Family of Six Sells House - Moves into RV - Goes Debt Free

Where do you start a story like this?  Do you start it from when the house sells?

That's not truly where the journey began though.  Starting it there would be cutting the journey and the story short.

Sometimes the most interesting tidbits of anything worth telling happen before anything begins.

It begins as a seed.  Like all seeds, it is small.

You can ignore it...

for a time.

Soon it begins to grow.  It spreads its roots in your heart; your spirit.  You find more of your thoughts consumed by it.  

You go to work and throw yourself into the thing that once brought you fulfillment.

It no longer does.

Before you know it your YouTube home page is full of recommendations that just a few weeks earlier you wouldn't have even known anyone did videos on those subjects.

So where did we start?

Perhaps a better question would be "When?"

3 years ago.

In order to live in an RV you have to consider how you will get said RV from place to place.  I knew the first step in making our seed that had grown into a dream, a reality, was to get a truck that was up to the task.

The second was the RV itself.

Which one is the best?  Is this brand better?  What model makes sense for us?  Floorplans?  How about weight?  

A lot of information to consider for sure.  In future posts I will address and go into depth all of these questions and more.  Be sure to subscribe to our newsfeed and/or subscribe to my YouTube channel so you won't miss anything.

What was next?

We needed to sell our house.  I still needed to fix up a few things that had been hanging out on the "To Do" list.  

1.  Replace kitchen countertops.  I did a YouTube video showing my replacement of ours.  I had always liked the look of wooden countertops.  So I took this opportunity to put in some butcher block ones that I had my eye on for some time.

2.  Reface kitchen cabinets.  Our cabinets were made of MDF and covered with melamine.  They were probably built by the lowest bidder when the house was built.  I kept the carcasses as they were structurally sound but the doors had to go.  I decided to rebuild those myself.  You can check out my video on that project here.

3.  Put up a screen enclosure for the back lanai.  I decided not to take the time to record this project as I just needed to get it done.  I used aluminum extrusions instead of wood for the framing.  It cost more for the materials but I figured the look would be more traditional for the area the house was in.  It took two days and cost around $1000. 

Their were other small projects and repairs as well.  Home ownership is a constant barrage of things that need to be done.

As much as I tried to stay up with it, working a full time job and raising four young children is time consuming enough.  I was always a few tasks behind the proverbial eight ball.

So I took a few weeks off work.  That's right I said a few weeks.

The fact I had so much saved up was a testament to how fast life passes.  Before we realized it, years had passed since our last vacation.

I was still grappling with weather to buy the RV before or after listing the house.  If I went a step further and waited till after selling I could pay cash for the RV.  However, that left my wife and children in limbo until we could find one and take delivery.

In order to buy one before we sold I would have to do a loan and that felt contrary to what we were trying to do in the first place.

Be debt free.

I was beginning to get overwhelmed.

Once we listed the house for sale the game was on.  Their were showings.  After showings came the questions from real estate agents and those they represented.  Everybody wanted the most house for the least amount of money.  

All we wanted was whoever was willing to pay the most money and be the least hassle while doing it.

 

 

 

 

In upcoming posts I will go in depth each step along our journey.  From finding the right tow vehicle to finding an RV that made sense and worked for our family to figuring out where to stay and getting the best rates at RV parks.

If this is your first time here be sure to subscribe to our website newsletter.  We'll send you an email whenever a new post is added.  Also head over to YouTube channel and subscribe there as well.  Be sure to hit the bell notification so you don't miss the journey to our new homestead.

Until then be well and stay safe.

 

0

DIY Egg Storage - Fresh Fom the Farm

Today we're discussing the topic of egg storage.

What do you do in your home? How do you store your purchased eggs or ones provided from your own laying flock?

Do you store them at room temperature or place them in a refrigerator?

You see, there's a fair amount of opinions out there on how to properly store eggs after they have been laid by a hen. The question is this:

Should eggs be kept in a refrigerator or not?

There are differing opinions on egg safety , and there's a lot of information available on the internet as to the pro's and con's of  what the proper method is to store them and I urge you to check into what is best for you and your family.

