Cob Jockey

I am so excited to get to write this post, uh, mumbles 18 months...after starting this project.

How do people live without hatchbacks?

My tack locker went to the barn yesterday!

And if it was 2" longer, I would have had to rent a truck to get it there.

To recap, the tack locker began life in 1962 as a set of kitchen cabinets:


Which we removed in 2011 right after buying the house, because my 6'4 husband had to chop vegetables like this:


This project was an inexpensive way to keep my intense, probably creepy love affair with my miter saw and table saw going while Nick was unemployed.  (Part of the reason it took so long was that I didn't always have money for materials, even with it costing so little.)

I mean, saws are great.  Is there anything more thrilling than using a thing that could kill you to cut apart dead trees (besides riding a thing that could kill you over dead trees, of course)?

Using a thing that could kill you to cut apart dead trees.

Riding a thing that could kill you over dead trees.

I'm so happy with how it came out.  Functionally, it's so much better than a trunk, which matters most of all in winter when the last thing you want to do is waste time digging for things you know are in there, somewhere.  Most importantly, my trainer is impressed with it and loves having it in the barn (phew).  I guess anything is an improvement over my old blue plastic trunk that got chewed on by a foster dog, aesthetically.  I'm keeping it around for blanket storage, up in the loft.



Takeaways?  I learned a lot.  Like aspen is the WORST wood ever for cabinetry.  It's FUZZY!  That's why it was so cheap, and why I could afford it, though.  Also, building stuff is time consuming. This is a fun hobby for me, but it's not for everyone.

There are pegboard hooks through his hind XC boots to keep them on the shelf.

There are things I would do differently and things that are less than professional quality, but hey, it was made with 60% recycled (read: not straight!) wood during a period of extreme financial hardship, and it's my first try at real furniture.  It could have been worse!

In the upper left is a pull out drawer that holds about a measured cup of treats.  Below that is a basket of medical things, and to the right of that is a rack that will hold up to 6 whips.

Handle dilemma update: I decided to leave the front handle and I'm glad I did.  There's nothing better than having a nice big handle to grab with your gigantic winter gloves.  It also doesn't look as much like a fridge after the trim got put on.  I am also adding the side handles this weekend - didn't want to put them on til it was in place at the barn.

Cost breakdown:
Cabinet carcass: Free, unless you count my mortgage...
Furring strips: Free
Door frame: Free (formerly my husband's closet shelf)
Pegboard: $13
Washers and screws: $5
Aspen: $15
Blue paint: $8
Polycrylic: $2
Latch: $2
Hinges and wheels: free w/Amazon rewards points
Main handle: $5
Side handles: $6 w/Amazon rewards points
Trim: $15
Monogram (from Relatively Stable): $15
Pegboard hooks, basket, shelf brackets, and treat holder (that's the tiny blue drawer): $24

Total cost: $110

Tack Locker Adventure: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4