Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
|
|
|
Oct 18, 2011 - 06:02pm PT
|
Hand Planes and Lumber Dreams.
Some of you may have seen my pictures of the modified timberframe home I built this spring. We pulled out when the roof was on, as the money was drying up. The homeowner has the best of intentions. He felled and milled much of the lumber we used in construction and implemented a solar powered kiln to dry the lumber on site. Thumbs up for his effort.
Now it's fall and he's got some more money to push the project forward. It's my job to install the flooring. I'm using wide pine boards of varying widths that he has milled down. His premise is pure and admirable, use his lumber to add integrity to the home and theoretically cut down on costs.
I'm screwing and plugging the flooring, which adds to the cost when compared to the bomber rose head nails that I suggested. Strike one on the cost effectiveness.
I'm also finding that the boards have not been joined properly, necessitating much wedging of each course to attain a tight fit. Beyond that, many boards aren't true enough to wedge, meaning that three out of four boards need to be hand planed on their edges. I have a #6 plane to take them down. It gives a beautiful, straight edge to the boards but takes a lot of time to tune each board. Strike two on cost effectivenes. While I really appreciate his ethics, he's on a budget and my requests to use yard milled boards are falling on deaf ears.
Its a shame to see money needlessly flowing into my pocket when it could be better used in getting a CO for his house.
The vast majority of money spent on a house is labor, not materials.
No point to this post other than to say that it's frustrating, and that sometimes people need to step back and look at the macro, rather than the micro.
|
|
tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
|
|
|
Oct 18, 2011 - 06:16pm PT
|
Brandon,
One doesn't build a custom house to save money. Ultimately the customer wants the house built a certain way, and is coming to the reality that doing so will cost him more.
But ultimately he has to be happy with the final product. In the big scheme he'll be happier down the line having had the home built the way he wanted.
|
|
kennyt
climber
|
|
|
Oct 29, 2011 - 08:40pm PT
|
|
|
slabbo
Trad climber
fort garland, colo
|
|
|
Oct 30, 2011 - 01:10pm PT
|
Got it done just in time
|
|
Murzerker
Social climber
Land of Goats and Tacos
|
|
|
Nov 16, 2011 - 10:19am PT
|
Bumping this to bring some quality workmanship to the top.
Amazed by the works of art in this post.
|
|
FRUMY
Trad climber
SHERMAN OAKS,CA
|
|
|
Nov 16, 2011 - 11:50am PT
|
^^^^^^ me too.
|
|
dogtown
Trad climber
JackAssVille, Wyoming
|
|
|
Nov 19, 2011 - 02:24am PT
|
My latest project after being diagnosed with RA. The one hundred and fifty foot water tower at Archer Wyoming. Small crew, lots of wind, big crane. Very scary! But fun.
The Almost dead old, Dawg.
|
|
Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
|
|
|
Nov 21, 2011 - 07:53pm PT
|
That's pretty beautiful.
I appreciate how you saw the beauty in that piece and held onto it.
All the craftsmen I know have a sweet stash of choice slabs tucked away somewhere.
|
|
dogtown
Trad climber
Cheyenne, Wyoming and Marshall Islands atoll.
|
|
|
Nov 22, 2011 - 11:30pm PT
|
Good Craftsman ship and design Warb. I just love Building sh#t big or small.
|
|
Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
|
|
|
Nov 23, 2011 - 11:31pm PT
|
you all are such inspirational craftsmen and craftswomen, I'm not a craftsman, but sometimes I can manage to hack together something functional...
a couple of weeks ago, Debbie declared: "what I need is a potting bench! that's what you can get me for christmas"
so I built one for her this last rainy weekend:
|
|
john hansen
climber
|
|
|
Nov 24, 2011 - 04:10am PT
|
Six and a half weeks into framing the first building ,just started framing on the second building today
From one week ago
|
|
Double D
climber
|
|
|
Nov 24, 2011 - 08:09am PT
|
Dang Kevin... nice table!
|
|
Bill Mc Kirgan
Trad climber
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
|
|
|
Nov 26, 2011 - 05:13pm PT
|
I do enjoy coming to this thread to see what others are doing. I am amazed at the level of craftsmanship on your personal and professional projects, and I've benefited from some of the knowledge shared in answer to a few of my questions.
Here's a quick review of my kitchen project followed by a question for the painting pros...
Below, is the old kitchen where we actually had the refrigerator located in the back porch (just beyond the door and to the left). The first part of the project involved moving the fridge out the back door, and it was so complicated a friend of mine asked if I'd seen that show, "I shouldn't be alive" when he saw how I had things rigged up for lowering the appliance.
Next is a shot during the expanding phase where the 28-inch door way was expanded to a 7-foot opening. The framing around the door was just plain frightening to behold as were the areas were ceiling joists were trimmed to make room for a stove chimney which was later removed. I don't know how this part of the house did not collapse, but I did fix a 4-inch drop in the kitchen ceiling.
Nearing the end! I'm finishing the drywall and getting ready to paint. Which leads me to a question for the ST painters.
Is it worth-while getting one of those spray guns? The Wagoner Power Painter looks like a great convenience, but is it really worth it? I like the idea of not trimming the edges, but if the thing is really messy, or if it's difficult to achieve a good finished look I'd like to know and avoid wasting my money.
Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Nov 26, 2011 - 07:17pm PT
|
Bill, when did a roller become obsolete for doing one room? Use a medium
nap if you want less texture. Then, with all the money you saved from not
buying the gun, you can spring for brewskies.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Nov 26, 2011 - 08:11pm PT
|
"Hey, Mom, I think you should start chargeing rent!"
|
|
CF
climber
|
|
|
Nov 26, 2011 - 08:29pm PT
|
|
|
Bill Mc Kirgan
Trad climber
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
|
|
|
Nov 26, 2011 - 10:03pm PT
|
FortMental,
I thought so. I still have a power roller which was effective for painting the outside of my house, and it probably still works. For smaller rooms inside I've just rolled from the pan, but have always been intrigued with the spray guns. When I asked about renting one at HD they said I'd need at least 5 gals of paint for it to be worthwhile; so, certainly not for the rental. Thanks for the link to those reviews. Sounds like a frustrating toy as opposed to a serious time saver.
Warbler,
Thanks for the brushing tips. I've never done that, but it sounds like a great finish. I'll practice it in a small area and may do the whole room like that. From what I understand, you recommend rolling on a good amount of paint and then using the brush for trimming edges followed by brushing to add the final texture, and sticking with areas small enough to do before drying and working it in a way to keep a wet or semi-wet edge for the next section. I like the hand crafted notion.
Reilly,
Never. I've always rolled'em but have noticed the price on that power sprayer getting lower over the years. Thought I might work it into the budget for this project but I think I'll stick with good old hard work for a good result. I was wondering about the cleaning and final finish and it sounds like both are problems.
Dave,
I like your framing work for the climbing wall. Looks like a stout design that does not weaken or add stress to the existing structure.
Those white spots may be dust particles illuminated by the camera flash.
Your building inspector in the last photo looks up to the task!
|
|
Euroford
Trad climber
Louisville, CO
|
|
|
Nov 28, 2011 - 03:54pm PT
|
Winter is here, so its time to take the jeep apart again!
stoked to have metal-glue capability in the garage now!
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
6 boards of genuine mahogany
$75 worth of mulch
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
Yes, Mini-Max FS350 (width of cutterhead in mm). The changeover takes 2
minutes max (no pun intended). The cutterhead is a Tersa so changing blades
takes 5 minutes with no alignment needed.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!