In the meantime I'd like to share with you what we do with our eggs.

We have backyard chickens and we have lots of fresh eggs arriving daily. Oftentimes they are gathered and sit awaiting further attention such as a quick wash or clean.

Here's a sample of a day or so of laying. We've got both white and brown egg layers in our flock. They've just been gathered by our little helpers and are on their way inside.

Once inside, we keep them in this basket on our counter top.

They'll get inspected and washed by mom and dad. Sometimes even get used right away! You know what they say - farm fresh!

Later, they'll go into a regular egg carton which is kept in our refrigerator.

Not interested in using a basket or carton for your egg storage?  Here is another storage solution to put your eggs on display. Colored Easter eggs in this cabinet look especially inviting.

DIY Egg Storage:

Final Thoughts

Our inspiration piece today was shared by Robs Woodshop. Check out Rob's YouTube channel and while there don't forget to like and subscribe.

If you enjoyed this project, then here's another one you might be interested in as well.  Check it out here!

Display Beer and Wine:

Until then!

1

DIY Bathroom Countertop Organizer

There are so many spots for clutter to hide in your bathroom. Especially if you're sharing your bath space with another family member.

The supplies can really add up.

Some of us keep our supplies strewn all over the top of the counter while others are a little more diligent about putting away items.


Here's a great way to keep supplies tidy but yet still easily available and at your fingertips. There are spots for some wide mouth mason jars to hold items such as cotton balls, toothbrushes, and q tips.

In our home, toothbrushes are the must have items we keep out because we want them in our reach.

This attractive DIY organization unit, is a great way to keep everything in it's place.

Beginning DIY'ers will love this build.  Minimal experience needed along with supplies and time.

Win, win!

DIY Bathroom Countertop Organization:

Materials 

Choice of Stain

5" bark edge boards

Mason Jars

Rustic Pine box cut to your dimensions

Polyurethane (optional)

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Final Thoughts:

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Walnut Hollow" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from them

Intimidated about building the pine box on your own? Not to worry. You can visit www.walnuthollowcrafts.com to purchase their rustic wood ledge which they have for sale.

Until then!

0

DIY Simple Wooden Toy Boat

In our home we have several well constructed wooden toys. A favorite is this Melissa and Doug brand car carrier truck. It was given to our son as a gift several years ago and is still played with often.

It has four cars and at the time this photo was taken, only the red and green ones were accounted for. (By the way, usually there are four colorful cars that ride on this trailer lift!)

Also pictured in the background are wooden peg puzzles. They as well have years on them but are still played with frequently and even after four children all of the pieces are still accounted for.

Both puzzles and wooden toys are a must in every family with children. Putting together puzzles ignites math and other problem solving skills in young explorers and free play with wooden toys such as the car carrier that moves up and down encourages motor skills and imagination.

Not to mention that the toys are durable and outlast many plastic toys that are so often thrown away within months of buying them.

However, wooden toys when purchased in a store can run some money.

So when Joe from Joe's Basementwoodworking YouTube channel featured this toy boat project, I knew it was a home run project.  Not just because it was simple, but because it was also easy on the wallet.

DIY Simple Wooden Toy Boat:

Materials

Choice of Stain

Polyurethane

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Scrap wood

Table saw

Thickness Planer (optional)

Bandsaw (optional)

Final Thoughts

An added bonus is that you can customize your boat based on what you've got available in your scrap bin. If you wanted to go the dowel route, you could further customize this project to break into pieces so your child could take it apart and put it back together again.

Don't forget to check out Joe Basementwoodworking YouTube channel to check out even more great project ideas from Joe. Don't forget to subscribe!

Until then!

3

DIY Cutting Board

Growing up, I knew someone whose grandfather had been a butcher. In their home, there was an island in the center of the kitchen. This island was actually his Grandfather's antique butcher block top and it was still in use.

It was definitely used for more purposes than cutting food because in that old farmhouse, it was even an extra counter work space to prepare food.

