Nov
2
Written by:
David Strickland
11/2/2007 8:07 AM
Went out shopping a couple days ago for bunk beds and a baby cradle. We weren't sure how much it was going to cost for the beds we needed for the orphanage. After some shopping we finally found a couple different options ranging from 18,000 rs. ($400) to 10,000 rs. ($200) both were more then we really wanted to spend especially when you figure we need 6 of them now and many more in the future. Next shop was the carpenter maybe we could have it made. Well that was better about half the price but still too much.
So finally I decided to build my own. I never realized what a mess that would cause. When I went to by the lumber the prices were unbelievable. 1 1x6 8' long was over $100 at one shop and more at another. I'm sure I just didn't find the right shops and there is doubtless cheaper lumber around but when they quoted me all the lumber I thought I'd need for a baby bed and a bunk bed it was into the thousands. Ok lumber might not be such a good idea. However on the way home I noticed a shop that sold plywood. Checked the prices and figured I could do the baby cradle out of ply so I got 40mm and 2 19 mm pieces had them delivered (a little hard to carry on a motorcycle). Ok next I needed some tools. I had brought a rechargeable skill saw but the charger had burned out the first time I tried to use it in India so I needed a new one. Off to another store to get 1 Skill saw and 1 drill. Ok now nails. Off to a fourth store to get nails.
Yep thats right one shop sells plywood another sells lumber another for nails another for hand tools and yet another for a skill saw and drill. None of the 5 shops sold anything that the others did. I had no choice but to visit 5 different places. (Never thought I would miss Home Depot this much).
Ok it was the middle of the afternoon but I finally I had everything I needed for the baby crib. We decided to wait for now on the bunk beds. One project was enough mess. As I laid out all my materials and started to get to work it seemed everyone wanted to see what the American was doing. I found out it is a very strange thing to do it yourself. One of my friends came over just before I got started. He asked what I was doing. When I told him all he said was “Man you’ll try to do anything” and made a hasty retreat.
I started by ripping the plywood with my new Indian saw. My saw in the US had to have two buttons to get it to engage. One under the thumb and one under the index finger. This saw had a similar setup however I quickly learned that the buttons didn't do what I thought. As I cut thru the first piece the saw jumped and kicked back out of my hand. What I thought was a dual lock to engage the saw I found actually locked the saw in the on position. The saw jumped and spun like a finger hungry top. The saw finally came to rest upside down blade spinning in the air. I shut the thing off and proceeded to make sure everything was still attached. After being satisfied my fingers were all in place. I quickly looked arou7nd to see how many of my neighbors happened to be around for this one. I’m sure it was no end of amusement around several dinner tables that night. I took about a 5 minute break while I worked up the nerve to touch the saw again. Fortunately after I realized what the button was for there was no further incident. Oh side note before someone tells me that I should of read the instructions. It didn’t come with any.
In the end the baby crib came out all right. Still need to paint it. (Store #6) but it should be sufficient. Last night I sat down and planned out the bunk beds for the girls. I think I can make 2 sets of bunk beds out of ply for about $120. Which will make it about $60 per pair or $30 per girl. All in all figure it shouldn’t be to bad. Oh and side note the Indian finger chopper is getting mounted as a table saw. I got my American charger replaced.