Barn to workshop

[EddieWalker]

Larry,

You're doing an amazing job. Sure is a shame about those trees and the damage they cause. Can't wait to see the pictures of you taking them out!!

Eddie

 

[Larstan]

Much appreciated Eddie, I actually kind of dread that project, they are in such a precarious position. That will be a slow carefully planned attack /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Here's what I got done today in between my other obligations......

 

[Larstan]

The support beams are 4x8's with 16' 2x4's. I was going to go to 24' feet in length but I think I will hold at 16' to keep the overhead clear to make it easier to use the forklift in that bay.
This is a reverse shot......

 

[Larstan]

I found 3 beams in the C Ads, 2-30' and 1-25' rough cut out of another old barn. I am going to use these to replace the center loft supports which are 2 -4x6" 12' beams sandwiched with sections of 2x6's. The current ones are sagging and splitting in places and the whole thing is very springy.

 

[Larstan]

Loft addition finished, front shot....

 

[Larstan]

Loft from the top....

 

[HammerFour]

Larry, how far a span is that loft? I am just a bit concerned that those 16 foot 2x4's are a bit small for that. I would think 2x6 or 2x8 for that distance....

Great job on the barn project, I was just wondering about those 2x4's is all.

 

[Larstan]

twstanley,

There is about 7'6" in between the 4"x8" beams and I put the them at 12" on center and layed 1/2" ply on top. What's interesting is the old loft is 2x4s ripped in half spanning the same distance, even though the old boards are rough cut lumber it is pretty springy. Thanks for looking.....

Anybody else see a problem with those numbers? Seems pretty stout to me but I would be interested to hear from some of the experts /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

Larry,

I'd have used 2x6's on 16 in centers for an 8 ft span that will be used for storing stuff. By closing in your centers to 12 inches, you've compensated some for the smaller lumber. I'd think it should be fine.

Of course, if you put a couple thousand punds up there, I wouldn't park my tractor or build my office under it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Eddie

 

[meledward23]

What a project. I find jealousy pusling in my veins. To have such a treasure, and what an excuse to get out of the house.


Best of luck to you with the rest of this project.

 

[Larstan]

Hey Eddie, Just lie to me and tell that's exactly how you would have done it /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I guess I will have to worry about beefing it up later and try not to take any breaks underneath it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Larstan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What a project. I find jealousy pusling in my veins. To have such a treasure, and what an excuse to get out of the house.
)</font>

meledward23, Hmmm let me see now, it seems I read something somewhere about "coveting thy neighbors ......" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks, I find it to be a love/hate relationship. Some days I see the treasure and some days I wonder if I can ever make it shine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif but tenacity shall win in the end /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Larstan]

Today was one of those days, you know the kind where there is an obstacle at every turn. I did not get started till early afternoon and I have so much to do I had a hard time figuring out where to start. So I decided to take a shot at augering a hole for a pier. Ahhhh, I get to play with the tractor while working today /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif So I hook up the PHD which has been setting dorment for a couple of months. I notice the oil breather on the gear box has some congealed lumps on it so I figure I will change the gear oil and grease it before I dig in /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Does anyone have any idea why you would paint the level plug? And why 7mm (this is a Howse) I got it with the tractor and had only used it breifly once before to set a couple of fence posts so I had not done the obligatory pre-use service to it. After much grumbling and back and forth to the tool box I get the gear oil changed and start on the u-joints, can you make those safety covers any cheaper? After scraping the paint off the zurk fitting /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I start banging away with the pneumatic grease gun, obviously none is going in the joint because it is all right there ON the joint /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif after more fiddling it starts taking grease but none is coming out the seals then 'Splat'. Now I am not a mathmatics genious by any stretch, but there are 4 seals with 360 degrees around each. What are the chances that you would be standing in the path of release, answer is 'pretty good' See attached...... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Larstan]

So I position the PHD to get an idea of how much space I will need to dig and how far apart to set the new supports so i can remove the one I am digging under.

 

[Larstan]

Outside looking in...... That's Penelope checking my positioning from under the beam to the left /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Always helps to have 2 sets of eyes on a project...

 

[Larstan]

Close-up after I have set the new supports and removed the one under which I will dig. The 2 beams don't match up /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif imagine 2 6x8 beams that are different dimensions. The rough cut original beam is 5 7/8 x 7 7/8 while the replacement comes in about 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 is that what they call dimensional lumber? Why is it that wood is getting smaller while retaing the same dimension label but the price is going up? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Larstan]

Close-up of the hole to be. If you look close you will see the next surprise /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Larstan]

Here is a hint....... Obviously I missed one

 

[Larstan]

So a little more work before the digging, guess what? Some digging and hacking as there were some roots from my friendly trees out front also. I am a little irritated at this point thinking this hole should already be in the ground and I should be on at least the second or third /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif ......

That's a 4 foot pry bar by the way....

 

[Larstan]

Looking on the bright side, I have a pretty good pilot hole started /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif here is a front shot....