Aussie Garage starts this week!

[Terrick down Under]

I said it before, and I'll say it again...."you are doing a great job, keep it up!"

 

[Grumblebum]

That's going to be an awesome shed once you are done Ken.

Cheers GB.

 

[Mudnut]

Here is the difference between my wife's idea of horse power vs my idea of horsepower.

They actually like the Land Rover, as it has lots of sharp corners to scratch themselves on.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[1/2 Cup]

Ken, Horse power now that's a twist.

Regards

 

[Terrick down Under]

Just a gentle safety note...watch the horse shoes with your extension leads, a friend of mine had a real heart starter when he plugged his in after the horse had turned on its hoof.

 

[Mudnut]

Just a gentle safety note...watch the horse shoes with your extension leads, a friend of mine had a real heart starter when he plugged his in after the horse had turned on its hoof.

Thanks Terrick,

Yes I moved the lead after the photo. My wife has taken to feeding them treats under cover when she comes down from the house. They hear a car, and run to the concrete pad. They will be very disappointed when the walls and doors go up.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[Mudnut]

Few days off, so will get some strapping done, before I put the sheets on the office side. Was up at 0500, and watched the sunrise from my lounge. Fantastic weather at the moment compared to the storms happening down south. Hope all is well with those caught in the storms. Just a reminder why we love it up here in paradise!

Cheers,

Ken

 

[1/2 Cup]

Few days off, so will get some strapping done, before I put the sheets on the office side. Was up at 0500, and watched the sunrise from my lounge. Fantastic weather at the moment compared to the storms happening down south. Hope all is well with those caught in the storms. Just a reminder why we love it up here in paradise!

Cheers,

Ken

Thanks for sharing Ken, have a good one

 

[Mudnut]

Well not a productive day on the shed, but different. It was rainy today, so didn't feel like trying to wrestle roofing iron up and then try and get it secured whilst wet.
We had the "Cairns Ironman triathlon" in front of our house on the way up to Port Douglas from Cairns. Is an international event, and quite an experience to see. In the past supported various friends participating, but not this year.
Had to pick up my 15yo from the other side of town after a sleepover. Spent several hours in traffic getting there and back. Then spent time watching the bikes roll past. Didn't see anyone I know whilst there, but fun just the same. Will probably be news coverage tomorrow.
Got some chores done, and spent time with the animals. Don't tell my wife, but I will give the ponies a pat and a treat from time to time. Had them tethered out the front eating grass in the nature strip along our fence. They thought it was Christmas, as this grass always looks better from the other side of the fence. It was funny trying to get them back inside, as they both needed to get more stuffed in before the gate closed.
Have tomorrow off, and will organise some medical appointments. If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. Sometimes it ***** getting older.

Anyways will update with more shed progress soon.

Some photo's of the ponies expecting treats when I came down on the quad bike.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[dlcwent]

Good morning Ken. I'm sure you are not getting the weather we are here as you are about to begin winter. But in the last photo, it doesn't look like it too cold there. What breed of horses do you have? It's hard to tell from the head shots.

 

[Bib Overalls]

Although I have met Australians all over the world my only hands on, so to speak, experience with Australia proper was a ten day Sidney R&R from Vietnam 48 years ago. So, other than King's Cross, which is fuzzy in my mind, my perception of Australia is mostly that big monolithic rock in the middle of nowhere, a picture of which seems to be on the cover of everything written about the place.

So, when you said you live north of Cairns and south of Port Douglas I felt compelled to check that out on Google Maps. That stretch of your coast actually looks quite "lovely" in the satellite photographic overlays. "Lovely" being an adjective Australians in my presence have used to describe everything from a flat tire to a slice of toast with jam and butter (I hope I have used it properly here).

More seriously, you really live in a special place. Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef, semi-tropical climate and access to the best that modern society has to offer. A destination for more ordinary people who want to get away from it all without going to far from a cell phone tower.

