Sawmill Shed Pole Building

[TimW]

I need some advice on strapping the top of this pole that is checking bad.  What would you use to band it tight?  I was thinking twisting some good barbed wire.

[Magicman]

I would weld up a square collar and drive it on.  If you feel that it could loosen due to the timber shrinking, add a couple of lag bolts.

[beenthere]

I'd just not worry about it. Not a structural component of that joint. Wood is just drying out and shrinking.

Or do as MM suggests if any cause for concern.

[Resonator]

Could also put a couple gang nail plates on (like what trusses are built with) to reinforce it. 

[TimW]

Thanks Y'all.  I was out in too much strong wind yesterday.  That and climbing up and down the ladder and the tower too many times got me frazzled at the end of the day.  But sleeping and MM got me thinking, when he mentioned lag bolts.

I had one pole that was drying under the tin that had a hole in it and rain rotted one end of the pole.  It had a good bottom, so I spliced in a replacement top.  Then I cut that spliced top a foot too short.

So before I started notching the poles, I removed the pine spliced top and replaced it with a ERC top. This pole will be under a truss, so I'm sure that and the 1/4" thick plates will keep it working as designed.

So I'll just make 2 smaller plates and bolt it over the checking, right under the notch.
Thanks again, Y'all!

[TimW]

My laser has a remote control device for it.  But I couldn't get it to turn the laser on and off.  Only speed up or slow down the rotation.  This is why I had the tractor with a work platform on the forks with a ladder for access.  To turn the laser on and off.  It was a pain, but only for 4 poles.  But I am feeling it today.

[TimW]

Starting to get girts up and one door header.  Going slow, as at night I am fighting tunnel carpal in my right hand.  Wake up every two hours from me tossing and turning to find my hand is asleep.  Trying to get in to see a Neurologist, but they won't return my calls.  Maybe out on spring break.

[doc henderson]

Tim you need a neurologist to confirm the dx. with a nerve conduction study.  It will be an orthopedic doc who would do surgery and get a neurologist to do the study.  try to see a bone doc that does the surgery, and he can get you a nerve conduction study.  also, they make a splint to keep you from curling your wrist like a pillow while you sleep.  I think they are called a cockup splint to wear at night.  Mudding sheet rock and laying brick always flared mine up so see if there is a repetitive process you are doing, that can be minimized or done in a way that does not aggravate your condition. 

[doc henderson]

shed is looking great!

[TimW]

Double Thanks Doc!  I have been referred to a neurologist.  I tried a wrist brace Thursday night with no help.  Only time, in bed, it doesn't fall asleep is with my wrist bent and my hand laying on the front of my hip, while flat on my back or on my left side.
Last night was better sleeping than Thursday night, so hopefully I can get it to settle down.

[doc henderson]

If you hold your arms out in front palms down, did you flex down or up?  up is usually better for this and flex down makes it worse.  Ibuprofen assuming you can take it at anti-inflammatory doses may help.  800 ng every six hours or 4 time a day.  16 pills total in 24 hours is anti-inflammatory.  was it a brace that held your hand "up" using the orientation I mentioned?  down is flexion and up is extension.  I had surgery on my right hand, It helped a lot and my surgeon thought it was congenital since it started at age 14 when I tried to mud tape and nails using two fingers on the back of the blade (like a peace sign).  Remember Kenny I worked for? He almost never had to sand his mudded sheetrock.

[taylorsmissbeehaven]

Pull mud nice and tight and you dont have to sand much!! Especially appreciated by homeowners when doing repairs in an occupied home. Lately I have been curling my wrists at night and wake up with my hands asleep. Was beginning to wonder what the heck is going on. You just never know what your gonna learn when you tune in here!! Thanks to you both for the info.

[TimW]

Doc,
Flat on my back with my elbows bent and both palms laying down on my hips, is the way I sleep, or on my left side with the right elbow bent and my right hand  bent backwards touching the bed kinda flat and left arm bent with my left hand near my neck. 
These positions negates any pain or burning.  Any other position brings the tingling and mild burn.  The longer I sleep with it, the longer it takes shaking my hands to wake them up, so I can go back to sleep

The wrist brace I tried has metal that pushes into my palm.  Borrowed two from my daughter with no help.

[TimW]

Pull mud nice and tight and you dont have to sand much!! Especially appreciated by homeowners when doing repairs in an occupied home. Lately I have been curling my wrists at night and wake up with my hands asleep. Was beginning to wonder what the heck is going on. You just never know what your gonna learn when you tune in here!! Thanks to you both for the info.

My doctor also said it can be a pinced nerve in my neck.  But the nerve study will find it.
I had one before when I fell at work onto my elbow.  My left pinky would go numb, no feeling .  The surgeon moved a nerve away from my elbow muscle or the muscle away from the nerve.  Hardly any recovery time.

[doc henderson]

so, you need not just a brace, but a cockup brace.  I hope you get in soon.  that is usually the hardest part getting in.

[doc henderson]

If position of the wrist makes the difference, it is prob. the carpal tunnel.  My brother had his right CT and median nerve release done a month ago, and comes back on the 27th for the left CT.  He has back and neck problems and it was fortunate it was in the wrist and elbow.  well recovered now.  getting the study done is usually the hardest part.

[Ljohnsaw]

On each hand, the pinky, ring and half of the middle finger will go to sleep if I keep my elbow bent 90°. Takes about 5 minutes. Happens to my right hand when driving with my left. Right arm resting on the console.

Years ago I mentioned it to my doctor thinking it was CT. Nope, she says. Took her rubber hammer and smacked my elbow point. Hand went immediately numb the same way. Said there was nothing that can be done.

It sometimes wakes me at night. I like to rest my hands on my belly when I sleep but that makes them go numb/tingle/sting.

This started when I got old(er), around 50.

[mroldstyle]

Is that some kind of berm around that red chair in the pic, and what is underneath?

[barbender]

I'm working on an equation that I hope can help explain the correlation between the different factors necessary to say, finish a building project, and explain why all the factors never seem to be present at once. Using Tim's example, why is it that when you have money and knowledge, that health seems to leave the conversation? 

Hopefully the rest of you on the Forum can help me get this worked out, maybe we could put it in the Forum Toolbox😊

[doc henderson]

John my brother had a nerve revision. yours would be the ulnar nerve.  see and ortho or another if you already did.  If it gets better and worse, i bet it can be improved.

[TimW]

Is that some kind of berm around that red chair in the pic, and what is underneath?

Go back and enlarge that photo.  You will see a board under the chair.  It is sitting on a 6 inch square steel tube concreted 3 foot down.  Look to the left and see another board on a steel tube.  Those are the pole sockets for the steel poles that will hold up a 30 I beam where the sawmill will call home.

[TimW]

Today's progress got cut short to go have supper with my daughter and Grand daughter.  The girts on the right are 20 foot long and faster and easier to hang then the 10 footers to the left.

[GRANITEstateMP]

Is that some kind of berm around that red chair in the pic, and what is underneath?

Thats the time out chair with built in moat!

Tim, really enjoying watching your build come together

[mroldstyle]

I see, I thought maybe it was to keep fire ants and scorpions from getting to your chair. Something us northerners wouldn't understand!

[TimW]

Is that some kind of berm around that red chair in the pic, and what is underneath?

Thats the time out chair with built in moat!

Tim, really enjoying watching your build come together

Glad someone likes the entertainment!