Above 1200 Sq/FT Bailey's Barn Build

[NUTTSGT]

The loft is looking great, the floors look perfect for that "barn" and the trim fits right in.

The gap in the cabinets, I'd take the doors off and fill it with some painters caulk and recoat it with the Krylon you were using. Since it was 24 hours old, it shouldn't have bubbled unless something got on the finish like oil.

If I would have been keeping up on your build I would have suggested that you use a french cleat to hang the cabinets but you (wife) came up with a solution. One thing I would suggest is to add a 1x6 (ripped to size) on top of the small braces(running parallel to the bench top) at the bottom. This will give added support at the base of the cabinets and a place to mount some type of under cabnet lighting if you choose to add some later on.

 

[mwbailey]

John, Eric, Thanks for encouragement. We're "getting there". As many have said, it's a process!

Eric, I think the "French cleat" might be what I've seen in all the woodworking publications. That crossed my mind, but I had the chop saw set up and didn't want to go to the trouble of getting the table saw out and, mostly, ripping a long board at an angle. How's that for laziness?! But, I like the idea of the brace at the bottom. I do have a light in mind to place under the cabinets and have been pondering where/how to mount it. I just need to retrieve it from the "other house" we have up for sale.

The blistering is still an issue. Actually, the pain IS older than 24 hours and the instructions suggested additional coats within one hour or AFTER 24 hours. I'm with you, I can't figure what happened. I think I'll let it warm up a bit and try again. . . .

 

[NUTTSGT]

The blistering is still an issue. Actually, the pain IS older than 24 hours and the instructions suggested additional coats within one hour or AFTER 24 hours. I'm with you, I can't figure what happened. I think I'll let it warm up a bit and try again. . . .

The only thing I can suggest is to sand it or scuff and give the paint something to bite into. Hopefully that will help.

 

[78Bird]

wow, somehow missed this one when i looked in the forum...

Great job the place looks awesome! And you are close to me.

I'm coming over...

 

[mwbailey]

78, Be careful. The roads are getting icy!!

Thanks for comments. . . .

 

[HOTFR8]

Nice.

 

[mwbailey]

HOTFR8, Thanks!

Made a "big" step today in "moving into" the garage -- brought the boat over from my house that's up for sale. Originally, the realtor said, "Don't worry about doing ANYthing. We'll sell the view." [The house faces the lake but the drive is over 100 yards long up to the house and passes by the current workshop.] Well, last week he suggested that we make the drive-up look nicer by removing some vehicles and junk cars. The nerve; how can you call a perfectly good 1967 442 parts car "junk"?! So, I've started moving vehicles.

Boat fits OK and wasn't too tough to back in. I'm still not sure about my abilities to get the car hauler under the lean-to. But, that will be a ways off since we'll use it to move car parts, furniture, and boxes before it needs to go underneath the shed!

 

[HOTFR8]

Will you put a floor in under where the boat is or do you intend just to have a crushed rock surface or leave it as earth ?

As for putting your car hauler trailer in that space do you have a tow ball on the front of a vehicle ? I can tell you it is much easier to move a trailer about that way than reversing it.

 

[mwbailey]

HOTFR8, Leaning toward crushed rock for driveway and under lean-to. In fact, I'm a little concerned that adding, say, two inches of stone will cut down on the size of the opening and make it tougher to get trailer in!! Of course, can always dig out dirt then put stone in to come back to grade level. . . .

Nope, don't have tow ball on front of any vehicle. I'm trying to justify a small, old Ford tractor with box scraper for driveway and tow ball for trailer. What do you think?!

 

[Vernmotor]

O yea you got to have a small tractor.. for all the things you to do !

 

[NUTTSGT]

HOTFR8, Leaning toward crushed rock for driveway and under lean-to. In fact, I'm a little concerned that adding, say, two inches of stone will cut down on the size of the opening and make it tougher to get trailer in!! Of course, can always dig out dirt then put stone in to come back to grade level. . . .

Nope, don't have tow ball on front of any vehicle. I'm trying to justify a small, old Ford tractor with box scraper for driveway and tow ball for trailer. What do you think?!

Digging out and replacing the soil with stone is the way to go. Maybe put some tile in too drain the spouting a'way from the barn.