I've drifted a bit from the brain fart that triggered this post. But I want you and the other Aussies here to know that I really enjoy your posts and threads about your garages, shops, and life in that upside down place called Oz.

 

[Terrick down Under]

Bib Overalls, from what a few of my slightly older friends tell me, if you have a fuzzy memory of the 60's in Kings Cross, means you had a really good time! LOL

 

[Mudnut]

Although I have met Australians all over the world my only hands on, so to speak, experience with Australia proper was a ten day Sidney R&R from Vietnam 48 years ago. So, other than King's Cross, which is fuzzy in my mind, my perception of Australia is mostly that big monolithic rock in the middle of nowhere, a picture of which seems to be on the cover of everything written about the place.

So, when you said you live north of Cairns and south of Port Douglas I felt compelled to check that out on Google Maps. That stretch of your coast actually looks quite "lovely" in the satellite photographic overlays. "Lovely" being an adjective Australians in my presence have used to describe everything from a flat tire to a slice of toast with jam and butter (I hope I have used it properly here).

More seriously, you really live in a special place. Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef, semi-tropical climate and access to the best that modern society has to offer. A destination for more ordinary people who want to get away from it all without going to far from a cell phone tower.

I've drifted a bit from the brain fart that triggered this post. But I want you and the other Aussies here to know that I really enjoy your posts and threads about your garages, shops, and life in that upside down place called Oz.

Bib Overalls,

Thanks for your reply, and all the others on this forum. Having people from all over the world give encouragement on my build, and way of life is inspiring. It keeps me going when I just want to give up sometimes.

Sadly I have only been to Kings Cross with my wife, and then adolescent son. Didn't spend much time there. He is now 15, and I am sure he would like to go back

Have done some work today, but was hampered by rain again. Have almost 1/2 of the roof on and screwed down on the storage side.
Have been working too much, and had a break to try and find my fortune in gold. Sadly only found enough to pay for lunch. Was a fun time just the same. Love the Australian bush.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[1/2 Cup]

Ken, prospecting is another thing that I can really enjoy there is just something about it that you can't explain in words.

Great progress on the shed.

Regards

 

[Mudnut]

Good morning Ken. I'm sure you are not getting the weather we are here as you are about to begin winter. But in the last photo, it doesn't look like it too cold there. What breed of horses do you have? It's hard to tell from the head shots.

dlcwent,

Thanks for the reply, sorry for the delay in answering. Missed your post.
Weather here is great temperature. 24C (roughly 80F) during the day down to 18C (50F) at night. Supposed to be the dry season but has been rainy. We generally have 2 seasons. Wet, and dry. Wet is hot and humid, and dry is mild, and not so humid.
Horse breeds are an unknown. Both were given to us. One might have some shetland, as his coat is fairly long. His name is Jack, but I call him Jeffery to annoy my wife. The other is scared of men, and unless I have food, he will not come near me. His name is Morgan, and has one brown eye, and one blue.
They are miniature ponies, and are the best of friends. They came from different families, but have settled in well. Our yard is just under 2 acres, and some too steep for them to graze on to so will have to get feed in during the dry, once the grass goes (should be gone by now).
My lovely wife has a habit of saving animals. Maybe that is why she chose me. 2 dogs, down to 1 cat, 2 ponies, countless fish, and chooks soon to come. Snakes are her main concern with the chooks, and the only reason why we don't have them yet. 1 cat was lost to a python recently, hence her concern.
Photo's of the snake removal man with a 4.5m long scrub python that was after our Chiwawa puppy. We back into the rainforest, so lots of native animals abound.
Note the WHS approved shoes.
Cheers,

Ken

 

[Bob Heine]

I think most people outside Australia consider Steve Irwin a very unique character. I never had an actual need for one but the pest control blokes I met down under were very much like Steve, loving the interaction with snakes and other dangerous wildlife. Talked with one really enthusiastic one at an RSL club and when The Crocodile Hunter show came to America I thought it was the same guy but realized he was quite a bit older than Steve.

