Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT Mikes Man Cave

[lakelandcat]

I was havinig a problem with cats using my raised bed as a littler box so I made a grid with cord. First day so far so good. Been doing a lot of transplanting, Basil, Green Bell peppers, Jalapeno plants, more Roma tomatoes. First tomatoes are taking off.. Sprayed some Seven spray for my worms issues and it seems to have done the trick.

 

[lakelandcat]

 

[Toothaker]

That's a clever solution. Your garden is sure looking good!

 

[lakelandcat]

That's a clever solution. Your garden is sure looking good!

Thanks it worked for 3 days then one of the older cats just stood on the side. It slowed them down. Seven dust took care of my cabbage worms, even the most chewed up plants are growing new growth. Got a pumpkin about the size of a handball that came up off a wild plant. Had to stomp on a wild strawberry patch, berries about the size of marbles, trying to clear a brush pile. We've had a lot of rain.

 

[Toothaker]

Years ago we had a cat that would poop in the pots of my wife's houseplants. I don't even know how the cat did that, because some of these pots were 4" in diameter - so that cat's behind was somehow positioned into less than 2 inches. So, yeah, they can be determined at times.

 

[lakelandcat]

Years ago we had a cat that would poop in the pots of my wife's houseplants. I don't even know how the cat did that, because some of these pots were 4" in diameter - so that cat's behind was somehow positioned into less than 2 inches. So, yeah, they can be determined at times.

They make stuff to discourage them I just haven't made it to the big box store. Thats a dangerous place for me. I can go in to Lowes for a $2 thing and I will walk out $100 poorer.

 

[Bob Heine]

I can go in to Lowes for a $2 thing and I will walk out $100 poorer.

I would be thrilled if I got out that cheap. Isn't $100 like three studs and a box of screws?

 

[lakelandcat]

I would be thrilled if I got out that cheap. Isn't $100 like three studs and a box of screws?

If I spend more than that Mrs. Cat does the "Cat scratch fever" on me

 

[captain14]

Too bad about the cats and their habits.

Good news is I should be getting some tomatoes in about a week. Checked the garden last night and this Morning and found some Ripening.

 

[lakelandcat]

Too bad about the cats and their habits.

Good news is I should be getting some tomatoes in about a week. Checked the garden last night and this Morning and found some Ripening.

Thats great. Mine have started to flower but no fruit yet. We got a GOOD hard rain last night, hope everything made it through the storm.

 

[lakelandcat]

Finally got the Hydroponic system up and running, 6- 5gl.buckets, 30gl. res., 940 GPH water pump, HD air pump for bubblers, ball ***** for each bucket, 8-4' T8 LED daylight bulbs with 32' of LED strip light white, 32' of LED strip Blue for roots, 32' LED strip Red for bloom. all runs off 24v, 410A ps. Window AC to keep everything cool is the most power hog. I'm doing Jalapeno, bell peppers- red and green and a surprise pepper plant and Brussell sprouts. Need to take tomatoe plants outside their not doing well under lights. Picked up 4 bags of topsoil 1 manure, and 1 compost at Lowes today for 16' raised bed all "broken" bags got them 1/2 off. 16' deck board for 75% off because it's damaged, I'll cut it up to make deck floor for the greenhouse. Any questions just ask, I have been putting this together for a year. Love it. Mike

 

[lakelandcat]

7/27/2021
Today is our 25th anniversary, one for the books, Mrs. Cat had thyroid cancer and had to have her thyroid removed. Today she had to go to the radiology people to see how her radioisotopes are working, she also volunteered to watch her sister-in-law who is in the last stages of Bipolar while her brother took a break and went on vacation. Last night her sister-in-law refused to take her meds. Now her brother is flying back from Oshkosh and should be here around 6. Sorry to vent but it just didn't sit well with me. I would never have dreamed of doing that on his 25th. I spent the day cleaning a old shed that is full of old tools. I did find a filter for my water pump in the hydro system it looks like new so not a total loss. Transplanted a tomatoe plant, red bell pepper plant and a couple of Brussel sprouts. I had to fab a coupling from a rubber stopper but it work perfect. Mrs Cat is picking up a bottle of bubbley so its not a total loss. At 6:15 it's 85 feels like 94, it has cooled off. I I'm also running water line to one of my raised beds that didn't have access to water on that side of the house. Poor planing. I'll try to take a bunch of pics so a lot of what I'm talking about is clear. Mike

 

[Bob Heine]

Mike, Congratulations on a milestone anniversary. I don't understand people who have so little care for the people close to them. Then again, my wife's brother called to ask about my surgery so he could spend 25 minutes whining about getting old.

