Remember this?
http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=80957.msg1958438#msg1958438
We went to deliver the log and of course i wanted to go so i could see the construction and maybe make some more contacts. First flat bed truck let me hang out so i called a friend with a cattle truck, he said no problem, we just put that thing on top of the truck. :D
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when we get there we were wondering how to unload the log, foreman; no problem we have a tower crane there! that's a first for me here.
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Look at the site where they build this project!! I ask the foreman, will this be a hotel? No, it's a private house, wow. the pools will be gigantic.
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Job done, everything delivered with success. everyone was happy.
stumbled into the french guy, who turns out to be the constructor for this project and they only build for such clients, high end houses. Hey Ramon, how are you, nice log! We need 400m2 of deck for this pool area, 1600 boards, dry, without any sap wood, few knots and no defects, price: pretty high. need it in 2.5 month. Ok i said, i can make some samples. Long story short i told them that i wasn't able to produce such quality/ quantity in that time frame. No problem he said, i liked your approach and honesty, we will work together in the future. Nice i thought. 2 days later they sent the first request :D. not much serious provider of teakwood in CR. Even less in the quality they demand.
So the new request is a beam order, 8x6" 5.2m long, dry! in 3 month. about 15 beams.
Ok, i do a sample. You need some serious trees to produce such beams and they are hard work on a manual sawmill. log was about 500kg and the beam is 180kg green off the sawmill
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Need to upgrade mill, manual mill is tough on old backs
Nice story and pictures 👍
Keep him happy!!!!
Oh and i landed a nice contract in the quarry. finally signed contract, the boarder will have a new construction, customs, migration and a big truck parking lot, think the whole project is 50 million $.
the construction company is slowly starting to roll into the quarry, in 2 weeks the crushers should arrive
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You're doin' alright when the girl and the puppy are smiling! smiley_thumbsup running-doggy
Awesome Sir
Quote from: Resonator on February 28, 2023, 02:02:28 PM
You're doin' alright when the girl and the puppy are smiling! smiley_thumbsup running-doggy
Geez, I didn't even notice the pup. I should be flogged. ;D
The beam order fell through :(, part of the business
That's business for sure but with your attitude towards work I'm sure that you will move on . Wishing nothing but the best for you and your family, as the saying goes just " Carry On".
All you can do is give a price, Sometimes take a 1/2 hr to do it. Then I get a call that they found beams for less $$
I love it when they call back because they don't like the lumber they got and want to reorder. :D :D :D I say ok, but, it will be weeks out. ;D
They lose their place in line.
Quote from: hacknchop on March 02, 2023, 08:51:16 AM
That's business for sure but with your attitude towards work I'm sure that you will move on . Wishing nothing but the best for you and your family, as the saying goes just " Carry On".
that was just one order from this new client, they will be back, i'm pretty sure.
i have about 10 estimates out right now, some of them will be confirmed as orders. at least now i have time to saw, stack, dry and fill the storage with lumber. that is very important too, last year i had so many orders i was always out of wood, not a good situation either
The quarry is getting some movement, they brought in some more toys, dang, this firm isn't playing around. 54to Dozer and 46to Wheel loader
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doing testing on the material, had too much fines in it (plasticity) needed more pure stone. meanwhile waiting for the cone crusher to arrive
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today we will clean this hill from his overburden, agreed to help them out with my excavator. will clean the ditch out and the dozer pushes the dirt away
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The cone is installed and the testing is complete, tomorrow full production starts.
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The dust is unreal, our house is 150m away and it's bad, wife is not happy.
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New Cat plant, 8hours, 500kw, C15 engine
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almost done with the overburden, it would've taken me weeks to do this movement without the D9
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Had some big stones near the house where i did the excavation for my kiln, the operator was so friendly to transport them down to the quarry, the 988 almost didn't fit.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230328_142742.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1680260668)
Look at my skidder in the back, inside the lumber storage, looks like a toy
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Doing another overburden clean out, i'm helping them with my excavator for free. but when they leave i will have the quarry organized and with all different layers of material exposed
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are the trees on the hill your removing overburden from part of your teak plantation?
Way to go! Hard work and perseverance prevail. Thank you for taking us along your journey.
Making progress! smiley_thumbsup
Best can say on dust control is have a water sprayer hooked up by the conveyor/stock pile (if the crusher crew is OK with it).
Great pictures teak!
Quote from: GRANITEstateMP on March 31, 2023, 08:17:58 AM
are the trees on the hill your removing overburden from part of your teak plantation?
yeah, all those trees without any leaves (dryseason) are my teak trees, 2005 plantation, 18years old now
Quote from: Resonator on March 31, 2023, 08:53:06 AM
Making progress! smiley_thumbsup
Best can say on dust control is have a water sprayer hooked up by the conveyor/stock pile (if the crusher crew is OK with it).
I don't have any big water source near the quarry and the permits would kill this request. we need to live with the dust, rainseason will wash it away eventually ::)
That's great. Good job on the success. Dirt work was always a second best to my logging choice. Love the big cat!
Interesting operation.
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(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230401_082915.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1680466200)
I thought of you as I was flying in to Madrid on Saturday.
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Pilot or passenger?
Quote from: teakwood on April 02, 2023, 04:36:30 PM
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I don't see any drills - do they not need to blast off the face every now and then to free up whatever rock will be needed - or is the formation such that it is easily broken up just using mechanical means and equipment?
Around here any quarries with a face that tall would have to be drilled and layers peeled off in order to free up the product - but I'm talking PreCambrian Shield type of structure which is probably the hardest type of rock available in the World..
Possibly it's more like a loose volcanic mix, rather than solid rock. Locally the old lahar flows from the Mt are a random mix, from sandy ash up to boulders the size of a cars, all packed in together. A face like that would be stable to work around, but an excavator can pick away at it without explosives. Then it's all fed into a crusher / screening plant to get the various grades of rock.
This is one of the quarries around the other side of the Mt. The current excavation is to the right of the road, and the overburden / ash is being moved to the old site to fill in the holes and revert it to pasture again.
Google Maps (https://goo.gl/maps/tA6Zox7DueCWgdQFA)
The main quarry on this side is working in an old riverbed near the National Park. Over the years tons of rock have been deposited there from higher up the Mt, but a similar scenario with a mix of river rocks, gravel and sand, loosely compacted.
Quote from: realzed on April 02, 2023, 06:47:32 PMdon't see any drills - do they not need to blast off the face every now and then to free up whatever rock will be needed - or is the formation such that it is easily broken up just using mechanical means and equipment?
It's a Sandstone formation, it's relatively soft compared to other stones, all layers are cracked. Even in the drill samples at 40m depth it's fractured, so i hope we will always be able to work with Rippers on the equipments.
will post some pics of the layers.
My geologist explained me that they are pushed up layers from when the tectonic plaques crashed together, it's not Volcanic. It's any easy meal for the crushers
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230401_084324.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1680520742)
They are making 2 different 1.5" gravels now, the gray one is pure stone (without plasticity) and the brown one has all the fine dirt and clay. then they mix them together 4 to 1 and it goes to the construction site.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230401_090239.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1680520739)
Nice and easy production site then.. Thanks!
