MARCH 7TH, 2013
Today, I started laying out the garage and shop. It will be a 20'X20' pole building, garage, with a 16'X16' shop added to the back. It is on a hill, so I had to cut into the hill to make a level area for the garage. The shop will be up hill, so the floor will be above the level of the garage floor. Here is a drawing of the footprint:
Here are some pictures of the build site and materials:
MARCH 8TH, 2013
Tonight after work I got 4 posts set. "Chuck", our neighbor was so kind as to offer his tractor with an auger. It has been wonderful!
Here is a picture if Chuck's property. As you can see from his house and garage, he and I have a lot in common.
Tonight after work I got 4 posts set. "Chuck", our neighbor was so kind as to offer his tractor with an auger. It has been wonderful!
Here is a picture if Chuck's property. As you can see from his house and garage, he and I have a lot in common.
Here is where I am at with the garage as of quitting time tonight:
MARCH 9TH, 2013
Today I finished the garage. Just as I decided it was totally done, my wife decided she would also like siding and a roof. Geesh, women! It's just never enough. lol
Here is todays work..................
Today I finished the garage. Just as I decided it was totally done, my wife decided she would also like siding and a roof. Geesh, women! It's just never enough. lol
Here is todays work..................
MARCH 11, 2013
It started raining today, on and off. Everything became a real mud hole to work in. When I got off work, the rain had let up enough I could work in it a little. Behind the garage, will be a 16'X16' floor. On that floor will be a 16'X12' shop with a 4' deep porch on the front of it. There were a couple of trees that needed to be cut down to allow room for the shop, so I decided this would be a good time to get them out of the way.
It started raining today, on and off. Everything became a real mud hole to work in. When I got off work, the rain had let up enough I could work in it a little. Behind the garage, will be a 16'X16' floor. On that floor will be a 16'X12' shop with a 4' deep porch on the front of it. There were a couple of trees that needed to be cut down to allow room for the shop, so I decided this would be a good time to get them out of the way.
I had the trees down, and was in the process of stacking the firewood and dragging the brush to a brush pile when mother nature decided I was done for the day. The skies opened! lol
MARCH 12TH, 2013
It has rained for the past 36 hours, but finely it has stopped and the skies are just overcasted. The temperature has dropped back down to the mid 40's after a weekend of sunny and 70. This really sucks! lol Tonight after work, I started the shop floor. I needed to get the holes drilled for the support posts so I am finished with the tractor if Chuck needs it back soon.
It has rained for the past 36 hours, but finely it has stopped and the skies are just overcasted. The temperature has dropped back down to the mid 40's after a weekend of sunny and 70. This really sucks! lol Tonight after work, I started the shop floor. I needed to get the holes drilled for the support posts so I am finished with the tractor if Chuck needs it back soon.
At this point, the holes are all drilled, but not all the posts are in. I wanted to build the floor over the holes, the set the posts so it is easier to locate them exactly under beams and joists.
MARCH 13TH, 2013
After work tonight, I starting installing the rest of the posts and floor joists for the shop floor. I got all the posts set, and floor joists put in, but still have a few joist hangers to add. It is supposed to rain for the next 3 or 4 days, so I am hesitant to put the plywood on the shop floor just yet. I don't want it to sit wet too long before it is under roof. Here are some pics.
After work tonight, I starting installing the rest of the posts and floor joists for the shop floor. I got all the posts set, and floor joists put in, but still have a few joist hangers to add. It is supposed to rain for the next 3 or 4 days, so I am hesitant to put the plywood on the shop floor just yet. I don't want it to sit wet too long before it is under roof. Here are some pics.
MARCH 14, 2013
Well, all the holes have been drilled, and the posts set. I took the tractor back to Chuck tonight so he could get it back in his barn before the predicted rain over the next three days.
I finished the purlins on the west side. They are finished up to where the header will be. The lumber yard called this morning and said my trusses will be delivered tomorrow morning. That's great so they will be here when I am ready.
Here are pics:
Well, all the holes have been drilled, and the posts set. I took the tractor back to Chuck tonight so he could get it back in his barn before the predicted rain over the next three days.
I finished the purlins on the west side. They are finished up to where the header will be. The lumber yard called this morning and said my trusses will be delivered tomorrow morning. That's great so they will be here when I am ready.
