Fox Valley Fabrication

[yaidunno]

I realize this might be jumping the gun a bit, but step one of my new shop is in the books. Tonight i signed papers and put a down payment on a new 36 x 48 building. It will be a pole barn style construction on a concrete slab with footing. Three 9' x 9' garage doors will be on the front and and 4 windows and a service door will round out the sides. I'm contracting out the structure and concrete work. The remaining interior finishing, insulation, and electrical will be taken care of by yours truly, including running service from the house.

Before i get started though, i need to dismantle an existing structure. This place has a lot of character, perhaps a bit too much. The floor is all broken up with 2-3 inch uneven ledges, the roof leaks, and the boards are starting to rot on the bottoms. Overall though, the vast majority of the wood has excellent lines and color. I will be doing my best to reclaim as much lumber as possible.

Deconstruction will begin once the weather permits in spring. There's a gnarly old tree that will be coming down behind the existing garage. I will be renting a stump grinder to take care of what's left after the tree is felled. Materials are scheduled for delivery sometime between July 5-10, so it will be all hands on deck up until then.

Long term, I will be pushing hard to start my own small business, thus the thread title.

Thanks for reading!

-Bryan

 

[Iroc-Z]

Make sure to dismantle and save all that aged steel.

 

[yaidunno]

Make sure to dismantle and save all that aged steel.

Certainly will be done. Garage doors will also be saved and sold. I see aged wood and corrugated tin going for pretty fair money locally.

 

[Iroc-Z]

Certainly will be done. Garage doors will also be saved and sold. I see aged wood and corrugated tin going for pretty fair money locally.

Tell me about it. I originally was looking for it to use on the ceiling of my garage. Most people want 2.50 a square foot. Yeah not spending 5k to steel my ceiling.

 

[A_Pmech]

Well that's awesome! What kind of work are you planning to do?

 

[yaidunno]

Well that's awesome! What kind of work are you planning to do?

Thanks! As for the line of work, I'd like to keep focus on automotive/motorcycle related projects. I really enjoyed making the sign last year, but I'm not sure how much demand there would be for that sort of stuff? I certainly don't want to rule anything out at this point.

 

[36truck]

Do you plan on bringing in any full size pickups? If so you might want 10' wide doors. With the BIG mirrors on the trucks these days 9' is tight.
Other wise it looks great. Cool project.

 

[bulletpruf]

Subscribed. I've seen your work on your shop tools resto thread. Simply fantastic. Don't think you'll have any trouble lining up plenty of work.

Good luck with the build.

Scott

 

[yaidunno]

Do you plan on bringing in any full size pickups? If so you might want 10' wide doors. With the BIG mirrors on the trucks these days 9' is tight.
Other wise it looks great. Cool project.

Certainly not on a regular basis. I do know what you mean though, my 1500 only has about 2 inches on either side of a 9 foot opening. Anything larger will be worked on in the barn, which has roughly a 16' x 14' sliding door.

Subscribed. I've seen your work on your shop tools resto thread. Simply fantastic. Don't think you'll have any trouble lining up plenty of work.

Good luck with the build.

Scott

Thanks much for the kind words!

 

[madoc1]

good luck. when did you move? just started your tool thread and great work.

jim

 

[yaidunno]

good luck. when did you move? just started your tool thread and great work.

jim

Thanks! I moved in late July of last year. Been doing property clean up/maintenance and house upgrades ever since. Somehow i feel that its a never ending situation.

 

[madoc1]

just finished your tool thread. nice work. when do you expect the new shop to be built? good luck.

jim

 

[ishiboo]

I thought that building looked familiar, I looked at that property last year! Nice house and a great area. The barn IIRC was structurally in pretty good shape, did you do anything with it?

Looks like a great plan. Glad it has some character!

 

[ishiboo]

Oh sweet... you work for Motion! Very cool.

 

[yaidunno]

just finished your tool thread. nice work. when do you expect the new shop to be built? good luck.

jim

Jim, construction will start once the materials show up. I'm hoping by mid July i will be able to start the electrical/moving things in.