Around here as I said, the rock is extremely hard and difficult to crush, so much so that it will wear away plates and cones very quickly. But that also makes it very durable and useful for adding into concrete for high strength mixtures.
I would imagine in your case - there is little need for a jaw crusher except for very large pieces then, and instead cones are all that is necessary, which makes it even cheaper to produce (but they also make the most fines and dust as a downside as it sounds like you already know ::))..
The biggest cost is always the drilling and blasting in a quarry especially in this area of Canada - so your situation in comparison is a great one for reasonably lower cost operation and good return on investment - along with lower maintenance costs for crusher and equipment repair and down time..
When I was hauling on road building jobs, the stuff with clay mixed in we referred to as "Base". The clay acts as a binder to hold in together, so it packs down tight and makes a good road base.
Quote from: realzed on April 03, 2023, 08:11:47 AMthere is little need for a jaw crusher except for very large pieces then, and instead cones are all that is necessary,
that's not the case, the jaw is crucial, there are stones popping up the size of a quad cicle. As we go deeper we get a lot harder and purer layers. the stone qualifies for concrete aggregate, but it has to be the purest of the stones i have, they are light blueish color, meanwhile the brown and gray stones are softer.
But the crushers gets less abused as compared to harder stones and so the costs are lower.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230403_170213.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1680607732)
Quote from: Resonator on April 03, 2023, 09:08:11 AM
When I was hauling on road building jobs, the stuff with clay mixed in we referred to as "Base". The clay acts as a binder to hold in together, so it packs down tight and makes a good road base.
that's exactly what we do here, we produce base 1.5" and subbase 3" for roadbuilding and refills where buildings will be built.
it's crazy now, they work from 6am -9pm. 3 weeks left in dryseason, maybe.
80 truckloads a day, brought in a 966 just for truck loading, the 988 stays feeding the crusher.
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here are some pics of the stones popping out
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there is one weird area where the stones are all loose and come falling down the slope
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Yes, that is a very different-looking formation. Interesting. Please keep the updates and pictures coming if you can.👍
Congrats. Every truck another $. Much deserved. She's only got to put up with it 3 more weeks assuming road work slows dramatically in the wet season. Certainly the dust will drop.
Well the project will last 18 month but the earth moving firm wants to be done within the next two month. So they go nuts now, because when it starts raining the work will slow down considerably. The now dust will turn into mud, a whole different mess. The crushers don't work well with wet material either.
The dozer operator made me a nice terrace, where my excavator is standing, really nice and experienced employees
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4th Sunday in a row, doesn't matter
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The D9 is getting a good workout
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We are getting into good quality stone layers
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230416_085839.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1681818807)
Almost done with the opening around the jaw crusher so the loader can run circles around the feed hopper
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Crushing in the rain sucks👎
Is that different loose area an old creek bed? I was looking at something kind of similar here and realized that s what I was looking at. The modern creek was well below and running differently than the old one had.
The one picture of the face with round softball pockets reminds me of another quarry out west, we picked out and sawed the round core rocks and there were agate formations inside.
If you weren't in Costa Rica I'd almost guess that was glacial till with the variety of sizes. Up in the cold and bitter North we'll get everything from a fine sand(almost similar to flour) all the way up to boulders bigger than a car in the same deposit and everything is well rounded in shape. Old stream beds tend to have aggregate similar in size unless it was prone to huge flooding. You can almost guess the hydraulic gradient of the stream by the size of the aggregate deposited since faster and harder flowing water deposits larger rock compared to smaller rocks on a slower and flatter gradient. That is a great asset to have teakwood!
Levi
I'm really surprised that they don't use hydraulic 'pluggers' or hammers mounted on excavators in your pit situation verses trying to rip everything up with bars on dozers..
Even up here in the hard rock quarries we have - pluggers work quite well when the rocks show any amount of fracturing - especially to break up larger chunks of rock and where any dozer even as big as what are shown, certainly wouldn't ever work!!
by a plugger you mean like a hydraulic hammer but with a elephant foot? a chisel without a point
that could work.
The dozer still gets into the material pretty good with the ripper, it's just ripping is a mind game, if it doesn't works you change angles, try from a different direction and voila, the material gives
I'm no good at posting pictures on this site but..
Hydraulic Breakers for Excavators | Jack Hammers | Epiroc US (https://www.epiroc.com/en-us/products/excavator-attachments/hydraulic-breaker)
I hope this opens and displays what I meant.
This type of attachment works very well even in pits and quarries in our very hard rock here in Northern Ontario,
You could even mount one on your own excavator to process material going forward after your contractor is over and done in your pit..
a hydraulic hammer is definitively way too slow if you need to break out material for processing and too expensive. when you get to the point where it can't be ripped out anymore then the explosives is the next step.
the cut gets bigger and bigger
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did a small clear cut (25 gorgeous teaktrees, 18 years old) so the dozer can clear more overburden
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the dozer made me a nice skid road starting at the top of the clearcut. that will be the shortest skid i will ever have, about 500m to get to the sawmill
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230420_172306.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1682162500)
So in time your teakwood will be all cut and it will be all open pit? Your juts selling the material right? There making ground.
No, the quarry area is only 4.5ha, which still has some 2.5ha of teaktrees standing on it, will cut as we advance. the whole finca is 48ha and the planted area is 37ha. so i have alot more teak area than quarry. if the quarry ever gets near his end i can extend the area of the quarry to the next hill. (more permits involved), but i don't think that i will need to do that. still have like 1.2 million m3 of estimated reserves left, i sell like 30-50k m3 a year.
Looks like quite the operation.
If you think a plugger on a decent sized machine would be too slow - possibly and if actually you have watched one used by a decent and experienced operator on a quarry face, especially in a situation or setting like yours is as pictured - I'm left thinking you didn't pick much of an operator or setup to judge one by..
But 'whatever' - as the saying goes these days!
When here, one of these units can be a blessing in a hard rock quarry - its extremely hard to imagine just how fast and easy a good operator would attack a face like what your pictures and descriptions say and show, about the material you are dealing with - but..!
I would suspect that it's a lot cheaper per ton to blast the material that it would be to hammer it apart.
Quote from: Southside on April 22, 2023, 03:52:00 PM
I would suspect that it's a lot cheaper per ton to blast the material that it would be to hammer it apart.
But he did say that it was so soft and fractured that blasting wasn't necessary, and intimated that it was too expensive doing so - so if a dozer with a bar can pull it apart with some effort - I'm sure that a decent sized plugger on any reasonably sized excavator with a seasoned operator could not only knock of a large portion of a quarry face quickly, but also do it much deeper and better than multiple passes a couple of feet deep at best with a dozer and bar..
Not only that, a plugger can break up many of the boulders he claims are often embedded within the structure itself - saving a lot of time and effort jaw crushing many of them as well - which is mainly the reason they are used so much around here in the hard rock quarries.