Here are pics:
MARCH 16, 2013
Well, I didn't post anything last night, but I did manage to get the floor on the shop down before I got rained out. I used a new plywood T&G flooring they say can get wet without delaminating. I decided to give it a try, even though it was an extra $10 a sheet.
Today was Saturday and I put in a good full day. I started a bond fire next to the shop so I had a place to warm my hands occasionally. Here are pics of Friday night and Saturday.
Well, I didn't post anything last night, but I did manage to get the floor on the shop down before I got rained out. I used a new plywood T&G flooring they say can get wet without delaminating. I decided to give it a try, even though it was an extra $10 a sheet.
Today was Saturday and I put in a good full day. I started a bond fire next to the shop so I had a place to warm my hands occasionally. Here are pics of Friday night and Saturday.
MARCH 17, 2013
Happy St. Patties day!
Ok, I'm exhausted! Since a picture
it worth a 1000 words, I will let them do the talking. Here are 7 or 8 thousand
words..................
Happy St. Patties day!
Ok, I'm exhausted! Since a picture
it worth a 1000 words, I will let them do the talking. Here are 7 or 8 thousand
words..................
MARCH 19TH, 2013
Well, it rained all day yeasterday, so nothing got done. I mean, it poured! Like monsoons! Today after work, it had turned much colder. It is only down to about 34 degrees, but with the wind chill, it feels about like 12 below zero out. I worked on siding for as long as I could stand it. I just quit, with over an hour daylight left. That isn't like me, but it is just so cold it isn't worth it. Here is what I got done before I quit though.
Well, it rained all day yeasterday, so nothing got done. I mean, it poured! Like monsoons! Today after work, it had turned much colder. It is only down to about 34 degrees, but with the wind chill, it feels about like 12 below zero out. I worked on siding for as long as I could stand it. I just quit, with over an hour daylight left. That isn't like me, but it is just so cold it isn't worth it. Here is what I got done before I quit though.
Notice the little chip out of the vinyl on the bottom left of the window? I got the window at an auction for $5.00! I will live with the chip! :-)
MARCH 22, 2013 (Friday)
On Wednesday, chuck called. He asked when I would be ready to set my bigger trusses. Due to his schedule, and mine we decided we better get it done Friday. I would take a vacation day. That meant, I had 2 days to get all the headers up and ready for trusses. The weather has been horrid. Cold, rainy, just plain misserable. Well, here are some pics of Wednesday and thursday nights progress getting ready for trusses.
On Wednesday, chuck called. He asked when I would be ready to set my bigger trusses. Due to his schedule, and mine we decided we better get it done Friday. I would take a vacation day. That meant, I had 2 days to get all the headers up and ready for trusses. The weather has been horrid. Cold, rainy, just plain misserable. Well, here are some pics of Wednesday and thursday nights progress getting ready for trusses.
Ok, so Thursday night, Chuck brought his lift over for us to set the trusses with. It has a winch attached to the bottom of the bucket. By 7:30 Friday morning, I had all the headers up and ready. It may sound wimpy to you, but I gotta tell you, lifting 14' rough sawn 2"X8" green planks covered in frost is a bitch! They weighed a ton, and I am old.....lol Here are some pics I took Friday.
MARCH 23, 2013
Today, I sorta took it easy. After the last 3 days, I decided I deserved an easier day. lol.....My daughter and Grandkits came over. We started a little bond fire and I just puttered. By the end of the day, quite a bit of siding went up, but it went up between beers and chit-chat by the fire.
Today, I sorta took it easy. After the last 3 days, I decided I deserved an easier day. lol.....My daughter and Grandkits came over. We started a little bond fire and I just puttered. By the end of the day, quite a bit of siding went up, but it went up between beers and chit-chat by the fire.
Blair, gathering materials
Graham, tool belt ready!
MARCH 29TH 2013 (Friday of Easter weekend)
It has been cold and rainy for the past 5 days. Today, the sun finely came out and it warmed up to about 50. I couldn't wait to get off work. Due to all of the mud from the rain, I had a load of gravel scheduled for delivery right after work. I got off work a little early, so I had time to put some siding on the back wall of the shop before the gravel arrived. Then, I spent until almost dark raking and moving gravel around. Here are some progress pics:
It has been cold and rainy for the past 5 days. Today, the sun finely came out and it warmed up to about 50. I couldn't wait to get off work. Due to all of the mud from the rain, I had a load of gravel scheduled for delivery right after work. I got off work a little early, so I had time to put some siding on the back wall of the shop before the gravel arrived. Then, I spent until almost dark raking and moving gravel around. Here are some progress pics:
MARCH 31, 2013 (HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!)
