When I set out to accomplish something important to me, it always seems like it takes a lot longer than it should. I realize, now, why. Past experience has shown me that, if I rush into something and build it on instinct, it'll most likely be wrong. Every now and then, I forget this small fact and try to do something quickly and easily without testing.
I decided I wanted a pot rack for my kitchen. Now, I don't have a very large kitchen, and I certainly don't have the $200+ it costs to buy a full-blown pot rack, nor do I have the means to hang such a large pot rack. However, I wasn't going to let that deter me. I decided that, since I could find no currently existing product on the market for purchase, I would construct my own wall-mounted pot rack.
It seemed simple enough. I need a bar or rod that is nice looking and can support about 100lbs. I also need hooks in order to hang the pots from. Additionally, I need to either hang the rod far enough away from the wall that the pots won't touch it, or in such a location that there wouldn't be a wall directly behind them (in an archway, etc).
So, to Home Depot Jess and I went one day. I got a nice looking curtain rod that seemed perfect for doubling for a pot-rod. I purchased some two inch wood screws that I could bury deep into the studs to ensure it would be capable of holding the weight. And I purchased 5 S-shaped hooks in order to hang the pots. My total costs were about $35. "Not bad," I thought.
Hanging it was fairly simple. As soon as I figured out that there was a metal protective covering on top of the corners of the wall studs in this location, I moved it up an inch or so, hit wood with all of the screws and the pot-rod held very tight and seemed like it would support well over what I intended to put on it. Then I put the S-hooks on it and hung a few pots and pans. Piece of cake. Looked good, worked perfectly. $35 well spent. Project done.
Nope.
The first time I went to take a pot down, I ran into trouble. You see, in real pot racks, the "rod" is wide and thin and flat. Mine was round. The difference is that, if you have wide thin and flat, and you get squared hooks, they can't fall off without pulling up on them. On the other hand, with S-hooks and a round rod, the first time you try to take a pot off, the S-hook lifts off with it and then comes crashing down onto the counter top. Ahh well. No big deal. I'll just be more careful. That worked, until yesterday.
I took off another pot, the S-hook lifted off the rod and came crashing down. This time, it landed on the side of a glass bowl filled with decorative rocks, candles and water. Yay. It was ruined. There was water everywhere. After cleaning up the mess I resolved to find a new method of pot rack.
They actually sell wall-mounted pot racks. Just like the one I invented.
I just wasn't looking in the right places. I've found them now, and,
most likely, will very closely model their design. I would simply
purchase one, but they run about $60, and that's only for a small 32"
model.
But, the point of this story is this: I hate being wasteful. I hate wasting time, especially, but also money and resources. So I'm at constant odds with me. Should I waste the time to double check that I have the best design possible, or should I take my need or desire into account and build it as quickly as I can and figure the rest out later. If I get lucky and the things works perfectly the first time, then I've certainly made out better than expected. But, in most cases where I don't spend a lot of planning time, I end up wasting time, money, and resources in the end when I have to redesign, rebuild, purchase new parts, and replace the things that broke due to my previous, failed, design. Either way, I end up "wasting" a little of something. And I hate having to decide, beforehand, where the better investment is.
