Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT Mikes Man Cave

[lakelandcat]

I am the contractor. One of my cust. serv is I work with no waste. When I'm done with this deck, 14'x24' six foot steps on each end only thing left will be sawdust. Floating deck because the house is brick with large trees so the patio is cracking from roots. Hence the deck. After all is said and done he'll only spend close to 6K, and thats because of the price of lumber. I do have a addition of big new houses going up about 1 mile from my house that I can cherry pick their scraps. I'm semi retired so I pick and choose the jobs I want. One of the stipulations I ask is I work at my pace, but they will be more than happy. To me my jobs have turned into Art.

 

[lakelandcat]

Will the contractor let you take all the leftover and scrap material home to properly dispose of it in the greenhouse?

forgot to hit the reply Cap.

 

[lakelandcat]

Went to my honey hole construction scrap pile and picked up a piece of decking for the porch roof. It had been dropped off the roof which was finished and the corner was dinged. Should be enough for my small porch.

 

[lakelandcat]

Nothing to due with the Man Cave or Greenhouse but being a harmonica player I gotta save it for the cool factor.

 

[lakelandcat]

 

[lakelandcat]

Off grid solar Li battery bank

 

[BuffettFan]

Horn From The Heart:the Paul Butterfield Story https://g.co/kgs/FqKrQ8

I just saw this for the first time.
Came out in 2018, but I really enjoyed it.
Since you're a harp player, I thought you might enjoy it, too.

 

[lakelandcat]

Horn From The Heart:the Paul Butterfield Story https://g.co/kgs/FqKrQ8

I just saw this for the first time.
Came out in 2018, but I really enjoyed it.
Since you're a harp player, I thought you might enjoy it, too.

I've always said there is no one way to play the harmonica, the only real way is the way Butterfield played and thats from the heart. You can back up, bridge, harmonize, but when it comes time to shine its all from the heart. Sometimes when I play I think it sounds like **** but people get mesmerized, when I think its right its just like breathing, and when I'm done I look up and people are shocked, I've even seen some get tears. Thanks for the link its cool.

 

[lakelandcat]

GEO thermal heat and cool

 

[lakelandcat]

Been eyeball'n this for a couple of months, I think masons used it for water to mix mortar and throw it away when their done. I know this was put in the scrap pile and they have a new one. Plans are to plant it 3-4' deep fill it with water and coil some irrigation line inside, fill line with water/alcohol mix to keep from freezing in the winter. Circulate with a aquarium pump and run in and out of a transmission cooler all tucked inside a kitchen cabinet. I have everything but the trans cooler and some fittings. If I can come up with another one I'll build a platform and rig up a rain water catch and make a drip system. Mrs. Cat saw this and just shook her head and mumbled "safety third". Container is upside down and has a 1' opening on top and a killer valve on the bottom.

 

[Odd Job]

Been eyeball'n this for a couple of months, I think masons used it for water to mix mortar and throw it away when their done. I know this was put in the scrap pile and they have a new one. Plans are to plant it 3-4' deep fill it with water and coil some irrigation line inside, fill line with water/alcohol mix to keep from freezing in the winter. Circulate with a aquarium pump and run in and out of a transmission cooler all tucked inside a kitchen cabinet. I have everything but the trans cooler and some fittings. If I can come up with another one I'll build a platform and rig up a rain water catch and make a drip system. Mrs. Cat saw this and just shook her head and mumbled "safety third". Container is upside down and has a 1' opening on top and a killer valve on the bottom.

Nice, I like your enginnering. Sort of reminds me of this poster.
I knew an old timer engineer in the hood. When his wife couldn't do stairs anymore, he built an elevator into an upstairs closet that operated on the city water pressure. When she wanted to go up she turned on the water to the stepped pipe system and bleed it off to go down. Never failed. Keep that in mind for Mrs. Cat as time moves along.

 

[lakelandcat]

Nice, I like your enginnering. Sort of reminds me of this poster.
I knew an old timer engineer in the hood. When his wife couldn't do stairs anymore, he built an elevator into an upstairs closet that operated on the city water pressure. When she wanted to go up she turned on the water to the stepped pipe system and bleed it off to go down. Never failed. Keep that in mind for Mrs. Cat as time moves along.

Mrs. Cat made it clear we will not have a two story, not a chance only ranch. Sides that she would be afraid I would f it up and shoot her through the roof.

