Above 1200 Sq/FT Plugger Workshop

[Prospecter]

Thanks for checking in, Guy. For better or worse, comments encourage me. Yeah. Hot for us is 90's. We just are not used to it. AC is a new luxury that came with the heat pumps. Shop heat pump is supposed to be delivered this afternoon.

 

[stioc]

^^ lol me too. @Prospecter , I just wanted to say you have an amazing property! Showed some pics to the little lady and she's in agreement we should put Maine on our short list of states to consider moving to for our retirement property. Have been looking at upstate NY and PA. It'll be a huge change from SoCal weather-wise but a much bigger property, 4 seasons and even a little bit of snow is all sounding good so far. What I'm a little concerned about is how the sea levels will potentially change over the next 20-30 yrs and their impact on the coastal states.

 

[Prospecter]

STIOC, Thanks for checking in. Glad you like the property. We like it here. Oddly, there is speculation that the Gulf Stream, which moderates our weather, may shift so that we actually become colder and stormier over the next 30 years. Haven't seen that yet.

I started the thread without much thought other than to not monopolize space elsewhere. Just kind of feeling my way and posting whatever happens during my days.

 

[Prospecter]

The shop heat pump arrived.

Made some progress on the walls. Unloaded the rest of the plywood panels. By mid-afternoon I was down to shorts and Crocs.

Gratuitous field and house picture.

Mowed. The apple tree fell while mowing around it. Guess the ants got to it.

 

[Prospecter]

Between projects at home and up north, by the time I get to the end of the day I don't have much energy left to write. So I figured I should take a break mid-day.

The heat pump is installed and working. I ran the electric while the installer was doing his thing, and finished just about in time to be ready for him to hook up to power. I have quickly become spoiled, and love it. The old Rinnai had to come out due to being in the way of the new pass through door. The installer moved it to the addition so I can take the chill off if needed. I don't expect to use it much.

 

[Prospecter]

With other projects taking time, the garden has been neglected. New green weeding scooter works well. (Thanks for the recommendation, Kay.) It seems I won't need to weed the strawberries. The turkeys got 'em.
Finally time to tackle the back porch up north. I pulled down the ceiling to see what was going on with the rafters. You probably can't tell, but they have pulled away from the house.

 

[Bob Heine]

The turkeys got 'em.

Is a Thanksgiving payback in one of their future's?

 

[Prospecter]

Bob, Thanks for checking in. Those turkeys are safe from us.

 

[kaymccampbell]

With other projects taking time, the garden has been neglected. New green weeding scooter works well. (Thanks for the recommendation, Kay.) It seems I won't need to weed the strawberries. The turkeys got 'em.
Finally time to tackle the back porch up north. I pulled down the ceiling to see what was going on with the rafters. You probably can't tell, but they have pulled away from the house.

What's the widget in your hand in the garden?

 

[Prospecter]

What's the widget in your hand in the garden?

Kay: It's a hand weeder. I bought it for my wife in the 80's and as far as I can tell, it is no longer available. Probably a small time craftsman made them. Anyway, Mrs. P can no longer use it, and I inherited it. The one below is similar, except mine has straight edges and is a triangle. I sharpened all the edges. It is just the right length if I am sitting in a weeder seat.

Amazon.com

 

[Prospecter]

Kay: It's a hand weeder. I bought it for my wife in the 80's and as far as I can tell, it is no longer available. Probably a small time craftsman made them. Anyway, Mrs. P can no longer use it, and I inherited it. The one below is similar, except mine has straight edges and is a triangle. I sharpened all the edges. It is just the right length if I am sitting in a weeder seat.

Amazon.com

Looks like the link doesn't work, but here is a screen shot.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Looks like the link doesn't work, but here is a screen shot.

I like it. If I can't find one, I'll make it. Ihave a bigger one. It looks kinda like the pic below, just add 40 years of use onto it.

 

[Prospecter]

I like it. If I can't find one, I'll make it. Ihave a bigger one. It looks kinda like the pic below, just add 40 years of use onto it.

There's a bunch on Amazon. I'm up north, but will be home next week to send a picture. (Added it to my List.)

 

[Prospecter]

Although the decking has lost most of its goody, and the posts for the roof are rotten, the under pinnings had tar paper over them, and appear to be ok. Not pressure treated, but probably hemlock. I plan to level up the underpinnings, replace the posts, and reattach the rafters and see where I am.

 

[Prospecter]

Used the tractor forks to lift the porch and add concrete block. The sunken deck had a pitch of roughly 5" over 8'. The blocks reduced that to 3", and eased the ceiling joists back into place. The rafters didn't get all the way back to where they were attached to the house, but closer. I'll need to shim those.

 

[Prospecter]

I used a screw jack such as one uses to stabilize a vehicle on a lift. Worked slick. I switched from 4x4 posts to 6x6 PT. I think they look better, and of course the PT will last better. The original lumber is mostly full dimension rough sawn lumber. Probably installed while still green. The new PT timbers are "pond dried" and very heavy, at least for this old guy. I also needed to dig out from under the deck timbers so they are not in contact with the soil.