Meanwhile, back at our home, all we had was one or two old wooden cutting boards. They had deep cut marks and were getting on in years.

Years later, those two well worn boards were pitched for plastic when plastic boards came into style. Our "new" plastic boards were fine until they also showed signs of cut marks.

I'm not into ingesting plastic, are you?

Again I found myself harkening back to those two wooden cutting boards and wondering why I'd parted with them.

Fast forward to today and those plastic boards are gone and we're back to using wood again. This time the boards are hardwood and so much better to work with.

If it's time in your home to update or replace those old cutting boards, be sure to ditch the plastic and get busy one weekend making your own DIY cutting boards.

These ones by Jeff caught my eye because I'm a fan of the mixed materials look. He used a mix of walnut, maple, and bubinga but be sure to go with what you've got available in your local area.

DIY Cutting Board:

Materials

Walnut, maple, and bubinga (or your choice of wood selections)

Wood Glue (Titebond 2)

Table Saw

Thickness Planer

Various Size Clamps

Orbit Sander

Router

Gloves and mask

Salad Bowl Finish

Final Thoughts

Working with the salad bowl finish means taking your time with several application coats and also sanding to achieve a great end result. Wear a mask to protect against any fumes and also use gloves to help with any stickiness.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Home Built Workshop" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from Jeff. Don't forget to subscribe.

If you liked Jeff's project shared today, be sure to check out another simple and easy creation by Jeff here:

Until then!

0

DIY Wooden Soap Mold

There are a lot of good reasons to make your own homemade soap.

1.  It's as natural as you want it to be.  The mass produced commercial stuff that you get at a store has all sorts of chemicals and harsh cleansers.  Chemical cocktails you might say. 

Some of them dehydrate the skin which ages it. 

They can cause allergic reactions and have been linked to certain forms of cancer.  (Correlation does not prove causation but it's enough to make me take notice.)

2.  Typically handmade soap is made of oils and/or butters that contain antioxidants and vitamins that may be absorbed by the skin helping to keep it healthy.

3.  Some people report that the use of home made soap has relieved them of itchiness, dryness and skin conditions such as excema, psoriasis and acne.

4.  Infinite number of recipes.  (Well, not infinite, but you get the drift.)  You can tailor what recipe you use based on what your skins needs are at the time.  If they change, then you can simply change the ingredients you use.

I could go on but reading about an arm's length list of benefits gets boring for some so...

On with today's project.

DIY Small Activity Caddy

Materials

1 - 1x6

NOTE: All board lengths are 8' long and 3/4" thick unless otherwise noted.

Choice of Stain

Polyurethane

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Cut List

2 Sides @ 4" x 16.5" or 102mm x 419mm

1 Bottom @ 4-1/8" x 16.5" or 108mm x 419mm

2 End Pieces @ 4-1/8" x 2.25" or 108mm x 57mm

Cutting Diagrams

1x6

Step 1

The bottom piece is cut to length on the miter saw and ripped to width on the table saw.

Then measure 1.5" or 38mm in from each end and route a dado for both end pieces.

Step 2

Cut the end pieces to length and width in the same manner as the bottom.

Make sure they are snug in their dadoes.

Step 3

The sides are the pieces that we will spend a majority of our time on. 

First, measure 1.5" in from each end and route corresponding dadoes as shown.

Second, measure up from the bottom 1" and route a dado the length of the board.

Now mark an X from one corner of the board to the corner the dadoes made and vise versa.  That will give a center point to drill a hole for the hardware.

Step 4

The hardware used is a 5" or 5.5" one quarter inch bolt with a flat washer and wing nut.  All of which will be available at any home improvement store.

Final Thoughts

Lining a wooden soap mold before use is essential to being able to get your soap out of the mold in one piece.  We use parchment paper to line our molds but if you are making a lot of soap then that may get expensive.

You can also use a plastic bag if you don't mind a few minor creases on the sides and bottom of your soap.

When it is time to take the soap out of the mold simply unscrew the wingnuts and pull the sides away.

