ABSTIFFGS
Well-known member
Mike has roll up curtains for air flow when weather permits. Those rollers are part of that.
Above 1200 Sq/FT Out on Quaker Road
- Thread starter jblnut
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
Mike has roll up curtains for air flow when weather permits. Those rollers are part of that.
Ah, I didn't think about the curtains.
Silly city boy. You're half correct. I open them in the spring and close them in the fall when it gets cold. The pipes are used to hold the curtain from being free in the breeze and tearing itself apart. It is made from a 19oz plastic/canvas/fabric material that is tough enough that you can't stab a screwdriver through it. I tried it on a leftover scrap and I couldn't do it. The typical install has seat belt type webbing in place of the pipes but it needs to be replaced after 10 years or so and I like no/low maintenance so that wouldn't have worked here.
The endcaps are not yet constructed in these pictures but you get the idea.
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I do like buying tools but at the same time I follow a few basic rules and one of them goes like this .... If it doesn't make me money, I can't afford to own it. A very wise grandfather of me told me "If it doesn't make/save you $100 an hour it's not worth doing" Now you have to understand that as farmers we do not make money the same way as people who work in town. I usually go from October to May without much income but I am rarely idle.
This is the discbine. It is in essence a large mower that windrows the crop to be dry and be collected later.
This is the combine harvesting corn.
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Silly city boy. You're half correct. I open them in the spring and close them in the fall when it gets cold. The pipes are used to hold the curtain from being free in the breeze and tearing itself apart. It is made from a 19oz plastic/canvas/fabric material that is tough enough that you can't stab a screwdriver through it. I tried it on a leftover scrap and I couldn't do it. The typical install has seat belt type webbing in place of the pipes but it needs to be replaced after 10 years or so and I like no/low maintenance so that wouldn't have worked here.
The endcaps are not yet constructed in these pictures but you get the idea.
Once he mentioned the curtains, I knew exactly what they were for. For those that have never been in a barn full of mooing bovine, you'd be amazed at the amount of humidity that can build up if there's not enough ventilation. It can rust the steel roof panels from underneath.
BTW, are you still using the silo or do you blow the silage into bags ?
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The silo hasn't been used for a few decades. It'll come down sometime, we're just trying to decide how to do it. I want to charge everyone a dollar for a swing with a sledge hammer and the person that swings the final blow to bring it down gets all the $$$$. Mama Bear thinks that's dangerous but I'm all in !!
There is not a lot of pent up humidity in this barn because the entire south wall is open. Its sole purpose here is to regulate the air flow through the barn. I don't want it too windy when it's cold or rainy so they get adjusted accordingly.
On another note, the other rafters came today and they got a good part of the roof up.
I was nervous that the 4' overhang would look goofy but as it turns out it looks great.
Also got a patch ready for some sweet corn. I planted 8 100' rows last year with an EarthWay human-powered seeder and that was just WAY too much work so I lazied out this year.
Working up the human food plot.
Yup. This is going to be way faster this year with a 12 row planter !!
There is not a lot of pent up humidity in this barn because the entire south wall is open. Its sole purpose here is to regulate the air flow through the barn. I don't want it too windy when it's cold or rainy so they get adjusted accordingly.
On another note, the other rafters came today and they got a good part of the roof up.
I was nervous that the 4' overhang would look goofy but as it turns out it looks great.
Also got a patch ready for some sweet corn. I planted 8 100' rows last year with an EarthWay human-powered seeder and that was just WAY too much work so I lazied out this year.
Working up the human food plot.
Yup. This is going to be way faster this year with a 12 row planter !!
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ABSTIFFGS
Well-known member
I cannot wait to get some sweet corn this fall from you. A couple hundred ears will do
I feed the steers whole corn and a pellet. That silo hasn't been used in over 25 years and will hopefully be coming down this summer if I have enough time to get everything done that I want to get done. It is in the way for a new house at some point in time and mama says it has to go!!!
drivesitfar
Well-known member
JB: I've never seen those kind of open sides of a barn before. very interesting and about how often do you need repair or replace the tarps?
also if you were serious about just saving money by not having eaves on all sides about how much did you save by doing that? or was there a REAL reason like sunlight or air flow that determined the eaves being shorter?
looking good with the roof going on. keep taking lots of pictures and I bet it will be done soon at the rate you are going.
also if you were serious about just saving money by not having eaves on all sides about how much did you save by doing that? or was there a REAL reason like sunlight or air flow that determined the eaves being shorter?
looking good with the roof going on. keep taking lots of pictures and I bet it will be done soon at the rate you are going.
Probably not necessary as I'm the OP and already know you're taking to me. If you insist, my name is Mike.
Most barns up here have some sort of curtain system. It's a cost effective way to let a ton of air through in a hurry while being able to regulate it in moments. The curtains I installed should last 15 years if I take care of them, less if I don't. Cost of the curtain material for the 88' of curtain on the barn was about $800. Compare that to the cost of building sliding doors or windows or some other system and this is very inexpensive.
To add an overhang on a typical two car garage isn't that big of a deal but on a 48'x112' building it gets a little more expensive. Longer rafters, an extra row of purlins on the roof, soffit on the other three sides, an extra trim/transition piece on all sides, more labor, more screws, more everything.
