roadside metal barn/carport "kit" versus real bilt pole barn

[robbyr]

Always nice to see a can of lubricating fluid next to the job.

I had to click on pic to see what you were referring to. Expected to see a can of WD-40. :laughing: I am nowhere near a carpenter and don’t know the do’s and don’ts. Tried using string and string level. Ended up using a four foot level and eyeballing it. The cows, horses, and donkeys haven’t noticed where I messed up.

 

[Diggin It]

I am in the process of putting a 12x48 loft in an old barn. Rough work for me, holding a tape measure across a 12' span, holding 2x10x12' rafters in place and nailing them by myself, etc.

Since I do most everything alone, I've worked out a few tricks for those types of tasks. Using ropes, cables, chains or more recently ratchet straps, I make a sling for both ends. Attach the sling by whatever means possible to a post or maybe even a simple temporary A frame or tripod. Raise one end of the board into the sling at nearly the required height. Repeat at the other end so the board is suspended by both slings. Then from a ladder or scaffold, it becomes much easier to to position the board into place and drive nails or screws. Sometimes only one fastener until you move to the other end and get it in place.

For heavier boards, I've done it more as a block and tackle type set-up where I can hoist the board instead of manual lifting.

It can be quite a bit of moving from one end to the other and back, but I find it safer than trying to lift and balance things.

 

[robbyr]

Since I do most everything alone, I've worked out a few tricks for those types of tasks. Using ropes, cables, chains or more recently ratchet straps, I make a sling for both ends. Attach the sling by whatever means possible to a post or maybe even a simple temporary A frame or tripod. Raise one end of the board into the sling at nearly the required height. Repeat at the other end so the board is suspended by both slings. Then from a ladder or scaffold, it becomes much easier to to position the board into place and drive nails or screws. Sometimes only one fastener until you move to the other end and get it in place.

For heavier boards, I've done it more as a block and tackle type set-up where I can hoist the board instead of manual lifting.

It can be quite a bit of moving from one end to the other and back, but I find it safer than trying to lift and balance things.

It was difficult trying to hold a 2x6 rafter up and nail it. I cut four small blocks of 2x6 and fashioned a cradle. Climb up ladder with trusty ol Ryobi impact driver and screw it to header. Slide one end of board in and nail other end up. Worked pretty good and fairly quick with the impact driver.