Your snake wrangler is wearing pretty modest shorts and safety shoes (protecting the vulnerable bottoms of his feet). Most most of the ones I met seemed to prefer Stubbies and Blundstones.

 

[Mudnut]

It has been a while since I updated. Have been working a lot of overtimes, which has worked out, as the rain has not stopped for the dry season. Would have been much simpler and quicker if I did not apply insulation under the iron. Any breeze and it was a nightmare to hold in place.
Working by myself takes exponentially longer as everything has to be done to my pace. Even moving (taking down, and re erecting) scaffolding is difficult by myself.
Just this morning I finished the roof on the office side of the shed. All roofing is now done!! Still have guttering, and fascia's to install, but will enclose before that happens.

Plan on welding on cleats today for the floor joists on the mezzanine level today and tomorrow. Have some other welds to do before I start on timber framing between the steel for the walls.

Need to order doors, and windows yet, but will get them ordered soon.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[1/2 Cup]

It has been a while since I updated. Have been working a lot of overtimes, which has worked out, as the rain has not stopped for the dry season. Would have been much simpler and quicker if I did not apply insulation under the iron. Any breeze and it was a nightmare to hold in place.
Working by myself takes exponentially longer as everything has to be done to my pace. Even moving (taking down, and re erecting) scaffolding is difficult by myself.
Just this morning I finished the roof on the office side of the shed. All roofing is now done!! Still have guttering, and fascia's to install, but will enclose before that happens.

Plan on welding on cleats today for the floor joists on the mezzanine level today and tomorrow. Have some other welds to do before I start on timber framing between the steel for the walls.

Need to order doors, and windows yet, but will get them ordered soon.

Cheers,

Ken

Ken, I am hearing you on that score doing things by your self can be a challenge at times but you will get there in the end.

Regards

 

[Mudnut]

Ken, prospecting is another thing that I can really enjoy there is just something about it that you can't explain in words.

Great progress on the shed.

Regards

Hey 1/2 Cup,

Just love getting away and having a scratch around. Some good gold fields not too far from me. My wife is from Castlemaine, and still has family there and in Bendigo. Her father even worked in the Long Gully gold mine for 30+ years.

Have never had a chance to take the detector down and have a look in Victoria.
Lived in Melbourne for over 20 years, but never found the time to head to the gold fields down there.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[hewey]

That's a hell of a snake!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Hey 1/2 Cup,

Just love getting away and having a scratch around. Some good gold fields not too far from me. My wife is from Castlemaine, and still has family there and in Bendigo. Her father even worked in the Long Gully gold mine for 30+ years.

Have never had a chance to take the detector down and have a look in Victoria.
Lived in Melbourne for over 20 years, but never found the time to head to the gold fields down there.

Cheers,

Ken

Ken, there is nothing more relaxing than doing just that.

We are close to the Rushworth gold fields.

Its a small world. You should do a trip down this way..

Regards

 

[Mudnut]

Spent some time welding steel, and placing two more columns to support the mezzanine level. Used my "all terrain welding cart" to move around and do the welds. Photo included.
Started on filling in the steel frame with timber studs. Still need to fix to the steel, and concrete, but will hire a ramset (or other name brand) fixing gun to do so. Will wait until there is enough to make the rental worth while.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[Mudnut]

Well the first of 4 days off this week. Some progress is visible. Have been framing between the steel. Takes longer, as I can't build on the ground and stand up, as I want a tight fit between the horizontal beams.

Got pricing on hiring a ramset explosive fixing gun, and too expensive for the limited time I need it. Have purchased some self taping steel screws, and will use them to fix to the steel. Also purchased dinabolts to fix to the concrete slab.

Started on the wall between the garage, and storage / office, and realised that I need an other bearer welded to the upright columns. Needed to shift one over from the other side of the shed, and hoist into place before welding it to the uprights. Have completed most of this, but need to weld on an extension to reach the end. Ran out of sunlight, so will complete tomorrow.

Still have cleats to weld on for the mezzanine level joists, but plan on doing that this weekend.

