MORE TOOLS!!

Last night, I finished installing the washer and dryer, an activity that required more additions to my toolbox. Some friends helped me the other night with getting the washer level; a cute trick as there is a slope in the floor. Two boards of different thicknesses were called into service. And one of the boards is a decorative chatcke I had tole-painted years ago. Oh well, it's being of better service this way.

After getting it level, I needed to fashion a pipe leading from the laundry tub to the drain. This required my purchasing things that had unfamiliar names; at least to me. PVC (which I thought was an illegal drug), elbow joints, male and female connectors and P-trap. P-trap. Who comes up with these names?

Then there was the glue for the joints, which is a two-part process. There's a can of purple stuff and a can of white gooey stuff. When they are put together, a chemical process occurs and it makes PVC and the segments of the pipe all become one piece. At least that's how it was explained to me.

As the guy at the hardware store was telling me how to assemble all of this, he used the term "hacksaw". He apparently could tell from my expression that I don't have one and said a butcher knife would do as well. I decided I'd come this far, I'd go ahead and get a hacksaw. (and may I say, that name sounds quite brutal.)

He tried to get the lid off the glue to show me the applicator but couldn't. I pointed out that if he couldn't, I sure as heck wasn't going to be able to. He suggested I just use pliers. He saw the look on my face and went over and picked up a pair of cheap pliers and handed them to me, suggesting I get those as well, which I did.

He went on to explain how I cut the PVC, then use some fine sandpaper to rub on the edges. He asked if I had that and I mentioned I have an emory board. I got an eyeroll for that and he said, "yeah, that'll work."

After getting all of that, and two hoses for the water supply, I went home and starting assembling my first drain pipe. You know, basically a piece of cake. I did it in 20 minutes. I did manage to kick over the can of purple stuff. I think the fumes made me a little high. After washing the glue down the drain, I stood back and admired my work.

Then noticed that in our efforts to get the washer as level as possible, the dryer was next to the wall....and a foot in front of a pipe supporting the ceiling, blocking the door of the dryer.

Rats.