Notes from a Small Workshop - Understairs Storage, Woodworking Vlog (Apr 2018)

Welcome back to Notes from a Small Workshop April 2018 edition! Today I'm giving you a quick walkthrough of an understairs storage job I'm working on at the moment, workshop update of what's going on and a bunch of other joinery vlog stuff. This is just a very quick overview of common questions asked understairs storage, really aimed at people who already know the basics - pop any specific questions in the comments. As always thanks for all your support on this channel!
Here's some affiliate links to products I use or would consider using - read more about affiliate links at the bottom of this description:
DeWalt DW682K Biscuit Jointer:
gosforthhandyman.com/uk-links... (UK)
gosforthhandyman.com/us-links... (US)
Combi Drill & Impact Driver Pack:
gosforthhandyman.com/uk-links... (UK)
gosforthhandyman.com/us-links... (US)
TOOLS & PRODUCTS I USE: gosforthhandyman.com/products...
NEWSLETTER: gosforthhandyman.com/newsletter
PATREON: / gosforthhandyman
SHOP: gosforthhandyman.com/shop/
EXTRA STUFF ON THE WEB: gosforthhandyman.com
INSTA: / gosforthhandyman
TWITTER: / gosforthandy
I sometimes use affiliate links - these don’t cost you a penny and help to keep this channel going. Read more about affiliate links here - the fairest way of funding the internet: gosforthhandyman.com/affiliat... - thanks so much for your awesome support!
#JoineryVlog #Workshop #Joinery

[@GosforthHandyman]

If you want to cut to the chase on the Under Stairs Storage stuff, here you go... Part 1: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eV6oqWOGZ6-MsNkm41s Part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipTVd5qol66lpbMm2s

[@mamabearssheshedtracykeato6941]

I truly love this idea! I have an area in my basement that I cannot use because it's under the stairs. I never even thought about building in shelves or drawers. Fantastic idea! I'll be watching for the rest of the build! Many blessings to you and your Channel!

[@GosforthHandyman]

No worries - cheers! 👍

[@stevenbignell]

Nice project Andy I'm really enjoying the podcast thank you to you and Peter Millard

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Steve! 👍

[@conorhulgraine]

very professional and well organised well done looks great!

[@NenzelMUSIC]

Need to see finished product in action! Thanks for sharing. 😀

[@GosforthHandyman]

No worries! 👍

[@scottmclean4237]

Great vid. Looking forward to the next on door and shelf installation

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Scott - not sure if there'll be much of a follow-up to this. Anything specific you want to know about? 👍

[@jamesjames_07]

The eureka moment when your festool suction meets the biscuit jointer. You could hear the elation 😁

[@GosforthHandyman]

Been using it all day with no dust... for the first time ever!! 😀👍👍

[@CHLA94]

Greetings from Bristol! Absolutely hooked on your channel now. Keep up the good work mate. A blessing to the trade.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers and a very warm welcome to Bristol! 👍🛠

[@xx_lola__xx]

@@GosforthHandyman Ghyyyyyu

[@alasdairmackenzie515]

When I was working In Newcastle I stayed in a place on Osbourne Road in Jesmond. Used to gho running round Jesmond Dene - beautiful, but many moons ago...!

[@GosforthHandyman]

It's lovely - was just at Pet's Corner (Jesmond Dene) with the family yesterday. 👍

[@kookyflukes9749]

Nice idea. Making good use of otherwise wasted space. Was gonna do something similar in my house but now the dogs live under the stairs so now there's no need. Thanks Andy

[@GosforthHandyman]

No worries! 👍🛠

[@whitedoggarage]

Andy I love the street scene, I live in Oz, but am a keen watcher of Vera (a female detective series set in Newcastle and surrounds) and I half expected to see her come out of one of the houses lol. Thanks again for an interesting Vlog, Bob

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha - cheers Bob! I've never watched Vera but I've heard of it - I really should watch it! A very warm welcome to Oz - your vids are great! Would love to get in to welding some day but I'd need to get a bigger shop with a non-flamable section. 😀

[@NickDV007]

Nice one Andy, it's gonna look good when finished 👍👍👍 Just building something very similar using MDF for the carcass and I wish I'd made it in 'modules' to put together under the stairs rather than in two units................................... 😓

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers - yeah, it's heavy stuff! 😀

[@H2Dwoat]

Hi, do you have a link to the drawer runners?

[@johncole9964]

Love the wellies Andy!

[@GosforthHandyman]

They're my 'special' ones. 😂

[@johnhutch5678]

I’d like to box off under my stairs uk home, and paint it, would you advise mdf or timber as I want to satin paint it as a finish?