I mean if a plugger is extremely useful in breaking up large chunks of very hard rock sometimes the size of small cars, blasted off of a quarry face here to make manageable pieces that can be more easily fed in a crusher - I'm certain it could easily and quickly handle anything that little quarry with basically just a compacted sedimentary type of rock structure, can offer - and 20 or 30 feet up and down a quarry face in the process!
Men, what a month, probably doing 400 working hours this month, very tired but dang the income is nice. best month ever, sold 16k of lumber and i won't even tell how much in the quarry, would take a month like that anytime. :D
to bill, every piece is one truck load ;D
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they bring the fuel like the big boys. and the trucks waiting to get loaded, 6am
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You can not sell alot of wood without restocking the storage. no time for sawing? find some! :o
18years old premium teak from the small clearcut where the quarry gets expanded.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230419_100732.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1682162492)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230426_084028.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1682595522)
look at the size of these suckers, thats how teak should look like after 18 years. Me being in the fotos is not because of my beauty, it's just for size comparing :D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230426_131540.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1682595534)
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I wanna say special thanks to the FF and all the members who have helped me out big time over all the years and did a little long distance suffering with me in the early years when things weren't that bright. THANKS!!
Good for you Teak, it's good to see someone has put in a ton of hard work reaping the benefits!
YES, Good for you. It is always good to see people that are willing to work.
Are you thinking about them getting done? Maybe have them crush some for your own use or can you make your own?
Quote from: realzed on April 23, 2023, 03:03:11 AM
Quote from: Southside on April 22, 2023, 03:52:00 PM
I would suspect that it's a lot cheaper per ton to blast the material that it would be to hammer it apart.
But he did say that it was so soft and fractured that blasting wasn't necessary, and intimated that it was too expensive doing so - so if a dozer with a bar can pull it apart with some effort - I'm sure that a decent sized plugger on any reasonably sized excavator with a seasoned operator could not only knock of a large portion of a quarry face quickly, but also do it much deeper and better than multiple passes a couple of feet deep at best with a dozer and bar..
Not only that, a plugger can break up many of the boulders he claims are often embedded within the structure itself - saving a lot of time and effort jaw crushing many of them as well - which is mainly the reason they are used so much around here in the hard rock quarries.
I mean if a plugger is extremely useful in breaking up large chunks of very hard rock sometimes the size of small cars, blasted off of a quarry face here to make manageable pieces that can be more easily fed in a crusher - I'm certain it could easily and quickly handle anything that little quarry with basically just a compacted sedimentary type of rock structure, can offer - and 20 or 30 feet up and down a quarry face in the process!
A plugger would work in that situation, but you also forget he is in Costa Rica. Equipment costs are much higher there due to import costs, parts availabilty, and finding the right operator. Plus, it might be sitting a fair amount of the time and still having to pay for the machine. They have a dozer there and an operator to run it and it looks like they run it well. When I visited Costa Rica 8 or so years ago I noticed their work force was labor intensive and not as well vested in equipment and operators due to the previously stated reasons. It's hard to pay for an excavator when there are hundreds of guys willing to shovel for $5/hr. I'm guessing the dozer is not the bottleneck in that crusher scenerio, so we're trying to solve a problem he doesn't have. It reminds me of a hutterite colony that bought a farm and its fleet of machinery, they used everything but the rock picker because they had the labor to hand pick the rocks and could do it faster/better/cheaper by hand because of their labor force.
Levi
Very nice! Now take that GF for a vacation for a week that you both deserve to escape the dust and get some weight out of your wallet ;D
Quote from: reride82 on April 27, 2023, 02:26:39 PM
Quote from: realzed on April 23, 2023, 03:03:11 AM
Quote from: Southside on April 22, 2023, 03:52:00 PM
I would suspect that it's a lot cheaper per ton to blast the material that it would be to hammer it apart.
But he did say that it was so soft and fractured that blasting wasn't necessary, and intimated that it was too expensive doing so - so if a dozer with a bar can pull it apart with some effort - I'm sure that a decent sized plugger on any reasonably sized excavator with a seasoned operator could not only knock of a large portion of a quarry face quickly, but also do it much deeper and better than multiple passes a couple of feet deep at best with a dozer and bar..
Not only that, a plugger can break up many of the boulders he claims are often embedded within the structure itself - saving a lot of time and effort jaw crushing many of them as well - which is mainly the reason they are used so much around here in the hard rock quarries.
I mean if a plugger is extremely useful in breaking up large chunks of very hard rock sometimes the size of small cars, blasted off of a quarry face here to make manageable pieces that can be more easily fed in a crusher - I'm certain it could easily and quickly handle anything that little quarry with basically just a compacted sedimentary type of rock structure, can offer - and 20 or 30 feet up and down a quarry face in the process!
A plugger would work in that situation, but you also forget he is in Costa Rica. Equipment costs are much higher there due to import costs, parts availabilty, and finding the right operator. Plus, it might be sitting a fair amount of the time and still having to pay for the machine. They have a dozer there and an operator to run it and it looks like they run it well. When I visited Costa Rica 8 or so years ago I noticed their work force was labor intensive and not as well vested in equipment and operators due to the previously stated reasons. It's hard to pay for an excavator when there are hundreds of guys willing to shovel for $5/hr. I'm guessing the dozer is not the bottleneck in that crusher scenerio, so we're trying to solve a problem he doesn't have. It reminds me of a hutterite colony that bought a farm and its fleet of machinery, they used everything but the rock picker because they had the labor to hand pick the rocks and could do it faster/better/cheaper by hand because of their labor force.
Levi
Yep - I get that - but my comment passed a point, was if he decided to keep operating the quarry past the point where his present client signed off and he was left with possible orders past that and still wanted an efficient way to cope with the rock structure his quarry presents presently.
At that point he wouldn't have a dozer available - nor necessarily a larger crusher either as well - so I figured it as a suggestion that would enable him to continue minus those big pieces in a small enterprise situation mainly on his own. A plugger set up - in addition to already having an excavator of his own that looks capable of handing one and along with a quick disconnect, would make it a dual purpose machine!
Teak good on ya. Nothing better than getting to enjoy the rewards of years of hard work.
Quote from: tacks Y on April 27, 2023, 01:01:27 PM
YES, Good for you. It is always good to see people that are willing to work.
Are you thinking about them getting done? Maybe have them crush some for your own use or can you make your own?
You're a smart men, that's exactly what i will do. Waiting on the cost per m3 they will charge me
Quote from: mudfarmer on April 27, 2023, 03:40:07 PM
Very nice! Now take that GF for a vacation for a week that you both deserve to escape the dust and get some weight out of your wallet ;D
:laugh: :laugh: lol. We will definitively take some days off after all the work. My entire Family visits in july so we will travel around for about 14days, if the quarry stalls by then!
The quarry is already paying to get her hair done every friday, lol.
Hard work and persistence pays of :)
I'm glad you are doing well Sir
Will you process the logs yourself or sell them ?
Yes sir, i do everything in house. Saw, sticker, dry, process, sell. it would be a shame to sell such logs as roundwood, the yield is amazing compared to the normally smaller logs i saw. lots of high quality 1x6" (furnitures) and 1.125x5" (decks) boards per log.