The REAL reason is that it isn't necessary and I don't need it. To most people I sound a little extreme when I say that I try hard not to spend money on things I don't need and don't make me money or add to my personal level of comfort or productivity. When you farm the whole game changes. A well timed rain in late summer could be the difference from a very profitable year to a year where I have to get buddy-buddy with the banker. When you don't have control of what mother nature will throw your way, you have to watch the pennies or the dollars run away.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Habit from the way I post and as you can see I post a fair amount,
thanks for the 411 and hope i'm not asking too many questions. just curious what the thinking is and why because some day I want to build a BIG shop.
I doubt i'll ever get my wife to move to a place where I can build one as nice as yours, but having my all my STUFF and being able to use it in one spot is very APPEALING.
good luck with the rest of your build and of course hope MOTHER NATURE IS NICE this year.
thanks for the 411 and hope i'm not asking too many questions. just curious what the thinking is and why because some day I want to build a BIG shop.
I doubt i'll ever get my wife to move to a place where I can build one as nice as yours, but having my all my STUFF and being able to use it in one spot is very APPEALING.
good luck with the rest of your build and of course hope MOTHER NATURE IS NICE this year.
ABSTIFFGS
Well-known member
Stop taking naps in attics and give us an update Mike!
I guess with 3 hours of sleep and working all night you'll have that.
Here's your update Mr. Impatient.
It's been rainy and MUDDY out here so it's been slow going.
In the mean time I've directed my attention elsewhere. Like getting the area around the power pole and panel area ready for hostas.
At least something got done today. Not alot but it's progress and I'll take it ! !
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Well no progress has been made so I'll share some tractor stuff with y'alls.
This is our largest tractor, a 2004 Case IH STX325. 325hp 4 wheel drive. It's a decent size for the area we farm in but is just shy of half the size of the largest one in production today. The largest produced by Case IH today is a STX620.
We equipped it with a rear PTO because we had intentions of pulling a 7200gal liquid manure tank but it never happened. I'm pretty sure the PTO has never been hooked to anything.
Here is my 6" pliers for a reference for the size of the drawbar.
Looking out the front at a very wet spot this spring. The fertilizer spreader just about got stuck here as you can see.
Looking out the back at the finishing disc. Bottom right corner is the fuel fill for the 200gal tank. When we're working the snot out of it we'll have to fill it every day. I can easily do 125 acres a day with this tractor and disc so the fuel cost per acre isn't bad at all.
This is our largest tractor, a 2004 Case IH STX325. 325hp 4 wheel drive. It's a decent size for the area we farm in but is just shy of half the size of the largest one in production today. The largest produced by Case IH today is a STX620.
We equipped it with a rear PTO because we had intentions of pulling a 7200gal liquid manure tank but it never happened. I'm pretty sure the PTO has never been hooked to anything.
Here is my 6" pliers for a reference for the size of the drawbar.
Looking out the front at a very wet spot this spring. The fertilizer spreader just about got stuck here as you can see.
Looking out the back at the finishing disc. Bottom right corner is the fuel fill for the 200gal tank. When we're working the snot out of it we'll have to fill it every day. I can easily do 125 acres a day with this tractor and disc so the fuel cost per acre isn't bad at all.
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ABSTIFFGS
Well-known member
Is that the one I drove?
Well after a rocky start to the weekend I ended up getting about 175 acres spread fertilizer and finish disc'd ready to plant. I was forced to go to the doctor by the Mrs and the doctor told me I had pneumonia. I told her I wasn't spending the night in the hospital because I had **** to do so they took some x-rays and apparently it was only "walking pneumonia", whatever that is I don't care because I got some drugs and went on my way.
Fertilizer being spread.
I also got the neighbor's "Food Plot" worked up. Seems silly since there is 60 acres of corn less than 100' away but whatever.
I was having a grand ol' time until one of the steering cylinder hoses decided to give up the ghost and spray hydraulic oil EVERYWHERE.
Fertilizer being spread.
I also got the neighbor's "Food Plot" worked up. Seems silly since there is 60 acres of corn less than 100' away but whatever.
I was having a grand ol' time until one of the steering cylinder hoses decided to give up the ghost and spray hydraulic oil EVERYWHERE.
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Well I finally have something to report on the shed.
West gable wall is up and the entire roof, minus one piece, is on. Someone at the lumberyard can't do basic math and I'm a piece short on the north side.
The skid loaders look like toys with those high sidewalls. I love it.
West gable wall is up and the entire roof, minus one piece, is on. Someone at the lumberyard can't do basic math and I'm a piece short on the north side.
The skid loaders look like toys with those high sidewalls. I love it.
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Thanks for that
Although it is an incredibly busy and sometimes very stressful occupation I wouldn't think of doing anything else ... other than the job I do in town that is 
Well three walls are up and it's really starting to look like something.
The steer barn looks small now ! !
This is one of the Farmall's that will live in the shed. I had to wake it up from it's winter nap because it's big brother, The Big Bad M, didn't want to start.