[@mfcosi]

Love this kind of videos. 89kg draw slider? No wonder the ones around here literally explodes after some usage. Simply cannot find higher than 45kg. I'll have to remake the ones at home with thinner mdf. Thank you very much to share this lovely work with us. Kind regards.

[@GosforthHandyman]

No worries! Apparently you can get 120kg ones... but I haven't tried them. 😀

[@scottgoddard6645]

Hi - Interested in your construction of the draw box. Why didn't you use the vertical pieces to support the top piece and srcew through the top?

[@GosforthHandyman]

I almost always do my cabinets with the sides 'full height' but for an angled top like this, yes you could do it either way really. 👍

[@xsbxsbxsb]

Nicely done!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! 👍🛠

[@rivergate]

Nice update. I commented on your Instagram about the electrics and plumbing thinking they were existing... I now understand they're new/current. I'm no electrician, and I appreciate that an electrician put these in, but I've a preconceived idea that the electrics should be positioned differently near plumbing (ie higher, and perhaps also as a fixed spur). I'd be interested to know what the electricians comments are here... I'm always happy to learn. Thank you. I also wonder the first/leading screw capacity in MDF for those pull out draws; in say 18thk plywood I'd not question it (I'd probably not even consider it), but I've had some uncomfortable screw shear failures in MDF. Perhaps loads will never reach 60kg... which may result in around +30kg or thereabouts for the first screws either side, and -30kg for the last few screws inside the carcass at the back . Waffle waffle... I should do the maths/analysis myself... just thinking out loud; sorry. Oh and I've subscribed by the way... and keen follower on the podcast (And no I don't do iTunes... I'm an Android man).

[@GosforthHandyman]

Welcome to the channel Andrew! The sockets are a switched spur btw (that's what the switch is on the new wall). I reckon a single screw in the MDF could take 60kg shear load... haven't tested it, might add that on to the list! 👍😀

[@Mastering3d]

Well from using impact driver bits a lot and owning a lot of them ,From what i can tel there not meet to break so easy if at tall ,All the ones I own are breaking and they are some top named ones not going to say here OC , So maybe that as something to do with them being removed from market who knows ..

[@dalethesnail2009]

Great video! Any reason why you're using MDF over plywood? Wouldn't ply be as strong using a thinner piece? Presumably ply is a lot more expensive though...?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Main issue with ply for a project like this is getting stuff with a good enough quality paint grade finish on both sides. 👍

[@SerYoga1]

Nice, well done 👍 I am looking to build something similar under my stairs. So looking everywhere where I could get any ideas and where I can buy all that stuff before I start my project. Would like to ask you where did you manage to find extension drawers of that length? As I am living myself in England and looking everywhere. Thanks in advance.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Hi - Ironmongery Direct. 👍

[@SerYoga1]

Thank you so much 😊👍

[@hi-tech55]

Hi Andy, Where do you get your draw runners from? Looking forward to see the end product. Looking good.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ironmongerydirect.com for these 👍

[@hi-tech55]

Thanks. They are just up the road to me.

[@TonyCarnell]

Looking forward to seeing part 2 of this job (assuming there will be one...?)

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yes, hopefully not too long - within the next 2-3 weeks... perhaps. 😀

[@TonyCarnell]

I’m now following you on Instagram, so I’ve seen the finished photos and video on there. Looks really great 👍

[@mfcosi]

Hi Andy, is there a #2 volume of that?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Not yet but do hope to do one... 👍

[@whitedoggarage]

Andy, will you be doing a follow up on the shelves? The reason I ask is that it looks like they will wide and deep and I am keen to see how you deal with that? Thanks, Bob.

[@GosforthHandyman]

I might do a quick follow-up in a Vlog but I couldn't really film this one on-site. The shelves are about 700mm wide. I'll post some finished pics to my Instagram. 👍😀

[@whitedoggarage]

Saw the Instagram pics. I have some big ones to replace shortly and the old ones have sagged badly and I have been thinking about bracing, but without increasing shelf thickness too much, so I was keen to see how you built your big shelves, especially with just bookshelf mounts. Thanks.

[@GosforthHandyman]

For really big floating shelves I'll normally have a 20mm framework with 18mm ply top and 6mm MDF bottom - all glued together (so about 44mm thick). That gives a very rigid structure once dry. You can include angle steel / aluminium inside the structure but not normally needed. Might do a vid on it at some point! 👍

[@whitedoggarage]

Now I'm confused lol. Did you mean 24 mm thick (18 + 6) or is it a lamination of 6 and 18 mm sheets in sequence, looking forward to the vid. Bob

[@whitedoggarage]

Andy I am going to do three comments/questions as I think that is easier for you if you care to respond. So first one, I notice only one water supply pipe at the back of the space, will the washing machine hook up to cold only or is their a hot supply I have missed somewhere? Thanks, Bob.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Hi Bob - some older machines take a hot & cold supply but most (if not all) newer ones over here are cold supply only and do their own internal heating. 👍

[@whitedoggarage]

Thanks Andy, here in Oz they still come with hot and cold, having some of the world's highest electricity costs there is no way you would want the machine to do the heating here.