Average is 0.65m3 (log/roundwood volume) per tree, that's pretty good for 18years.
I did a donation to the FF, time to give something back, and i encourage others to do so. we wouldn't enjoy the Forum if it wouldn't be for Jeffs and the other administrators endless efforts
Quote from: realzed on April 19, 2023, 11:52:21 PM
I'm really surprised that they don't use hydraulic 'pluggers' or hammers mounted on excavators in your pit situation verses trying to rip everything up with bars on dozers..
Even up here in the hard rock quarries we have - pluggers work quite well when the rocks show any amount of fracturing - especially to break up larger chunks of rock and where any dozer even as big as what are shown, certainly wouldn't ever work!!
One thing to keep in mind, a ripper is way faster, and far cheaper than a hammer in ground like this.
In solid fractured rock, a hammer can pick away at it, but in conglomerate material like he has, the ground actually absorbs the impact of the hammer and it does very little.
This comes from my 33 years of excavation, dirt moving and mining experience.
So you're suggesting that if he wants to continue to operate in his quarry as I suggested he may after his contractor has departed - then he should spring for a half million or more $$ big Dozer with a bar as his contractor is now using to rip stuff apart verses what I suggested he should do - and that was get a hydraulic plugger fitted on a quick disconnect for the Volvo excavator he already has - which might cost $20 thousand at best..?
I know which I would choose given the associated costs..
Pretty sure Teak has demonstrated that he is very capable of successfully running his business the way he sees fit.
I have the quick coupler and the ripper since 15 years and have lots of hours of experience with it, and believe me when i tell you i know how to use it and know whats best for my quarry! When it gets to the point that the ripper isn't going to brake rocks out at a 5-6m high face then the explosives will come into play. Hammer is way too slow and expensive, you talking 40k $ for a good hammer for a 30to excavator and the renting hour of such a equipment would be 180$ even here. so you brake out max 30m3 of rock/h and this gives you 150$ of material you loose money big time.
the other quarry tried hammers on a 45to excavator and are using explosives now.
and the firm who is working here owns 8 quarries so they know how to handle rock.
for making small boulders out of big ones the hammer would be king.
This was my first ripper job in 2008
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/10_Wytec_289229.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1682940416)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/10_Wytec_289329.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1682940413)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/10_Wytec_288729.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1682940412)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/10_Wytec_288429.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1682940411)
Quote from: realzed on April 30, 2023, 11:34:54 PM
So you're suggesting that if he wants to continue to operate in his quarry as I suggested he may after his contractor has departed - then he should spring for a half million or more $$ big Dozer with a bar as his contractor is now using to rip stuff apart verses what I suggested he should do - and that was get a hydraulic plugger fitted on a quick disconnect for the Volvo excavator he already has - which might cost $20 thousand at best..?
I know which I would choose given the associated costs..
Where exactly did I say that?
I said a ripper is cheaper, and more productive in that kind of ground.
I'm sure he has the knowledge of his own needs to make the decisions needed to run his business.
What I've found there isn't always right and wrong. More than one way to skin a cat. I usually do it wrong according to most. But I'm happy 😊
I think Teak hit it right
Let to contractor dig it out and let them worry about it while he counts the load ticket and goes to the bank :)
And stayes out of it when his girlfriend wants to go get her hair done.
I found the world stops when the lady needs her hair done. Don't ask how I know :D
Quote from: Bruno of NH on May 02, 2023, 06:50:23 AMAnd stayes out of it when his girlfriend wants to go get her hair done.
She puts me in charge of the load ticket making while she goes to the hair dresser :D ::)
No no, it's all good, most of the time she is in the quarry and that give me time to work in the sawmill.
Sunday 1pm, 37 degrees, was kinda loco by then
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230430_122413.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1683027192)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230430_130239.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1683027201)
but what nice logs!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230430_122646.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1683027202)
pretty enormous for my little manual mill
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230501_064357.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1683027220)
Went to visit my number 1 client, an american house developer in a touristy area.
the sealing is from another company, the rest is my wood
The guy has 7 houses under construction right now!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG-20230605-WA0007.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1686051695)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230603_143533.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1686051698)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230603_143005.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1686051695)
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(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230603_141157.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1686051689)
Looks really good, I like the hallway ceiling and lanterns hanging
Great pictures!
That open tread stairway looks neat, guessing there is a steel beam hidden inside the center stringer? ???
Great pictures of the wood.
Quote from: Resonator on June 06, 2023, 02:45:56 PM
That open tread stairway looks neat, guessing there is a steel beam hidden inside the center stringer? ???
Yes, its all wrapped steel structure, even the handrails. The only solid teak pieces are the steps. underneath the steps in the unfinished black holes there will go some led lights
that was 2 weeks ago
Men do i have a nice business opportunity, the big teak sawmill that closed (where i bought all the machines from, forklift, conveyer, sliding table saw...) has alot of teak lumber laying around. they gave me a very good price for 1.5x4" lumber, already planed and kiln dried, like 35% of my market value, so i think i go for it. use some of the quarry dollars i have pilling up (https://forestryforum.com/board/Smileys/default/cheesy.gif). just need to find a market to resell, im thinking as deckboards, but normally i sell 1x4, 1x5 deckboards.
To make a long story short, i bought a pack and inspected that, several good pieces and also lots of 2nd quality or shorter boards, but the price isn't bad. after back and forth i pushed the price further down but committed to buy the whole lot of the same dimensions. inventory list came back, 3 truckloads of lumber, 64 packs :o :o, well, a deal is a deal, go put the big boy pants on. 104m3 of kiln dried and preplanned lumber, that's 3 semi loads. but at 300$/m3 for teaklumber it's a no brainer.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230607_145910.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1686397408)
this is another dimension, didn't bought this bananas!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG-20230607-WA0031.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1686397407)
after negotiation they gave me 2 month to haul the lumber. My lumber storage isn't that big :-X. the plan is to bring half of the load, go thru all the boards and separate qualities and repack with a organized system. i hope to sell some of it quickly, wrote to all customers and several are interested. the french is interested for his high end client, they demand ubber quality, of course the price will be premium also. no problem with 10500 pieces to choose from!
Did some samples thru the 4 sider, nice lumber, went from 1.4x 4.25" to 1.25x4", nice deck boards
A quality:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230624_133238.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1687695701)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230624_133247.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1687695696)
cheaper B quality:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230624_125714.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1687695694)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230624_125723.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1687695694)
tried to get the last square inch out of my storage area :D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230624_174517.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1687695705)
two rows free for handling
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230624_174430.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1687695700)
QuoteMy lumber storage isn't that big
If you own a sawmill you will never have enough lumber storage area. :D
I've seen a few examples where guys have built a shed with 2 shipping containers parallel to each other, then built a roof over the space in between. One way to put up a storage area fast.
