[Weekender] Hammering around at DIY workshop
One day Lim Chun-gi, a 58-year-old high school teacher, realized how old and fake his MDF bookshelves looked. After an endless search for a decent solid wood bookshelf in different stores, he came up with a better idea – to make one himself.
Lim visited the Bukgajwa-dong branch of Banzzogi, a do-it-yourself workshop, last April with his wife and made the perfect bookshelf. Content with the result, they went on with their next mission, to make a bed for their two boys.
“We made it with cypress, which is known for its insecticidal effects. ... It is also known to help cure atopic diseases. My boys do not have such diseases but the nice smell of the wood really freshened up their rooms which were usually filled with a bit of odor,” said Lim with a laugh.
Naturally, the couple really got into DIY furniture making, spending two thirds of their last summer and winter vacations at the workshop. Now during the semesters, they still visit the workshop at least once a week.
“It is a fun hobby, something I can brag to my friends about, especially because my wife and I can do it together. We even made some furniture for our relatives,” Lim said proudly.
Five members of the workshop, including Lim, were busy concentrating on their works at Banzzogi’s in Bukgajwa-dong on a recent Thursday afternoon. The workshop was not at all like a dusty carpenter’s shop. It was more like a home interior shop with its cozy interior and soft lighting.
Banzzogi is one of the nation’s largest DIY workshop chains with some 20 branches throughout the country. For a membership fee of around 300,000 won, one can become a lifetime member and use everything in the workshop.
“Our members range from middle school students to the elderly. Making furniture is not as hard as it looks. Even beginners can easily make a table like this after about three or four visits. Besides, I am here all the time to give help,” said Lim Dong-baek, manager of Banzzogi’s Bukgajwa-dong branch, pointing to a cute red table for two.
After receiving lessons on the basics of DIY, such as how to use the tools and paints on their first few visits, members can immediately start making their own furniture. No extra payment is needed except for the cost of materials.
“I usually suggest some sketches for beginners, but members come up with their own designs as they get more experienced,” said Lim.
Based on the sketch, Lim does most of the preparatory heavy labor for the members such as getting the right size of wood ready. Then members can enjoy the fun of sanding down the pieces with sandpaper, nailing them together and painting them.
“Some say that DIY furniture costs more than they thought, simply comparing with the prices of similar ready-made furniture made of MDF or plywood. But you should compare it with the furniture made of the same kind of solid wood. In that case, the total cost for DIY furniture comes to about half the cost of buying a ready-made one,” said Lim.
“And it is not just about money. DIY furniture is attractive because you can actually design your own furniture that fits into your house perfectly and have lots of fun while making them,” Lim added.
Kim So-ra, whom is said to be as good as a professional carpenter now, has been visiting the workshop everyday since two years ago. About 50 percent of the furniture in her home is her own handiwork, from tables and closets to a large bookshelf that covers one whole wall in her living room.
“They say furniture emits more toxic agents than new houses. That is why our eyes hurt when we visit furniture shops. I prefer making my own furniture for my children because here, we can choose high quality wood and paint made of natural, eco-friendly materials,” said Kim.
She was making a table for a client on Thursday.
“I get orders from my relatives and friends, mostly, but sometimes even from strangers who visit my blog and see photos of my creations. I don’t charge that much but it does earn me some pocket money,” said Kim.
Banzzogi managers also take orders for custom built furniture and the price is usually double the cost of making it by oneself.
“Making DIY furniture could be a fun hobby for a family, too. Our members often bring their family along to the workshop on the weekends, and they have a lot of fun working together,” said Lim.
There are many DIY workshop chains like Banzzogi throughout the country. For details on Banzzogi, go to www.banzzogi.net, for Self Design Easy Making, visit www.my-diy.co.kr, for Hafele DIY, visit www.diyhafele.co.kr and for Zaengyi, go to www.zaengyi.co.kr
Offline-based workshops are clustered near Hongik University in Sangsu-dong, central Seoul. They offer classes but only for short periods of time because they focus more on producing custom built furniture.