Between all the Easter festivities, I managed to get quite a bit done on the garage. We did most of the Easter things Saturday due to Grand kids, kids schedules. It was supposed to rain all day Easter Sunday, but didn't turn out to be that bad of a day. Here is the progress for the whole weekend:
Between all the Easter festivities, I managed to get quite a bit done on the garage. We did most of the Easter things Saturday due to Grand kids, kids schedules. It was supposed to rain all day Easter Sunday, but didn't turn out to be that bad of a day. Here is the progress for the whole weekend:
APRIL 7TH, 2013
I stopped working on the garage part of the building to concentrate on getting the shop covered. The plywood floor in there has had about all the rain and snow it will stand, so I needed to get a roof on. My Gawd has my body has gone to hell in the last year or so. It is only a little 12X16 shop, with a 4' porch on the front. My daughter and son-in-law stopped over to help. If it wasn't for those guys, I think I would still be on the first sheet of metal roof.
We worked great as a team, but I'm tellin' ya what........by the end of the day I thought I was going to die. As we were putting the ridge cap on, straddling the ridge, my hips began to cramp up. I remember at one point in pure agony I told my son-in-law I think you are going to have to get me off the roof with a crane..............lolol
Once the shop roof was done, it was time for a bond fire and pain killer. My medicine of choice was Bud Light. It really worked well for me! lol....Matt and I killed an 18 pack. There was very little pain as the embers of the fire began to die. It wasn't even as bad this morning as I thought it would be. Bud Light should be prescribed by more Doctors! lol
Here are pics from the day and evening..........................
I stopped working on the garage part of the building to concentrate on getting the shop covered. The plywood floor in there has had about all the rain and snow it will stand, so I needed to get a roof on. My Gawd has my body has gone to hell in the last year or so. It is only a little 12X16 shop, with a 4' porch on the front. My daughter and son-in-law stopped over to help. If it wasn't for those guys, I think I would still be on the first sheet of metal roof.
We worked great as a team, but I'm tellin' ya what........by the end of the day I thought I was going to die. As we were putting the ridge cap on, straddling the ridge, my hips began to cramp up. I remember at one point in pure agony I told my son-in-law I think you are going to have to get me off the roof with a crane..............lolol
Once the shop roof was done, it was time for a bond fire and pain killer. My medicine of choice was Bud Light. It really worked well for me! lol....Matt and I killed an 18 pack. There was very little pain as the embers of the fire began to die. It wasn't even as bad this morning as I thought it would be. Bud Light should be prescribed by more Doctors! lol
Here are pics from the day and evening..........................
APRIL 8TH, 2013
Well, I'm still a little stiff and sore, but managed to get the gable of the shop sided tonight after work. Here are pics. It is supposed to rain the rest of the week! :-(
Well, I'm still a little stiff and sore, but managed to get the gable of the shop sided tonight after work. Here are pics. It is supposed to rain the rest of the week! :-(
APRIL 14, 2013
Friday night, my daughter and I headed to wooster and got some nice pullets. It was a busy weekend, but we wanted to get them before they were all sold. We had a heck of a time finding any this year. She got 18, and I got 12.
Yesterday (saturday) and today (Sunday) a VERY good friend of mine, helped finish the metal on the roof. Roy has been out of state working for the government doing damage assessment from huricane Sandy. He has been in New Jersey since January. He has been back home about a week, nursing a sick wife. Roy has been in the construction business for most of his life, much like me. The difference is, he is much more tallented than I, and was such a huge help, it was unbelievable! He came yesterday about noon. We worked until late evening. He then came back this morning at 7:30am. In those two days, we finished all the purlins, overhangs, facias and put all the metal roof on, including the trim. I think a combination of my workmanship, and the rough sawn lumber were a little frustrating for Roy. He is very much a perfectionist. By the end of today, I had him convinced to relax, lay back, and blame every inperfection on "THE ROUGH SAWN LUMBER". It became our favorite catch phrase. Here are the pics:
Friday night, my daughter and I headed to wooster and got some nice pullets. It was a busy weekend, but we wanted to get them before they were all sold. We had a heck of a time finding any this year. She got 18, and I got 12.