Went for the lumber, was a beautiful day without rain, was lucky. we did 3 out of 5 truckloads. I think it will fit ok in the storage, will do a height of 5 packs. Only hauled half of the load because now we start going thru every piece and select qualities and cut to length. while i was there i saw some other nice packs and bought some more :D :D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230626_075831.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1687865469)
old clapped out trucks here
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230626_075853.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1687865468)
no sawmilling for a while :-X
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(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230626_130430.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1687865474)
Reman... You're remanufacturing lumber :)
If that is old clapped out trucking, uh, I better not show our stuff, I was on a '72 loader yesterday :D
One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was "you make your money when you buy something". Looks like you was able to buy that lumber "right" and will make out fine on the other end. That old truck had about all she wanted on her. Nice
That old truck looks pretty good from here.
We started selecting, dang that will take some time, i go thru every piece and trim off the bad ends. Make A1, A2, B, C, D quality. need a lot of room for building up an additional 6 or 7 packs of lumber. but after this i will have them nicely organized and when a sale comes in just grab the marked pack and put them thru the 4 sider.
Quote from: customsawyer on June 28, 2023, 06:36:07 AM
One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was "you make your money when you buy something". Looks like you was able to buy that lumber "right" and will make out fine on the other end. That old truck had about all she wanted on her. Nice
For me this is an investment, i have some money now from the quarry (first time in my life) and i told my girlfriend, we need to do something with this money, in the bank they give you almost nothing, so this money needs to work for me. did some long time bank investments which gives you 9% of interest which is nice but you never know how much the costarican colon will depreciate in one year. they give you 3% on the dollar, which is not much, but the dollar is also decreasing constantly. i could buy land lots because land is always a good investment, but you need to buy it cheap from somebody who needs money and you need to be able to hold on to it maybe for years. then this lumber opportunity showed up and i told her, i better stick in my turf.
so we will see how long it takes me to make a return on this investment but i'm confident to at least duplicate.
Quoteold clapped out trucks here
Looks like a 90's vintage International, if it's got the DT466 those are just about indestructible.
Quotewe need to do something with this money, in the bank they give you almost nothing, so this money needs to work for me.
Always nice when you just have to ask yourself what to do with your own money, then have get the bank's approval. smiley_thumbsup
the truck wasn't that bad, have seen worse. only the passenger door was almost falling off. but the engine was fine and has a very nice low range gear box, that's pretty awesome for hilly Costa Rica. mostly they import texas trucks, as the only export border is Brownsville TX, so most of the trucks come with flat land gear boxes, a real PITA here.
Selecting, we only do 3 packs a day ::), this will take a while. packs everywhere
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but i like the organized packs when they done
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230701_054159.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1688212077)
slow process, with all the other thing i have going on, but we will get there. its 70 packs :-X
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230701_143227.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1688385279)
I would say you are making money now as you are not having to harvest your own wood, so it is still growing. you are not wearing out your machinery that you use to harvest and process the logs to lumber. Looks like a great opportunity.
That's good thinking but it's not actually the case in my situation. First, i only do thinnings and only harvest about half the growth volume of all the plantation, so it's always a win win. second, i need to saw constantly, if i fall behind on the thinning plan the plantation catches up pretty quick and there will be over population, so to say.
third, this lumber i bought is just one dimension, so all the other measurements i still need to saw or i will run out of them. it's just alot tighter now for lumber handling, which is a pain. but the money is definitively there.
You have some inventory now!!!
time to start building again! Maybe time for a new saw shed?
Quote from: nativewolf on July 04, 2023, 08:23:28 AM
time to start building again! Maybe time for a new saw shed?
Nooooo, be quiet. it will never end. i kinda draw a line last year, done with the building and inversting and getting bigger and bigger. time to save and thinking of the years to come.
There are some smaller stuff i still need to do.
always wanted to enlarge the sawmill outside area, was very tiny for the excavator and the skidder bringing logs from the woods. also want to make two more support beams for bucking the logs, the trees are getting bigger. first i wanted to continue the concrete wall but then decided that it would cost too much and too much work involved. in the quarry i had lots of big stones which don't pass thru the crusher so the loader driver was so friendly to bring them up to the house and i installed them with the excavator, a quick stone retaining wall. Was able to bring the terrain up about 3meters, of course over the time the dirt will settle and needs backfilling. as long as the stones settle to the inside i'm ok with it
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230628_143103.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1688642122)
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Here you can see the support beams for bucking, want two rows more. and the conveyer still has some 3m more of room i can use
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230628_143448.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1688642132)
Nice use for the clunkers.
I would think some of the bigger mills on here would try buying a container of teak from you. Have you shipped any to the states?
That will make @thecfarm (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=436) jealous. :D
I have an endless supply of rocks!!!!
Quote from: tacks Y on July 06, 2023, 07:42:42 AMHave you shipped any to the states?
No, i haven't. that a whole other ballgame. probably interesting but complicated. need to find buyer, exporter and have the capacity to fill a container.
I know exporting from here would involve APHIS compliance, IE heat treatment and all the documentation to prove you did it, so one would assume it's the same importing.
APHIS requirement is on the receiving end. It's a loophole that many companies used to export logs and lumber to china, they would send them to "hong kong" which at the time was a separate legal entity that did not require APHIS. I would guess fumigation would also be fine if there is a container fumigation facility in Costa Rica. Maybe more profitable to send to Europe and much easier to sell there in Costa Rica to rich retirees from Europe and USA/Canada.
Quote from: teakwood on July 05, 2023, 07:56:15 AM
Quote from: nativewolf on July 04, 2023, 08:23:28 AM
time to start building again! Maybe time for a new saw shed?
Nooooo, be quiet. it will never end. i kinda draw a line last year, done with the building and inversting and getting bigger and bigger. time to save and thinking of the years to come.
There are some smaller stuff i still need to do.
I think that all the time. I'm still a nobody and would like to stay that way but it don't seem to work. I just keeping stashing some cash and let the rest roll as it will. Your work is always amazing by the way. I'm jealous. I know what kind of time and dedication it takes to get that kind of work. Unfortunately I can't make myself be like that very often.
I think you're doing mighty fine, Joe.
thanks Firewoodjoe, i'm with Barbender, you are doing great. if i remember your posts right you came from nothing and have grown a lot, i'm very impressed by you success. I have no idea of you guys market but from what i read here it is mighty difficult to even survive as a logger and anybody who is stashing cash in such a business is just outstanding. keep the good work up.
Ramon
Thanks guys. It's always a struggle. I hope me and the mill can keep
It rolling. @teakwood (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=27555) whatever happened to that cat forwarder used for teak? There's a 2015 in the UP but I don't think that one will work out anyways.
It's always a struggle
Nobody said it was easy!
I think the forwarder broke down and was never repaired because of lack of parts. they bought a new 6 wheel Welte from Germany.
Finishing the stone retaining wall
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230729_151659.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1690721378)
the hole is getting bigger
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230712_092845.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1690721375)
putting together a new dozer they brought from the US
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230726_153649.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1690721371)
Have organized 20 packs of lumber, first two orders are in, 20% of the investment is back in the bank
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230708_104556.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1690721364)
My entire family was here for two weeks, we had a great time.