 

[lakelandcat]

Thanks Bob, I was just feeling down because we've had so much drama this last month, I know its a 24 hr. job taking care of his wife, and regardless of what some people on this forum say present company excluded. Mrs. Cat and I are really easy going understanding people. Mrs Cat didn't even mention it was our 25th. Its just a small price to pay to keep my BIL from running from a butterfly net. Mrs. Cats results will come in later, its just another waiting game. Mrs. Cat bought a bottle of the champagne on her way home we will polish it off tomorrow. we'll just celebrate 25+1 day. Thats a bottle of champagne and a beer.Mike

 

[lakelandcat]

8/07/2021
Got tomatoes !!!!!, peppers looking strong and healthy. Making progress on the Greenhouse, I will post pics later.

 

[lakelandcat]

Progress on the Greenhouse 1st pic is the door side, door will be on the left. 2nd pic is the right side, it will have 4 windows and screen on top for vent.

 

[lakelandcat]

Trying to get some work in before the rains from Fred hit.

 

[lakelandcat]

Thanks for the like Bob, so far under $300, Decking is Kull (flawed), windows found on the side of the road. Half the 2x4 from a previous job. Nails left over from another job. Siding is from the man cave, bought as discontinued for less than .10/$1. Gonna start to get expensive because I'm running out of scrap. Just picked up some 4x4 from a fence repair someone did, I'll cut them down and use them for bench legs. A couple of cedar pickets also. I know it sounds cheap but you can't buy wood that has a patina on it. I will use it to side the inside knee wall.

 

[captain14]

If you use enough recycled materials, you can get it classified as a historical building and apply for grants For future work?

Looking good so far! How’s the produce coming this week?

 

[lakelandcat]

If you use enough recycled materials, you can get it classified as a historical building and apply for grants For future work?

Looking good so far! How’s the produce coming this week?

LOL good point, think I can get the gov. to grant me a water chiller AC? Weather is killing my tomatoes, have fruit on the vine but getting fruit rot on the tips, Broccoli is sprouting but worms are a constant battle, peppers are flowering, and basil is turning into a PITA. I think the rot is due to 2 things, one is new soil high in nitrogen, two is rain. Can't wait to get the greenhouse up.

 

[lakelandcat]

Took a trip to my favorite big box store (cough, cough) just to check out the clearance items. Walked out with a 8000 BTU window unit for the greenhouse. Its suppose to cool 350 SF, greenhouse is only 144SF, we'll see. The kicker is it was on clearance, display open box new. Clearance price was ringing up @ $369, not a bad price BUT the king of cheap got them down to $79.75. Can't get it if you don't ask.

 

[captain14]

Took a trip to my favorite big box store (cough, cough) just to check out the clearance items. Walked out with a 8000 BTU window unit for the greenhouse. Its suppose to cool 350 SF, greenhouse is only 144SF, we'll see. The kicker is it was on clearance, display open box new. Clearance price was ringing up @ $369, not a bad price BUT the king of cheap got them down to $79.75. Can't get it if you don't ask.

We all have to make sacrifices to have what your want. Great score. Did you discover some additional scratches to the unit? Missing control knobs?

Is it mounted yet?

 

[lakelandcat]

We all have to make sacrifices to have what your want. Great score. Did you discover some additional scratches to the unit? Missing control knobs?

Is it mounted yet?

Nah its perfect, I even got the mounting screws and manuals . I use to work for Lowes so when I saw it I knew what it was, only thing missing was the worlds most expensive box, my guess $400+/-

 

[lakelandcat]

My newest find, another neighbor replaced his bathroom sinks, couldn't pass it up. I'm going to make a kitchen island for the greenhouse. It will have running water and drain into a 20gl. igloo which will feed hydro buckets. Return overflow will vent to the raised beds behind. I'm starting to feel like Fred Sanford but hey the price is right.

 

[captain14]

Please make sure you post some of these ideas in the repurposing thread on GJ. Fred’s got several friends posting there.

The repurposing thread

I don't believe I've seen a thread like this so I thought I'd start one. Show off your repurposed items. Prefer "useful" things versus scrap turned into "art". I'll start with my plasma cart made from an old pressure washer cart. Welded some shaped round stock around various places to hold the...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[lakelandcat]

Please make sure you post some of these ideas in the repurposing thread on GJ. Fred’s got several friends posting there.

The repurposing thread

I don't believe I've seen a thread like this so I thought I'd start one. Show off your repurposed items. Prefer "useful" things versus scrap turned into "art". I'll start with my plasma cart made from an old pressure washer cart. Welded some shaped round stock around various places to hold the...

www.garagejournal.com

Will do, most of my builds are recycle or repurpose....!

 

[lakelandcat]

Well Mother Nature just made me spend money, seems Hurricane Ida is heading my way. Weather channel says it should be a Tropical Depression but winds will be strong. I went to Lowes and picked up 1/2 dozen studs that were kull for $1.88 each and 3 @ full boat. I know I'm going to need more but this may get my knee wall. Hopefully windows won't act like a sail.

