Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Things People Throw Out - why? WHY? (This post is otherwise entitled "That's what you get when you're an amateur DIY-er")

Look what I found! She was just

leaning on a lamp-post at the corner of the street
in case a certain little lady comes by,

oh me 

oh my.
 

And boy was I glad I was that little lady who came by....

I checked with the people in the shoplot nearby that she was not wanted, and took her home with me. She had her glass top missing, but I loved those legs!



I found that the only problem as far as repairs is concerned was that the thingies underneath were loose.


See those? Those are screws (even an amateur DIY-er like me knows that!)

Those I can tighten with an ordinary screw-driver.






But see the one in the middle?
Now what the dickens is that?  As far as I know there is no screwdriver that can fit that!

 


















I mentioned this to my husband before he took off to work the next morning.  He muttered something about Allen Keys.

Geez. I didn't know Alicia Keys had a brother. But why would he have anything to do with my table?

Later, I had to message him (my husband, not Allen Keys) for clarifications. Allen keys, he said, were the L-shaped thingies you use to tighten them thingies up there.


Here's Allen Keys. I mean an allen key.


How awesome is finding out something new every day? My friend LSY recently found out what jeggings were. Hee hee hee.
(Do you know?)

So after tightening them all up, off I went to the glass shop to order a piece of glass for the top..15 ringgit (about US$4.50).

I cleaned, gloss-painted, and distressed the table by sandpapering, before wood-staining her.














Unfortunately this is the only photo I have of the finished table!  GAHHH!  I couldn't find the others in my files.  And what's worse, several people were interested in buying her, so I sold her off as I had no place in the house where she would fit.  And I was daft enough to let her go at a really low price! (do.not.ask.)

So this beauty (I shoulda named her, then I wouldn't have sold her so easily, right?) cost me just that, 15 ringgit - since I had everything else on hand.

Including Allen.

Keys, that is.






















11 comments:

  1. Val! If you ever find another gem .. please please ... think of me ...

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  2. Huda....will do. But how would I have it sent over to you?

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  3. I'm amazed at your resourcefulness & knack for bringing old things back to life. Can you do that TO me?
    It sounds like to you sold the table off too cheap. Next time (except when selling to me), sell at a higher price ok!

    xx, pam

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  4. Pam - I know, I got protests by a few ummm...close ones. Amateur alright. You? You're beautiful as you are, nothing to fix there ;)

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  5. You are a sucker for good legs Val. As always , great job . When u buy things from IKEA , you will know what an Allen key is..:)

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  6. Oli - oops, is it that obvious, hahaha!(about the legs)
    And I can't recall buying any furniture from Ikea, just other little stuff...

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  7. The "legs" are really shapely and tempting. This lady knows how to pose for looks. Great job..val

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  8. Wow great job...sad to see ur lovely lady off from your collection....

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  9. Anonymous - haha! Too much!

    Yoon Poh - more coming up!

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  10. Any other shapely "legs" you have in stock for the coming season my dear val. Are you planning to do another table?

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  11. Anonymous - I actually have one in stock but weather is too hot to be working on it outside!

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