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i dressed up my nephews with quarry shirts, i told them if they don't have quarry shirts they couldn't drive the excavator. the little one has only met me once in his life and still has a hard time to remember all 3 names of his uncles.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG-20230711-WA0007.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1690721544)
I'm called "uncle excavator" now :D :D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG-20230712-WA0042.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1690721546)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG-20230712-WA0033.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1690721545)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG-20230712-WA0044.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1690721546)
this one hopefully will be something similar as his uncle
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230711_091612.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1690721547)
Oh, and i got married ;D, was kind a quick decision because i don't think the whole family will be together again in a short time. at least now i have somebody to give my quarry to if i pass away. :D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG-20230729-WA0057.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1690722764)
Congratulations!
Adding one more beautiful person to a beautiful family.
Way to go Uncle Excavator!
Now that's a great update, Congratulations all around!
Wow, congratulations to you and your bride, Ramon!
Congratulations! that would make a great update for your thread pic. :)
Love the smile of a kid playing in a giant sandbox! ;D
Congratulations on livin' the dream! 8)
Congrats! I can see the headline in the local paper now - Uncle Excavator Gets Married!
Quote from: teakwood on July 30, 2023, 09:04:48 AMOh, and i got married ;D
That is one sure way to make your GF quit hanging around. ;D Congratulations !!!
Congratulations! Beautiful wife now! Great pictures!
Congratulations!! Great time spent with the family.
:) :) congratulations, Uncle excavator!
Beautiful family, beautiful boys, beautiful wife. Now it's time to make some boys of your own. ;D
Congratulations Uncle Excavator!
Congratulations and glad you got to enjoy your family Sir
Good for you. 8)
Will you guys go on a honeymoon to the Alps? Or maybe a ski trip to Chile? Let us help you spend your money!
Congratulations! Family is great 👍
Quote from: nativewolf on August 01, 2023, 05:59:55 AM
Will you guys go on a honeymoon to the Alps? Or maybe a ski trip to Chile? Let us help you spend your money!
Thanks guys for all the good wishes.
No honeymoon planed, we had holidays for 16 days with my family and went to beaches and see volcanos. now we need to work again, quarry is full tilt right now. My worker had to do all the quarry present time and at night he slept on the farm because we don't want to let our house alone at night. so the poor guy worked 24/7 for 14 days, he was done when i got back, had to give him some days off so he could be with his family. :D His paycheck made him smile again.
We will see when a slow time comes, pack our bags and go to Mexico spontaneously, it's on our planes for this year.
mexico? I mean the food is really really good. It's a hip place to visit. Pyramids and old temples are neat. But volcanoes, beaches...you have. That's not nearly enough money. If you wait til November, go ski in Utah or California for a week. Wait...has she ever seen snow? Have you ever been skiing or snow boarding on powder? So much fun. @firefighter ontheside (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=26921) aren't you a snow boarder? Lets get Ramon up to the USA for some fun in the snow then we'll have an excuse to go to CR. Again Ramon we're just trying to help (help you spend your money).
Glad to hear the quarry did not slow down, I was afraid the wet season might have put a dent on sales.
Well done!
I have never been on a snowboard. I've been skiing since 1987. I recommend skiing.
Congrats to you Ramon on your nuptials.
get you guys to the mountains in winter and say goodbye to Uncle Excavator, hello Uncle Snowcat!
Quote from: nativewolf on August 01, 2023, 08:16:57 AMHave you ever been skiing or snow boarding on powder?
Of course, i'm from Switzerland, i ski since the age of 3, with 10 i started snowboarding, it was a new thing by then. haven't skied much since i live in CR :D. @nativewolf (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=24089) How about Heli skiing in Canada for spending my money? would that help? ;)
No, she hasen't seen snow yet, planning on visiting switzerland once in the winter at Christmas time, that would be nice with the whole family.
Yes, quarry is still going good, with all the rain season problems though, they have a lot of downtime now. it's a superb year for me because of this big border project, we will see how the quarry does afterwards.
Oh was sure you were a skier. Your wife though..it will be an experience. Christmas in Switzerland would be fun. But to get someone hooked you have to get them to some dry powder snow.
I think you have exactly the right idea. Helicopter ski trip in Canada or American rockies. 8)
Glühwein and the Christmas markets are fun. Made some homemade feuerzangenbowle with my German pals. Long to go back to Schweitz some day and maybe do the Haute route with my wife, but she wants to do Alta Via in the Dolomites.
When i went to Switzerland with a Latina before what we did instead of trying to learn to ski for several day was to go with the snow sledges, that's a blast too and there are several slopes specially made for this type of activities.
Congratulations!
I'm in for a Help Skiing Trip. there a re few members in the Rockies close to some heliSki Areas.We can visit them. It will save some money.
Running out of room for the teaklumber i bought. still 2 truck loads waiting to get here. already have 3 deck and floor orders for this wood. ;)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230809_141826.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1691754801)
the habaneros are doing great!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230731_100937.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1691754766)
well, if the pepper harvest is great, you can at least dehydrate them in the kiln. 8)
4 orders in for the lumber i bought, started moulding, machine is running great. New TyG cutters arrived from Taiwan.
The smallest order. 17m2 of deck
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230816_081204.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1692360999)
Remember this foto when we started with the new client in the quarry, that was in March.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230330_171245.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1680260744)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230329_100258.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1680260686)
couldn't walk behind the jaw crusher. look at the hole now, almost a football field
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230812_064337.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1692360989)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230812_064509.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1692360990)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230813_083929.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1692361021)
Wow that has grown quickly.
Next order is a 72m2 of flooring, A Quality. In this Quality class i go thru every board and select them after moulding. picked 25 bad boards out of 320. two packs, 6500$
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230819_090538.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1692617253)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230819_090600.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1692617264)
Then i had another customer, a new one, sent me some tyg boards for drying 1/2x6", poor quality, thin as paper, 3/8 left after they moulded it. some had varnish on them so i ask them, why are they painted? oh, we had to take some already installed down because they where still wet and started shrinking ::) ::). 20% of the boards where bug infested. the customers never learn, it always only the price that matters.
So i dried the board and piled them up and told the guy to send the truck driver with some pieces of lumber to underlay the packs, because i load with the forklift, a tarp because we are in rainseason and straps!
No tarp and look at the straps! Sometimes it's a real challenge to work with the contractors here.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230819_144440.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1692617256)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230819_144444.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1692617261)
Unfortunately it's just not in Costa Rica
That stuff happens here
Some people shouldn't be contractors at all .
Other than not being covered to keep it dry, I've seen way worse tie downs. In fact, here that may even get past the DOT. The pack that the rope doesn't touch is constrained by the sides, and the rope looks like it is well cinched and tied, and big enough to have sufficient working load. My .02😊
I had a customer come and pick up his 1400 SF of flooring the other day. No strap or rope. I used to sell them some straps or even give it to them. Then I got to thinking about it and figured if they aren't smart enough to bring something to tie down their load. They probably are used to getting a lawyer to get them out of everything they do wrong. If they wrecked then they would sue me for something being wrong with my straps, that caused it. I just told him to drive like his grandmother was sitting on the trailer, in her favorite dress, holding a bowl of gravy. Get to the first truck stop and buy some straps.
