Creating a Lake

[EddieWalker]

I prefer to use a bucket and a paddle drill to mix small amounts of concrete, but for bigger jobs like this, it's great. I like how quiet it is to use. I can get two 80 pounds sacks into it, or three 60 pounds sacks. Which is all I can handle in the wheelbarrow. To power it, I'm using my Honda 2000 generator, which is also very quiet.

I've had it a dozen years or more, and it's just like the one I grew up with that my dad had for several decades.

Eddie

 

[Western]

What brand? I have a genset on my Miller 250 welder and a small troy built genset that should run it. I know mixing 100's of bags in a wheel barrow has not made me any smarter

 

[EddieWalker]

1/2 HP Portable Cement Mixer-105890DPT at The Home Depot

This looks like it, but I can't find a brand name on the website to see if it reminds me of the brand I have. I forget who made mine, but in every detail, it looks like the same thing with a different color paint job. Price seems about right too. I've taken it to jobs, but usually it just sits for months or even years at a time. It's one of my must have tools that take up too much room that I wouldn't want to be without.

Eddie

 

[Western]

Thanks Eddie, reviews are great all around which is unique for a box store tool:thumbsup: Price is about 2k cheaper than a pull behind too!

 

[EddieWalker]

Dennis,

I'm done with it for now, but once I get the gazebo built, I'm thinking of pouring concrete all the way around it to define a flower garden and grass areas that is the same height as the grass so I can drive the mower on top of it. I'm wanting to minimize my weed eating time and have something permanent. We will also be doing the same thing around some of the trees to create flower beds, so it will be useful for that too.

The wedding is August 9th, are you coming?

Eddie

 

[Western]

Dennis,

I'm done with it for now, but once I get the gazebo built, I'm thinking of pouring concrete all the way around it to define a flower garden and grass areas that is the same height as the grass so I can drive the mower on top of it. I'm wanting to minimize my weed eating time and have something permanent. We will also be doing the same thing around some of the trees to create flower beds, so it will be useful for that too.

The wedding is August 9th, are you coming?

Eddie

If I'm not out of town working, I can sure make it. That is a busy time for me. As the summer moves along and I get all the contract details, I will let you know for sure. Shoot, they may have me working in your neck of the woods during that time:thumbsup:

Might think about adding some color to the boarder when you pour it, might look nice with a lt. Brown or mottled look to match the gazebo?

 

[vukhuongduy]

 

[vukhuongduy]

How much you use cylinder

 

[EddieWalker]

Started on the logs. I have a pile of cedar logs that we've taken out of the land over the years. I picked out the four biggest to get started and have three more marked in the pile. Number 8 is eluding me, but there are plenty to look at, so I'm sure I'll find him.

I put them on a rack that I made a few years ago, cut them to 102 inches, cut out al the branches and grind it smooth with a paddle disk in my 4 1/2 inch grinder. Then I put a chain at the end of the log, pick it up with the tines on the grapple and carry it to the peninsula.

I line it up, brace it and drill two 3/4 inch holes through the logs through the holes in the 3 inch C channel. I'm using 3/4 inch hot dipped galvanized threaded rod. I tried using really long 3/4 carriage bolts on my last gazebo and found them to be short most of the time. This time around I'm going with cutting each rod to length after getting it through the log and bolted together from both ends. So far, this seems to work a lot better.



Eddie

 

[bindian]

Eddie,
Dad called that kind of rack a saw buck. Looking GREAT, as usual.
hugs, Brandi

 

[mark02tj]

Holy Cow, Eddie!! When you said you were going to build a "gazebo", I was thinking something that was going to use 4x4s, 2x4s, etc. and would measure about 12' across. That's what folks call a gazebo up here. That is going to be more of a pavillion!!! Always bigger and better in Texas! :laughing: I can't wait to see the pics of it done - it's going to be beautiful!! Are you going to use smaller logs for the roof beams too?

