Almost done

Dropped the dog off at the vet for his physical, shots and such, which freed me up to install the kitchen counter top that has the sink in it. Easier to do without the dog trying to crawl in with me. It turned out really nice. Glad I installed the sink before putting countertop on. I found out I had to put pockets in the places the clips attach. I got brave and installed the drains and the faucet as well, so I wouldn't have to fight with it under the sink. I couldn't believe how everything fit perfectly. It was awkward doing it by myself, but I dragged it in and flipped it into place, and, it fit absolutely flawlessly. I was expecting something to be off a bit or otherwise hang. I got it all screwed together. Only thing I don't like on the new faucet is it comes with hoses preattached , and they were too short to reach supply. Like every other plumbing line I have encountered in this house, the supply line leaked a bit by merely touching it, so, I disconnected hard copper lines back to shut off and ran new. After a quick trip to the hardware store, which is only a few blocks away, everything was hooked up and leak free. I love my new kitchen. Still have to seal and install the backsplashes, which are also butcherblock. I also need to install toe kick panel on the base cabinets since I changed configuration around. Should be completely done by next weekend.
I do have a minor rodent problem as I found droppings under the sink. I set some glue traps and snap traps. I am not sure where they are coming in as I had new windows installed and have been around the house looking for any entry points. Everything looks secure. May call exterminator and have them look around and see what I am missing. When I moved in, they had a few spots by windows where something could enter, but I don't see anything now. I never leave the dogs food dish out after he eats, but he is bad for hiding cookies for later. I am going to have to throw those out and keep an eye on him. No food source and the mice should move on.

Back to work tomorrow. Wahhh

I managed to figure out what shape to route the countertops with.  Practiced on a scrap piece until I found a shape that I thought looked good. Got her sanded and the first coat of sealer is curing. Come home tomorrow and sand it and put the last coat on it. It needs to cure 72 hours before use after that, so I will put it in the dining room Tuesday so it can finish hardening and that will clear the sunroom so I can start routing and coating the second one. Went to menards and found the sink and faucet I want. That panel will be the trick one. Cutting the sink opening. The sink I like is really flat. Not sure whether to route the pocket to get the stainless steel perfectly level with the wood. May cut the opening and route the pocket for the sink on the underside. If I like it, I can do the top side. If I don't, no harm done, no one will see the underside once the sink is in. Hand routing it is a bit of a pain. I have a nice table saw with a router attached underneath that would work nice, but it is buried in the shed and would be a pain to haul out to use in the yard and put back when done. I can't wait for my garage to be done so my shed will be strictly wood working. I can get all the garage stuff out of the shed and actually be organized and be able to do anything I feel like doing.

This is the shape I picked to route the edge. Turned out pretty good. Would have been a bit nicer using the fence on the mounted router. I got a couple really small blemishes I sanded out. 

Here is the Harbor freight wood worker tool bench. Got it really cheap at their tent sale a few weeks back. Comes in handy. Vise and the clamp holes in the tabletop held the top still while I was working on it. I will eventually move it to the shed once it is strictly for wood working out there. It is handy to have right outside the kitchen now anyway. 

Turned out nice for the first coat. I like the color of the sealer on the wood. One more coat and she should be ready to move inside. Hope to start the second countertop Tuesday. With everything set, I should be able to knock the second one out and have first coat on it by Tuesday evening. Hopefully I can start to cut the sink opening on the third one on Thursday. I am just hoping that cutting the opening or the sink doesn't separate the individual pieces. may see if I can clamp it to the table squeezing the boards together while I cut the opening. Figure I can use a hole saw at the edges of the opening and then use my circular saw to do the straights. I have a clamp on saw guide that works well for keeping the cut straight. I can get it close with the circular saw and finish the last of the cuts with my jigsaw. Thinking of going with a clear urethane sealer for the sink panel. Figure waterproof is better than food grade safe like the other countertops. Urethane may help bond the boards as well since it has the big opening in it. Hopefully get it all buttoned up by next weekend. 

Depressing. Only one day left of vacation.

It's been nice. I could get use to being home all the time. With pay coming in that is. I got a lot done. I finally got the cat urine smell out of the sunroom after almost a year of treating the concrete and stone walls. It was extremely bad. Previous owners had three cats they kept there. I think they used the floor and walls more often than their cat box. I got the odor down to barely noticeable and put a heavy coat of paint on the floor. It is normal now, finally. I set up a temporary wood working room in there as it is right off the kitchen. I can now finish the counter tops in there and carry them into the kitchen from there. That turned out great. Spent today installing the bathroom sink and vanity. Looks way better than the pedestal sink they had in there. Pedestal sinks are fine, if you run the plumbing for it properly. They didn't. Existing water supply came up from the floor fully visible going to faucet as did the drain. Vanity looks clean, and is a lot bigger giving room to lay out soap dish and such neatly. Vast improvement. It definitely looks better in the bathroom than sitting in the living room waiting to install. Picked it up over a month ago and kept putting it off. Also put a new chain on the chain saw. Cuts wood like butter now. Cut down the rest of the tree in back yard and cut the wood up. Still waiting on the people to come out and remove the three trees I want them to remove. Three months and counting. All the tree cutters down here are back logged. These guys are cheaper than any others, which would explain the wait, but my patience is getting thin. Been waiting since April forth.
Took the Vette out for a ride today and stumbled upon a great car show. Lots of old Mopars from the 70's, some Mustangs and vettes. Even saw an old AMC Javelin. They had it at an old car dealership that closed last year. The owner of the dealership kept the property and already had a car museum on it. He used the other building for the dealership. Once he closed the dealership, he turned it into another portion of the car museum. It is awesome. Has one of the Dukes of hazard cars. The Charger from the fast and furious movie. One of the old Herbie love bugs. There are many cool cars, motorcycles, gas pumps and displays. Hit the food trucks on the way out. Got some really good Chinese food for dinner.

                                        Herbie on top, Fast and Furious Charger underneath

                                 
                                                           Nice old GTO

                                                         Really sweet Bronco

                                        Even found something for the little grand kid

                                          Super clean Mustang. Absolutely gorgeous.

All in all, it's been a great vacation. Going to try and do at least two or the three countertops tomorrow. Have everything set up and one cut to the right length. If the weather is like it was today, it may just be a cruising and relaxing day.

Happy Forth everyone

Nice relaxing week. I always take advantage of the holiday and take a vacation that week. Been keeping busy on vacation. I repainted the floor in the sunroom. I picked up the butcherblock for the countertops. If the heat isn't deadly tomorrow, I will set up my wood working table and gear in the sunroom, which is right off the kitchen, and get the edges finished on the countertops and get at least two of them installed. I have totally disconnected two of the three countertops. One had a stove top in it. Hope to have them installed by weeks end. I have to treat them before installing them, so I can sand between coats. The sink countertop is going to be the hardest of the bunch. I believe I have decided on the sink. Hope to have it started by the weekend. Almost afraid to call the tree people again and see what the latest date estimate is for getting the trees removed. They are cheaper than the rest, but back logged big time.

Picked up a new big screen for the living room. WOW. What a difference a decade makes. Bought a new TV when I moved down here ten years ago. Can't believe the difference in clarity on the modern ones. New one is a smart tv, so I no longer need the roku box. Old TV is on it's last leg. Move it downstairs by the bar and exercise equipment until it dies altogether. May use exercise gear more with some entertainment near by. Right now, the house makes good on the exercise time. Want to get the laundry room floor and walls painted as well while I am off. Trying to knock out the work list. Counter tops will completely finish the kitchen. I want to get the bathroom sink done as well. That will finish the upstairs altogether.