Holding the bowl of gravy is a nice touch. ;D
Anyone who hauls lumber should be encouraged to learn the basics of load securement. I think the general public would be amazed if they knew all the FMCSA rules truck drivers have to follow.
Another good story, have a repeating woodworker ask me for 3" thick wood for staircases. Yes i have, but a very limited stock, i'm producing new stock but at 3" it takes at least 3 month from green to dry, if you want to guarantee send a down payment. Hi first has to convince his new customer to pay my prices, (before him they had a woodworker put 3x 1" board glued together (stack them) trying to make a 3" step), needless to say that the whole staircase split open, probably wet lumber, and they lost the whole investment. So, the client isn't that eager to pay me because he already paid for the staircase once, so after 2 weeks no downpayment, then i got the call: We will make the down payment. I literally had a call from my number one client half an hour before asking me for 3" staircase lumber, yes i have. put it aside, we need it. no problem, its yours. Get back to the new client; so sorry, i sold it one hour before. x#%$@, and now what he ask me? i tell him, make a down payment and in 3 month i have your lumber ready. After probably a not so nice conversation with his new client i had the money 2h later :D. Another costumer who learned it the hard way.
That was 4 month ago, yesterday he sent the pics of the staircase, i'm stunned, that's just gorgeous! I have to say they did a superb job on the steel structure also, i'm not used to see such professional work here.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG-20230808-WA0050.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1692882855)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG-20230808-WA0049.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1692882855)
Nice looking stairs. Not sure about the split landing idea, but why not I guess.
Looks to me like you will be making more in the future. :) very nice!
Looks great ! I would be worried about someone misstepping with the space between the 2 landings.
I'd be worried about people mis-stepping on the way down as the treads are a bit blurry at the edge between each one with that teak grain pattern.
I'm wondering where the handrails are. ;D :)
What a business year for me, the best ever. I'm earning more money than i would back in Switzerland, the country of the highest salaries worldwide. Couldn't be any happier, it's not even work if you love what you do. Well i had a lot of - $$$$ income years in the beginning also but now the businesses are really skyrocketing. the lumber sales are gowing 30% every year. Have a new carpenter client from 200miles away ;D. I'm getting known in the whole country.
Member @PJS (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=47471) reached out some months ago asking for advice for a family member who is building a house in CR. Long story short they are buying some teak lumber from me. I don't sell alot of 8x8" because they are very hard to produce and not cheap, but boy did they turn out beautiful. After planning i was pretty proud of me, why? Not one crack in both of them, and they have the pith in them. Moonwood, sealed ends, slow air drying (2 years) =no cracks!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230930_095238.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1696165409)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230930_100233.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1696165414)
Men, is the storage full!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230915_134623.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1696165369)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230915_140411.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1696165386)
Some 1x1" for another client
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230905_092704.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1696165368)
Some TyG ceiling
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230904_135219.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1696165356)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20230904_135155.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1696165348)
Great to see your efforts paying off. I'm sure there was plenty of stressful days and sleepless nights getting to the point you're at now.
Nice!! What are they doing with the 1x1s?
You will be known worldwide if you keep it up ;D
Quote from: mudfarmer on October 01, 2023, 09:24:37 PM.........
You will be known worldwide if you keep it up ;D
He already is. ;D :D :)
Wonderful to see your hard work paying you back .
I'm very happy for you Sir
Quote from: mudfarmer on October 01, 2023, 09:24:37 PMWhat are they doing with the 1x1s?
Thanks guys for the kind words, yes i had lots of sleepless night and headaches, the 7 years of agony waiting for the quarry permits were hell, the most dificult thing i did in life. several times i wanted to throw the towel but i was already too deep in the mud, financially speaking. Now it's all good and i'm saving up for retirement.
The 1x1" are used for a rancho, they also bought 20 round logs for the posts, beams, rafters and then the 1x1 get nailed on the rafters 1' apart to receive palm leaves, ether real palm or plastic imitations
Congrats on your success! I would love to see pics of that roof system if you get a chance someday. neat.
something like this, just imagine the rafters being round
Construcción con palmeras y hojas, Palomino, la Guajira, Colombia, Sur America Fotografía de stock - Alamy (http://www.alamy.es/foto-construccion-con-palmeras-y-hojas-palomino-la-guajira-colombia-sur-america-50608949.html)
there are some real elaborated once
glamv08 (http://www.pinterest.com/glamv08/construcciones-ranchos-palma/)
Extended the log deck, the trees are getting bigger and longer. it always bothered me, now i'm happy. pushed some 8' long ironwood post with the excavator till the machine got lift up, it's massive now!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20231012_155130.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1697197015)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20231012_111926.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1697197014)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20231012_111950.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1697197011)
A client wanted to pick his 5m long log order with this small truck, i told him that would be way to dangerous. he finally agreed and we hired a bigger tuck.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20231010_115019.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1697197007)
Men is it freaking hot this year, the sun is alot stronger than i remembered from passed years, or i'm just getting too old for this work. the problem is i love it.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20231005_103031.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1697197000)
Bought 3 truckloads more of lumber from the neighbor company, but i don't have any room left. they gave me till the end of the year to move the wood. i don't have a solution yet ???
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37555/IMG_20231002_095740.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1697196999)
seems to keep you in shape!
Tailgate up to hold in the bottom, poles resting on headache rack, no problem 😅 love that little truck!
Thanks for the link and explanation of the 1x1s, I saw some round wood framing much the same in MX
Looking good as always, but understand the space issue for sure. What are the odds you can sell some of the new wood right out of storage without moving it home? I guess difficult since you are sorting...
Several months ago I was spending your money for you, expanding buildings, decks, and a hydraulic sawmill. :D Ok, now I see the deck. You've got a world class dozer and excavator and acres of space. Get the pad pushed out! You could use the space, honest.
I toast your success!
Quote from: mudfarmer on October 13, 2023, 04:59:47 PM
Thanks for the link and explanation of the 1x1s, I saw some round wood framing much the same in MX
What Does Palapa Mean? What are Palapas? - Master Canopies (https://mastercanopies.com/what-does-palapa-mean-what-are-palapas)
Yup - tons of them all over Mexico and Cozumel especially.. actually almost every resort (except for the huge marble and limestone 'everything ones') I ever saw or have stayed at on the Yucatan Peninsula - Quintana Roo and Cozumel was full of these - even some of the main (and often huge) resort main buildings and restaurants were constructed thusly..
Quote from: mudfarmer on October 13, 2023, 04:59:47 PMTailgate up to hold in the bottom, poles resting on headache rack, no problem
We thought of that but the head rack could've broke or bent while driving. Teak is freakin heavy when green
Quote from: mudfarmer on October 13, 2023, 04:59:47 PMI guess difficult since you are sorting..