Once the project is dry it can come out of the clamps and be sanded down.  A few coats of your choice of stain along with a few more coats of a project sealer such as some polyurethane will complete this awesome gift giving idea.

I hope you enjoyed our 12th Day of 12 DIY Christmas Gift ideas and the complete series.

Don't forget to check us out on Facebook and Youtube for more great simple and easy DIY projects.

Until then!

1

DIY Wooden Beer Tote

I am a huge NFL Football fan.  I mean I love the Kansas City Chiefs but I will watch just about any NFL game anytime.

Lazy Sunday afternoons you can just leave me alone.  I'll be cracking open a cold one and licking Doritos cheese off my fingers.

No need to make lunch or dinner.

The only thing I need is to be able to tote around a few brewskies.

DIY  Wooden Beer Tote

Materials

1 - 1x2 (1/4" or 5mm Thick)

1 - 1x4

NOTE: All board lengths are 8' long and 3/4" thick unless otherwise noted.

Choice of Stain

Polyurethane

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Cut List

4 Side Pieces @ 3.5" x 12"

4 Slats @ 1/4" x 1.5" x 11"

2 Bottom Pieces @ 3.5" x 10"

 

1 Dowel Rod @ 11"

Cutting Diagrams

1/4" Thick 1x2

 1x4

Step 1

The sides of our beer tote are two 1x4s cut to the length listed in the cut list edge glued together.

NOTE:  Good practice to get into when edge gluing boards is too cut them slightly longer than needed.  This will allow you to trim the project board to size after it comes out of the clamps.

Measure 2" in from both sides.  Then measure 5" down from what will be the top of the tote.  Mark a line to connect the dots and cut the angles on both sides.

Then about an inch down from the top and centered on the board drill a 1" hole with a forstner bit.

Finally route a 3/4" rabbet along the bottom edge of both sides.

Step 2

The bottom is an edge glued project panel as well.  Again you will have to trim to final size.

Then glue the bottom into the rabbets that you routed in step one.  A few right angle clamps will help keep the sides perpendicular to the bottom while drying.

Step 3

The materials list above calls for a 1/4" thick 1x2 project board.  You can purchase those in shorter increments than 8' at most home improvement stores to save some money and reduce waste.

However, you can also just take a 2x4 and rip a few 1/4" thick strips on the table saw.  This will save even more money.

Win, win.

Glue and clamp them along each edge of the sides.  I have them 2" apart in the photo below.

Glue should be ok by itself in this instance but you could also tack the slats in place with a few 5/8" brads if you feel like it. 

Dowels are another option to go with if you don't like the thought of marks being left by the brad nails.

Step 4

A one inch dowel rod can be cut to length and glued in place for a handle.

Alternatively you could omit the dowel rod and just attach a 2" piece across the top for the handle.

If you round over the edges it should be just fine.  It's all about what you are comfortable with.

Final Thoughts

Once the project is dry it can come out of the clamps and be sanded down.  A few coats of your choice of stain along with a few more coats of a project sealer such as some polyurethane will complete this awesome gift giving idea.

I hope you enjoyed our 10th Day of 12 DIY Christmas Gift ideas.

Don't forget to stop by again tomorrow for another great project to help you with your gift giving dilemma's.


Until then!

0

DIY Tortilla Press

Taco night...ho hum!

However, say you're making homemade tortillas and I'm all in.

Fresh corn tortillas, where have you been my whole life?  I love that chewy texture with the slightly crispy edge.  Yum yum.

In fact, any bread that needs to be squashed flat such as, flat-bread or Naan can be made with today's project.

DIY Tortilla Press

Materials

2 - 1x4s

NOTE: All board lengths are 8' long and 3/4" thick unless otherwise noted.

Food Safe Butcher Block Oil

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Cut List

2 Bottom Runners @ 2" x 12" or 50mm x 305mm

1 Short Bottom Runner @ 2" x 6.5" or 50mm x 165mm

1 Wooden Hinge Piece @ 2" x 4.25" or 50mm x 108mm

1 Wooden Handle Piece @ 2" x 12.75" 50mm x 324mm

8 Top & Bottom Base Pieces @ 3.5" x 12" or 88.9mm x 305mm

Cutting Diagrams

1x4s

Step 1

The bottom base of the press is 12" by 12".  I would add 1" to the top & bottom base piece measurements listed above and edge glue four of them together.  That would give us a glue up that would measure 13" x 14".

