support desktop for finishing (not necessary, but helpful)

*Note that there’s no real need for a heavier saw, as they can do the major cuts at the home improvement store.

See also:
Building a Double Desk, Part 2: Finishing the Desktop
Building a Double Desk, Part 3: Installing the Finished Product

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]]> http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/09/10/how-to-build-a-double-or-single-desk-on-the-cheap/feed/ 5 Planning on Building a Tree House http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/07/13/planning-on-building-a-tree-house/ http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/07/13/planning-on-building-a-tree-house/#comments Fri, 13 Jul 2007 13:34:28 +0000 dad http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/07/13/planning-on-building-a-tree-house/ Ever since we moved into our house last summer I’ve been planning on building a tree house in our backyard. Actually, it will probably end up being a bit too “rustic” to be classified as a house — perhaps tree fort is a more accurate descriptor of what I have planned. Anyway, I was recently inspired to think a bit more about this, and yesterday afternoon I stopped by the library and checked out “Treehouses and Playhouses You Can Build” by David & Jeanie Stiles.

After having spent a bit of time perusing it, I’d have to say that it’s a pretty fun and rather useful book. There is a lot of very basic carpentry information, tips for building tree houses, numerous pictures, and also plans for building three different tree houses as well as four different play houses. Unfortunately, none of the designs in it really inspired me. Some of are way too fancy/complex, and we lack appropriate trees for many of them… The woods out back are largely comprised of pine trees and, while there are a few oaks mixed in, I have a fairly limited selection to work with.

In all likelihood, I’ll end up building something that’s anchored to a tree on one end, but supported by legs on the other end. But until I have a firm design in mind, I’ll be continuing to search for inspiration. If you have any suggestions of good books or websites for this sort of thing, I’m all ears.

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]]> http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/07/13/planning-on-building-a-tree-house/feed/ 5 How to Build a Playhouse http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/04/10/how-to-build-a-playhouse/ http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/04/10/how-to-build-a-playhouse/#comments Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:30:20 +0000 dad http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/04/10/how-to-build-a-playhouse/ I just wanted to take a minute to point out a cool project that I recently ran across… NCN of NoCreditNeeded is building a playhouse for his kids, and chronicling the process (with pictures!) on his site. Here are his posts so far:

A Display Of My Mad Carpentry Skills
Mad Carpentry Skills (One Wall)
Mad Carpentry Skills (4 Walls Plus Siding!)

Check it out — it’s pretty impressive. One of these days, I hope to follow suit with a tree house for the boys.

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