Quick 'n Easy

This project, a new desk for Dianna, proved to be one of the quickest and easiest projects I've had yet. In no small part due to the speed and skill of David (of David and Elizabeth), and his willingness to put those to use for in the construction of the desk for Dianna.

David and I had earlier (on the 12th) treked over to Orange Walk to New River Enterprises, Ltd, (http://www.newriverenterprises.com/) to see about getting a large hunk of mahogany for the desk project. Turns out a piece about one-inch thick by sixteen-inches wide by eight-feet would have been prohibitively expensive (at least for such a simple project). However using cabinet plywood with a mahogany trim would easily fit in the budget.

So that's exactly what we did. Some nice half-inch by two-inch mahogany for trim on a nice piece of plywood was going to do just fine. The other reason we went to New River was because they have about the only kiln-dried wood that I know of in the area. They are quite a large operation and David was curious to see what they had for some of his future projects.

I was supposed to help him on Sunday with the construction of the desk. I had purchased a sheet of 5/8-Inch cabinet plywood, as it's called down here, on Monday or Tuesday at Cinty's (the younger brother's place) and hauled it from there to David's place on top of the Isuzu, secured with a couple of pieces of string - in true Belizean fashion. I did make sure to take the back road most of the way, only venturing onto the highway for the last few hundred yards before the turnoff to David's place.

I suspect that David was looking for a project to do, as I got a call from him on Wednesday (I think) saying he had it built and wanted to know if the dark walnut stain and a satin finish varnish was ok. It was. The next message I got from him was that it was done and he wanted to know if I wanted to pick it up or have him deliver it. I think that was on Thursday or maybe Friday.

I hot-footed it over to his place as soon as I could (don't forget, this is in the midst of our working on the shower project. Hey, we're a two project family over here. We needed a small break from the shower project anyway.

I wasn't able to install the desk until the following day. I gathered my expandable wall anchors and got to work. The desk had to be positioned to clear a small bookcase and a small 4-drawer cabinet that both had to fit under the desk. This meant that the supports for the desk had to be positioned such that they didn't interfere with the pieces under the desk, but that they could still offer adequate support for the desk itself.

As luck would have it, they were able to be positioned almost perfectly to provide the necessary support for the desk - at either end and almost exactly in the middle. We couldn't have planned it better if we tried.

Once I finished hanging the three support brackets (also made out of the mahogany trim and stained to match), it was a simple matter to position the desk top and secure it to the supports.

After that, Dianna was able to arrange things the way she wanted, so she could finally have a functioning desk designed to her specifications.

Dianna Organizing Her Desk Wiring

It didn't take her too long at all and she was hard at it, and happy too, as you can tell from the photo below.

She's a Happy Camper

We owe David much more for this project than the Belikin (that's one Belikin) he wanted as payment. He works cheap for such quality workmanship.

After this, it was back to the shower project. A nice respite while it lasted.

A Shopping Trip to Orange Walk

Yesterday, we took some time to head over to Orange Walk to do a little shopping. Before we could actually take to the road, we had to stop at the Texaco station and buy a case of motor oil. The Isuzu was really low on oil. Turns out the steering center link was rubbing against the oil filter and had worn a small hole in it. Not good.

So, we loaded a few quarts into the vehicle and headed out. Our first stop was Mike's Auto Parts, where we got a filter and a wrench.

From there, we went to San Sing's scooter shop to get a couple of inline fuel filters for Bob's scooter. While there, we scavenged a hunk of cardboard and borrowed a screwdriver to get the oil filter off the Isuzu. Bob did yeoman's work in replacing the filter.

After that, we went to the market place for a late breakfast of some local foods (forgot the names), and glasses of watermelon juice.

The Orange Walk Market Eateries

The Orange Walk Market Shopping

After eating, we strolled around the market place. Nicer and cleaner than Corozal's, I think mainly because they don't allow vehicles to get into the immediate area. Just more pedestrian friendly.

Beans and Seeds for Sale

The Central Bandstand and Park

After that, we did some grocery shopping at People's Market, then we went on to New River Enterprises, Ltd (http://www.newriverenterprises.com) to look for furniture. Well, more to see what was available.

New River Patio Tables

New River Patio Tables and Chairs

They also have doors, cabinetry, shelving, paneling, etc.

Standard Doors

Custom-Carved Doors

They do all sorts of wood products, with their own lumber mill and three kilns right there.

Kitchen/Dining Chairs

Kitchen Cabinetry

Lots of doors and sidelights, too.

Entry Doors

Louvered Closet Doors

More doors and coffee tables.

A Maze Door

Free-Form Coffee Table

They do doors nicely, as you can see. The stuff isn't cheap, so if we get any of their stuff, it'll probably only be special pieces for specific applications.

Front Doors and Sidelights

Front Doors and Sidelights

Beds

Cabinet Fronts

They also do custom carvings, as you can see by the door and table below.

Custom-Carved Doors

Custom-Carved Tables

Everything they do can be in any one of forty-nine different woods or a mix of any, however you want.

More Patio Furniture