From that glue up you can trim down to the 12" x 12" piece needed.  You will need two of them.  One to serve as the top and one as the bottom.

NOTE:  I would ensure that the glue lines run parallel with the tortilla press's handle. 

You can also round over 3 of the edges at this point as well if desired.

Along the underside measure in 1.5" from both sides and glue the bottom runners in place.

The shorter runner should be centered on the underside of the board.

Step 2

The hinge piece will require some forethought before beginning.

First, measure down from what will be the top 1".  Mark a cross mark at that location and drill for a 1/4" or 3/8" dowel.  3/8" would be more sturdy.

Then cut out the section that the handle will set in with a hand saw.  Take your time and be very precise here.

Glue the hinge in place on the middle runner as pictured below.

Drill and set four 1/4" dowels to strengthen the connection.  The hinge piece will be undergoing a lot of stress so use hardwood dowels and set 2 into the bottom runner and 2 into the bottom base.

NOTE:  I thought about making the hinge piece 1-1/2" thick instead of 3/4".  Quarter inch dowels would still be used to attach it to the runner but a larger diameter dowel could then be used to attach the handle.  Just measure the center 1" down and you're good to go.  A metal pin would also be an option instead of a wooden dowel.  Keep in mind the lion's share of forces will be transferred through the hinge/handle location.

Step 3

The location of the corresponding dowel hole can be found by measuring in from the back 3/8".  Then down from the top 1".

The cut out on the forward portion of the handle should be slightly more than finger or knuckle depth.  In my case that would be 7/8".

Then take it back 5" to 7" or so.  This part is not so critical to functionality as it is to personal preference.

Step 4

Fit the handle in place between the hinge forks and tap the dowel in place.  (Do not glue).

Step 5

Glue in place a small 1/4" x 1/4" piece that measures at least 3/4" long.  This is to allow the handle to apply additional pressure tot he press if needed.

Final Thoughts

I can sum this project up in three words.  Hardwood, hardwood, hardwood.

Use hardwood species at every turn and in every spot.  Do not cheap out.  Soft woods just will not hold up over the long term with the repeated stresses.

Do not apply polyurethane and do not stain the project.

Use a mineral oil or better yet a butcher block oil and reapply often.  The use of wax paper will not only aid clean up but also help extend the lifespan of your new tortilla press.

Do not submerge in water when cleaning and wipe using a damp cloth only.  Detergents such as dish soap will strip the oils from the project.

That could allow excess water to be absorbed by the press causing expansion followed by contraction when that water evaporates.  This in turn could cause checking and cracking.  (Ever see a wooden cutting board split down the middle?)  We don't want that.

I hope you enjoyed our 7th Day of 12 DIY Christmas Gift ideas.

Don't forget to stop by again tomorrow for another great project to help you with your gift giving dilemma's.


Until then!

0

DIY Rustic Christmas Tree Base

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 26

This is the twenty sixth of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!

In the early 1800's in America, no one had even heard of these things called Christmas trees.
That 's because Germany started the custom in the 16th century. It didn't make it across the pond until the mid to late 1800's.

Queen Victoria was shown in 1846 with a Christmas tree in her home.

Why did she have a Christmas tree?

Because her husband was German.

These days not everyone has a real tree in their home. We are one of them. Our choice is to go with a a 7 1/2 foot pre-lit Virginia pine artificial tree that was purchased several years ago.

It doesn't have a special Christmas Tree base other than the supports that it came with.

We've been thinking about doing something a bit more stylish. Chris from CMR Woodworks has a pretty good idea. He created a custom base that fills it out and makes the tree look fuller....

or is that less filling?

  DIY Rustic Christmas Tree Stand:

 

Wood Glue

Pallet Wood or other scrap
plus 2x4 for crate support.

