Finally finished

"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus) 05/30/2016 at 09:53 • Filed to: None

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I built the baseboard heater covers from scratch. I told my wife I could have them done by the time our girls were born. Their 4th birthday is next week. At least thier done before #3 arrives. I told her I was going to make a set for our bedroom and she almost exploded. I guess that won’t happening.

Xyl0c41n3 > OPPOsaurus WRX 05/30/2016 at 10:00

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They're really pretty, though.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Xyl0c41n3 05/30/2016 at 10:04

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Without factoring in my labor they were much cheaper than the typical metal covers.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > OPPOsaurus WRX 05/30/2016 at 10:32

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My wife, when she saw this: “holy crap, that’s really awesome...can we do that? I want you to do that”.

So...do you have a template?

OPPOsaurus WRX > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 05/30/2016 at 11:12

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I used 1x2 poplar for the frames and just some aluminum screens cut to fit behind the frame. I drilled small holes and glued dowels to hold the screen frame together and just used the smallest nails I could find to hold the screen on to the frame.The frame is held onto the supports with long screws and miniature cabinet knobs. this allows for the screens to be removed for vacuuming and retrieval of lost small toys. I glued the screws into the holes to make it easier to reattach.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/MD-Building-…

the top is a 1x6. there was already a flat board against the wall but probably not necessary . I used scrap 1x4 to make those ‘L’ shaped pieces. They could probably be attached right to the wall but I would try to find the studs.

the piece the screens attach to is a 1x4. Overall it was pretty simple but there are a lot of small steps. I capped the ends with 1x6. You need to leave a gap at the bottom, about an inch for air to enter and as it warms it rises and exits out the aluminum screens.

so the parts list is pretty short

front vertical support/screen attachemnt

‘L’ shaped inside support

top cover

screen frame

screen

wood dowels

small nails

metal ‘L’ brackets to hold the wooden ‘L’s together.

steps:

connect the wooden ‘L’ to the front support

evenly space supports so screens are the same length and nail those down (use pilot holes and finish nails)

make endcaps

install top board and nail & glue that down to ‘L’ supports, same with end caps.

I made all the vertical screen pieces at the same time so they would all be the same hieght. drill and dowel the screens pieces, clamp them to dry.

prime and paint everything

install screens.

hold the screens in place and drill the hole so it all lines up

glue screws, and install screens so the the screws dry in the proper position but be careful not to have glue ooze out and glue the screen tot he support.

these are strong enough so that my two girls can stand on them and look out the window or for me to sit on it. I can answer any other questions you have. I want to say for the 45' linear feet I paid about $300-$400 in materials. I think the metal covers were $500-$600 and custom made wood covers were about $2000-$3000 if i were to order them off line. The only thing I would add at this point is some sort of 1/4 round. With this house being 100+ years old the walls are not super straight to there are some small gaps between the wall and top cover.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > OPPOsaurus WRX 05/30/2016 at 11:56

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This is really impressive

OPPOsaurus WRX > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/30/2016 at 12:41

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i like finish work the best. insulation, drywall and painting sucks

these are my favorite:

i did it in sketchup first to make it easier. it was all built on a couple sawhorses. i wish i had a better shop

OPPOsaurus WRX > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 05/30/2016 at 12:50

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i found the sketchup file i used if you want it

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > OPPOsaurus WRX 05/30/2016 at 13:18

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Thanks! This is going to be a definite weekend (two weekends? Maybe by the time my 11-month-old has his second birthday, we’ll see) project.

OPPOsaurus WRX > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 05/30/2016 at 13:27

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It’s going to be more than that. The problem is you can only do 1 step at a time. Build the frame let the glue dry over night. Prime it let it dry. Paint it key it dry. I only had enough clamps to build 2 frames at a time. I think I had 16 frames

CalzoneGolem > OPPOsaurus WRX 06/01/2016 at 08:21

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That’s the sexiest baseboard heater cover I’v ever seen.

OPPOsaurus WRX > CalzoneGolem 06/01/2016 at 08:29

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thanks!