Timber Frame Tractor Home

[Cliff_Johns]

This project makes me drool. I want one. Thanks again for the fine pictures. That barn seems perfectly proportioned. It's a work of art just standing there as it is. Keep those photos coming.

Cliff

 

[Egon]

Me first Cliff!

 

[khd]

Kudo’s to you for taking on the job of building something that you and the next generation will be proud of. As others have said, the thing about building is not how BIG you can make something, but how well something should be done. From the proportions and sizing, to the location and siting . Attention to detail. Take just a little time to get the details correct now, and you will be happy for the rest of your life.
I appreciate your taking the time to think about how it is going to fit into its surroundings, and how it is going to work in that situation. And to making something that will stands the test of time.
We look forward to seeing your project to completion. Thanks for sharing.

Dapper:

Thanks for the kind words. I think it has taken me so many years to get to the point of doing this because I knew I would get carried away and end up spending way too much money getting the details "right". Like right now I am contemplating a pipe railing for the loft. My middle son is a pipefitter and a highly skilled welder so I am looking at steel pipe and weldable fittings with figured cast panels and having him weld it all up for me.

I hope it will stand the test of time.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[khd]

Can you check with someone who sells greenhouses for your vents? I am sure they would have them, with exhaust fans, temp controlled, and otherwise.

BT:

Thanks for the idea, I hadn't thought of that. I looked at a few greehouse supply places on-line and unfortunately they only sell fancy, high volume, automatic vents. Far too sophisticated for this. I think I found a company that makes all different kinds of galv. gable vents and will make standard styles to semi-custom sizes. The only thing I still can't find is soffit vents. I have 9" of soffit and would like to put one in the middle of each bay and would like them to be operable so can I vent in the summer and close them down in the winter. It will be an exposed metal roof inside and the green wood will put off moisture for awhile so I really want to keep condesation out but since it will be unheated I don't want to vent it in the dry, cold winter. Any other ideas are appreciated.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[khd]

This project makes me drool. I want one. Thanks again for the fine pictures. That barn seems perfectly proportioned. It's a work of art just standing there as it is. Keep those photos coming.

Cliff

Thanks Cliff but I am still waiting for you to update your built in thread. I think you should volunteer to make wall cabinets for the barn...LOL...just kidding. I'll never use it enough to justify a Leigh jig and I don't have the time and its been many years since I hand cut dovetails.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

So . . . how's it going? Got any new pictures?
Cliff

 

[khd]

Well, between work, travel and weather progress has been slow. The weather has finally broken and I have had a few weekend days the past couple of weeks so I am now able to get working again. Over the cold months I cut and oiled the lifting corbel. Got it installed a couple of weeks ago. Here's a pic.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[khd]

I've been putting purlins on for a wile. Got four up on the prevailing side back in late December just to hold things up. Last weekend and today I finally got all the rafters set. The lean-to rafters took quite a wile to do as the each had to be lagged at the header and pegged at the transition. Each one took about an hour. I broke the head off the screw the holds my chuck on my cordless drill while I had an 18"L 1" in. auger bit buried in a rafter now I have to find a one. Finished that up and set the rest of the purlins. Now I have to go through and cut off about 10 bent nails that didn't drive. Once you hit the oak if anything stops the nail it will bend instantly and there's no getting it out.

Hopefully next weekend I'll be able to cut and install the fly rafters and box in the soffits. If I get that done then I'll be able to start setting the tin.

Here's two pics. as it looks tonight.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[Joe1]

What great documentation on a sharp looking project.

One question: Why did you lift the really heavy stuff by hand (2 guys at 250 each) instead of using the tractor or the Dodge pickup in the first pictures to do the heavy lifting? It appears you did use the tractor for some of the later lighter stuff.

 

[patrick_g]

Great looking structure. Mine will look a lot like yours but with "wings" on both sides, one closed and one open (south side.) I'm in south central Oklahoma and we are short on Amish around here so my buddy and I are logging our own timber and milling it for lumber to produce his and my pole barns.

Any ideas regarding painting green milled oak? I haven't found much info on that. I will use board and batten siding and it will be pretty fresh from the mill (as will be all the wood in the two barns.) I found some Behr brand post preservative that you can soak a post in or spray or roll it. It stains the wood very green. Have never used it before and don't knonw if you can pait over it with good results. I'm just trusting to Behr as they usually make good stuff and Home Depot was closing it out at 1/4 regular price.

Pat