I thought that building looked familiar, I looked at that property last year! Nice house and a great area. The barn IIRC was structurally in pretty good shape, did you do anything with it?

Looks like a great plan. Glad it has some character!

Oh sweet... you work for Motion! Very cool.

Small world! Yea the barn is in pretty good shape. I haven't done anything with it yet. I'd like to close it up some and re do the tin work to match the new building, but that's a few years out yet.

I've been done with Motion for a year now. Learned a lot in the 5 years i was there, but the place is horribly ran/operated, pay is pathetic, and the ownership is down right scary. In the year that I've been gone, 17 people have left/been let go including their new CEO/President. I don't mean to speak badly about previous employment, but i wouldn't wish that upon anyone.

 

[ishiboo]

I'm looking at a spot in Weyauwega right now, not sure if I'd move or use it just for a weekend getaway... nor am I sure if I would sell my property or rent it out. Like the area, I spent a lot of time in Fremont/Weyauwega and used to commute to work in Weyauwega every day.

I've heard some pretty satisfied people with Wick around here!

 

[BuickFarmer]

Wow Bryan, this is going to be an awesome building and given your attention to detail with your tool restoration and fabrication I guarantee you will be successful in building your business. Your finished work on the old tools and pieces you have fabricated will be the best advertising you could have. Looking forward to following. Sure wish we were closer, would love to help with the demo of the old and raising of the new. Subscribing now.

 

[BuickFarmer]

I'm curious, will the dimensions and layout area of the building be conducive to expansion, such as lean-to's on the sides etc. I guarantee once your business takes off you will need it.

 

[yaidunno]

I'm looking at a spot in Weyauwega right now, not sure if I'd move or use it just for a weekend getaway... nor am I sure if I would sell my property or rent it out. Like the area, I spent a lot of time in Fremont/Weyauwega and used to commute to work in Weyauwega every day.

I've heard some pretty satisfied people with Wick around here!

Glad to hear the postive feedback with Wick. I was pretty set on going with them given their reviews and pricing. Didnt really feel the need to pay out the nose for Morton or Cleary. The contractor I'm going with seems very nice and knowledgeable.

Wow Bryan, this is going to be an awesome building and given your attention to detail with your tool restoration and fabrication I guarantee you will be successful in building your business. Your finished work on the old tools and pieces you have fabricated will be the best advertising you could have. Looking forward to following. Sure wish we were closer, would love to help with the demo of the old and raising of the new. Subscribing now.

Lamar, thanks a bunch for the kind and encouraging words. There are times when i look out the window and ask my self "What the hell am i doing? I could have a nice car, a bike, and some money left over if it wasn't for all this ****" But I do think its for the best in the long run. I too, wish you lived closer. A guy like me could sure use the guidance with construction/wood work.

With proper lighting, some signs, and interior finishing choices, I hope to give the place some character so that it is not just another shed. It certainly wont be in the same league as the wonderful buildings you've put up, but it should suit my needs...for now

I'm curious, will the dimensions and layout area of the building be conducive to expansion, such as lean-to's on the sides etc. I guarantee once your business takes off you will need it.

I can build out as far back as i need to and there is room on one side for a full length lean-to, which I'd really like to incorporate some day. The 30 x 60 barn also has a section that is finished off which i plan on using as a make-shift paint room.

 

[schmoldty]

what are you going to be fabricating? not much are manitowoc area.

 

[longlivepunk]

Oh, can't wait to see this come together! Definitely subscribed. Best of luck with the build and the new venture!

 

[madoc1]

wow, left motion. sort of felt something was going on when your rebuilds slowed down. (although your buying did not seem to) lol. have a new job to pay for the ranchette as we call them down here? still 25?

jim

 

[bootlegger]

Hi yaidunno, I am located in Fox Valley also Neenah.Were you at Motion Products? I worked there for about 24 years.

