DIMy: Radiator Cover

I complete my first major woodworking project: a radiator cover! 

We haven't really used our dining room because it's just a room with a crappy table and feels very unwelcoming.  There are a lot of other things to do in the room:  refinish the table, get a rug, put something on the walls...but the #1 thing on my list was to build a radiator cover so my plants would have a sunny home and my cat might have a place to gaze out the window.

This is how the corner normally looks. I'm sure it's clear why I was so desparate to build the cover.

Over the last few months I've watched the how-to videos a hundred times, talked to a handyman about building the unit, talked to a company that makes custom built radiator covers, and even my mom pulled out magazine clippings from 1983 about constructing radiator covers.

I finally decided that I could do this myself and designed something based off the unit already built in my living room.  This design is made up of 2 sides, 1 top, 1 screen, and 4 pieces of wood with mitered edges to form the front frame.

By choosing this design I had made the decision to purchase a miter saw.  I first planned on using a miter box and circular saw (two items I already owned), but my gut told me it would be difficult and probably a waste of wood and time. 

I bought a 10" miter saw from Lowe's for $99.  It was actually $114, but was priced wrong so I saved $15! I'm sooooo glad I bought the saw.  Cutting the wood on perfect angles was super easy after a little practice and I'm excited to use it for future projects (and wish I had it for my raised garden bed frames!)

Mr. Miter - my new best friend!

Not gonna lie - my edges didn't line up so I had to fill with wood filler. I need to work on my math.

Ahhhhhhh - it feels good to have things looking so clean and neat.

Comments

[Nick]

That is a really nice modern, well designed, well crafted cover. Excellent job, better than some professionals I'd say!