The gate

jinman · Feb 11, 2005

( Nothing but a thing.
)

Now, how thick is that driveway? I couldn't help but think that crane was running a stress test on the driveway before the big Bluebird comes rolling in. Did you ever think the concrete on the hinge-post might extend under the driveway? Did you mention that and I just missed it?

buckle97 · Feb 11, 2005

Did you ever think the concrete on the hinge-post might extend under the driveway? 

I was wondering the exact same thing.

Lawrence

wroughtn_harv · Feb 11, 2005

I'd already looked at that Jim. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I've screwed up so many times in so many ways that I'm always on the alert for a new one.

I wasn't worried about the driveway as long as we kept the weight away from the edges and in the case of the crane, concentrated on platforms on the ground.

The truck that broke the overhead was a full eight yard Red i Mix truck. He hadn't hurt it at two weeks cure and another couple of months had only made it harder.

One of my handicaps is I'm loaded with alternatives at any moment. If we hadn't been able to pull the post I would have called in a bigger crane. If that hadn't worked I'd got a compressor and jackhammer and we'd mined it out.

I suspect the footing knew it was Waterloo and it's nap, pole, an it were S.O.L. It did give up rather easy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You ever go to Shady Oaks Country Club near the military base?

I'm starting a statement fence at the clubhouse. The wood, South American long name teak sitting in my shop costs about fifteen dollars a square foot of fence. Just the wood, no fasteners, no labor, just the wood is about a hundred and fifty dollars per linear foot of fence.

I used to be smug with the fence guys when they'd ask me what was the most expensive wood fence I'd ever installed. My personal best, wood work and fence posts, not counting concrete beam or masonary columns was right at a hundred dollars per linear foot for eight foot fence.

When we're done with this one I'll have to be careful if they ask. When you look that I'm in just for my labor and there's a couple of layers of profit center between me and the end user, well this could easily be a three hundred plus dollar a linear foot of fence for ten foot high fence.

All I'm doing is the woodwork. A union fitter-welder crew installed the posts. They were on site today finishing up when I showed up to pull measurements. You'd thought we were family the way they carried on. Once we got the small stuff straightened out, it was fun.

There's a special feeling working on a project where everyone is doing their part with pride. They cussed and complained like I was an off colored step child at a family reunion. But they didn't carry it too far. I had Lucy standing there ready for a back up if required. I left with no doubts about their work being something I'd have to step up a notch or two to keep up.

The wood is toxic because it's so full of silica. That's also why it can't be cut with regular wood stuff. It all has to be carbide or it's instantly dulled. So working it means wearing a mask and gloves. Splinters supposedly require a mandatory trip to the doctor.

But double doggone darn is it pretty. And it's heavy, probably why it's called an ironwood.

The pickets go in horizontal. Each picket is three and a half inches wide and one and an eighth thick. I will rabbet each picket a quarter of an inch so that if what's supposedly impossible happens, shrinkage, it won't be noticeable. The fasteners are stainless flathead self tapping coarse thread. Each picket will be prepared in the shop, rabbeted, drilled, countersunk, and oiled, before being installed in the field.

It's been a hassle forcing my concept of the architect's dream home with some of the let's get it done types. But I'll bet when we're done they'll be happy. I know the architect will. And so will I.

wroughtn_harv · Feb 12, 2005

I finally found a site on the wood http://www.reale.com.br/massa.htm

I think the vendors were exaggerating the hazards and the difficulty of working with it.

I might have some pictures of it tonight. I'm still fighting the crud but I suspect I'll not be able to stay away from the shop. And since it's too ugly for outdoors work, we might play in the shade with some wood.

jinman · Feb 12, 2005

Harv, I've never been any closer than driving by Shady Oaks Country Club on Roaring Springs Rd. The folks who go into that place are a "few" levels above my economic level. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif You do like challenges, don't you? Heck, to get to this job, you gotta drive thru the worst traffic in both Dallas and Ft. Worth. After that, this job will seem like you're coastin'.

( The wood is toxic because it's so full of silica. That's also why it can't be cut with regular wood stuff. It all has to be carbide or it's instantly dulled. So working it means wearing a mask and gloves. Splinters supposedly require a mandatory trip to the doctor. )

That reminds me of when we started building composite airplane parts at Lockheed Martin (it was General Dynamics back then.). The carbon in the composite was flammable, and the glass fibers could not be allowed into the air to breathe. We had a vacuum cleaner attached to every drill and cutter of any kind. The vacuum had to be pneumatic powered because of the danger of explosion using an electric motor. To make matters worse, the workers had to suit up in what looked like a radhaz suit with full respirator and gloves. Once they were all suited up, they had to drill and countersink composite materials at just the perfect speed and angle using a sharp carbide or diamond tipped bit. You only get one chance with composites. If the drill is dull, it gets so hot, the composite material just disentegrates into a fuzzy mess. Every hole has to be perfect.

At the price of the wood and the danger involved, I hope you take all the precautions. If they can afford that fence, they can afford whatever you need to be safe.

Will the fence be easily visible by driving by? Sounds like another wroughtn_harv photo op. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

8NTX · Feb 12, 2005

$300 a linear foot! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I just about had a stroke when the local fence guy quoted me $28 a foot to do a 6'-8' cedar. I was counting on about $18-$20. I'm thinking of doing it myself; it's been 20 years since I built a wood fence but hopefully I'm up to it. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Steve

txdon · Feb 12, 2005

I guess that makes the 5 strand barbed wire fence at $1.25 per foot a bargain. Let's see... your fence around my property would cost $4,752,000.00. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I'll pass.

jinman · Feb 13, 2005

( Let's see... your fence around my property would cost $4,752,000.00. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif )

Bragger! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

HuckBB62 · Mar 13, 2005

( This particular installation involved the customer wanting to have his four wheeler activate the free exit. So I had it adjusted accordingly.

The Dane had a chain collar with numberous metal tags. When it laid down over the probe and then moved it activated the probe.

The customer was willing to drive his four wheeler over the probe versus beside it if it meant keeping the dogs in.

Here's the finishing touch on the job. )

I thoroughly enjoy this whole post. You're a real craftsman! I did have one input here. I started buying these rare earth magnets off of ebay for various uses. I gave one to all of my buddies to epoxy to the bottom of their motorcycle forks. The field of these magnets is quite large and where they used to not trigger lights or our gates at the oilfield, they work every time. This way, you can glue one under any equipment or vehicle and keep the sensitivity up as to not have the dogs trigger it. The other uses for these incredible magnets are: I stick them on all gear cases, oil filters, oil pans to attract particles. I use them to hold tarps to the side of containers. I have on on the tool box to hold bolts and screws. There's tons of uses.