 

[yaidunno]

wow, left motion. sort of felt something was going on when your rebuilds slowed down. (although your buying did not seem to) lol. have a new job to pay for the ranchette as we call them down here? still 25?

jim

Jim, yea the tool restorations sort of got put on hold. Its rather difficult without a blast cabinet, steam chamber, and paint booth. Soon i will be back at it though! Yep new job as of a year ago this month. Couldn't be happier. Unfortunately time has caught up to me. 27 years old now.

Hi yaidunno, I am located in Fox Valley also Neenah.Were you at Motion Products? I worked there for about 24 years.

Yep, was at Motion for 5 years. Gained a wealth of knowledge form a bunch of very talented people, a lot of whom are no longer there.

 

[madoc1]

wow! 27! I will be 72 in a couple of days. still in the mech design bus? I'm nosy. pls. keep us up on your build. how about some shots of the barn? nice find by the way.

jim

 

[toddacimer]

Exciting build, I'd love to find a shop like that somewhere in the Fox Valley.

 

[56vette461]

good evening yaidunno,

I just forwarded a PM about your shop build and location in WI.

 

[yaidunno]

what are you going to be fabricating? not much are manitowoc area.

Schmoldty, sorry i missed your question. At this point i have no real specific niche that i am looking to fill. As long as it falls within the capabilities of my machines (and my hands), i'll fulfill the need. Stainless exhaust, signs, brackets, au0tmotive parts, etc.

wow! 27! I will be 72 in a couple of days. still in the mech design bus? I'm nosy. pls. keep us up on your build. how about some shots of the barn? nice find by the way.

jim

Hey Jim, yep still doing mechanical design. Making drying systems for printing presses now. I will get some photos of the barn up soon.

Exciting build, I'd love to find a shop like that somewhere in the Fox Valley.

I would have loved to find a shop like this somewhere in the Fox Valley as well! Sadly, it was either too expensive or too far away. So, this was my next best option.

 

[yaidunno]

A small amount of progress was made today. About 75% of the wood was saved. The tin on the other hand was already on its second use, and in poor shape. The 4 post that supported the bottom had to be broken off at ground level. Not exactly what i wanted, but such is life. There's only 8-10" of frost out of the ground, so it will be some time before i can get the stubs out.

 

[BuickFarmer]

The tin on the other hand was already on its second use, and in poor shape.

That looks like newer 5 rib tin on the lean to part you just dropped but the other looks like 5V and corrugated with some nice patina. You will be saving that I am sure. How are you pulling nails from the tin? Thanks for taking time to get pictures and updating.

 

[yaidunno]

That looks like newer 5 rib tin on the lean to part you just dropped but the other looks like 5V and corrugated with some nice patina. You will be saving that I am sure. How are you pulling nails from the tin? Thanks for taking time to get pictures and updating.

Correct on all.

The nails were pulled using a conventional pry bar. Little regard was taken to preserve the red tin, as it fate will be the scrap yard. When it comes time to removing the corrugated tin, I will need to use a different approach so that the tin does not get damaged. I'm hoping you can shed some light on techniques/tools to accomplish this

 

[madoc1]

you could use what's called a cat's paw. hard to describe, but it is uses for demolition. maybe someone has a pic.

jim

 

[BuickFarmer]

I think you will want to pull all the tin from the sides first. Then remove all the studs, leaving only the 4 corner posts and diagonal bracing, hook a cable from the top plate to a pick up truck then at the last minute pull the diagonal bracing,and pull her over. Having it on the ground will make light work of pulling the roof tin and the rafters. And it is much more fun than getting on what looks like a 10/12 pitch roof and trying to pull that tin.
After looking a bit closer though, it looks like the roof tin is standing seam tin and not 5V as I originally thought. That is harder to disassemble for reusing than 5V.
I assume the siding is nailed on with lead head nails? Is it nailed in the valley or on the ridge of the corrugation. If on the ridge it is very easy to just cut the nail heads off. If in the valley you will need to do some alteration to the tool. Here is a picture of my favorite tools of mass destruction.

