My first project

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TeshCB

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16 Jun 2019
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Location
London, UK
Hi

Please suggest how to finish my post box cover. I would like to make it look nice as possible.

I still need to sand it.

Thanks.
 

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If you are going to paint it, use a nail punch to push the nail heads below the surface and fill the little holes they leave before sanding it all. Undercoat and some gloss paint to suit your colour scheme.

Will you need to undo the screws for access to something?
 
I cant work out what youre making, or what you want it to end up looking like. More info and a better picture would help us to help you.
 
Its a letter box cover Bob. :D
Box for collecting post on the back of the front door. The photo is at 90 deg. If you click it it's more obvious. How hot is it over there ATM?!? :shock:
I'd echo what StanleyMonkey said.
You have to sort those screw heads out unless you need access? I'm guessing you're not planning on unscrewing the top each day?!?
Not sure what tools you have but if you are brand new to any tools and have a bare minimum and have driven them in by hand with no drill and can't get them in any further, you can pick up old stanley hand drills cheap at all sorts of places. On ebay there are several going for a few quid.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/stanley-hand-drill Boot sales can be even cheaper.
There are lots of makes and so on but this will get you started and never run out of battery... Good quality tools, buy the old Stanley ones not modern new ones. Don't ask.
Get a countersink bit. The first one in the link below. This will let you drop the screw head below the surface
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3pc-1-4-8mm- ... SwnBZbf6j0
You're off for less than a tenner with two tools you can use for life.
You can punch the nail heads in with an upside down nail and hammer if needed to start out.
One good tip here is that some fillers and non oil based paints won't stick to metal. So it's worth buying a small dirt cheap tin of gloss. A sample from a paint shop or Homebase etc. If you don't have an old half empty tin lying about a good source is Humbrol model paints if you want a small amount new at low cost. Tiny tins. Varnish will do if you have a bit spare.
For filler, if it's on the back of the door (hard to see) that's going to see a bit of dynamic stress and impact I'd use a two part filler. If it's on a wall pollyfilla powder type will be fine and a lot easier to mix and apply. (Add the powder to the water :wink: ).
The only finish for this is paint to be honest. Any type of stain or varnish is not going to work. That's fine, it will look great for a first project IF you take the time and care to address the issues in the preparation stages. If you tosh a bit of paint on now and you're happy with the result good luck too. It's your house, your approach but I bet you won't be doing this in 2 years as a hobby if that's your inclination.
Your choice on the paint finish. A matt finish will gently quieten any production flaws, a gloss will be harder wearing but unforgiving.
Well done Tesh. Good start mate. =D>
Good stuff.
Cheers,
Chris
 
god i hate pictures taken on mobile phones, pretty soon I'll have to buy a vertical turntable for the laptop so i can rotate it to see all the pictures.

It B****Y hot here mate, We're breaking all records this year, 300% of the average rainfall for june and it aint even over yet! But this last week its 40 plus, which is not always obtained in august. Dont talk to me about global warming.

But anyways, back to the main story; I'm still confused. Assuming its on the inside of the door, and taking into account the picture is buttocks upwards, how you going to get the mail out of it? Any chance of zooming out a bit on the next pic?
Is it not simpler to buy a wire mesh cage like wots been made since I were a nipper?
I still need more info., maybe the heat is slowing my brain down.
 
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Sorry about the picture, I thought I could only add one. Then I realized what a nuppty I am.

Thank you guys very much for your recommendations. I will try them out, I think the issue was that I rushed this task. Watching YT videos, the guys and gals make it look so easy. More practice required, onward and upward.
 

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=D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>
NOW it makes sense. pictures and info works every time.
Although thats weird having the letter box through the wall next to the door.

Just a suggestion, but with a little bit more work, why not have it sliding out entire, rather than having to get down on your knees and ferret around in the dark to see if you have any?
Then you could lose that little fairy door and have the whole rear hinged once its slid out into the hall.
 
Skills my dear SunnyBob, skills and time. Sliding unit will require a better plan and not a hack. I had to chop and add many things after my initial creation.
 
I'm just going to come right out and say it, TeshCB. That construction doesn't deserve a finish. Finishes have the annoying habit of showing up flaws, rather than hiding them. Great that you've had a go and tackled your first woodworking project. More power to your elbow. But I'll bet that if you were to build another one taking on board all the lessons you learned from this one that you'd have something altogether better, and maybe even something worthy of having a finish applied. Treat this first one as a template or model for the permanent one, take it to bits and save the wood for another project, and let's see the photos of the Mark II version..........
 
Skill is acquired by practice. :lol:
Practice means you throw away the practice pieces for the first few months.
as mike says, thats a "plan A" type of item. You will very soon get fed up with looking at it and want to do better. Save the finishing costs untill your practice pieces get better. =D>
 
Updated photos.
 

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Mark II is looking much slicker mate1

Does the box sit loosely in the gap and you pull it out if you need more access?

I only ask because if it stays there - you can use something called quadrant moulding. It's essentially a cylinder split in half and then half again. Look at the end and you'll see a quarter circle. It's great for fixing along a wood to wall join and covering any gap where the wall is uneven.

You had another post about getting hold of materials. I couldn't reply to the thread for some reason.

Have you used Freecycle? It's far from perfect - but every now and then you get a good offer of wood from a garage clearout when someone is moving. Quite regularly you get old bookcases offered that are solid wood and quite useable.
 
Thank you very much. There is a slight gap due to the post entrance and the skirting. Thanks muchly for the tips, I will surely check this all out. I did go on Freecycle and there was an offer to take doors. However the lady lived on her own and to be honest, how things are in London I am not keen in visiting a house alone especially if I need to enter the house. Thats just me.
 
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