aainaa Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 I want to start a discussion for frustrated users where we share what *didn't* work. Often lessons learned the hard way can be MOST instructive and helpful! I hope experienced Greenleaf enthusiasts will share their most painful learning moments in an effort to make assembling and finishing GL kits a fun and rewarding experience. I have seen such stories around the forums, but would like to create a centralized location for them all. Make your negative experiences a positive by sharing them, and describing how to avoid similar situations in the future! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 TMTC! (too many to count, as we learned in microbiology class when culturing bacterial colonies...) Basically, along with measure at least twice before cutting once I would add always do the dry fit, each and every time; and the reasons for this ought to be sufficiently obvious; wood swells, paint/ primer/ stain sealer adds thickness and causes the wood fibers to swell... Also, it is always worthwhile to carefully take apart anything you think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 TMTC! (too many to count, as we learned in microbiology class when culturing bacterial colonies...) Basically, along with measure at least twice before cutting once I would add always do the dry fit, each and every time; and the reasons for this ought to be sufficiently obvious; wood swells, paint/ primer/ stain sealer adds thickness and causes the wood fibers to swell... Also, it is always worthwhile to carefully take apart anything you think should be done over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dooder85 Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Do complete dry fits so you know what every piece is for, I'm guilty of doing a half assed dry fit and then thinking "yeah I know what i'm doing" only to be shown painfully wrong a few days later. Wallpaper as soon as possible. write a checklist so you don't forget to do something to your wall before you install it and then have to work around a staircase, a fireplace, rafters, another wall... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Or get the door and transom installed in your Fairfield before realizing you have to slide that wall DOWN through the slot, rather than UP, like you did when you were dry fitting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kabrina Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 1.)Plan electrical in advance!!! I thought it would be easy to run tapewire as you go. You know, finish two rooms, decorate the first, add tapewire to the next, finish the second and just slowly build your way up. Yeah, I know, what crazy person would think this would work...well ...me. I ended up cutting up my ceilings to run round wire because I could not for the life of me get the tapewire to work correctly once I got to the 3rd floor, even though I checked connections at every addition. 2.) NEVER EVER EVER Use hot glue to put your build together! I didn't know about this wonderful forum and foolishly followed those instructions. Too much to go into but that Beacon Hill was given away. Yes that was another thing I learned later, I could have hit the dang thing with a heat gun or even a hair dryer and started from scratch, but no, I GAVE it away (insert hysterical sobbing here) 3.) Trim can hide a number of flaws and make your work look wonderful and perfect even though underneath is a frightful sight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minis On The Edge Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Never cut ANYTHING with a dull blade. That is how really bad injuries occur..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 ...3.) Trim can hide a number of flaws and make your work look wonderful and perfect even though underneath is a frightful sight.carefmustitude of imperfections.ul and judicious application of spackling compound can hide a Never cut ANYTHING with a dull blade. That is how really bad injuries occur..... Truly believe this one! I use a Stanley box-cutter type utility knife with a retractable blade. New, sharp blades are CHEAP and being able to retract the blade back into the handle prevents a lot of nasty, painful accidents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labrown Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Don't think you will remember what that little piece of wood is in the kit unless you label it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Ah, that's why I quit punching pieces out and bagging them up; now I leave them in the wood sheets and put the sheets into numerical order, so I can quickly find whatever I'm looking for as I build. This is the purpose of reading the instructions at least three times (not that you necessarily follow them...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyole Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Don't be impatient to glue everything together because you will glue too soon and have to figure out how to take it all apart without destroying it so you can put it together RIGHT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Don't get worried if you think the kit is talking to you, it will; DO listen and do what it wants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Don't be impatient to glue everything together because you will glue too soon and have to figure out how to take it all apart without destroying it so you can put it together RIGHT. How right you are! I tell myself this over and over and over. I've been working on the Pierce for several weeks. The only part glued is the base. Wall parts are all over the place in various stages of decoration, but there are still many things I want to do before I open the glue bottle. Of course, with all of this prep work, once I start gluing, it will take shape overnight. As soon as . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madtex1967 Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Work at your own pace! Do not get rushed because you "think" you should be moving along at a faster pace. Also listen to yourself and work when you want to, not when you think you "need" to. (I get tired of hearing from friends and family, "When will you be finished with that?") If you are tired, walk away! I have made more mistakes from being tired, or thinking, "If I can only finish this one area, I will be done for the day/night". I will then be kicking myself the next day for having to redo what I just did! Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minis On The Edge Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Matt, that is so TRUE!! I agree! Working at your own pace is essential to creating the dollhouse of YOUR Dream! Some things I am fast at doing. Other things take me forever but just stay consistent! In the end, it will all work out fine. Slow and steady wins the race. Go by your own pace of what slow is and take your time cause it is supposed to be enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Amen. In any endeavor, if there isn't time to do it right the first time, where does the time come from to do it over? We're NOT in a race, and if we're gradedon how quickly we work I'm in a world of trouble! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songlake Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Dont use the "eyeball" level. It's never right. Invest in a small level and use it when installing your floors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Dont use the "eyeball" level. It's never right. Invest in a small level and use it when installing your floors And of course you've made sure the workbench or table is level to begin with! :thumb: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asherah Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 I was building the alexandria and now I can't finish the kitchen or the hallway in back of it because i glued it together with freakin wood glue before it was decorated!!! Never do that =( Dry fit it. If you can't get to it to decorate it, take it apart and do it first.= ( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mininecessities Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 Never run round wire under roof shingles without a ditch........it WILL show and you have waves in your roof. Ithought, oh that tiny wire and those heavy shingles.......it will be ok and it WASN'T! and as has already been said.........be sure to make sure you know where all your hard to get nooks and cranny's are at and wallpaper , paint etc there as much as can be. I had to do the Garfield 2nd floor stairwell AFTER it was put together......what a difficult thing it was! Well I didn't have to but I had this wild idea that I would like my wallcoverings to go continously around the room whether than have to ad trim and of course I was wrong. The Garfield kit at least the one I had, had you build the entire house FIRST. I don't remember ever seeing them to say to do anything first unless I totally missed it. But it's done...........at least the third floor is going easy because I am doing it before putting the roof on. If you use wonder under to put fabric on card stock for wallpaper NEVER iron the fusible web to the card stock first , it won't peel off. You MUST iron onto the fabric first then peel the paper off then iron onto the card stock. works well that way. I ruined a couple pieces before discovering this ! Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixie0763 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 This is a repeat, but never hurts for emphasis ... paint/paper everything you can in advance of assembly. It's a lot harder to do after the pieces are put together! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparklepuppies Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 This is a repeat, but never hurts for emphasis ... paint/paper everything you can in advance of assembly. It's a lot harder to do after the pieces are put together! Actually, I'm so messy with glue, this would be a bad idea for me! The one time I did that I had glue all over all my paper and everything. I much prefer to do it once assembled if possible. I am also very picky about pattern matching, and that is harder to do wall by wall (although I have done it), and I prefer smoothness around the corners. But just whatever works for you is the best way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patkneazle Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Do not add a foundation to your house until you check to see how the bottom of the kit is constructed. I had a 1/2" discrepancy that followed me right up to the third floor. All doors and windows had to be trimmed out at the bottom and the piece added to the top, and the third floor now has a 1/2" trimmed out "thing" on all sides at floor level. *rolling eyes* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Whatever new technique or idea you want to try out, always make a sample FIRST. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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