 

[Prospecter]

And a few more photos, including before and after of the roofline. Now for routines such as mow, do laundry, pay homage to our feline majesty, attempt to capture the latest groundhog for resettlement, and shop.

 

[Prospecter]

What's the widget in your hand in the garden?

Here you go. Photos and measurements. Originally, it was only sharp on the long edge. I find it handier with all 3 edges sharpened. Probably the exact angles don't matter much. Nice to have a narrow edge to get in close, and a longish edge when care is not so necessary. The 17" length has always been just right, and still just right for the green HF wheelie seat.

 

[Prospecter]

Misc. chores and errands. I have been contemplating my list.

To get started, years ago, I just wrote down everything I could think of, and added / crossed off as appropriate. I got tired of rewriting, by hand, so it migrated to a word processing document that could be printed off. Eventually, I just did it electronically, and moved it to a Google Doc. It started out as 12 pages x 4 columns. It currently is the equivalent of two pages of misc. tables of lists and data. Still using a Google Doc.

 

[Prospecter]

Up north again. Old potato barn rented out as a truck repair garage now needs cleaning out. The goal is to empty it out so there is room for RV storage, and to salvage materials to repair another barn. It was hot and filthy work. The painter pants and old shirt are comfortable in hot weather, but white may not have been a good choice for this work.

 

[Prospecter]

More progress in the potato barn before getting back home. We often miss out on peas because of other plans, but this year we harvested both snow peas and shell peas. Shell peas are a lot of work for what one gets, but it is hard to beat garden peas. The critter has so far been savvy enough to avoid the temptation of the melon in the trap. We'll catch it eventually.

Mowed the field yesterday. Mowed some of the lawn today, in between errands.

 

[Sifan]

I've had success with fresh apple slices! Use gloves to eliminate person contact ... good luck

 

[Prospecter]

Running errands yesterday, we followed a windmill blade. Much larger and longer than a few years ago. In the first photo, the rear wheels steer independently. I assume remotely from the cab?

HJE order also arrived. (double post).

And we caught the critter, who has been relocated.

I will try to mow today. It is a small window between dry grass and too hot.

 

[Prospecter]

Sometimes exciting projects take a back seat to the mundane activities of life.

The clock was salvaged from the Potato Barn clean up.

My HJE box art collection. Seven years' worth of Epstein's Day. (I think I skipped the art one year? Foolish me!)

I mowed the walking paths, after spending a morning wrestling with the new blades for the belly mower. Between mowing the lawn up north, our lawn, the field, and the mowing paths, I feel like I've been mowing forever. The Kubota belly mower does a nice job on the paths, but is a pain to work on. It's an older model, so I need to lift the front end of the tractor to get the mower on and off. (Not a newer model that one just drives right over the deck!) I am slowly getting the hang of it. I used a small bottle jack to line up the holes on the deck this time. The mid-PTO is annoying to connect/disconnect. Barely reachable from the back, and difficult to line up the splines.

The turkey family kept me company while doing the paths. We have pretty much given up on ever growing strawberries!

Paving has been a project all summer long. Yesterday, they were laying down a second layer of Hot Top in front of the house.

 

[jon72vega]

I like your clock.

 

[Prospecter]

Thanks Jon. An oldie but goodie.

 

[Prospecter]

I still need to run the gas line from the tank to the garage addition aka "Boathouse." Rented a walk behind trencher on Monday. Dug the 70ish feet of trench. Managed to get it stuck once. The trencher isn't easy to use, but sure beats pick and shovel. Cheaper, just as quick, and less mess than a mini excavator for this application. Sadly, it rained Tuesday and collapsed the trench before I got the line in. I'll get that figured out after it stops raining and dries out.

 

[Prospecter]

If a gardener gets a new (to him) cultivator for his tractor, he's going to notice the old seat makes his **** wet, so he will first need to install the new seat that has been waiting form months. Then he will need to remove the rototiller and belly mower. When he installs the cultivator, he will notice the adjustable lift link is rusted solid, so he will apply penetrating oil. Becoming impatient, he will immediate resort to pipe wrench / cheater bar, which won't work, so he will apply more penetrating oil and move on to adjusting the tines on the cultivator. At that point, he notices those bolts are also seized. Since they are mostly the wrong size, he will use a cutting wheel to just cut them off. Fortunately, he has correctly sized replacements in his stash. Unfortunately, he won't have enough, so off to the hardware store. While there, he will realize he also needs some hitch pins for the tiller, and buy those while there. Back home, he will finish assembling the cultivator, and try it out. At that point, it will mostly work, but be too wide for the tractor, thereby knocking down some corn, and his wife's gladiolas. When he gets back to the shop, he will decide to cut down the cultivator to the right size for his tractor. In cutting down the frame, he will also change its geometry, so he will need to adjust it, and weld it back together. He will bubblegum it together, and go to YouTube U. to figure out what's messing up his welds. (Not that he is much of a welder to begin with!) To be continued.

