Gondor Goes 3D

NARSES2 · November 24, 2025, 01:53:20 AM

Quote from: Rick Lowe on November 23, 2025, 08:37:59 PMA variant of the Modellers' Axiom, "I'll use it some day, and it's there for when I need it."
Of course, one has to find it when it's needed - or indeed remember one has it in the first place...

Oh so true

Charlie_c67 · November 24, 2025, 08:13:14 AM

Rick Lowe · November 24, 2025, 08:06:19 PM

YES!!

Nick · November 25, 2025, 03:50:42 AM

We were told by insurance that we needed to secure the empty house while the probate goes through. Got up in our loft and found an old shelf that has sat up there for 15 years.
Took it to the house, cut it to size and wedged it into the space between the handle and door frame so that it couldn't be forced open. Sorted

Gondor · November 25, 2025, 05:25:09 AM

Some progress in building the 3D Cabinet. The brackets to help increase the shelf-to-side joint strength have been fitted.

I had bought a handy little battery-powered screwdriver to help get all the screws fitted, and that worked a treat. The only real pain was using my bradawl, but it was really helpful for giving the screws a starting point.

Next up is the MDF that I was routing on Saturday.

It's just clamped in place at the moment. a 1" gap from the front of the shelf to the MDF. The drawer immediately below the cupboard has been emptied so it can act as a debris collector for when I drill through the holes in the MDF and through the shelf.

Having a lunch break for now. Expect a further update later.

PR19_Kit · November 25, 2025, 07:54:57 AM

Quote from: Nick on November 25, 2025, 03:50:42 AMWe were told by insurance that we needed to secure the empty house while the probate goes through. Got up in our loft and found an old shelf that has sat up there for 15 years.
Took it to the house, cut it to size and wedged it into the space between the handle and door frame so that it couldn't be forced open. Sorted

But how did you get back out again once you'd 'secured' it from the inside? $:-\$

scooter · November 25, 2025, 08:29:24 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on November 25, 2025, 07:54:57 AMBut how did you get back out again once you'd 'secured' it from the inside? $:-\$

Climbed up the chimney?

Gondor · November 25, 2025, 09:06:04 AM

As sort of promised.

Although this looks fairly good, the screw in nuts do not give enough flexibility in position when trying to fit bolts from under the shelf. So I am going to modify what I am doing. The screw in nuts will be removed, and the top of the holes will be countersunk so the bolts I have can simply go through the MDF and the shelf, so I can then add a washer and nut on the underside after adding another metal strip.

It's getting there, in fits and starts, but its getting there. There is even power inside the cabinet.

Captain Canada · November 25, 2025, 02:36:53 PM

It's progress !

Rick Lowe · November 25, 2025, 08:10:59 PM

Progress is Good.

Nick · November 26, 2025, 01:01:21 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on November 25, 2025, 07:54:57 AM
Quote from: Nick on November 25, 2025, 03:50:42 AMWe were told by insurance that we needed to secure the empty house while the probate goes through. Got up in our loft and found an old shelf that has sat up there for 15 years.
Took it to the house, cut it to size and wedged it into the space between the handle and door frame so that it couldn't be forced open. Sorted

But how did you get back out again once you'd 'secured' it from the inside? $:-\$

Forgot to say this was for a sliding door at the other house.

PR19_Kit · November 26, 2025, 03:39:10 AM

Quote from: Nick on November 26, 2025, 01:01:21 AM

Forgot to say this was for a sliding door at the other house.

Phew, I was worried that you were posting about it while being locked inside there just now.

NARSES2 · November 26, 2025, 05:36:18 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on November 26, 2025, 03:39:10 AM
Quote from: Nick on November 26, 2025, 01:01:21 AM

Forgot to say this was for a sliding door at the other house.

Phew, I was worried that you were posting about it while being locked inside there just now.

You and me both

Gondor · November 26, 2025, 01:19:25 PM

A bit more work done on the 3D cabinet this evening.

I do have a couple of problems. Two of the screw in nuts broke and don't want to come out. One is not much of a problem where it is; the other is too proud of the surface for my liking. The second problem is that somehow I have a hole in the wrong place. Now, no snickering at the back there! I need to enlarge the centre hole in the metal bar that is to go at the back under the shelf. The front bar is in place, as are the upper two bars. The results are as I hoped.

which is a darn sight better than it used to be.

It's difficult to see, and there is no banana for scale, but the shelf has a distinct bow. Compare the shelf against the top of the drawer in the pictures, and you will see what I mean. I also have power inside the cabinet. I also have a light and a switch to install as well. In fact, when on my way home, I popped into my local B&Q to get some electrical cable for the light and found that they now sell all types of cable in pre-cut and packaged lengths!

Gondor · November 30, 2025, 01:43:50 PM

Because the cabinet is a flat-pack item, I have decided to buy some membrane to seal the inside of it. This is due to lots of people going on about the fumes, and the fact that there are lots of holes in it, especially as the back is loose. It is held in place by panel pins and made of a very thin compressed material. So if I seal up the cabinet reasonably well, then all the fumes should get pulled out of the ducting that I am going to install, rather than from all the gaps around the edges.
I am thinking that if the only gaps are around the doors, then when the extractor fan is on, air will be drawn into the cabinet around the doors towards the vent, taking any fumes with it. Well, it sounds good to me.