Good to see some progress, and is much quicker than working with steel only.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[dlcwent]

Great progress this week Ken. Well done.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Ken, its amazing what you can do in four days when you get a good run at things. Looking fantastic.

Dyna bolts are the go for sure.

Regards

 

[Mudnut]

Well had 4 days off. Had to do too much running around with other life issues to get everything done I wanted. I did get some visible things accomplished however.

The drilling and screwing the timber to the steel was not a viable option. Am able to drill into the 4mm steel, but too difficult to do in the 5mm steel. Will get more framing done, and hire the ramset gun for a day of fixing. So lots of clamps until fixed.

Got all the welding done on the columns, so can get started on the timber framing up high, when I have time off work next.

Got my scaffold wheels delivered, so will build a bay on the slab, and be able to move it around. Will make the high work easier.

I welded on the cleats for the second story, and got the floor joists cut for that level. Also cut the joists for the office side. Still have to weld some pieces together to get enough to cover the floor, but should have enough to do the job. I currently have half resting in place, and have the same amount of offcuts to make the rest.

Weekend projects:

1. Bolt the floor joists to the upper floor.
2. Weld cleats for the office floor to the bearers.
3. Weld floor joists together for the office side to complete the floor.
4. Move scaffold from the office side to clear space, and set up mobile scaffold.
5. Spend time with family. Sons 15th birthday.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[Terrick down Under]

Well I am jealous! We have had wet weather here for the last 14 days, each time the rain stopped, the wind would blow up and dry things out nicely then the rain would come again. The whole job is looking good.

 

[Mudnut]

Had an other 3 days off the job that pays the bills, and spent my time working on the shed.
First day was a clean up day. Also installed a 3.3m post up to the roof beam. This was welded in place using some scaffolding placed on scraps of plywood on the floor joists.
Had some yellow tongue chipboard delivered yesterday. It was amusing to watch the driver negotiate my bridge and driveway. Everyone has to learn, but what I kept getting from him is "can't do it". With some guidance, he made it without mishap. The rain meant that there are now deep ruts where the truck traveled, but they are already filling in.
Was nice to have the load lifted up to the first floor.

Spent the rest of the day gluing and screwing the flooring down. This was around the old ply, and scaffolding I had up there.

Today, I finished off the flooring upstairs. Had to install, and weld in place a second post on the other side of the floor. Started to frame up the walls upstairs, but did not have enough to frame the next wall. Was a public holiday for the Cairns Show, so no timber yard was open. Bunnings did not have the structural timber I needed (no MGP 12), so left there without spending any money.
Whilst cutting the timber I had on site, the drop saw blade made a popping noise, and stopped spinning. Upon investigation, the drive belt for the blade gave up the ghost. It is frustrating not being able to use it, but seeing as the saw is 15 years old, and was used to build 4 houses, I guess some maintenance is unavoidable. Have ordered a new belt, but will take 5 - 10 days to get here.
Spent the rest of the day welding cleats on the bearers for the office flooring. Will finish these off on my next day working on the project. Can then bolt the floor joists to the cleats and get the flooring on in that area.
Once that is in place, can frame up that side. Should be simple and quick to do.
My knees and back are aching as I write this. Getting old is *****. If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.
Some photo's of the progress.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[Grumblebum]

Progressing nicely Ken, can visualise the layout more now that floors and walls are going in.

My 2 cents is to keep the yellow tongue dry from rain blowing in if you can so the edges don't swell up on it. If they do it's no biggie as a belt sander will sort it but is just a pain to have to do it.

Cheers GB.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Ken, thank you for the update.

GB has some good advice there.

I feel your pain as well, just don't over do things.

Regards

 

[Terrick down Under]

Gee, you are getting there nicely. What are you planning to clad the outside with?

 

[Mudnut]

Progressing nicely Ken, can visualise the layout more now that floors and walls are going in.

My 2 cents is to keep the yellow tongue dry from rain blowing in if you can so the edges don't swell up on it. If they do it's no biggie as a belt sander will sort it but is just a pain to have to do it.