 

[lakelandcat]

I added this youtube because it gave the most complete rainwater capture system with sizes

 

[lakelandcat]

Made a little progress, cut the rafter tails and some support pieces for my clear corrugated. Been so hot and humid here in Memphis can't stay out long, of coarse thats when the deck job and roof job comes in.

 

[lakelandcat]

Just turned 65, said to myself you can do this your as old as you feel, 6 weeks all by myself with no help, 18 days of temps over 100 and humidity over 70% when it wasn't oven hot it was raining. Heat exhaustion and boarder line heat stroke. I'm done. This is why the greenhouse slowed down. Note to self - you are 65 yo, this is what it feels like.

 

[lakelandcat]

After the deck I got a call from a friend that has a 6k sf. commercial building that he wants to put a metal roof on, it has a flat top on it now that has sunk past the top plate about two inches. I have spent the last 3 months building a pitch roof with a 5/12 pitch. It's Jan 1 2023, the temp is 73* and sunny. We plan on starting the metal Wed. My bud promised me help and it consisted of a sixteen YO with Autism. Best hand I ever had. But I have had to teach him from ground zero, I mean he couldn't pound a nail. Now he is shooting bullets with my nail gun. My bud has 28 rentals and is looking for someone to help with make readies and maint. It's a big job but I don't mind. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Stay safe. Mike

 

[Plettschner]

Great thread! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your deals and repurposing of "junk". Keep up the great work!

 

[captain14]

Great thread! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your deals and repurposing of "junk". Keep up the great work!

It’s not junk. Mike is using the material to reach a historical status in his builds from his local authority.

 

[lakelandcat]

Update on the roof job, We finished with the metal roof and when he ordered the metal the roofing co. put a cover piece on to protect the stacks. Long story short I was given the covers and I have a old shed I built back in 96, I was thinking about just tearing it down but there is enough roofing I think I can side the whole shed. Its only 8x12 and the floor is gone but the roofing/siding will rejuvenate the little building. I'll post some before/after pics. I think I'm going to turn it into a little garden shed for my tools and place to germinate seeds for my garden. Now I get to run power to it. Lucky for me it's next to the Man Cave so no problem.

 

[lakelandcat]

Great thread! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your deals and repurposing of "junk". Keep up the great work!

Thanks, glad you enjoy, you know what they say "one mans trash is another mans treasure", I like to think I'm doing my part to keep down the land fills, trying to keep the mind sharp and enjoying a hobby. Or I could just be cheap, Mrs. Cat keeps me on a tight budget.

 

[lakelandcat]

I got enough roofing/siding to do my little 8x12, cost $0, it looks rough but has good bones. I think I'll use it as a garden shed and or a seed starter, clone shed. I hate to tear it down. There is a lot of roofing under the big brown piece only it's different colors, I'm thinking Camo. Somewhere I can hide from Mrs. Cat and she won't see me. Nah just kidding she'd sniff me out.

 

[Plettschner]

You would be proud... I went dumpster diving today and scored a couple of 12' long 2x6s about four 12' 2x4s,and a bunch of 6' and 8' 2x4s and 2x6s. Have a lot of nails to remove, but should be very good wood for shed building.

 

[lakelandcat]

You would be proud... I went dumpster diving today and scored a couple of 12' long 2x6s about four 12' 2x4s,and a bunch of 6' and 8' 2x4s and 2x6s. Have a lot of nails to remove, but should be very good wood for shed building.

My brother from another mother.

 

[captain14]

You would be proud... I went dumpster diving today and scored a couple of 12' long 2x6s about four 12' 2x4s,and a bunch of 6' and 8' 2x4s and 2x6s. Have a lot of nails to remove, but should be very good wood for shed building.

Post your shed in this thread when completed if you manage do use a lot of repurposed material.

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]

Kinda liking the black, makes the little shed disappear! Day 3 Told Mrs. Cat its starting to look like a Mini Barn

 

[captain14]

Are you removing the old wood siding or just adding it to the “top” of the plywood?

 

[lakelandcat]

Are you removing the old wood siding or just adding it to the “top” of the plywood?

just adding on top, it won't hurt anything and is added insulation. Because roofing is 30" wide this gives me a back to screw to.

 

[Plettschner]

My brother from another mother.