[@iainhay2823]

Excellent video and hello from Morpeth! I’ve been thinking about a similar project but our understairs has a door in it but is mostly brick. I don’t believe that the brick is supporting the stairs, I think that the stringer is probably supported at top and bottom and not by the brickwork. Still it makes me reluctant to remove it :) Any comments on if this is likely?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Normally brick is put in for a reason so just be careful. I have had houses with brick walls that are non-load-bearing though. You need to knock all the plaster away and see what's sitting on the brick, if anything. 👍

[@iainhay2823]

Gosforth Handyman from the inside of the cupboard it looks like the stringer is unsupported but that sounds like some good advice! I’ll take it all off inside and take a good look.

[@normanboyes4983]

Nice job Andy. On the triangular drawer slide thingmajig. Did you not consider reducing the sheer weight by cutting out sections of the constructive panels and replacing with hardboard - conservatively I think you could have reduced the weight of the unit by 30% without compromising stiffness.

[@GosforthHandyman]

It was an option but at 15kg I had plenty tolerance on the weight. Or do you mean the liner? 👍

[@normanboyes4983]

Sorry ~I meant both ;-)

[@KiboTennis]

I was hoping for “Understairs Living Space for the Mother-in-Law”

[@GosforthHandyman]

I'll add that to the list... 👍

[@piee683]

I wonder could you use 4 drawer runners 2 both sides would it support 160kgs

[@GosforthHandyman]

160kg of shoes is a lot of shoes... but don't see why not! 👍

[@philsheldon2737]

Hi, good project, where did you get the runners from?

[@lfcdom1180]

Nice job! Are you on a day rate for this or is it priced?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers - I almost always price for the whole job. 👍

[@Jackzuk]

Can you help, I purchased some MRMDF skirting for my bathroom and when it arrived it looked like the usual brown MDF. All the MR stuff I’ve seen on ur video are green. I emailed the company asking about this and they assured me it was MR, there are no markings, labels or colouring to distinguish it from MR to nonMR. Have you ever seen brown MRMDF or have i been had

[@GosforthHandyman]

It's rare but I have seen normal brown MR MDF... In fact my workshop walls are exactly that. The green is just a colouring. That said I've also seen places saying their MDF is moisture resistant when it isn't. 👍

[@Jackzuk]

Thanks for your reply, so if someone has given u brown mdf with no colour or markings claiming is MR u will never no for sure, well until i blows i suppose. Thanks. Love the videos, just working through the back catalogue.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Yes, very difficult to tell without testing it. Sometimes printed on the edge but not always. 👍

[@ttcvm7339]

I would like to see how it turned out.. do you have a video?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Hopefully coming soon-ish! It's on my list 👍

[@weeblspie]

What do you use for your drawings??

[@GosforthHandyman]

Sketchup 👍

[@davidfoulds1620]

Paper!

[@ronnakeil3313]

Nice

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! 👍

[@diyengineer811]

I would love a unit like this, but that space under my stairs houses the gas and electric meters and it's prohibitively expensive to move them :-(

[@azog23]

could make the drawers to not be very deep and removable. So they're useful storage and hide the meters but can be taken out if you need access to the meters.

[@rjamsbury1]

I plan (very long term) to do these on castors so I can pull them out completely if necessary. I have access to the crawl space under my stairs as well as meters.

[@GosforthHandyman]

I've seen them done on castors - can work really well. 👍

[@diyengineer811]

Maybe castors and runners would be good - will prevent the drawer from sagging when fully extended. The only down-side with castors is that they can create track-lines in the flooring if in daily use. Not so bad on carpet but can be quite damaging to hard floors.

[@MrJackk10]

How deep is it again?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Think it was about 1m. 👍

[@MrJackk10]

Haha! Great vid mate 👍

[@xx_lola__xx]

👍💌😭😝

[@alanmullock381]

60kg of shoes? Just talk to a female type lady person!😁😁😁😁👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Lol - no comment. 😂

[@smnhpkns]

WHO HAS 60KG'S OF SHOES, WHO HAS 60KG'S OF SHOES ???????????????? EVERY F**KING WOMAN IN THE UK HA HA HA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Nice job as always Andy