So here’s what went down with my 1.0 m project idea. Started simple – wanted to make a damn floating shelf above my work desk, right? Figured, hey, one meter seems solid. Pulled out the measuring tape, checked wall space between window and door. Boom, perfect fit.
Supplies & First Screw-Up
Went to hardware store next morning. Grabbed:
- Wood plank labeled 1.0 m length (or so I thought)
- Brackets
- Drywall anchors
- Extra screws for good measure
Got home, unwrapped plank. Held tape measure against it. My face dropped. Actual length? 98 freaking centimeters. Supplier must’ve cut it wet and it shrunk. So much for “1.0 m”.
The Fitting Disaster
Mounted brackets anyway. Drilled holes like an idiot before double-checking. Slammed the plank up there – left a fat 2 cm gap on the right. Looked like crap. Had to unscrew everything, spackle the holes I just made. Waste of an afternoon.
Ranted to my neighbor Bob over coffee later. He just grinned and said: “Wood moves, idiot. Always cut longer than marked.” Should’ve listened to old dudes sooner.
Redemption Attempt
Next weekend, tried smarter:
- Bought 1.05 m plank
- Measured wall twice with TWO tapes
- Cut excess myself with handsaw
Sweating bullets while sanding edges. Brackets went up cleaner this time. Slid the board in… Snug as a damn glove. Finally. Took weeks because I trusted that “1.0 m” sticker. Felt like a total clown carrying scraps back to hardware store.
Biggest lesson? Measurements lie until you test them yourself. That fancy label means jack all if you don’t put tape on it. And Bob’s still laughing at me over beers.