So, I have ended up with a excess amount of 2x6s, and I need more 2x4s... would it be unsportsmanlike like to rip the 2x6s down to a 2x4 and a 2xActually-2" or even just rip the 2x6s into 2xActually-3.25"s? I mean, is it really going to make a difference if my wall studs are 1.5"x3.25" instead of 1.5"x3.5" if it's a shed and I'm not finishing the interior side?

ETA: whoops... not braining today... 2x6 is 5.5", not 6.5". So, yeah, I'll just rip them to a 2x4 and a 2xActually-2"

 

[captain14]

So, I have ended up with a excess amount of 2x6s, and I need more 2x4s... would it be unsportsmanlike like to rip the 2x6s down to a 2x4 and a 2xActually-2" or even just rip the 2x6s into 2xActually-3.25"s? I mean, is it really going to make a difference if my wall studs are 1.5"x3.25" instead of 1.5"x3.5" if it's a shed and I'm not finishing the interior side?

ETA: whoops... not braining today... 2x6 is 5.5", not 6.5". So, yeah, I'll just rip them to a 2x4 and a 2xActually-2"

Then next week you’ll find a load of free 2x4s and get an idea what you coulda used the free 2x6s after you cut them down.

 

[Plettschner]

Then next week you’ll find a load of free 2x4s and get an idea what you coulda used the free 2x6s after you cut them down.

Very valid point. OK, so maybe only as a last resort

 

[lakelandcat]

Back on the greenhouse, just wanted to see what it looks like with color.

 

[lakelandcat]

So, I have ended up with a excess amount of 2x6s, and I need more 2x4s... would it be unsportsmanlike like to rip the 2x6s down to a 2x4 and a 2xActually-2" or even just rip the 2x6s into 2xActually-3.25"s? I mean, is it really going to make a difference if my wall studs are 1.5"x3.25" instead of 1.5"x3.5" if it's a shed and I'm not finishing the interior side?

ETA: whoops... not braining today... 2x6 is 5.5", not 6.5". So, yeah, I'll just rip them to a 2x4 and a 2xActually-2"

I'd use my 12'2x6 as a ridge and the 6' 2x6 as rafters. Remember you are going to have a 2 top plates and a bottom plate in 2x4 anything left over in a 2x6 use as top p or bottom p, excess to the inside and save the 2x4 for studs. Remember studs aren't 96" they're shorter. Offset corners to tie in the walls. Make corners by sandwiching a piece of decking in between that gives you a 2x4 width. Do the same with your door headers. remember 2x4s are cheaper than 2x6s. Scrap is a good thing to make cripples out of.

 

[lakelandcat]

Just for my info.

 

[BuffettFan]

Just getting caught up, Mike.
Looking like you've been keeping busy!

 

[lakelandcat]

Another big storm came through Memphis, 4/15 9:00 Straight wind 50-65mph winds, rain 1.75" per hr. Nothing compared to Florida but we have had enough. Greenhouse and Man Cave still stand.

 

[lakelandcat]

Springs here and homeowners turn to repair. Found a neighbor who was replacing some sections of fence that looks like the posts are a victim of weed eater abuse. Gathered as many as my little Ranger could carry with cedar pickets on top. going to add a couple of small screen greenhouses on the man cave(I guess I should say Catio). This one is going to be 7'x4' with rock base for drainage, inside will have a screen door for access. Plans are to have one on each side 7'x3' so I can plant flowers on each side.

 

[lakelandcat]

This is how I spent my afternoon, 87* and humid. Leveled and squared base with 6 broken bags of drainage rock from Lowes 50% off $2.50 a bag.

 

[lakelandcat]

Got suckered into youtube and found this self watering 5gl. bucket so I thought I'd give it a try, I have a abundance of tomato plants so what the hell.

And before anyone says anything yes those are OSHA approved steel toe flops.

 

[lakelandcat]

It's been awhile since I did anything to the ManCave, but todays the day, gonna add some greenhouse extensions. I'm working on the middle one now and the two to each side will be a foot shorter and one foot thinner.

 

[lakelandcat]

I've been having disagreements with the outside kitties. I tell them this is a raised bed for my tomatoes and they seem to think its a toilet. I win, I put up some plastic mesh and while I was at it I made a hillbilly sprinkler system. Laugh but it works great.