zannej
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I know I've always got tons of projects going on in planning, but this is one that I'm hoping I can do in the not-so-distant future (after I get my bathroom fixed up more).
The guest bathroom will have very limited space and I don't want a tp holder that sticks out too far for people to bump in to. I also don't want water splashing on the tp from the sink. I want to have a recessed tp holder. I do have an old one in the wall, but it's too small for the mega rolls & is in terrible shape. I saw some nice wooden ones but they were over $100. So, I came up with a plan & calculated the cost at much much lower.
Since I couldn't find picture frame wood for framing the front where it fits on the side of the vanity, I got a metal frame close enough to the size I wanted for $1 (hooray for Dollar Tree).
I measured it carefully and measured the mega rolls. They are about 4" wide x 5-1/4" deep. Since I want it to have a little wiggle room & I have trouble seeing the smaller numbers on my measuring tape, I decided to go with 5-1/2" for the depth instead of 5-5/8" (I need some sort of magnifying glass or reading glasses for anything that isn't size 20 font these days). I don't need the sides & back to be as thick as top and bottom (don't really need top to be all that thick but it will make it easier to nail/screw things together if it's thicker.
So, my plan is to take a single 1x6x4' board (which is cheaper than the 1x6x2'). It is just the right width for the 5-1/2" depth for top and bottom. I will use one 1/4"x2'x2' cheap plywood panel for top & sides. I know the 1x is actually 3/4" which works out fine because that is the thickness of the picture frame.
I will make the inside of the box fit to the interior dimensions of the picture frame (exterior is 11-3/8"H x 9-3/8"W less 3/4" for interior measurement of 10-5/8"H x 8-5/8"W). I know this makes it have a lot of extra space inside, but there is a reason. I want it to have a shelf for wet wipes & other stuff.
Since the spring-loaded tp rods vary in length (but usually come out to about 6-1/4" or so) I will need to build it up a little. I picked some cheap plinth blocks with routed edges on bottom and sides. 4-1/2"H x 2-3/4"W x 7/8" deep.
That still leaves a little bit of a gap so my options are to make a custom rod (which would be a total pain) or to built it up a little. So, I think I could do a home-made wooden washer with a hole cutting attachment (I think I have some scraps lying around somewhere that I could use) and drill a bigger hole in the center (maybe even do it like some of the toy wheels where there is a wider depression and then a hole all the way through). If I do that approach, I could use a washer and secure the washer with a hidden screw. If it wasn't almost dark and I wasn't so exhausted, I'd go down to the workshop & look for scraps. I can sand the edges up and make them look pretty. The reason for getting storebought plinths is that they are thicker than any of my scraps & they are already routed & primed so they look nice. I will also use scraps to reinforce the interior walls of the vanity around the hole since it is likely made of particle board. I will use L brackets to on top & bottom to hold the box in place on the inside of the vanity.
So my supply list:
I may use some double-sided sticky tape inside of joints to keep things together while screwing (in between glued spots) and masking tape on the outside to hold things together. I may need to get some more clamps to secure things as well. For the construction, the sides will be glued & screwed to the top and bottom. Back will be glued to sides and glued & screwed to top & bottom.
Any suggestions for specific screws ?
My sketches in Sketchup (not including the spring rod- which I need to get exact measurements of).
The guest bathroom will have very limited space and I don't want a tp holder that sticks out too far for people to bump in to. I also don't want water splashing on the tp from the sink. I want to have a recessed tp holder. I do have an old one in the wall, but it's too small for the mega rolls & is in terrible shape. I saw some nice wooden ones but they were over $100. So, I came up with a plan & calculated the cost at much much lower.
Since I couldn't find picture frame wood for framing the front where it fits on the side of the vanity, I got a metal frame close enough to the size I wanted for $1 (hooray for Dollar Tree).
I measured it carefully and measured the mega rolls. They are about 4" wide x 5-1/4" deep. Since I want it to have a little wiggle room & I have trouble seeing the smaller numbers on my measuring tape, I decided to go with 5-1/2" for the depth instead of 5-5/8" (I need some sort of magnifying glass or reading glasses for anything that isn't size 20 font these days). I don't need the sides & back to be as thick as top and bottom (don't really need top to be all that thick but it will make it easier to nail/screw things together if it's thicker.
So, my plan is to take a single 1x6x4' board (which is cheaper than the 1x6x2'). It is just the right width for the 5-1/2" depth for top and bottom. I will use one 1/4"x2'x2' cheap plywood panel for top & sides. I know the 1x is actually 3/4" which works out fine because that is the thickness of the picture frame.
I will make the inside of the box fit to the interior dimensions of the picture frame (exterior is 11-3/8"H x 9-3/8"W less 3/4" for interior measurement of 10-5/8"H x 8-5/8"W). I know this makes it have a lot of extra space inside, but there is a reason. I want it to have a shelf for wet wipes & other stuff.
Since the spring-loaded tp rods vary in length (but usually come out to about 6-1/4" or so) I will need to build it up a little. I picked some cheap plinth blocks with routed edges on bottom and sides. 4-1/2"H x 2-3/4"W x 7/8" deep.
That still leaves a little bit of a gap so my options are to make a custom rod (which would be a total pain) or to built it up a little. So, I think I could do a home-made wooden washer with a hole cutting attachment (I think I have some scraps lying around somewhere that I could use) and drill a bigger hole in the center (maybe even do it like some of the toy wheels where there is a wider depression and then a hole all the way through). If I do that approach, I could use a washer and secure the washer with a hidden screw. If it wasn't almost dark and I wasn't so exhausted, I'd go down to the workshop & look for scraps. I can sand the edges up and make them look pretty. The reason for getting storebought plinths is that they are thicker than any of my scraps & they are already routed & primed so they look nice. I will also use scraps to reinforce the interior walls of the vanity around the hole since it is likely made of particle board. I will use L brackets to on top & bottom to hold the box in place on the inside of the vanity.
So my supply list:
- One 1"x6"x4' pine board $6.50
- One 1/4"x2'x2' sanded plywood $4.39
- Two EverTrue 2-3/4"x4-1/2"x7/8" Oak Wood Plinth $1.98 ea
- Two 2mm L-Brackets $9.99 for 10 (using for another project as well)
- Titebond Wood Glue $2.98
- Wood screws (need to determine best type & size) $?
- Primer (which I need for other projects)
- Paint (think I might have some already- if not, I need some for another project as well)
- 100% silicone caulk (already have some)
- Sandpaper in various grits (already have some)
I may use some double-sided sticky tape inside of joints to keep things together while screwing (in between glued spots) and masking tape on the outside to hold things together. I may need to get some more clamps to secure things as well. For the construction, the sides will be glued & screwed to the top and bottom. Back will be glued to sides and glued & screwed to top & bottom.
Any suggestions for specific screws ?
My sketches in Sketchup (not including the spring rod- which I need to get exact measurements of).
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