Laundry Hamper
There are those projects that sit in the back of your mind when you say “One day, I’ll do……”. This is one of them. And working on this came out of urgency because literally my closet organizer came crashing down at the beginning of this month. So what does one do? Search Pinterest!
As I looked through I found this clever build by frillsanddrills.com. Off to the hardware store I went to pick up all those things I wanted to get this done!
So I will show you pictures of what we had been using for years, and then pictures of the closet crash and what we ultimately ended up with! Please know that as of writing these words right now, the work is not yet done. I am mulling it over and preparing/over preparing and have put it in my calendar and journal. And if you have read anything about how I keep my journals - you know this project is getting done this week!
Hamper Build Day 1: Oh this was a good day! I have purchased what I believe are all the parts for the hamper. I will need primer and paint but I believe I am ready although completely aware that I am procrastinating because I am excited for it to be really good!
I was able to get the 4 sides out of the one 4x4 sheet of plywood! I then started to have the 24" uprights glue to the front sheet of plywood.
Hamper Build Day 2: After it set overnight, I used the angle nailer to set in 5 reinforcements on each side and it counter sank nicely! I now have the backside clamped with one of the 24" uprights and I'll likewise work on angle nailing that for reinforcement. I am not completely convicted about how I will adhere or fasten the ends together, but I am enjoying the process. My goal right now is to have the assembly together today so that I can prime and paint tomorrow. That will include the hinged lid. The lid might hold me back, but I'll experiment as I go and see how things work out. What is nice too is that having only used one sheet of plywood, I have an extra sheet of plywood if I want to make anything else. The plywood sheet was $11.89
As this project unfolds, I am working with what it gives me. I wanted to be careful with the size/space I had. At this point, I used a continuous/piano hinge although I do have other hinges, I wonder if one will create less difficulty in installing. It has grown on its own as I do that so each step is informed from the previous step and I enjoy that. I did not try to rush and do this in one day. I am doing it alongside everything else I am working on and hoping to have it done by the end of the week.
Can I just tell you about my trip to Home Depot? The continuous hinge was 48" but Lloyd helped me in cutting it in half which should be perfect for what I am working on and a second if I want to make another! (I am seeing how this could work work for a smaller hamper/bench for next to my daughter’s closet. Her room is on the small side so this could be fun to give a seat/space saver in there!
9/2/2020-OMG how did this become such a big deal. I attached the lid and the screws came through. I purchased foam to make an upholstered top, I bought too thick of foam. I trimmed the top right corner of molding off the front of the lid and it is wobbly. I just need to wrap this one up and move the heck on b/c it is starting to agitate me, something I was trying to avoid. So later today (because it is 4:17 a.m. right now) I will use my Dremel rotary tool to carve out the trim so it will fit under/next to the window sill and go back to Joann's to exchange the foam and upholster the top so I can move on with the rest of my life! Oy!
Ok - I am done. It did not turn out exactly as I had first envisioned, but I learned a lot! It looks good, it holds dirty laundry, it'll hold our shams at night so Stan, our oldest dog doesn't make it a bed. It will definitely be the source of HamperBuild 1.0 reflections. I am mostly pleased. More importantly, I am calling this one complete.
Give whatever you want to do a try, enjoy the process and the results!