A ball on the front of the tractor is common practice around here.

 

[HOTFR8]

HOTFR8, Leaning toward crushed rock for driveway and under lean-to. In fact, I'm a little concerned that adding, say, two inches of stone will cut down on the size of the opening and make it tougher to get trailer in!! Of course, can always dig out dirt then put stone in to come back to grade level. . . .

That the idea

Nope, don't have tow ball on front of any vehicle. I'm trying to justify a small, old Ford tractor with box scraper for driveway and tow ball for trailer. What do you think?!

Try the tow ball idea first and make it something you can remove. I tell you now you will never regret it once you have it.

Digging out and replacing the soil with stone is the way to go. Maybe put some tile in too drain the spouting a'way from the barn.

A ball on the front of the tractor is common practice around here.

On a tractor a tow ball either front or back would make it easy to move a trailer.

 

[78Bird]

78, Be careful. The roads are getting icy!!

Thanks for comments. . . .

Thawed out now

And yeah, a CUT would come in real handy around there, small loader, scraper, moving stuff, hiding bodies, etc.

 

[rogsmart]

Love the barn build. What a life experience... many thanks for bringing all of us along for the ride. We get all the vicarious thrills, with none of the chills or bills.

Also started ripping some shiplap to put trim around the floor -- instead of "quarter-round". The shiplap is 7/8" thick and it looks like the trim guy made square trim where it has been installed. Now that the floors are finished in the loft and it's beginning to look like the "Biltmore House", we'll need to close the crack in the floor and make things look a little more "finished"!! At least, that's what the wife says.

I'd change it from the "Biltmore House" to the "Bit more Barn" as there is always a bit more to be done.

In case anyone isn't familiar with the Biltmore Mansion here's a link http://www.biltmore.com/ It's an amazing piece of American history, as well as a testament to what can happen if you've got more money than you know what to do with.

Anyway, thanks again and don't you dare stop posting updates : )

 

[mwbailey]

Thanks rogsmart, and I think I might like the name, bit more barn. Here's a bit more I got done today. First two shelves; one more maybe tomorrow. They are four feet deep; which is a little large for shelves, but should be good for car fenders and storage boxes. Before and after.



Don't know where the little "snowflakes" in the photos are coming from. Cleaned my lens and didn't seem to help. . . .

78, I did find a body to hide -- don't tell the wife, but there was a dead mouse under the wood pile INSIDE the workshop. Oh well, I guess that's what mouse poison is supposed to do. . .

Still got my eyes open for the tractor even though "she" says we'll finish the house before we get another vehicle. I appreciate all the support from the GJ regulars.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

"Still got my eyes open for the tractor even though "she" says we'll finish the house before we get another vehicle. I appreciate all the support from the GJ regulars. "


Whoa there fella, don't be too hasty in delaying the tractor purchase. A tractor is NOT a vehicle, it is a tool, a powered tool to be exact! Just tell "she" that having a tractor is mandatory when owning a barn and will extend the life of the barn's caretaker YEARS!

Adopt an attitude guided by these words of wisdom spoke oft by the sage Red Green -

"IT'S EASIER TO ASK FORGIVENESS, THAN TO ASK FOR PERMISSION!" LOL

 

[mwbailey]

Omph, I hear ya'. However, this is my second go-around with the marriage thing. I tried the ask forgiveness not permission on the first go-around and it only worked for 20 years. . . .

However, the "power tool" approach sounds worthwhile. Thanks!?!

 

[mwbailey]

Pretty good day, today. Finished the third/last shelf:


Scuffed up where the paint on the cabinets had blistered and refinished. Some of the blistering is still evident, but not too bad looking.


Tried to recover plug strip from demolished house (visible under window) by pulling apart and painting black. Installed new "extension" cord (Romex was attached to it in the house) and mounted behind cabinets. The opening was 3 feet and the strip was 3 feet.


Then things fell apart with projects. Couldn't get my son's 1972 Fury station wagon started. But that's another story. . . .

 

[mwbailey]

So, for those that have followed parts of this thread, it is known that I remarried about 1 1/2 years ago. Each of us now have a house up for sale so we can build the workshop/barn and OUR house. Well, when I put my "reever" house (as they say in Rock Hill) up for sale, the realtor said, "Don't do ANYthing except clear some limbs out of the way. We're going to sell the VIEW." OK, so I got the view fixed but now he says the "drive up" needs to be cleaned up a bit and there's a bit of clutter in the downstairs bedrooms. . . .

