New garage time!

[MossRoad]

Now that the first floor is done i need to do some cleanup, including cleaning out the concrete the truck driver dumped against the garage. Cleaned up wood and got out my oliver. I was nervous working that close to the garage without a spotter but managed to pull it off. Very heavy chunk came off and carried it away. It was at the limit of my hoe's lift capacity but fine for the bucket.

...

We had a similar situation with left over concrete the last few weeks on our garage expansion. First of 3 pours, I had him do his cleanout into an old septic tank that we've been wanting to fill for years. So no debris left over from that pour.

Second of 3 pours, either I underestimated or they shorted me, so he cleaned out just water into the bucket they attach to the end of the chute. No debris left over.

Since I was short by about 1.5 cubic feet on the 2nd pour, even though I overestimated by .25 yards, I didn't want to take a chance on the 3rd and last pour, so I ordered 3/4 of a yard extra. I used 2x4s and made up 4 rows of 5 sixteen inch squares for stepping stones. I figured it was a $100 dollar insurance policy that I'd have enough concrete for the last pour. And, I was apparently right on, as we did the pour, then filled all the stepping stone forms, and he did his cleanout in what was left of the septic tank and he was exactly empty. So I'm pretty sure they shorted me on the 2nd pour.

Anyhow, I've done concrete in the past, both by myself and with my father many years ago, and I've also read on TBN a few times, to make up those stepping stone forms and have them around just in case there's extra concrete and it won't go to waste.

Last time I did it, I made them 2' square and placed one in each corner of our fenced in city lot. Our dog loved to jump around in the corners of the yard while interacting with the outside world, and always ended up making a muddy mess in the corners. That solved that. There always seems to be a need for a stepping stone in the landscaping or garden and this is just a good way to make use of the concrete you already paid for VS them dumping on the ground.

Enjoying your project and getting some great tips. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

Did the cement truck driver do the dump on purpose? My dad taught me to be prepared and slap together some 2x4 or 2x6 studs into square forms for the extra cement. At the time I had no idea why I was making these stupid boxes. I thought he was just pacifying me.

1) Makes great 'free' post bases for later deck supports.

2) If you have some heavy U bolts around, sink them in the middle... they will work for a mooring buoy bases for small boats if you have a lake or other water around.

3) Since this is a tractor forum. The extra can be used for a ballast box. Make a plywood box form and put some rebar going through both ways, weld some washers on the protruding ends to keep it form blowing out. If you plan it right, the ballast box can also hold some hand tools, chains, a cooler, etc.

:laughing: Like you said! :thumbsup:

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I framed a slab at my man door for the leftover concrete.

 

[fatjay]

He had some extra to clean out and i told him to put it with the other pile, but apparently he didn't understand and before I knew it he was dumping it right where he was, down the side of the block. If I had some more foresight, i'd have him dump it in a form to make a ballast box for the oliver. That thing is insanely close to 50/50 weight distribution over the rear axle, which means steering is extremely vague on a good day. Picking up that concrete was the best steering i ever had.

 

[fatjay]

After making all those 2x8" cuts with a 10" miter saw that doesn't fully cut a 2x8", I figured it was time to make an upgrade since I'm doing quite a few more cuts. First I was looking at harbor freight's admiral 12" sliding miter saw for $200 with a $20 coupon. The 20% off coupons exclude admiral brand. I figured it was a long shot but I'll see if there's anything on craigslist. There was endless junk, but then one 2 towns over was for sale for $300, a hitachi 12" sliding miter saw with stand. shot the guy a text and boom, proud owner of a new saw that will make cuts much easier.

 

[dragoneggs]

 

[MossRoad]

He shoots! He scores! :thumbsup:

 

[sodamo]

Excellent. Got my Rigid 12” slider w/stand to build the house, pretty much my go to saw.

 

[airbiscuit]

No project is worthy unless it involves buying more tools.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Score!