Yesterday (saturday) and today (Sunday) a VERY good friend of mine, helped finish the metal on the roof. Roy has been out of state working for the government doing damage assessment from huricane Sandy. He has been in New Jersey since January. He has been back home about a week, nursing a sick wife. Roy has been in the construction business for most of his life, much like me. The difference is, he is much more tallented than I, and was such a huge help, it was unbelievable! He came yesterday about noon. We worked until late evening. He then came back this morning at 7:30am. In those two days, we finished all the purlins, overhangs, facias and put all the metal roof on, including the trim. I think a combination of my workmanship, and the rough sawn lumber were a little frustrating for Roy. He is very much a perfectionist. By the end of today, I had him convinced to relax, lay back, and blame every inperfection on "THE ROUGH SAWN LUMBER". It became our favorite catch phrase. Here are the pics:
APRIL 19TH, 2013
I took a couple of vacation days yesterday and today to give me a 4 day weekend. I am hoping to get lots done in these 4 days. Yesterday, I finished the siding on the front. That was all the siding that was left to do. Today, it rained all morning, so I ripped the batton strips on the table saw. In the afternoon, it cleared off and I got a bunch of the batton strips put on the shop walls. Here are some pics.
I took a couple of vacation days yesterday and today to give me a 4 day weekend. I am hoping to get lots done in these 4 days. Yesterday, I finished the siding on the front. That was all the siding that was left to do. Today, it rained all morning, so I ripped the batton strips on the table saw. In the afternoon, it cleared off and I got a bunch of the batton strips put on the shop walls. Here are some pics.
JULY 26TH, 2013
It has been a very busy summer so far, and I haven't given any updates lately, so here goes. I have been receiving about 4 or 5 emails a day from many who have found our website. I love hearing from all of you!
We have been busy with the garden, chickens, etc. On Fridays we have been doing a farmer's market selling eggs and extras from the garden.
I have been waiting for the siding to dry out some on the garage before I can stain. If you stain green lumber too soon, when it shrinks, you will get white stripes that appear beside the baton strips. We decided it would be best if we wait to hang the garage doors and man door on the garage until after we stain so we don't have to worry about getting stain all over them.
The same with cementing the floor...."drippage ya know" lol
It is now dry enough to start staining.....so, I did! Then I had a vision. Here is Ohio there is a historic "Icon". The "Mail Pouch Tobacco" barn.
From 1925 to 2000, there was a man by the name of Harley Warrick. If you google his name, there are tons of stories and interviews with him. Harley painted over 20,000 barns in Ohio and surrounding states with advertisement for Mail Pouch. He said "the first 10,000 were a little rough, but then I got the hang of it". I decided to do a tribute to Harley on our garage. You will either love it, or hate it.....but we LOVE IT! :-)
It has been a very busy summer so far, and I haven't given any updates lately, so here goes. I have been receiving about 4 or 5 emails a day from many who have found our website. I love hearing from all of you!
We have been busy with the garden, chickens, etc. On Fridays we have been doing a farmer's market selling eggs and extras from the garden.
I have been waiting for the siding to dry out some on the garage before I can stain. If you stain green lumber too soon, when it shrinks, you will get white stripes that appear beside the baton strips. We decided it would be best if we wait to hang the garage doors and man door on the garage until after we stain so we don't have to worry about getting stain all over them.
The same with cementing the floor...."drippage ya know" lol
It is now dry enough to start staining.....so, I did! Then I had a vision. Here is Ohio there is a historic "Icon". The "Mail Pouch Tobacco" barn.
From 1925 to 2000, there was a man by the name of Harley Warrick. If you google his name, there are tons of stories and interviews with him. Harley painted over 20,000 barns in Ohio and surrounding states with advertisement for Mail Pouch. He said "the first 10,000 were a little rough, but then I got the hang of it". I decided to do a tribute to Harley on our garage. You will either love it, or hate it.....but we LOVE IT! :-)
DECEMBER 9TH, 2013
The shop has been finished now since about October. Well, let me rephrase that. The shop has been insulated, wired and dry walled. An electric heater is in there and it can be heated even in the weather (mid teens) we have had this year. I have been sole searching and wondering aimlessly deciding what I need in the way of work benches. Different work benches work for different type projects. I always seem to need a hobby and to keep busy. Now that the house, garage, and shop have been finished, I have idle time. That does not go well for me. I have been trying to decide what would be the best use of the shop. What would I enjoy doing, and maybe even make a few extra bucks doing.