I've moved the boat (as a 1/26/13 post mentioned) and yesterday I packed the car trailer with boxes. Today I unpacked the boxes into the new workshop.


What a shame to transform the workshop into a storage shed!?!

Then this afternoon I pulled the "classic" parts car onto the car trailer and parked trailer and all at the workshop. By the way, no front clip, engine, or transmisison in this thing. After all the work to get it on the trailer, I sure hope there are some parts on it worth saving!


Now, if I could only find the keys to my son's 1972 Fury station wagon. There's no way I could winch that thing onto the trailer; it's current location is prohibitive.

 

[HOTFR8]

No keys. Could you hot wire it ?

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

And here I thought a "classic" parts car up on blocks in the front yard would be a terrific selling point for a SC house! lol

 

[mwbailey]

HOTFR8, I actually have "permisison" from my son to drill out the tumbler and hot wire it. However, I had the key just a couple of weeks ago. Tried to crank the thing but it wouldn't fire. Squirted a little gas into the carburetor and it fired up until it ran out of the squirt. Thought about replacing the carburetor but that looked to be $300 or more, too much for that piece of junk. So, I messed around until I decided to open up the top of the carburetor; looked like the needle was stuck; wanted to turn the motor over to see if gas came into the bowl before removing the seat; no key. . . . It's around SOMEwhere.

Don't worry, Omph, I still have plenty of location-specific decorations -- sink and oven under the lean-to, riding mower with three flats, matching rain and compost barrels, the '72 piece of junk AND '76 pick-em-up. Still, the realtor wants me to clean up some more. . . . By the way, where exactly is this last resort where you reside to contemplate your navel? Sounds like there might be some opportunity for community improvements -- I could spare a sink or two! [Just had to check into your background a little to see if you really knew about SC tastes!?!]

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

"Don't worry, Omph, I still have plenty of location-specific decorations -- sink and oven under the lean-to, riding mower with three flats, matching rain and compost barrels, the '72 piece of junk AND '76 pick-em-up. Still, the realtor wants me to clean up some more. . . . By the way, where exactly is this last resort where you reside to contemplate your navel? Sounds like there might be some opportunity for community improvements -- I could spare a sink or two! [Just had to check into your background a little to see if you really knew about SC tastes!?!] "


Man, those realtor types are so-o-o picky!

Those items you mention which are (tastefully) placed around your property would be most welcome additions to the majority of residents living here in 'The Last Resort' which indeed is the translation for the latin 'Ultima Ratio'. The city fathers have threatened an injunction to prevent me from divulging the true name of this 'shity'; something about them not wanting me to be associated with this seaside slum because they fear the practice of omphaloskepsis is probably immoral, illegal, intellectual or all three. The only redeeming quality of this place (If it had a Native American name, it would translate to 'Place Where Old People Come To Die!) is that it is officially designated as a 'Tsunami Threatened Target Town' and would ultimately benefit from a thorough douching by a deluge originating from the mighty Pacific Ocean. This burg would then be a prime candidate for a F.E.M.A. windfall, since it could not qualify as a 'Superfund Clean-up' site due to the resistance of the locals; it seems they, as a group, did not want any government mandated assistance in ridding their properties of:
sinks and ovens under the lean-to's,
riding mowers with flat tires,
matching rain and compost barrels,
and numerous examples of the ubiquitous '72 piece of junk AND '76 pick-em-ups


It seems that some government agencies (not unlike most realtors) simply don't understand the difference between 'personal property' and 'public pollution'!

 

[HOTFR8]

HOTFR8; no key. . . . It's around SOMEwhere.

It will turn up when you stop looking or as soon as you have drilled out the tumbler.

 

[e-tek]

What a fantastic build. You are a talented, lucky guy! thanks for posting it up for us.

 

[mwbailey]

Omph, I understand the situation, but wonder what you're doing hole up in that town. I've always thought Washington seasides were scenic.