 

[Prospecter]

Looks like I am pushing the limits of my wire feed flux core welder with the 1/2"+ stock on the cultivator. Also, need to up the voltage. I am going to drag out the old stick welder and get some 6011 rods and try that. I have more time in on the stick welder, so have a better sense of what I am doing.

 

[Prospecter]

One of my earlier welds. I am not much of a welder, but between welding and grinding and re-welding and re-grinding, I am getting some practice in. The welds do seem to mostly be strong enough. The stick welder is getting what looks to me like good penetration.

We have a family of red shouldered hawks. The teenagers are in that awkward stage, and fall off the bird houses. Fortunately, the houses are empty because the blue birds and swallows fledged. The hawks are hunting rodents in the recently mowed field. Fine with us. Reduces the number that will attempt to find there way in.

 

[Prospecter]

After the rains and the trench collapse, I got the gas line trench re-dug. The trench was stirred up from the trencher, but since the ground was uneven, I could not re-use the trencher. I ended up getting what I could with the bucket loader, and finishing up with a 4" trenching shovel. Not awful.

Our monarch herd is moving along. They require much tending, but we have a good survival rate.

 

[Prospecter]

Another pic of our awkward teenagers.

More grading and filling. The first time I used the box blade. I put off getting one for years, because they are kind of spendy. This one came with the Kubota, and was essentially free. Too big for the Kubota, so it had never been used. It's perfect for the JD 790 (30 hp, comparable in size and HP to that 8n you used at camp.) As I regraded the area in front of the "Boathouse," I had excess fill. The fill was relocated to an area across the road which is often too wet to mow.

 

[Prospecter]

The Mens' Club turkeys meeting in our strawberry bed. This is why we are giving up on strawberries.

The gas line is hooked up. It serves the Boathouse heater, and the grill. The silver box is the connection for the grill. A flexible hose connects inside the box. The connector is similar to an air hose connection. New technology to me!

The hummers are active, and manage to empty the feeders quickly. The station is just off the porch (aka "Camp") where we can see them.

Wildfires in Canada are sending smoke our way. It makes for some spectacular sunsets.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Are you going to armor those gas lines where they come out of the ground?

 

[Prospecter]

I have a new toy. Portable bandsaw, and stationary frame attachment. I am pleased with the clean cuts, especially on the train rail. I had to reposition it a few times, but I kept the blade oiled and it moved through the hardened rail nicely. The rail is much shorter than I hoped, because I need to clear the belly mower attachments and levers (not pictured). I still managed to fab a frame for the suitcase weights. I could not get all three on straight before. Hopefully, with better positioning, and with the added weight of the rail, I will be able to steer a little better. My welds are not where I want them to be, but I don't need to regrind and redo as many cycles.

My welding is limited to outside the shop, or right in the shop entry if it is raining, so I only weld during warmer months. It keeps the area well ventilated, and avoids sparks in the shop, but limits me to flux core.

Thought you might like to see the Monarch pens.

That brings me up to date. I am working around wet, rainy days. Weather permitting, I will mow today. Otherwise I have clean up to do in the shop, a trailer hitch to repair, and of course more grinding and welding.

 

[Prospecter]

Are you going to armor those gas lines where they come out of the ground?

The placement is protected, and I plan to place cement block and a post. Probably a section of that train rail. Is that what you mean?

 

[kaymccampbell]

The placement is protected, and I plan to place cement block and a post. Probably a section of that train rail. Is that what you mean?

I was thinking more of conduit over the flex gas lines. I typically run gas out of the ground and up the wall with a solid steel pipe termination. Nothing delicate gets exposed to yard equipment.

I recently got bit in the *** by ****** not putting the coax on the pole inside conduit where it comes out of the ground. I nailed it with the weedwhacker. Then got to fix and armor it.

 

[Prospecter]

I was thinking more of conduit over the flex gas lines. I typically run gas out of the ground and up the wall with a solid steel pipe termination. Nothing delicate gets exposed to yard equipment.

I recently got bit in the *** by ****** not putting the coax on the pole inside conduit where it comes out of the ground. I nailed it with the weedwhacker. Then got to fix and armor it.

That's a good idea. (The conduit, not the weed whacker.) I think I will cover it after it's sided. Thanks for the cautionary tale!

 

[Prospecter]

I have replaced several of these couplers over the years. It happens often enough that this time around I bought spares in each size that we use.

 

[Mr onetwo]

Hey there neighbor.I just discovered this thread and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it from start to now this morning.I am in Belfast presently, but I am in the process of purchasing 28 acres in Jackson just up the road.Time to get outah dodge so to speak, so my journey is about to start.Good luck in your continuing journey and keep those great photos coming (your photographer is very talented).