My house, barn and pond project

EddieWalker · Dec 31, 2007

It looks like in one of your pictures that you added posts to your walls. I'm curious why you did this? Was it done on all the walls, or just that one?

It also looks like you have one heck of a pile of logs sitting behind your building. I don't envy you having to clean that up over time. Log piles are never fun to get rid of, but having to work around a building will just make it more challenging. Do you have snakes there? I'm terrified of snakes and the thought of taking apart a log pile by hand is just about more then I can deal with!!!! Then of course, if it's not snakes, it's wasps. If it was me, I'd make that pile a priority winter project.

It's sure coming together nicely and the smile on your little girl is priceless.

Thanks,
Eddie

rexcramer · Dec 31, 2007

wedge40 said:
I'm curious about when these pictures were taken. I grew up in the Birch Run area (Linwood) and can't remember trees having leaves on at Christmas.
Also was the barn design from scratch of did you use a prefab design. I'm hoping to get started on one in the spring and yours looks like exactly what I want to build.

Wedge

These pics are from last July and August. I didnt use any special plans, just common building practices. The trusses are on 24" centers, the main posts are on 96" centers, and the purlins are on 24" centers. I decided on a shingle roof due to it being quieter and insulated better. Dont let anyone talk you into going 48" centers on the trusses to save money either. Also I am really glad I went with a 24" overhang, you can walk around the barn in the rain and stay dry

rexcramer · Dec 31, 2007

EddieWalker said:
It looks like in one of your pictures that you added posts to your walls. I'm curious why you did this? Was it done on all the walls, or just that one?

It also looks like you have one heck of a pile of logs sitting behind your building. I don't envy you having to clean that up over time. Log piles are never fun to get rid of, but having to work around a building will just make it more challenging. Do you have snakes there? I'm terrified of snakes and the thought of taking apart a log pile by hand is just about more then I can deal with!!!! Then of course, if it's not snakes, it's wasps. If it was me, I'd make that pile a priority winter project.

It's sure coming together nicely and the smile on your little girl is priceless.

Thanks,
Eddie

The 2x6 posts in the walls are there to support my inside sheating. Instead of using a ton of 2x4's studding out my walls I just put the 12' 2x6's in for nailers and to keep the sheets from being sloppy. Its not as solid as full studding but it was a lot faster, and when I insulated the walls with 1.5" foam there was a lot less cutting.

The log pile is all the good firewood that was in the 2 acre area that I cleared last year. Its about three years worth I figure. It will power my Woodmaster outdoor wood boiler which will heat my house, barn, and all my hot water. Pics are coming soon. Other than holding a few rabbits there were no problems with snakes or bees last year. Michigan has very few snakes that are poisonous, and most are in swampy areas. All I have is Garder snakes and salamanders here.

rexcramer · Dec 31, 2007

coopers said:
That's great looking...you must be very excited! Any other action shots of that 580C? The C and D's are my favorite models.

Blake
WA

I wish I had taken more pics of the backhoe, but I have a few more I think. This machine has pulled hundreds of stumps, moved thousands of yards of sand, dug foundations and a septic field. I also skidded all my logs I sold out of the woods with it. All with 7000 hours on the clock. It does need some bushings and pins now, but it owes me nothing thats for sure. The 207 Case is no power monster, but one **** of a little motor.

This is right after I put new rear tires on the old girl

Here I used it to fill my foundation with sand up to the bottom two blocks

coopers · Jan 1, 2008

rexcramer-

Hey thanks! Those tires look pretty good on that machine. That's the beauty of case, the old machines, C-E's were built so well they still work to this day. I really want to pick up a D at some point (extendahoe). They may not have as much HP as the M's do now but they still did the job well and actually still do just fine.

Thanks,

Blake
WA

rexcramer · Jan 1, 2008

Yeah I think I am going to try and find a 580E 4x4 and keep that forever. Parts are still reasonable on it but the 4x4 would save me a lot of time in the slop. Not as powerful as the new ones but they dont seem to break much because of the lower hp and slower pumps also.

Only problem is my 580C has all new hoses, seals, tires, etc. I hate to get rid of a dependable machine and get a whole new set of headaches.

coopers · Jan 1, 2008

rexcramer said:
Only problem is my 580C has all new hoses, seals, tires, etc. I hate to get rid of a dependable machine and get a whole new set of headaches.

Yeah that's true. I saw a really nice looking 580E extendahoe on ebay but it wasn't 4x4. But I think that would be the way to go, no 4x4 and it gets a little old going every which way in the mud EXCEPT the way you want to go.

Blake
WA

rexcramer · Jan 7, 2008

OK here is the final setup for the woodburner, its a Woodmaster 4400 Outdoor Wood Boiler that should save me about $2000 a year in LP costs at current prices.