The feed mixing process is simple and works well for now.
Well this is a new unwelcomed development. Lets call it sweat from all the horsepower.
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ABSTIFFGS
Well-known member
I cannot wait to start putting my cars in there.
Terrick down Under
Well-known member
Just curious, do you channel the roof runoff towards your dams, for the stock to drink?
Purchased a "new" "truck" today. I was looking for a golf cart or John Deere Gator and this has them both beat. Street legal and WAY less expensive. PLUS it has a backstory. This truck started on fire under the hood while my wife was driving it when she was a junior in high school. I had to buy it for the nostalgia factor.
1988 Ford Ranger. V6, 2WD, never winter driven and has NO frills so it's just right. $400.
Looks pretty small in the shed .....
1988 Ford Ranger. V6, 2WD, never winter driven and has NO frills so it's just right. $400.
Looks pretty small in the shed .....
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ABSTIFFGS
Well-known member
I'm going nuts over here awaiting an update!
Well look at that. It's done ... for now ...
I saw that first picture and thought that downspout looked huge. Then I scrolled down, saw the second picture and realized it was two downspouts.
This was the first set of downspouts this company made and although they match perfect they look like ****. The ends were.not crimped to allow them to slide into the next piece so we had to goober them together and once it warmed.up they got very wrinkly and ugly. The lumberyard is going to put their standard commercial downspouts on this week and give me a jacket for my troubles. Haha.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
JB: I look at all that space and just DROOL. I pay $200 per month for a secured storage that is 10 x 20 with 14 foot tall ceilings. your ceilings look taller and OMG all that space.
I know it's expensive to put concrete on the floor so is dirt the plan for a while or do tell? I figured your big doors wouldn't be cheap and covered areas without doors until you can afford them isn't all bad.
how's the weather and are the crops still poking their heads up nicely?
cheers
I know it's expensive to put concrete on the floor so is dirt the plan for a while or do tell? I figured your big doors wouldn't be cheap and covered areas without doors until you can afford them isn't all bad.
how's the weather and are the crops still poking their heads up nicely?
cheers
I also look at all the space and drool
Building is 48'x112'x18' so it's a good size shed. The plan is to leave it dirt for now until I figure out what's going where. I know I want to finish at least a 48'x48' section but I may do the whole thing so no concrete just yet.
The doors. Yeah. I didn't even price them when I priced the building because I knew they wouldn't be going in for a while anyway.
Weather has been wet and ****** the last week or so but I've got everything planted so it's all good.
Got the tile in to send the water down the ditch.
Also got the new downspouts up. They look WAY better.
I had 6 loads of ****** fill delivered to level out the floor a bit. Here's half.
Rough graded.
Now that things are greening up the whole site looks way nicer ! !
Also got the new downspouts up. They look WAY better.
I had 6 loads of ****** fill delivered to level out the floor a bit. Here's half.
Rough graded.
Now that things are greening up the whole site looks way nicer ! !
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ABSTIFFGS
Well-known member
I like it!
Well, I've been trying to find a good beer for almost 10 years now and this isn't it. NASTY aftertaste. Good thing I let the liquor store guy talk me into the 12 pack that was on sale.
I've been getting a bit worried about the state of this pole so I've scheduled it to come out next week. The old property will be fed from the new panel.
Today was a very busy day. I got the floor leveled off in the shed.
Hauled 14 loads of black dirt over towards the shed that I've been stockpiling by my gravel pit.
I got the dirt all spread out nicely on top of the lovely clay and even managed to get it all seeded yet tonight.
Walked over it with a hand seeder with some bromegrass and a prairie mix after the drill went over with spring wheat, alfalfa and a timothy mix.
I thought the placement of the downspout tile was sort of nasty so I made it better.
Gosh I'm pumped to see what it all looks like when it's green ! !
My dad spent the better part of the afternoon building and shaping this ditch. I think it looks pretty damn swale, pun intended.
I've been getting a bit worried about the state of this pole so I've scheduled it to come out next week. The old property will be fed from the new panel.
Today was a very busy day. I got the floor leveled off in the shed.
Hauled 14 loads of black dirt over towards the shed that I've been stockpiling by my gravel pit.
I got the dirt all spread out nicely on top of the lovely clay and even managed to get it all seeded yet tonight.
Walked over it with a hand seeder with some bromegrass and a prairie mix after the drill went over with spring wheat, alfalfa and a timothy mix.
I thought the placement of the downspout tile was sort of nasty so I made it better.
Gosh I'm pumped to see what it all looks like when it's green ! !
My dad spent the better part of the afternoon building and shaping this ditch. I think it looks pretty damn swale, pun intended.
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Bighead38
Well-known member
Purchased a "new" "truck" today. I was looking for a golf cart or John Deere Gator and this has them both beat. Street legal and WAY less expensive. PLUS it has a backstory. This truck started on fire under the hood while my wife was driving it when she was a junior in high school. I had to buy it for the nostalgia factor.
1988 Ford Ranger. V6, 2WD, never winter driven and has NO frills so it's just right. $400.
Looks pretty small in the shed .....
Damn. I wish I could find a truck like that for that price.