When your married to an engineer there is no such thing as a "simple request" to make a big board ironing board
#72
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 13,214
Originally Posted by DogHouseMom
I'm determined to get a big board type ironing board (homemade). I read the tutes & testimonials, and I even bought a new cover that will be perfect for a big board.
So I tell the husband "please cut a piece of 1/2" ply 18 x 48". Simple. Precise. Concise.
Naturally he wants to know why. So I tell him. I explain what and how I want to iron, and I show him what happens on my current (regular) ironing board.
He has found several things wrong (in his mind) with the concept and has spent the last two weeks over-engineering (in his head) my SIMPLE and CHEAP ironing board.
It will be too heavy.
It will be too wobbly.
It will soak up steam and starch and the ply will separate.
It seems like every time I have an idea to make something, he steps in and over-engineers the heck out of it and tells me I need something completely different than my original specs. You should have seen the whelping box he made, my bitch hated it and the puppies didn't like it much either.
So he looked at ironing boards online, you know the cute little ones that fold up into the wall (which are fantastic if I was only ironing shirts!) and told me "this is what you need". NO IT'S NOT!! Why can't he listen to me when I tell him what I NEED. I want to iron 44" of fabric across the board ... pretty simple concept isn't it?
Then there was the brilliant idea of ... 1/4" aluminum. We have tons of that stuff in stock (it's used for the beds on our machines). Thankfully the widest he can get it is 12". Whew!! Caught a break there!!
At the moment in his head I "need" a 1" thick (!!) piece of solid Birch (!!!), my dimensions (how'd I swing that?), marine varnished (indeed!!), and I need new legs that have a wider spread for stability.
Oh save me.
Being married to an engineer is trying sometimes.
So I tell the husband "please cut a piece of 1/2" ply 18 x 48". Simple. Precise. Concise.
Naturally he wants to know why. So I tell him. I explain what and how I want to iron, and I show him what happens on my current (regular) ironing board.
He has found several things wrong (in his mind) with the concept and has spent the last two weeks over-engineering (in his head) my SIMPLE and CHEAP ironing board.
It will be too heavy.
It will be too wobbly.
It will soak up steam and starch and the ply will separate.
It seems like every time I have an idea to make something, he steps in and over-engineers the heck out of it and tells me I need something completely different than my original specs. You should have seen the whelping box he made, my bitch hated it and the puppies didn't like it much either.
So he looked at ironing boards online, you know the cute little ones that fold up into the wall (which are fantastic if I was only ironing shirts!) and told me "this is what you need". NO IT'S NOT!! Why can't he listen to me when I tell him what I NEED. I want to iron 44" of fabric across the board ... pretty simple concept isn't it?
Then there was the brilliant idea of ... 1/4" aluminum. We have tons of that stuff in stock (it's used for the beds on our machines). Thankfully the widest he can get it is 12". Whew!! Caught a break there!!
At the moment in his head I "need" a 1" thick (!!) piece of solid Birch (!!!), my dimensions (how'd I swing that?), marine varnished (indeed!!), and I need new legs that have a wider spread for stability.
Oh save me.
Being married to an engineer is trying sometimes.
#75
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Baileys Prairie, Texas
Posts: 294
I am on the opposite end of your problem. I finally bought a piece of plywood. Bought a 2x4 table from Sams. Told him to cut here.....I put a layer of insulite and two of batting, made a ironing board cover out of duck and installed and I am a happy camper. Engineer he is not....But I am the daughter of one.
#77
Simple solution. Make it yourself. I have to do this all the time. If he asks tell him it is going to be a surprise. If you have to you can get a sheet of plywood cut at the local Lowes or Home Depot. Some things just aren't worth the stress. Ann in TN
#79
[quote=DogHouseMom]It will be too heavy.
It will be too wobbly.
It will soak up steam and starch and the ply will separate.
Hmmm my husband went through the same steps and ended up buying me the biggest bestest ironning board yet instead of making one. That says a lot because we do and make everything ourselves. I have had the board for about one and a half a year and it is my most favorite piece of equiptment. It has a metal grid on the table and then a super thick super firm wool pad so the steams can come back up from the bottom too. It will not warp since it has a metal grid. I understand your frustration because my guy can not just do it as I asked either. Maybe in the end he will buy you a super ironning board like my DH did. lol
Pin N Press
http://usaus.us/cart/quilters-ironin...-tone-p-6.html
Here is a video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76gOc...eature=channel
It will be too wobbly.
It will soak up steam and starch and the ply will separate.
Hmmm my husband went through the same steps and ended up buying me the biggest bestest ironning board yet instead of making one. That says a lot because we do and make everything ourselves. I have had the board for about one and a half a year and it is my most favorite piece of equiptment. It has a metal grid on the table and then a super thick super firm wool pad so the steams can come back up from the bottom too. It will not warp since it has a metal grid. I understand your frustration because my guy can not just do it as I asked either. Maybe in the end he will buy you a super ironning board like my DH did. lol
Pin N Press
http://usaus.us/cart/quilters-ironin...-tone-p-6.html
Here is a video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76gOc...eature=channel
#80
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,197
I worked with engineers for a number of years and can relate to all things being said about them. My hubby is not a engineer but a school teacher. He is so detail oriented that it drives me crazy. If I ask a question he has to give me all the past history, etc. etc. of the question I ask. He can't get past the idea that we are not all 4th graders and need everything explained in detail. But, he is good to me and supports my quilting so I guess I will keep him!
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