Why oh why do we do it?
We have guests arriving late tomorrow afternoon so in good old Voice fashion we decided that we should remove the temporary window in the Pigeonnaire and fit the new permanent one before they arrive.
I have come to the conclusion that I cannot motivate myself unless there is the added pressure of a deadline.
I have cut the wood from the sliced tree this week, planed and thicknessed and prepared using the spindle moulde and systematically the window was made and I am extrememly pleased with the result.
I had the glass cut yesterday in readiness and today it was a case of cutting the glazing bars and fitting them with silicon sealant and pinning.
So after lunch I took the plunge and climbed the ladder to take off the battens which were screwed in to hold the pane of glass (I had used a single pane with glued on glazing bars for effect. It looked naff but it did the job for the first season and if you remember this window was completed just before our very first guests last July)
The trouble started when I found the silicon had worked really well and the battens would not budge and I didn't want to be too aggressive in case the glass broke. However, it soon became apparent that the only way to get the glass out was to break it and then lever the battens off after.
So I taped the glass up just like they did in the blitz and wearing protective goggles I broke through and removed all the glass.
By this time time was getting on and I still had to fit the frame and pin the galzing bars.
By 3.30 the old frame was out and it was time to offer in the new one. It was too tight (about 4 millimetres) so I had to plane it down! Offered up again it went in snugly.
Now to tack the bars. All went well until the last three tacks. Pop went a pane of glass (nails wont go through glass by the way!). Time for tea, deep breath and calm down. Trouble was the rain had started to fall - getting the picture? - I was not a happy bunny by now.
Anyway, luckily I had some spare glass so I trimmed it to size and nailed it in place - with trepidation I might add.
Up the ladder I went again for about the 15th time with the window. It is made of solid hardwood so it is not light and bear in mind I am not great with heights so lifting and placing the window 14 feet above the floor was tricky.
I put the hinges on and it was 2 millimetres too tight! Out it came and down I went. Planed some off the height and up I went. Perfect this time so in went all the screws on the hinges and by this time it was getting dark. I fitted the catch and tidied up.
I have to cut and fix some beading in the morning and fix some polar boarding to finish off around the window internally then everything is done.
This is the shortened version of events and for the purposes of family reading I have omitted all swear words.
The new biscuit jointer worked a dream too and I feel this was the best ever window and in just one window, as opposed to buying one, I reckon to have aid for the machine. Certainly after the next window it will be.
I think I have mentioned it before, if you have lots to do in renovating a place, then buying the right tools will soon pay you dividends. .
