Escapees September-October 2023

W e bought a pair of fl ip-up under the shelf 12 inches. They are rated to support 350 lbs., many times more than we would ever need. To keep things simple, we purchased a large 15" x 20" bamboo cutting board to be the shelf. It came with a groove for drippings around the edge but we simply turned it over so the top of the shelf would bea fl at surface. There’s a divot at one end that is the “handle” when the cutting board is used as a serving tray, but we didn’t mind that slightly odd look. By using a pre-cut cutting board, all we had to do is sand it and coat it with a Minwax fi nish to turn it into an attractive shelf, an easy way to go if you don’t have a power saw handy. First we sanded the cutting board and applied a few coats of fi nish to give it a nice satin texture. Bamboo is very fi brous, and it’s easy for long splinters to break off during the sanding process. So, we sanded gently and wiped the sawdust away even more gently! We used disposable foam brushes to apply the fi nish, starting each new coat with a new foam brush. We let each coat dry overnight and then sanded very lightly before applying the next coat. We applied about six coats all together. Then we installed the brackets. The end-wall of our lower cabinets is just a shelf brackets that extend seven inches down along the supporting wall and extend out

thin piece of fi ber board, not thick enough for the fl ip-up bracket screws to grip into. So, we glued a piece of a 1x3 onto the backside of the fi ber board and screwed the brackets into the fi ber board and the 1x3 behind it. We had to remove the drawers to access this space. Then we screwed the cutting board onto the fl ip-up brackets. In order for the brackets to fl ipupand down smoothly, they have to be perfectly aligned and square to each other. We rushed a little bit and didn’t use a level, so we struggled when we attached the board to the brackets tomake it fl ip up and down smoothly. In hindsight, it might have been easier to attach the brackets to the cutting board fi rst, making sure they were perfectly square to each other and to the cutting board, and then attach the brackets (and board) to the end wall of the cabinets. Either way, use a level and make good measurements! The fi nal result is wonderful. Now two people can work in our kitchen at once, and we have a great place to dry dishes that doesn’t interfere with the rest of our counter space. EMILY AND MARK FAGAN #99408 traveled full-time by RV and sailboat for 13 years and now enjoy RVing part-time. Emily has written over 200 articles for various RV and sailing magazines, and the Fagans’ photography has appeared on magazine covers, in com mercial wall calendars and even in museums! Follow their blog at roadslesstraveled.us.

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ESCAPEES Magazine September/October 2023