6/27/19
(Above: One of the two pieces of plywood I cut for Wall #5. This is for the east side.)
Building Summary: Today, before the early morning beef check, I set up the front porch of Jacobhouse for cutting plywood. Then, during the ride-around, Padre reminded me that I should fasten on the back of closet-wall all the way before I closed the wall in, so that’s what I tended to first when I returned to the container home. This fastening was originally going to be a simple task, but I soon realized I could make the closet-wall slide a lot better if I used that back piece of plywood to ever-so-slightly bow in the postern sides of slide-out. I did this, but then discovered that the plywood itself needed to be notched out at the slides. So, I unfastened it, notched it, and refastened* it in place.
This activity was ensued by my collecting measurements**, and then marking / clamping / cutting the large plywood pieces for the east and west sides of the closet-wall. I cut the planks down to the proper overall size first, and then I set about drawing the electrical box rectangles, drilling through them, and then using a jigsaw to square them out. The morning was concluded after Padre helped me carry the plywood pieces inside and we saw that both of them would fit in their respective east/west locations.
Commentary: The morning started off in the low 70’s, but as soon as the sun emerged above the eastern tree line at about 9:30 AM, it began to quickly warmup. Having collected all the measurements and having finished finicking with the pull-out closet, I was just beginning to cut the plywood for the east and west sides of the closet-wall (the whole thing, not just the pull-out) right as that heat began to arrive.
One would think that while standing at the front porch of Jacobhouse, I would not be affected by that scorching solar orb due to the fine sail shade up above. That, unfortunately, was not the case. Padre and I chose such a perfectly sized sail shade and centered it so neatly over the porch’s center, that the entire deck is shaded and no more. So, this morning I got to cook out in the sun while the plywood got to sit nice and comfortable beneath the shade. Nice and comfortable minus the cutting, of course.
Taunting sail-shade aside, it really was a productive morning with two enjoyable highlights to relate. The first is that the closet-wall now slides even more smoothly than before. I know I’ve stated similarly in at least one prior post, but each time it has been true. Now, the pull-out closet can be moved completely in and out with the near-effortless motion of a single hand, yet it is not so loose that it will slam shut. The second highlight has already been mentioned: the fact that the two large pieces of plywood I cut today fit into the places where they are bound to be fastened (allowing for some overlap over the furring strips, no overlap on the front, and all while accounting for the electrical light/switch boxes).
Final Note: Tomorrow I plan on fastening today’s plywood pieces in place, but before I do that, I may go about cutting the plywood and 2×4 frame-boards for the north side and sub-shelving area (it’s probably going to be a cupboard). That way, I can be inside the air-conditioned Jacobhouse when the sun really starts to cook.
*For I believe the third time in its existence. First time was the first time, of course, and the second was when I thought I would have to notch the top and bottom of the postern plywood piece to account for a central support beam.
** Both for the overall size and to see where the various switch / light box holes were to be placed.