I started making fishing lures. Hand carved fishing lures. I actually went a little nuts on them. I found a web site that sells the parts online. The more you buy, the cheaper the parts are. I must admit, I went a little crazy. I bought hundreds of treble hooks, metal lips, glass eyes, and screw eyes. I made about 60 lures before I started to realize I just didn't enjoy doing it. Well, that's just great! Now I have all these lures made, and enough parts to make about 200 more lures, and I enjoy doing it about as much as I enjoy watching paint dry.
Does anybody want a great deal on fishing lures? lol
The shop has been finished now since about October. Well, let me rephrase that. The shop has been insulated, wired and dry walled. An electric heater is in there and it can be heated even in the weather (mid teens) we have had this year. I have been sole searching and wondering aimlessly deciding what I need in the way of work benches. Different work benches work for different type projects. I always seem to need a hobby and to keep busy. Now that the house, garage, and shop have been finished, I have idle time. That does not go well for me. I have been trying to decide what would be the best use of the shop. What would I enjoy doing, and maybe even make a few extra bucks doing.
I started making fishing lures. Hand carved fishing lures. I actually went a little nuts on them. I found a web site that sells the parts online. The more you buy, the cheaper the parts are. I must admit, I went a little crazy. I bought hundreds of treble hooks, metal lips, glass eyes, and screw eyes. I made about 60 lures before I started to realize I just didn't enjoy doing it. Well, that's just great! Now I have all these lures made, and enough parts to make about 200 more lures, and I enjoy doing it about as much as I enjoy watching paint dry.
Does anybody want a great deal on fishing lures? lol
Well, anyway, I have thought long and hard about what I enjoy doing, and what I am good at. For about 12 years, I made a living making Windsor chairs. In the process, I did outdoor craft shows with some incredible artists. Most of the shows I did, were period type shows. We wore Colonial dress, and our booths had to meet certain standards. Many times the crafters, including myself would camp at the shows to avoid travel, and spending gas money. In the evenings after the shows closed, we would sit around a fire and trade stories. Sometimes we would even teach each other different techniques. I did shows with a great spoon carver by the name of Tom Metz. Tom is from West Virginia, but lives near Dennison Ohio now. One weekend, in the evenings, Tom taught me some of the tricks of his trade. I already used a shaving horse, draw knife, fro, wedges, etc. in my chair making, so the tools were those I already used in my trade. It came pretty easy to me. Another craft I learned was making wooden pitch forks, and rakes. Stools, benches, etc. were already in my booth along with chairs. All of these crafts are made of green wood, split from a green log, and sometimes bent.
Since I really don't like making the same thing over, and over again, I have been thinking....why not just make a few of each thing you know how to make. When you get tired of carving spoons, make a couple of rakes. When rakes get old, make a couple stools.
The Windsor chairs are a lot of work, and I think I am getting a little too old to go to all that, but there are plenty of other projects I can think of. So....it looks like I am back in my element again. I was a little lost and wondering around for a while, but I am back now, and know what I need to do. I have a week vacation over Christmas, so that will be a good time to get my shaving horse made, a chopping block, and a steamer built for bending some wood.
Boy, I bet those old tools that have been in storage waiting on my return could use a good sharpening! lol
Stay tuned.......there will be some pictures coming. Maybe even some goods for sale here and there.
Since I really don't like making the same thing over, and over again, I have been thinking....why not just make a few of each thing you know how to make. When you get tired of carving spoons, make a couple of rakes. When rakes get old, make a couple stools.
The Windsor chairs are a lot of work, and I think I am getting a little too old to go to all that, but there are plenty of other projects I can think of. So....it looks like I am back in my element again. I was a little lost and wondering around for a while, but I am back now, and know what I need to do. I have a week vacation over Christmas, so that will be a good time to get my shaving horse made, a chopping block, and a steamer built for bending some wood.
Boy, I bet those old tools that have been in storage waiting on my return could use a good sharpening! lol
Stay tuned.......there will be some pictures coming. Maybe even some goods for sale here and there.