Watching the stuff that you and Brandi do, I think I should move (back) to Texas and live between the two of you. You would both be handy neighbors to have!! :thumbsup:

Best of luck to you and your fiance!!

 

[EddieWalker]

The trusses will be built out of dimensional lumber. I thought about using cedar logs, but decides that using lumber gives me a more refined look that I'm trying to get. We keep joking that this is going to be redneck, but we really don't want it to be too redneck. LOL

Eddie

 

[bindian]

Watching the stuff that you and Brandi do, I think I should move (back) to Texas and live between the two of you. You would both be handy neighbors to have!! :thumbsup:

Thanks Mark! Why did you ever leave the Grand Republic of Texas?
hugs, Brandi

 

[MacLawn]

If the Republic of TEXAS (I don't write nor say that WORD in small letters) ever seceeds - I'll be ye neighbor!

 

[mark02tj]

Thanks Mark! Why did you ever leave the Grand Republic of Texas?

My dad got transferred. I wasn't quite 6 years old so I didn't have much of a choice. I was born in San Antonio and have always felt like a TEXAN even though I've been in Ohio for almost 42 years now. There's just a certain pride about Texas! When my oldest daughter was in fifth grade she was on a scholastic team that made it to the national competition. There were teams from just about every state (plus a few foreign countries) including the Republic of Texas. Several of the teams from Texas that won raced to the stage with their Texas flags waving high!! None of the winning teams from other states carried up a state flag. Heck, Ohio doesn't even have a flag - it's a more of a pennant. :confused2:

Spending a few days in Ft. Worth a few years ago just reminded me of how much I love Texas and the people! Maybe once there's nothing holding me in Ohio I'll move back.

If the Republic of TEXAS (I don't write nor say that WORD in small letters) ever seceeds - I'll be ye neighbor!

I'm with ya, MacLawn!! I don't want to get into a political discussion, but I think that the Federal government could learn a thing or two from the Texas government!!

 

[bindian]

My dad got transferred. I wasn't quite 6 years old so I didn't have much of a choice. I was born in San Antonio and have always felt like a TEXAN even though I've been in Ohio for almost 42 years now. There's just a certain pride about Texas! When my oldest daughter was in fifth grade she was on a scholastic team that made it to the national competition. There were teams from just about every state (plus a few foreign countries) including the Republic of Texas. Several of the teams from Texas that won raced to the stage with their Texas flags waving high!! None of the winning teams from other states carried up a state flag. Heck, Ohio doesn't even have a flag - it's a more of a pennant. :confused2:

Spending a few days in Ft. Worth a few years ago just reminded me of how much I love Texas and the people! Maybe once there's nothing holding me in Ohio I'll move back.



I'm with ya, MacLawn!! I don't want to get into a political discussion, but I think that the Federal government could learn a thing or two from the Texas government!!

Mark,
Before you leave Ohio, can you straighten out Boehner? Sorry Eddie, first person I've met from Ohio.
hugs, Brandi

 

[mark02tj]

LOL Brandi!!! I think that Boehner is beyond straightening out! Interestingly, there are actually some challengers to him in the upcoming primary. I'm not sure what kind of chance that they have of beating him but it is sending a message to him that some members of his own party are not real happy with him.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Eddie, I know it would cost more and take more time, (2 precious commodities), but some rough cut timbers like 4 x 6 or 4 x 8 would look really good as a sort of trellis/joist system between those huge uprights.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have the cedar logs to do it, but I'm just not sure that's the look I'm wanting. Of course, I was thinking of using round cedar logs like the posts. What is making me not want to go that route is how I want the ceiling to look and where I want the attention to be. I will have three exposed beams that will be part of the structure, so there will be some interest in that when it's all done. I haven't committed to either design just yet, but in my sketches, I like the dimensional lumber plan the best. I sometimes change directions and modify a plan once I get to that point and realize that option B or even C is the best one.

Eddie

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I'm just trying to envision dimensional lumber attached to those huge cedar columns. I'm sure you will make it look grand somehow as you have a gift for that.