By Park Min-young (claire@heraldm.com)
Lim visited the Bukgajwa-dong branch of Banzzogi, a do-it-yourself workshop, last April with his wife and made the perfect bookshelf. Content with the result, they went on with their next mission, to make a bed for their two boys.
“We made it with cypress, which is known for its insecticidal effects. ... It is also known to help cure atopic diseases. My boys do not have such diseases but the nice smell of the wood really freshened up their rooms which were usually filled with a bit of odor,” said Lim with a laugh.
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| Banzzogi manager Lim Dong-baek (left) helps Kim So-ra make a bookshelf at Banzzogi DIY workshop. Ahn Hoon/ The Korea Herald |
Naturally, the couple really got into DIY furniture making, spending two thirds of their last summer and winter vacations at the workshop. Now during the semesters, they still visit the workshop at least once a week.
“It is a fun hobby, something I can brag to my friends about, especially because my wife and I can do it together. We even made some furniture for our relatives,” Lim said proudly.
Five members of the workshop, including Lim, were busy concentrating on their works at Banzzogi’s in Bukgajwa-dong on a recent Thursday afternoon. The workshop was not at all like a dusty carpenter’s shop. It was more like a home interior shop with its cozy interior and soft lighting.
Banzzogi is one of the nation’s largest DIY workshop chains with some 20 branches throughout the country. For a membership fee of around 300,000 won, one can become a lifetime member and use everything in the workshop.
“Our members range from middle school students to the elderly. Making furniture is not as hard as it looks. Even beginners can easily make a table like this after about three or four visits. Besides, I am here all the time to give help,” said Lim Dong-baek, manager of Banzzogi’s Bukgajwa-dong branch, pointing to a cute red table for two.
After receiving lessons on the basics of DIY, such as how to use the tools and paints on their first few visits, members can immediately start making their own furniture. No extra payment is needed except for the cost of materials.
“I usually suggest some sketches for beginners, but members come up with their own designs as they get more experienced,” said Lim.
Based on the sketch, Lim does most of the preparatory heavy labor for the members such as getting the right size of wood ready. Then members can enjoy the fun of sanding down the pieces with sandpaper, nailing them together and painting them.
“Some say that DIY furniture costs more than they thought, simply comparing with the prices of similar ready-made furniture made of MDF or plywood. But you should compare it with the furniture made of the same kind of solid wood. In that case, the total cost for DIY furniture comes to about half the cost of buying a ready-made one,” said Lim.
“And it is not just about money. DIY furniture is attractive because you can actually design your own furniture that fits into your house perfectly and have lots of fun while making them,” Lim added.
Kim So-ra, whom is said to be as good as a professional carpenter now, has been visiting the workshop everyday since two years ago. About 50 percent of the furniture in her home is her own handiwork, from tables and closets to a large bookshelf that covers one whole wall in her living room.
“They say furniture emits more toxic agents than new houses. That is why our eyes hurt when we visit furniture shops. I prefer making my own furniture for my children because here, we can choose high quality wood and paint made of natural, eco-friendly materials,” said Kim.
She was making a table for a client on Thursday.
“I get orders from my relatives and friends, mostly, but sometimes even from strangers who visit my blog and see photos of my creations. I don’t charge that much but it does earn me some pocket money,” said Kim.
Banzzogi managers also take orders for custom built furniture and the price is usually double the cost of making it by oneself.
“Making DIY furniture could be a fun hobby for a family, too. Our members often bring their family along to the workshop on the weekends, and they have a lot of fun working together,” said Lim.
There are many DIY workshop chains like Banzzogi throughout the country. For details on Banzzogi, go to www.banzzogi.net, for Self Design Easy Making, visit www.my-diy.co.kr, for Hafele DIY, visit www.diyhafele.co.kr and for Zaengyi, go to www.zaengyi.co.kr
Offline-based workshops are clustered near Hongik University in Sangsu-dong, central Seoul. They offer classes but only for short periods of time because they focus more on producing custom built furniture.
By Park Min-young (claire@heraldm.com)