Table Saw

Random Orbit Sander

Various grit Sandpaper

Finish Nailer

Final Thoughts

To make the rustic stand fit your specific tree, first measure around the bottom. Add a couple of inches, then make your cuts. The height of your base will depend on how tall your tree is so measure from the bottom of your tree to the floor.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "CMR Woodworks" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from Chris. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!

0

DIY Twisted Christmas Tree

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 25

This is the twenty fifth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!

Shane Conlan over at DIY for Knuckleheads likes working through his pile of scrap wood and doesn't miss a beat to have a chance to put something in his pile to good use. Plus, he has so much fun doing so.

Watching him put together his scrap wood Christmas tree brought to mind something that I've been pondering lately.

So often we head to the attic and lift out the artificial tree and begin to decorate it with several boxes of ornaments that we also had to haul out. There's manual labor and effort to get this stuff out of storage.

Or, if you're the "real tree" type of family, there's the effort expended to go purchase one, somehow transport it home, and then wrangle it into the Christmas tree stand.

Did I also mention that you're running around with the vacuum cleaner almost daily trying to stay on top of the needles?

That wears me out just thinking about it.

Consider creating and giving away this lightweight table top version of a Christmas tree.

DIY Pallet Wood Christmas Tree:

 

Satin Varnish

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Pallet Wood or other scrap

Circular Saw

Random Orbit Sander

Various grit Sandpaper

Pin Nailer

Drill

Threaded Metal Rod

Red Spray Paint (Optional)

Santa Hat (Optional!)

Final Thoughts

I'm envisioning a small strand of white lights and some home made pinecone ornaments made by the kids or grandkids and this tree is good to go.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "DIY For Knuckleheads" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from Shane. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!

0

DIY Turkey Made From Pallet Wood

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 23

This is the twenty third post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects. It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Simply Easy DIY!

Our neighbors really do a great job of decorating the exterior of their homes for both Halloween and Christmas. But, when it comes to Thanksgiving - it's the holiday that is sandwiched in between and gets skipped over, at least in our neighborhood.

To be fair, I've seen some folks attempt decorating with pumpkins, thanksgiving themed flags, and scarecrows.

Sadly, a pumpkin lasts several days here in Florida before it goes rotten. A carved pumpkin lasts maybe a day.

We need something more durable and lasting. Especially something that can take heat and moisture. If you've got pallets and a band saw, why not try your hand at one of these:

Build This Wooden Turkey:

Tools & Materials Wood Glue  Table Saw Pallet Wood or other scrap Band Saw Random Orbit Sander Small Clamps Med to Large Clamps Drill

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Adam Gabbert" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking projects from him. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!

1

DIY Tiki Torch

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 21

This is the twenty first post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects. It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Simply Easy DIY!

Here in Florida we need bug repellent because we've got a lot of bugs.  Especially Mosquitoes and no-see-um's. But wait...there's more. We've also got various biting flies, ants, and spiders that all love our property since we back up to a canal with standing water.

Sometimes it just seems you can't go outside without being eaten alive.

But, these tiki torches go a long way in helping curb the bite attacks. This is really important to us because we have a family member who is prone to allergic reactions.

We've bought bamboo tiki torches from a certain big box store. They stand about 5 feet tall and the idea is that you stake them into the ground and light a canister that is on the top.

Overall this is a good idea but unfortunately, if you've got sandy soil like we've got, they often fall over pretty easily.  Young children also have to be kept away to prevent injury.

So, when my wife saw Mitch build his own customized torches with deep metal stakes she added the project to my honeydew list.  A refillable mason jar was an added bonus because we've got a lot of them around from canning.

I'm sure we've got an old canning jar that can be re purposed.

Oh, did I also mention that he did his own Shou Sugi Ban wood burn technique on this?  I recently built a project using this same technique as well.

For more information on the Shou Sugi Ban wood burning technique, check out my post on the DIY Wine Rack where I tried my hand at this technique. It turned out great!