The corrugated metal tin I used this on had the nails in the valley so I had to grind the tool cutting head down so it would fit into the valley and grip and cut the nail head off without damaging the tin.

Once the nails are cut and the tin off, most of the times I just drive the rest of the nail into the lumber or tap it over and use the yellow claw to pull them. Depends on what you plan to use the lumber for.

Also if you don't already have one, buy yourself a mattock, one of the most useful tools on demo or around the farm there is.

 

[ScottsRX]

This is my kinda build. Subscribed, keep the pics and updates coming

 

[yaidunno]

I think you will want to pull all the tin from the sides first. Then remove all the studs, leaving only the 4 corner posts and diagonal bracing, hook a cable from the top plate to a pick up truck then at the last minute pull the diagonal bracing,and pull her over. Having it on the ground will make light work of pulling the roof tin and the rafters. And it is much more fun than getting on what looks like a 10/12 pitch roof and trying to pull that tin.
After looking a bit closer though, it looks like the roof tin is standing seam tin and not 5V as I originally thought. That is harder to disassemble for reusing than 5V.
I assume the siding is nailed on with lead head nails? Is it nailed in the valley or on the ridge of the corrugation. If on the ridge it is very easy to just cut the nail heads off. If in the valley you will need to do some alteration to the tool. Here is a picture of my favorite tools of mass destruction.

Once the nails are cut and the tin off, most of the times I just drive the rest of the nail into the lumber or tap it over and use the yellow claw to pull them. Depends on what you plan to use the lumber for.

Also if you don't already have one, buy yourself a mattock, one of the most useful tools on demo or around the farm there is.

Thanks for the great advice fellas.

As far as the building is concerned, it is a true post and beam style construction, so there are no diagonal braces. From the posts, there are boards (10-12" wide) that run vertical on all walls. On the back (south) and side (east) the corrugated tin is present. The roof also has planks running horizontal from what i can gather. The structure will definitely be coming to the ground prior to tackling the roof. I'm not one for heights to begin with, so you wont find me up there any time soon!

You are correct on the on the roof tin. It's a standing seam design. I wouldn't be too tore up if its not saveable, but i will certainly try my best.

Correct again on the tin being held on with nails, but I'm pretty sure its a rubber under the head, not lead. I could be mistaken on that, I've only taken a passing glance at them. Most of the nails seem to be on the ridges, so hopefully that will work to my advantage!

Thanks again for all the photos and great advice!

ScottsRX: Thanks for the interest! I'll do my best to keep the updates coming.

 

[BuickFarmer]

True post and beam, awesome!!! Would love to see some pictures of that. Then you may want to take it down piece by piece.

 

[yaidunno]

A little update from the past week. I took down the old ragged Box Elder (i think?) tree behind the garage. Well over 36" at the base, would have been a pretty big tree if it were all there.



Some wood and the first stack of tin.



Although there wasn't much progress on the garage tear down, i was able to get some doors put up on the barn to keep the birds and weather out while i store my stuff in there. They still need some paint.





As requested, here are some shots of the barn, and inside of the current garage.

 

[JustinS]

If your garage build turns out half as nice as the tool restorations you have competed, this'll be an awesome thread!

 

[ProTourCutlass]

Looking forward to seeing progress on this one, as other have said, your tool thread is great. I've got a few friends out in the Fremont area... love it out there!

Good luck from another Fox Valley native!


On a side note, if you ever need to outsource some machining work, I happen to have some business interest in a little shop in Little Chute, also a machinist

 

[yaidunno]

Thanks Justin!

Looking forward to seeing progress on this one, as other have said, your tool thread is great. I've got a few friends out in the Fremont area... love it out there!

Good luck from another Fox Valley native!


On a side note, if you ever need to outsource some machining work, I happen to have some business interest in a little shop in Little Chute, also a machinist

Good to see another local on here. Thanks for the lead on machining services. I will certainly keep it in mind if i have something come up.