Gate completed

All done with the gate. I did my best meet my goals. It took just about all afternoon, but I am pleased with the result. I tried to be fully immersed and deliberate in each and every task. Mindfulness and thoughtfulness. There were some preexisting faults with the frame, which I had to live with. While I could have rebuilt from scratch to rectify this, reusing as much of the old gate as possible was an important feature of the build. If there is ever a good excuse to sacrifice quality it is for the sake of lessening our impact on the planet. Using our ingenuity to fully exploit the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) is a noble pursuit. 

Work area clean, and tools readied

Old gate off and ready for modifications

New cross brace, now in correct (opposite) orientation.  I was going to reuse the old one,
but it ended up being too short.

All done! (except for the stain) Looks nearly the same as the old one,
but stiffer, lighter and simpler. 

Can't forget my new step of the process!
All cleaned up, and cleaner than before.

Gate Update

Ok, so following my 'Ideal Process" I have completed steps 1-4. My previous post about the gate covered research, brainstorming, and design. From the design I have determined what parts from the existing gate I can reuse and what I still needed. Yesterday I went to the hardware store and got the cedar pickets needed, so baring any oversights, I should have everything I need to complete the gate. The two steps that are left are prepare and construct. I plan to do those today and will share the results this evening.

Prepare. 

I usually just dive in, but this time will be different. I am going to clean up my workbench (should have been done after my last project and probably should be added as step 7 to my ideal process) and gather all the tools i will need, and prepare them if necessary. 

Construct.

My goal today is to be mindful and take my time. This is where I really struggle. This should end up saving time, because when I rush through things I always end up spending time fixing mistakes. 

Form follows function

Form follows fiction, the inverse should never be the case. Something should preform its function well first, then look to making it pretty. Nothing gripes me more than when I see form getting in the way of function. The department I graduated from shared it's space with the architecture department. Nine times out of 10 the student projects on display were amorphous abstract blobs, painstakingly rendered in fine detail out of exotic materials. Interesting to look at, no doubt, but was that a building or a bridge? A building you say? Where do the people go? How do they get in there? What is the point of an exercise such as this? Am I missing something? Creating functional spaces while maintaining a beautiful form, that is the challenge of architecture.

Frank Gehry comes to mind. And while I cannot deny that Gehry creates beautiful structures (Disney Concert Hall pictured right), he certainly didn't come up with those shapes with functionality in mind. I once saw a short documentary on Frank Gehry's design process, where he basically scribbles on a piece of paper (see image to right), and then wills that shape into a building. Structural engineers go to extreme lengths to make his buildings stand upright, all to create buildings with horrible inefficiencies when it comes to space utilization, HVAC, even ingress and egress! But hey, they look pretty.

Frank Lloyd Wright.once said "Form follows function - That has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union." While I 100% agree with Wright here, if a compromise is to be made it should be for the sake of functionality, not form.

The Ideal process: From problem to solution

1. Research - What is it that I am trying to build? How has it been done before? Understand the reasoning behind a common design, it's usually a good one. (Time, Ingenuity)
2. Brainstorm - How could my solution work. What is unique about my situation which may influence what is required of the design. Take into account the materials, tools and time available. This may feedback loop to step one. (Time, Ingenuity)
3. Design - Outline every aspect of desired solution, then simplify. This step will ferret out inherent flaws, and you may need to feed back to steps 1 and 2. Don't forget about the context. Begin to think of how this will come together. Is it a simple solution? Is it strong enough? Is is light/heavy enough? Will it be durable? (Time, Ingenuity)
4. Gather/Inventory - From the final design, select the materials needed. If cost is a constraint, determine what part of the design would benefit most from better materials and the converse. Use this information to strike a balance and determine what materials will work within the budget. Collect all materials needed. (Time, Materials)
5. Prepare - How will this come together? Try and pinpoint "cruxes" in the construction process. Gather all tools necessary. Prepare the work area. Having everything at hand (including the time required), and a clean work area, makes the work so much more enjoyable. (Time, Materials, Ingenuity)
6. Construct - Use your time, skill and tools wisely. Sloppiness here can undo everything you have already done. Prefabricate components when possible. Take your time! Measure twice. Mindfulness, and patience. MIssing a part? Take the time to go get it, do not compromise on a Macgyver. Don't rush to complete if you are running out of time. Wait and finish later. Sometimes you just need to get it done, but the consequences of a rush job always come through in the end. (Time, Tools, Materials, Ingenuity)

Problem Gate Introduction

To start things off I am going to rework the gate for my back fence. I built the fence a few years back and it has served its purpose well, but there are a few niggles that need attention, one of which is the gate. 

The gate is heavy, slams hard and sags. My previous post segues nicely here. I need to simplify, and add lightness. Luckily in this case, simplification will add lightness. 

The orientation of the cross brace meant I had to split the slats to mount them within the body of the gate. Because of this I also had to incorporate additional mounting points for the slats by way of additional 2x2's. A complicated design. There is a simpler way. By rotating the cross brace 90 degrees, full length slats can run the height of the gate without having to be split. With this change I can delete the additional 2x2 slat mounts, and the cross brace itself can act as an additional mounting point for the slats. The new orientation of the cross brace should also be stiffer because of the length wise vertical orientation. The full length slats should also visually simplify the gate. 