DIY Tiki Torch

Tools & Materials Wood Burning Torch Spar Urethane (indoor/outdoor) Wood Glue  Miter Saw Pallet Wood and 2x4 Epoxy Circular Saw Random Orbit Sander Various grit Sandpaper Router  Tiki Torch Fuel Hose to Pipe thread Metal Spike (to hold the torch in the ground) Quart Mason Jar   Table Saw Band Saw Drill Tiki Torch Wicks Paracord (optional)

Final Thoughts

Common sense tip of the day:

When using wood burning equipment you should exercise extreme caution because you'll be working with fire and fuel and injury may result. Additionally, when using a tiki torch, whether your own DIY version or one purchased from the store, be sure to always practice safe precautions to prevent injury. Always follow manufacturer's safety instructions and all that blah, blah, blah.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Mitch Deitrich" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from him. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!

0

DIY Rustic Toybox

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 19

This is the ninteenth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects. It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Simply Easy DIY!

When we had our first child, we spent a fair amount of money on a toybox from an online store. It wasn't cheap but it had the design that my wife wanted.

It's served us well over all these years and even has been passed down from one child to the next.

It's got friction supports and a cut out area where little fingers can't get pinched.

No one has yet ever been hurt by our toybox:

This makes us really happy considering it has served us as more than a toybox. So what else does it do you ask?

Well, it's been a "desk", it's been a "doll table", and it's been the base of a slide.

Note - The latter usage was not sanctioned by parents. Our kids sure do have imagination.

Throughout all of these activities, it's still going strong. I think part of it's strength is that it is made of wood and as such is much more durable than something with plastic components.

Having an all wooden toybox is something I'd definitely recommend. But, I wouldn't recommend the added designs since it limits their interest once they hit a certain age. So try a toy box that is less "animated" if you will.

An all wooden one such the this one that Jeff built will serve as a storage unit through teenage years and beyond.

DIY Rustic toybox:

Tools & Materials Choice of Stain Polyurethane Wood Glue  Table Saw Pallet Wood or other scrap Circular Saw Random Orbit Sander Various grit Sandpaper Pocket hole jig Drill Various clamps Jig Saw Piano Hinge  Friction supports

Final Thoughts

This toybox was made from an actual crate. Jeff shares that he watched it fall off a truck, the man got out , pushed it out of the road, then drove away. It was destined to be Jeff's.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Home Built Workshop" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from Jeff. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!

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DIY Rustic Farmhouse Coat Rack with Shelf

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 18

This is the eighteenth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects. It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Simply Easy DIY!

Some families have a need to store things in the main entrance way into their home or kitchen. The same goes for our family.

We needed a place to hang coats and handbags. Mainly handbags in order to keep little hands from going through them.

Our system that we use is this shaker peg rack:

I built these a few years back and they have worked out well.

You won't see coats on these since we don't use those in our climate. We do however, find we can hang umbrellas and bags in place of coats.

They are functional and attractive. 

However, they'd be even more functional if we expanded them to utilize more upward space. For example, this storage unit built by Stephan over at "Bear Woodwork" offers additional cubby space with a shelf.

Before this he had another much simpler system set up in this space but it wasn't working for his family.

So he went larger...

Palletwood coat rack:

Tools & Materials Choice of Stain (he used Satin Walnut) Polyurethane Wood Glue  Table Saw Pallet Wood or other scrap Various size clamps including frame clamp Random Orbit Sander Various grit Sandpaper Hand Planer (optional) MDF Choice of coat hooks Chalkboard paint Drill Router table

Final Thoughts

 Stephen did such a good job it's hard to tell it came from pallet wood:

The blackboard is high enough that mom and dad can write on it, but little hands can't erase.


Interestingly enough, he didn't have a table saw to use for this build so you'll see him using his band saw.

Either one would work.

Plus he used a hand plane to clean up the pallet wood.  Personally I happen to have a thickness planer at my disposal and if you have one, that may be the easiest way to go.




The back board was attached with dowels to add stability.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "BearWoodWork" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from him. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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