 

[lakelandcat]

first pic is 9:00 its 78 feels like 88. Second pic around 10:00 and it got hot 86 feels like 96. Could only work about 30 min and had to consider heat stroke. This is where I left it , door famed, window popped in, knee wall, everything is braced

 

[lakelandcat]

Baby steps on the Greenhouse, worked on the front over the two windows and top plate from corner to door. Finished the knee wall and built the last corner.

 

[lakelandcat]

These are going to be my legs for my work bench, shown is what I started with the second pic is sanding the soft wood away and the last is the final product. It took 2 days and almost 16 hrs. just to finish the legs but the outcome is outstanding. Raised parts are rock hard, It was difficult to sand with 80g. Posts came from a house that had to replace a section of fence and was going to throw away the debris. One mans trash!

 

[lakelandcat]

Sept. 12, I am 30/34 today. BD day after 9/11 kinda ***** but nothing I can do about it. First year in a long time it hasn't rained.

 

[Bob Heine]

One mans trash!

Mike, I am fortunate to generate a lot of trash. When the bottom of one of my 8-foot 4x4 fence posts rots below grade I have a 6-foot piece of trash that finds itself part of another project. Sometimes it is reincarnated as a fence post in one of the 4-foot fences.

Sept. 12, I am 30/34 today. BD day after 9/11 kinda ***** but nothing I can do about it. First year in a long time it hasn't rained.

A belated Happy Birthday Mike. We used to have a Train Party every five years on 9/9 but it didn't feel right after 2001.

 

[lakelandcat]

Mike, I am fortunate to generate a lot of trash. When the bottom of one of my 8-foot 4x4 fence posts rots below grade I have a 6-foot piece of trash that finds itself part of another project. Sometimes it is reincarnated as a fence post in one of the 4-foot fences.

A belated Happy Birthday Mike. We used to have a Train Party every five years on 9/9 but it didn't feel right after 2001.

Thanks Bob, it is amazing what people throw out. Not only does it fill our landfills but its a waste of beautiful materials. I told the lady I got the fence scrap from I can't buy this aged material easy. The cedar pickets have aged to a barnwood gray. If I bought the 4x4s it would have cost me $30+ and another $30+ for the Pickets. I know there are reasons people don't use this stuff i.e. lack of tools, vision, talent, energy, space. I wish they would just call me. I love the thrill of taking something that at first glance looks like it should be burned and turning it into something unique.

 

[lakelandcat]

Sept. 13- Around 3:00 I was going to the store to get a 12 pack of adult libations. found this pile at the end of my street. Should be enough to do the siding on the inside, I'll lap joint and paint, also it should be plenty to trim the outside. I made the mention in post 231 that the 12th was my BD and it always rains on my BD. Yesterday it was dry, I thought the curse was broken. These pics were taken around 4:30, notice the sun in shining, 5:00 a down pour that lasted about 5 min. Yes God has a sense of humor.

 

[lakelandcat]

First pic is the POS door that had seen better days, in the sec. pic. the door to the left is the one I replaced it with. It came from a cust. that wanted me to replace it with a door that had a doggie door. Door on the right is what the recycle wood door is going to look like. Thats the inside side. I like it and so does Mrs. Cat. I don't know if I'm going to paint or just use Thompsons water seal. I have a gal. I got from a cust. who was moving and didn't want to transport it. It's brand new never opened. Total cost for door - $0 Mike

 

[lakelandcat]

Keeping with my theme, 4/5 years ago I was working for Lowes and someone ordered this fan online and never picked it up. My cheapness overwhelmed me and I made a deal for it. I had forgot all about it until I was cleaning the man cave. It's a 60" with no light, never opened. Cost today is less than cost then. Now $229, then $250. I paid $50. I was going to put it in the man cave but found a better deal, a Hunter 5 blade that had a lightkit. I paid $10 and put it in the catio. I think I'll make a coffered ceiling and put it in the greenhouse. With the raised ceiling the blades won't interfere. I think its cool because it looks like a old airplane prop.

 

[lakelandcat]

Inside and outside of door rebuilt, next step hang it. I'm shooting for rustic.

 

[captain14]

Rustic or historic? I know you are trying to get a grant for your “historic” build.

 

[lakelandcat]

Rustic or historic? I know you are trying to get a grant for your “historic” build.

Maybe I could get a grant if I told the gov. the nail holes were musket ball holes from the Civil war. Nah, Pres. would prob. send a drone.

 

[lakelandcat]

Counted 63 pickets, if I average 6' a picket thats 32.5'x6=195'+ board ft, if I do 2'Hx2(or 1') then 2 pickets will do 3'. So 12'W/2=8 pickets, If I get 3'W from 2 pickets, 16 to do inside and out per side. 32 to do West and East side, Door side is less and I would like to do the North side floor to peak. Also need pickets to finish trim. Gonna need more pickets but a good start.