HOTFR8, Yep, I told my son that I found my $40 banjo thumb pick looking for his keys. When I was looking for the pick, I could never find it. Or, as my dad would say, "I bet you found it in the last place you looked."

e-teck, Thanks for the kind words. " Lucky", I'll take; "talented" goes to people who can do body work like you. If I ever tried straightening a fender, it would end up bigger than a Lincoln! I enjoy puttering around. . . .

 

[mwbailey]

Well, with apologies to Omph, I cleaned a bit more for the "drive up" at the house I'm selling. Put the oven, sink, drawers/doors, and pine paneling inside the garage left open from moving the 442 to the new workshop. Took the two black 55 gallon drums (composter and rain bucket) to the new workshop, as well. Still have a half dozen doors in the SUV to high pressure wash when it stops raining.

But, to make progress in the new workshop, I brought a 4 foot flourescent light from my old garage to hang up. That worked out pretty well:


The wife had a "rope light" running over the kitchen cabinet that hasn't worked for several years -- that's before my time! She so sweetly asked me if I could fix it (along with changing the water filter on the 'fridge) that I acquiesced. Got the fitler changed without flooding the refrigerator and found that the rope light had a bad connection. So, off to the lighting shop, since I needed a 3-foot undercabinet light for the cabinets I had mounted.

Lighting place didn't have 3-foot flourescent but did have a 32" non-flourescent. Owner of establishment replaced the electrical cord on the rope light, so I had a spare wire available (don't have junction box handy for another light, but do have the plug strip I installed recently). Seemed like a reasonable option. I got the undercabinet light installed and only got a "warm glow" from the light. That was a disappointment -- until I went to turn the light off and the switch clicked past the "Off" position to "Bright"!! I think it will work, AND if I want a romantic corner in the workshop I already have the light installed. . . .


Don't worry, the cheap, little "fire pit" near the door is for outside use, only. I just brought it in to keep it from collecting rain.

 

[Vernmotor]

Let there be light !! very good

 

[mwbailey]

So, we had these doors left over after demolishing the cement block house and I wondered what to do with them. I had seen ideas of fold down work benches, so I gave it a shot. Since these are hollow core doors, they are not going to be able to hold up an engine, but to place parts and tools while working on a project, they may come in handy.

I tried one today:



I'm not convinced that I want to do this with more doors. Maybe I'll try this one for a while and see if it comes in handy. . . .

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

"Omph, I understand the situation, but wonder what you're doing hole up in that town. I've always thought Washington seasides were scenic."

That makes two of us... Sometimes in life, decisions are made for us, not by us.


I like the 'light duty' workbench. Perhaps the other doors will become sliders for a sizable storage cabinet/closet; although they won't be as stylish as the rustic doors you already have.

 

[mwbailey]

Well, I figured I could recover some floor space if I moved the stereo up on a shelf like I've seen so many do on GJ. Worked out well, before and after:


Hmm, not too easy to see the stereo; it's just the two black boxes on the saw horses on the left in the first photo. The shelf may be a little high for some to turn on, but I can reach it pretty easily. The CD player, which I really don't use too often, actually has a remote!

Sand Creek Post & Beam said there was a workshop contest from Progressive Farmer. The criteria included "good workflow", so I thought I'd do a little laying out for my garage/shop. I'm still in the midst of moving stuff from the old house to new barn so now is a good time to shuffle "furniture" around on paper instead of doing the back-breaking experimenting and relocation with the real stuff.

I'd be interested in your ideas; check it out:


I don't have the Model T Hot Rod, yet, but the wife was laughing at my car drawings. I had two Miata's in the garage and she wondered where they came from. So, I replaced one of the Miata's with the Model T. . .. It looks like the best option for a lift is going to be an in-ground, scissors lift. I like some that I've seen here on GJ!

 

[Tarnished]

Looking Good Bailey, Keep up the good work and the posts. We love it.
Last time I had some doors like yours, I made storage racks out of them. Worked pretty good, except they filled up with junk. And it's still there....
As for getting a tractor... Well DUH! How did you get the barn built without one??? That should have been the first tool to build the barn with... What ya waiting for? Don't know how you managed this wonderful build without one? Not possible to live with a barn, and not have a tractor is it? Pretty sure there are rules about this around here anyway. Better hurry before the chance to justify this wonderful tool to SWMBO slips away!
Any progress on the house yet?
John

 

[mwbailey]

Thanks, Tarnished. I've enjoyed your posts on this forum and "Just Barns". I especially like your work areas inside -- well, and that you have utilized existing structures. I would really like any comments from you and others on how I might arrange my work areas. Check out my "floor plan" in post #271.

