Building question

I can no longer build things because of physical
limitations, but I often have some input on plans,
how things are built, safety, etc., while my husband
does the actual building. However, we have run
into a major snag.

He is a minimalist, and I am an extremist. We are
just different. For example, if something is to be
built to support 100 pounds, he will build it so that
it will support Up To 100 pounds, and I would build
it to hold 300. He would use screws, while I would
use bolts with nuts. He will use a screw gun and
just run the screw through, while I would drill the
hole, line it up, and set the bolt and nut, then cover
them so that they are not seen. When using a
bolt and nut, he will tighten them and leave them as
they are, while I will shear the end of the bolt which
extends from the nut off for safety reasons. I think
you have the picture.

The problem:
@ 14 years ago, he built a beautiful, large picnic
table for me of redwood. Two moves later, it now
has unused screw holes, and the other day, as my
son, his wife, and I sat at the table, one seat
collapsed. I told my husband, and he fixed it, but
not before I reminded him that he is a minimalist,
admitting that I am an extremist. I asked him to
go the extra mile and make it strong.

He didn't. I stood on the seat in order to reach
something, and it collapsed. I hit the cement patio
on my tail bone, slammed back and hit my head,
hurting my right elbow and left thumb and
sustaining some abdominal pain. I ended up
spending the afternoon in the hospital for x-rays
and observation. I have a mild concussion and a
mild whiplash, and LOTS of pain. He really is
very sympathetic, can't do enough for me, but . . .

You would think that would impress him, but he
wanted to go out and put in longer screws. EEEK!
We were having company -- six adults to sit at
that table wtih two children. I called off the
company, told him no, and said I would not use the
table again until it was fixed right.

Any advice? I could sure use some.

[ October 12, 2003, 04:53 AM: Message edited by: Abiyah ]

 

Our picnic table looks just like that one. I immedi-
ately noted that they advised a nail down and one
up for the bench. We used screws, but only down,
and they were way too short.

No, I should not have stood on it. The ladder was
there, but because of physical problems, I could
not move the table out of the way and use the
ladder. I learn very slowly too often.

Sheila and Rob have also given me some great
advice. It is going to be taken completely apart
and left to dry out until summer, at which time the
wood will be sealed and most of it bolted with
washers on each end. I think this will work. I do
NOT want to lose my table. It has been wonderful
until now.

 

Yes, and in your circumstances, I'll bet it is a
gift everytime you see it.

 

Hi, John.

Not for this table. I have looked at commercially-
made tables for sale in local stores, and they are
just plain flimsy comparatively. The wood is an
inch thinner, they are tiny, they are usually made of
pine or aluminum, and they would not hold my
family. We've priced these tables, and they
cost about te same as the materials he put into
ours, and they would not have worrked out.

He has agreed to the suggestions Sheila and Rob
gave -- well, almost all of them -- so I am satis-
fied.

He's built other things for me, too -- like our
four-poster bed with stairs up to it -- and we
could not have bought it ready-made for near
the price he paid, plus he has the satisfaction of
having made it. I just plain makes him feel good,
and that is priceless.