Creating a Workshop & Home

[AndyM]

<font color="blue"> End of the day, here she is driving my little tractor back to the barn... </font>

Something's not right when your "little" tractor is larger than my "big" tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

P.S. I'm enjoying the progression of this project, along with your previous projects. Keep the photos coming!

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My girlfriend came by to help today, and help she did. Here she is cutting out the door frames.)</font>

Eddie, you are so lucky to have a girlfriend that's so helpful. I have come to believe she is your "secret weapon" in your arsenal of tools which is why you get so much work done.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks Kyle,

Your right about her helping me get things done, but not for the obvious reasons. Yes, she's a very hard worker, she learns quick and sticks with finishing a project. Unfortunately, she can only come out on weekends, and if the kids are with her, she's only able to spend a little bit of time helping out.

The real secret, is I want to make her proud of me by doing things for her. I enjoy her compliments and making her happy. Thats all I need to be happy in life. In return, I get things done.

Here's a scenic view with the second story just about framed in.

 

[EddieWalker]

Here's a little closer view of the second story.

It will have two bedrooms and a full bath.

 

[Nat]

Eddie, what kind of siding will be on it? I have always put the sheating on before I stood up the walls. I build the walls flat on the floor then wait till I have some help to stand them up. I have found that help wasn't coming so I used a jib pole mounted on my backhoe loader bucket. It is a lot of work, but sure saves a lot of bracing.
Later, Nat

 

[EddieWalker]

Nat,

I'm doing things a little unorthodoxed here. The entire building is sort of a showpiece/experiement for my RV Park.

The theme is a sort of East Africa/India/Western type of thing. Yeah, I know... HUH?

It makes sence to me, just explaining it is dificult.

I'm using stucco for the siding. It will be poorly done, with lots of imperfections. The look I want is unskilled third world labor. I will also stain it to try and get a weathered look.

Like I said, this will be some serious experimenting by trial and error. Hopefully I'll get lucky and the picture I see in my mind will come out in reality. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Eddie

 

[Nat]

I know what you mean when talking of the pic in our heads. The house I'm building is sort of unorthodox. It makes perfect sense to me but sure hard to explain to others. When the CG is done I'm going to drive 1/2 way across the country just to stay there, at least once.
I really enjoy you experiences you give us, sounds a lot like the stuff I do every day except a long way away. I have ran more equipment than most people have even seen, but still get a kick out of your experiences.
Keep it up, later, Nat

 

[GeneD14]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It will be poorly done, with lots of imperfections. The look I want is unskilled third world labor. )</font>

I have had some projects turn out like that although I'm not sure that they were planned that way. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for the kind words.

Sometimes trying to get that exact faux finish is more work then traditional, basic finishes. I'm hoping I can make it look attractive, do it simply, cheaply and most of all, not screw it up too baddly. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

The inside is gonna be an experiement also. I want it rustic but nice is probably the best description I can come up with.

To achieve this, I want exposed timber beam ceilings. I have all sorts of trees that I've taken out just lying around waiting to burn. The oaks seem like a good source for beams.

Here's one that's been down for awhile.

 

[EddieWalker]

This is my staging area for my logs.

The cedars will be used for posts on the porches and later on for gazebo's.

The oaks are what I'm using for my beams.

 

[EddieWalker]

This will be my first beam. It's just over 16 feet long and will need to be cut down to 15 ft 4 inches when installed.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've never done this before, nor have I seen anybody else do it. The idea seems simple enough.

Step one was to find a straight 2x6 and screw it to the log.

 

[EddieWalker]

The attachment that keeps the chaisaw straight and rides along the 2x6 is from Hud-Son. I saw them on Ebay, but bought it directly from them for around $40. It's well built, powder coated with sealed bearings.

I have no refrence to compair it to any other brand or type, but I have no problem recommending this one.

I had a $400 dollar Husqavarna chainsaw for about four years that died on me. I filled up a five gallong gas can with the fuel mix and never emptied that can. So I feel comfortable saying I didn't use it a whole lot. The repair shop said the motor didn't have any compression and was unrepairable. I won't buy another product from them again.

This time I decided to buy a cheaper chainsaw and liked the Poulan Pro. It's got a 20 inch bar and 46cc engine. Lots of power and starts much easier then thas Husquavarna piece of crap.

Here is the first cut.

 

[EddieWalker]

After the first cut, it was much easier to set up the 2x6. The board needs to be exactly one inch over to measure the cut. Otherwise, it's a very simple install.

 

[EddieWalker]

This is the other side of the attachment. I had to drill two holes through my bar to mount it, but then it just bolts on.

The grooves the chainsaw makes will give the beam it's character. I want it to look old and distressed.

 

[EddieWalker]

This is the first beam. It's 3 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches tall. Same as two 2x6's.

It's not perfectly straight, but pretty close. I'm gonna sand it lightly, just to knock off some of the fuzz from the chainsaw, but keep the grooves and imperfections.

I also need to shorten it to 15 ft 4 inches before installing it. I'll stain it in place after all the pieces are put together.

 

[EddieWalker]

My girlfriend helped with sanding down the beams.

We wanted to knock off the bigger ridges and smooth it out enough to show the grain.

The girls are always close by to see whats going on.

 

[EddieWalker]

Here she is working on some of the "character" spots. I want the beam to have imperfections. But to also look nice and show the beauty of the wood. After all, this is slow grown oak from my own land. Thats significant to me.

Side note.

In the background, you can see the clearing and the power poles. In another week or so, I'll have power to the place.

 

[EddieWalker]

Heres a closer view of the finished beam. You can see how beutiful the grain is, but also the the imperfections from milling it with a chainsaw.

When it's stained, the imperfections should show darker, but he grain will just jump out at you.

 

[EddieWalker]

This is the beam installed. There will be three more pieces added to it creating a truss.

There will be two of these solid oak trusses in the living room.