I'm still working on the tractor, I mean, power tool. We'll see. . . .

House is at the "pushing a rope" stage; got to get the paperwork together at the bank for the construction loan. Soon, I hope!

 

[mwbailey]

Well, it snowed in Rock Hill this past weekend!! We just happened to be at the beach and missed it, but there was still a little white stuff around today so I snapped a couple of photos. Wish there had still been snow on the ground. . . .

 

[stupid name]

Mr. Bailey if you dont mind me asking what part of Rock Hill are you located in? I was trying to figure it out from the lumber truck roadside pics (page 2) you posted. I know I have been past that hillside with the little bushes surrounded by the landscaping material. Im guessing maybe out toward McConnells area? There arent too many areas in Rock hill that have that nice of grass alongside the road. Of course the big power towers in the background lead me to think the western side of Lake Wylie. Im not even sure the areas Im thinking of are technically Rock Hill.

Beautiful build by the way.

 

[mwbailey]

Hello name, good detective work. I'm on the Rock Hill side of Lake Wylie!

Thanks for the comment on the build.

 

[mwbailey]

I suppose "we" will continue on with small projects and improvements with one exception: last week we received our construction loan for the house! That was good news, I suppose. . . . It will be a couple of weeks before the trusses will be delivered, so "real work" won't begin until then. Fortunately, the slab and foundation walls are in, so weather won't hamper us too much.

I felt I should get some of the electrical cords off the floor. I've never been a big fan of battery-operated tools. The battery seems to be dead or die at the most inopportune time, while a corded tool just needs a cord. So, I have a few drop cords. Somehow I don't feel like drilling holes in the posts, beams, and girts of the barn, so I drilled some holes in a 1X6" rough cut to fasten to a girt. I got smart and set up a jig on the drill press to give me a little bit of an angle. The same guy that was so smart, lost track of which way the board was facing and drilled two holes in the wrong direction. As luck would have it, I had not drilled all the way through, so I could finish the holes so they were all at the same angle. With that complete, I thought it would be great to add a shelf for the portable flood lights I had. Wow, this guy is smart. . . . Since I had not drilled the holes off center on the original board, when I mounted the shelf I barely had room to hang the drop cords. Still, with a little finagling, I think I can use the storage unit!?!?



My wife and I had both noticed that the steps up to the loft tended to blend in as you walked down and it was tough to always feel comfortable as to where this step stopped and the next began. So, a little extra-grip black tape seemed in order. I was afraid that the "fuzz" on the rough-cut lumber would keep the tape from sticking, so I sanded a bit with 60-grit to get rid of the fuzz. We'll see whether the tape will stick now as we use the step. I started with four of the 17 steps just to see if it will work. Looks OK to me.

 

[HOTFR8]

Looking good. Did you find those keys ?

 

[mwbailey]

Well, HOTFR8, sometimes we just take small steps to overall improvement. I'm having fun with these smaller projects, but I'm itching to get some of my bigger tools/toys over to the workshop. I thought I would start that yesterday, but when I cranked up my '76 F-100, I heard this loud retort and afterwards the exhaust notes were a little more audible. I could only keep it from sputtering by trying to keep it pulling -- uphill, or accelerating, or. . . . I am now trying to locate a remanufactured carburetor for a 300 ci six! Not too many parts stores even KNOW about 1 barrel carburetors, much less stock them.

But you asked about the keys to the '72 Plymouth Fury station wagon. Nope, haven't found them so I replaced the tumbler. Seems like before I can take a step forward, I have to take TWO backwards. I have the carburetor kit for that vehicle (new carburetor is too expensive), but need the spare time and sunny day to work on it. Notice the "idiot lights" are on in the dash, which means I was successful in getting the new tumbler working. I gave the wife one of the two keys to make sure I didn't misplace them. . . again.

 

[mwbailey]

OK, step grip tape is complete. Headed out of town so didn't have much time to do much else. Hope the tape sticks!