I’ve just sat down to write this, having spent an hour out in the workshop this evening – after work and in temperatures that are barely anywhere above freezing!
Marking for the cut-out.
You see, I was watching another YouTube video from the Ultimate Handyman last week where he shows you how to fit simple, cheap louver vents to an up-and-over garage door. My workshop’s always been in need of further ventilation since I draft-proofed the door and there is an ominous smell of ‘damp’ each time I’m out there. I don’t currently own a diamond core bit to drill the walls and I liked that you can fit these higher up the door which, in my mind, means you’re less likely to get frozen toes… I could be wrong!
Either way, it might help to pass some fresh air up in to the roof space for the time being and I decided to just get this done and to have a go and hopefully get back out there to do some proper woodwork very soon.
Ready for the saw!
Where Mr.Handyman drilled a series of holes to allow air to pass behind the vent and through the door, I decided to cut-away a rectangular section with my jigsaw, after drilling an 9mm hole in each corner for a very fine metal-cutting blade, which did a great job with the saw set on a slower speed.
…Letterbox?!
This worked really well and the short blade was just about able to remove most of the 25mm thick polystyrene sheeting I’d fitted as insulation a few years ago. There was still the case of the 4mm hardboard on the other side but, I also had plan for that!
Needs more rivets!
It was then up in to the roof space to try and hunt down my cheap, hand-powered riveter, which was purchased a couple of years ago when I fitted a pair of sturdy garage door bolts. This also meant digging the ladder out, unfolding it outside and repositioning it, upright, within the workshop… I then had to pull myself up and over several stacks of tanalised softwood before I found what I was looking for (not to mention all the damp and water damage that appears to be hitting the chipboard floor up there).
A few of the 4mm diameter rivets jammed in the tool but, after a light application of WD-40, it began to improve. Still, I felt that the four fixing holes provided weren’t sufficient with the ‘convex’ shape of the door so, I drilled a couple more near the center.
Should’ve used rivets…
Rivets are ideal for fixing thin materials together just like this. In fact, I probably should’ve used them over self-tapping screws when I lined the inside of the door with hardboard!
“PLEASE CLEAN ME!”
There’s the newly-ventilated door; breathing cleaner air in to my workshop! All it needs now is a bloody good clean and a tidy up around the timber frames…
Interior cut-out.
To mark the location of the cut-out on the inside, I transferred each of the four corners through using a drill bit and then joined them up with a pencil line before again cutting with my jigsaw. That metal-cutting blade also made a neat job of the hardboard edges, even on a faster speed.
I spy…
I haven’t yet decided whether or not to fit a pair of identical vents to the interior hardboard face of the door but I do like the ‘snooper’ potential this now gives me… At near-eye level, I’m just able to peer down the drive to investigate the sound of a car (or delivery van) pulling up outside the gate. Before, I’ve had to quite blatantly swing the door wide open; only to realize that the queue of cars are simply waiting to overtake someone visiting a neighbour!
When the lights are on and I stand outside in the darkness, there is a distinct glow and so, I’ll need to be aware of any future patio cleaners and landscape gardeners canvassing for work in the summer evenings!
I’m pleased I was rather spontaneously get out and get this done. I considered doing this job yesterday and it did only take an hour but, I had phoned in sick to get a day’s rest from work so, I would’ve been ‘cheating’ a bit. I only wish I could be as spontaneous with my woodworking in general. I have lots of little ideas and improvements; many thoughts about short videos and material that could suit both this blog and the occasional magazine article. I also feel as though I’m running out of time.
(Just previewing this post before hitting publish and, having just written it; an idea has popped in to my head to make a pair of ‘flat’ non-louvre vents from thin ply to fit on the inside!)