The sagging of the gate is certainly a symptom its weight, but another contributing factor is that I mounted the cross brace incorrectly. I mounted it so that it extends down from the top on the hinge side, to the bottom on the latch side. This places the brace under tension, while wood is strongest under compression. If I had used a wire turnbuckle brace the existing orientation would have been correct. So the simple solution is to flip the orientation of the cross brace to place the wooden brace under a compression load. 

I could use a wire turnbuckle brace to shave additional weight, but I intend to re-use as much of the original material as possible and minimize the need to to purchase new materials. If I were to start from scratch perhaps I would go that route, but I also believe the wooden brace will look nicer in this application. 

"Simplify, then add lightness"

-Colin Chapman

I have always loved this quote, and I think its appeal extends far beyond automotive design. For those unaware, Colin Chapman was an influential engineer and founder of Lotus Cars. His unique design approach lead to successful race cars and pioneering technologies, some of which have become common place in all modern automobiles.

Simplify: 

I can't say enough about the importance of simplicity. Simple designs/solutions are more effective, less prone to failure, and have a tenancy to have a better aesthetic. Occam's Razor, need I say more?

Then add lightness:

Obviously, the context here is automotive design, where lightness is almost always of benefit. Lightness can sometimes be the hallmark of a good design, sometimes not. But the idea still works. What is analogous to lightness for your design? Something fundamental to its overall functionality.  I think for me, with a house full of dogs and two children, durability usually fits the bill.

Simplify, then add toughness.

Making Quality - Tenant #4: Ingenuity

Crucial to take full advantage of the tools, time and materials at your disposal. Try hard, figure it out, be creative. Understand the way things are usually done, but don't get put in a box. What have other people done? How could it be applied to your situation, and how can it be done better.

Luckily I have always had a knack for putting things together, and have been at it for most of my life. Pretty damn good at it too, if I do say so myself. Lately however, I do feel I have been lax here. The evidence is all around me, in past projects that could have been better, things that need to be fixed. 

Making Quality - Tenant #3: Tools

The right tools will make any project easier. When they cannot be obtained, ingenuity and a generous amount of time can get you through, but sometimes you just need the right tool. Pushing through with a deficit here can ruin your design and waste quality materials and time. Tools are expensive, and having all that you need can be impractical. Keep track of tools you can borrow, and don't forget about rentals at the local hardware store. 

I have definitely wasted a lot of time and materials trying to get around not having the right tools. Sometimes it can be fun trying to figure out a way to get around not having the right tool, but that usually eats up time. Having the right tool for the job is generally quicker, more satisfying, and yields the best results. And in all seriousness, you can't complete a project without justifying the purchase of a new tool, right?? Although I obviously would prefer to take ownership of every tool I could possibly find a use for, I have come to rely on rentals more and more. There is no use in finding a home in the shop for something you can rent, and will realistically use once or twice in the upcoming decade. Unless of course, it's really cool...

Making Quality - Tenant #2: Materials

Here I am referring to the pieces, parts, and components that will ultimately come together to form the final product. Good quality materials are the foundation of a good project. Lack of quality here can be compensated with high quality in other areas, but truly poor quality materials are bound to undermine all your hard work. A quality material is not only 'high grade' but also the correct material for the job it will be preforming. Improper application of the best materials can lead to a failed project, or at best an underperforming component.

This is a hard one because, like most everyone, I am usually working under a constrained budget. Rarely am I using top shelf products. Compromise and careful consideration are important here. What are the most important pieces of the project? What can afford to be compromised? Shop around for deals, look in the classifies. Extra Time can help here. Its also sometimes hard to know what are the right materials for the job, again an area where allowing for Time to research is really important.

Making Quality - Tenant #1: Time

Both quality and quality are important here. Do not rush, be immersed in the task at hand. Take the time to think through your actions and do it right the first time. Mindfulness and Patience. Give yourself plenty of time to complete. These things will not only make for a great end result, but will allow you to enjoy the process.

This is a tough one for me. I always seem to be trying to get things done as quickly as possible, and never allot the proper amount of time to do it right. At the end of a project I'm usually going 100 miles an hour to meet a meaningless deadline I made up for myself. Quality suffers, and 9 times out of 10 it could have waited for another day, when I had the time to do it justice.

Making Quality Introduction

At its core, I suppose this blog is centered around DIY home improvement type projects. From repairs to remodeling, I like to do it myself. My thought is to provide myself with a space to put down my thoughts and ideas, and to hold myself accountable to a high standard of quality with the projects that I get involved in and hopefully some people will find it useful. 

Over the past few years I have developed a philosophy on how to properly put together a successful project. The philosophy is comprised of 4 key tenants: Time, Materials, Tools, and Ingenuity. I'll get into each of these in more depth in subsequent posts, but the gist of it is that some balance of each of these is needed to complete a project, and to make for a great project you need all of them in spades. A deficit in one area can usually be made up for by a focus in another, but not always...

While this all sounds great, I never quite get there when I go about doing my own projects. Rushing through things, using sub-par materials and tools, not pushing myself to be creative and inventive. In this space I will catalog my endeavors, and hopefully uphold my own philosophy.