Cheers GB.

Thanks for that. I have temporarily screwed some ply to the wall studs on the prevailing weather side to help protect the yellow tongue. Will probably need to do some sanding, as not all is protected, but will be under carpet, and tile upstairs anyways.

Ken

 

[Mudnut]

Gee, you are getting there nicely. What are you planning to clad the outside with?

Outside cladding will be a combination of Shadow Clad, and iron.

Should look nice, and not just like a shed.

Ken

 

[Mudnut]

Ken, thank you for the update.

GB has some good advice there.

I feel your pain as well, just don't over do things.

Regards

Thanks for the encouragement.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[Mudnut]

Well some more progress with 3 days working on it.

Got the cleats welded on, and the joists bolted on and level.
The next day had a load of yellow tongue delivered, and proceeded to glue and screw half of it down to the joists.
Today, finished off attaching the flooring, and started to frame the walls of the office. Took longer as my drop saw is still out of action. Had to resort to the old square, and circular saw. This ensured lots of crawling around on my knees, which I am paying for now.
Will probably install an other top plate over the end walls, as there is more flex in it than I like. Once installed, will fill the triangle area to finish off.
Have to go to work at my real job tomorrow, and over the weekend, so not much will happen for a few days.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[1/2 Cup]

Ken, just fantastic progress over the last few days.

Its amazing what you can get done when you can get a straight run at things.

Regards

 

[Mudnut]

Back on a run of nights, but have been getting a few things done.
Just about finished framing in the office side. Have some lintels to install, noggins, and some high framing. Ran out of timber, and could not get any on the weekend.
Spent some time making a support bracket for my Defender to carry long loads. It is easily removable, as it slots into a larger tube attached to the bull bar.
1st photo. It is now complete, but the photo is one in progress.

Then my belt for my drop saw arrived. Took 2 minutes to install, and works like new. Photo of new vs old belts.

I then erected higher scaffolding to reach the roof beams. Used a plumb bob to find where I needed to measure for my uprights for the garage door side. Have to admit that I move really slowly up there, as I hate heights, and the single bay wiggles around a bit. Better since I clamped it to the rafter.

Cut and installed the first 2 columns, and made a third from offcuts of the other two. Have one full length left for the long beam at the right of the wall..

Will plan on getting the third up tomorrow after a sleep, and before heading to work again.

Some photo's of the standing of the second column. 1st already standing and welded on the left. The pieced together one will be welded to the plate just to the left of the middle column. 100 x 200 x 5mm steel welded top and bottom should be strong enough to hold two 3m x 3.6m high doors. Not to mention the cross bracing. Yes that is what the engineer designed!!

Cheers,

Ken

 

[1/2 Cup]

Ken, steady progress as usual.

Carrying long stuff is a pain down here with the new Vic Roads regulations what are they like up your neck of the woods?

Regards

 

[Mudnut]

Same regulations up here, but at least it is supported, instead of pulled down to avoid bouncing. Takes some of the load off the roof rack.

6m lengths should not be a problem, as the Land Rover is a long vehicle, and the overhangs are within regs.

Ken

 

[Mudnut]

Well had a run of nights, with 2 nights off, and I am back into a run of nights again tonight. Had one day to do some work on the shed, and that was taken up by my wife's birthday. Had to go out for a meal, and spend time with friends that stopped by.

Dragged the last 2 columns around, hoisted them in place, and tacked them. Was trying to wait for a mate who had a backhoe, but he has been away, so used the winch on the Land Rover to drag them over to where I could hoist them up with the chain hoist.

One photo shows my front support for the Land Rover

Of the 2 middle columns, one is the one I made from offcuts.
I have one lintel for the garage door in place. Have to take down the top of the scaffolding to move it in place for the other one. Just didn't have time.

Should be good size doors. 3.6m high, and 3m wide. Much cheaper than if I had a single door due to cyclone ratings.

Well had better get some sleep before my shift tonight.

Cheers,

Ken