Not only sorting also processing. i plane or mold the lumber so i can charge more money and get more return. It's looking fantastic with this business, bought 8 truckloads of lumber for about 55k and i'm selling little by little. will at least triple or quadruple my investment. a lot better than having the money in the bank.
Quote from: nativewolf on October 13, 2023, 05:23:23 PM
Several months ago I was spending your money for you, expanding buildings, decks, and a hydraulic sawmill. :D Ok, now I see the deck. You've got a world class dozer and excavator and acres of space. Get the pad pushed out! You could use the space, honest.
I toast your success!
:D :D, i'm planning on building a big entrance rolling door to cut free access to my house and lumber storage, there are some people who just drive in without any permission. for this i need to expand a concrete wall and make a receiver wall for the door and will probably expand the wall 8m more and then build a roof over it. for more storage area.
But as my plan is to return to Switzerland in 10-15 years i really don't want to invest or build anymore
Sure sure, you'll move back in 10-15 years and spend winters in CR. Global timber magnate. Seriously though I have no idea about the economics of CR today. 20 years ago it seemed robust. Wouldn't a well thought out light industrial facility have buyers? Does the quarry have 10 years of life left?
The one thing I'm sure of is that you need a huge addition to your covered space. I'm not just spending your money....OK OK I'm spending your money. But you need more covered space, working in cramped spaces kills productivity and increases risk. Time is your most precious commodity, health is second or maybe it is the other way around. Get some more space.
Quote from: nativewolf on October 14, 2023, 09:03:27 AMSure sure, you'll move back in 10-15 years and spend winters in CR. Global timber magnate. Seriously though I have no idea about the economics of CR today. 20 years ago it seemed robust. Wouldn't a well thought out light industrial facility have buyers? Does the quarry have 10 years of life left?
CR is going thru a big change now, we have a super new President and they are fighting corruption, burocracie, the very few powerful families which hadn't to follow any rules, monopoles, reduce spending,.... very good changes for the country, CR will be strong if this trend continues.
I don't think it will be too hard to sell my businesses, they both profitable and well established. the plan is to just milk the cow for the next 10 years without hurting her :D. then we will see. the lumber business the way i'm managing it now can keep producing with a nice profit for the next 40 years.
The quarry permit is still good for the next 22 years and i have a estimated volume of 1.6M m3, this year we took out 80k m3, not every year will be this good. if the quarry ever runs out of stone i could expand the area of the quarry to new ground with a additional permit, the hard thing is to obtain it in the first place.
Quote from: nativewolf on October 14, 2023, 09:03:27 AMSure sure, you'll move back in 10-15 years and spend winters in CR.
;D Very possible. but we really want to travel more and see other counties. tomorrow we go to Mexico, tulum, playas del carmen, cancun
Enjoy, there is no rewind button.
Mexico is a great country, very too bad about the narco corruption there. Have lots of good friends, Mexico has become a big export market for the USA lumber industry. Softwood construction and hardwoods.
Quote from: teakwood on October 14, 2023, 04:24:00 PM
Quote from: nativewolf on October 14, 2023, 09:03:27 AMSure sure, you'll move back in 10-15 years and spend winters in CR.
;D Very possible. but we really want to travel more and see other counties. tomorrow we go to Mexico, tulum, playas del carmen, cancun
Tulum is neat and the beach is beautiful, Playa del Carmen with its 5th avenue all night shopping and neat bars is crazy interesting and if you grab the ferry over to San Miguel Cozumel you can rent a jeep or car and go all around the Island in a nice afternoon - the Eastern shore is desolate and beautiful with huge open beaches and it has 'Coconuts' on the Eastern side - an iconic and famous bar and grill.
Cancun is just a large city without much appeal in my opinion, unless you like the hotel zone - a peninsula packed with huge resort hotels ..
When you could still climb Chichen Itza (rated as one of the Wonders of the New World) it was a great view over the surrounding jungle area as are the ruins of Coba which as far as I know can still be climbed although not as high as the Chichen Itza temple.
If you like Mayan ancient ruins, history, and archeology both are Quintana Roo's most interesting examples besides Tulum..
Quite a long ride between Cancun and Tulum - couple of hours depending on traffic!
Have Fun!
Thanks for the info, we have a rental car and will be in tulum for the first 4 days then playa del carmen 3 days then maybe 2 in cancun but i don't have a hotel yet, i don't want to be in this luxury hotel area in cancun, we will see.
definitely will go see some pyramids and temples, the water holes, ... We have lots of beautiful beaches here in CR so not really eager to hang out on the beaches in mexico.
Dang is it cheap there, i'm amazed, 220$ for a big Jeep for 9days, 210$ for a luxury Airbnb for 4 days, 230$ for a 4star hotel in playas del carmen. well it's low season but still. this money would last you maybe 3-4 days in CR
Definitely hit the ruins and cenotes! Smaller less known for both but the big ones too, 4 days isn't enough haha Try to make a day trip down to Punta Allen, idk if your rental car will make it but a cheap rental scooter will ;D
AND... if you like Adventure Parks or the such - there is both Xcaret and Xel-hah both of which are very popular, well advertised, and have lots to see.
The beaches in CR are certainly beautiful especially the black sand ones (and HOT to walk on) that I've been on - but it's hard to compare them to the water temperatures and the beautiful turquoise/blue color of the waters off Riviera Maya..
Handling those heavy beams is no joke! I had a similar experience when working on my vacation home. I even invested in my forestry equipment. It was more practical to buy the equipment second-hand rather than rent it for a long time.
I got a Harvester, aDozer and some accessories, and I remember using https://www.boomandbucket.com/equipment/forestry-equipment (https://www.boomandbucket.com/equipment/forestry-equipment) to snag some second-hand stuff. I got lucky with some pretty sweet deals there, and I was impressed by the quality of their products!
Ok, quarry is at a standstill and i decided to push the entrance/ wall/ more lumber storage construction project forward. one reason was also that the neighbor teakcompany, that i bought all the lumber from, gave me till 15th march to haul all my lumber from their facilities. still got like 3 truckloads sitting there.
Some pics of the build
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IMG_20240127_072305.jpg
Hard work without a crane, all manual filling with small buckets
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Did great progress this week. only me with 2 helpers
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Hey, I see your excavator back there. Rent or buy one of those concrete hopper things they use with cranes. Make a big batch, fill it up and dump in your forms. That would make things go so much faster!
You could just use the bucket if you don't wait too long to clean it. Just make a long plywood funnel on top of the forms.
Doing what you have to. You sure could use a concrete truck and a pumper though.
Looking good! Is that whole wall going to end up being covered storage at some point? What is the blue tubing your running in or under the wall?
Very good eye Granite! where the ladders stands will all be covered by a roof to increase lumber storage. the roof will be 13m x 7m (42x 23'), that gives me space for approx. 40-50 packs of lumber , the skidder and a car.
The blue hoses are irrigation hoses which i use as electrical tubing and video. it's all tucked in and nicely organized. Video, current, switches, lights, door motor, communication. i hate improvised fixes like free hanging cables or cable canals
IMG_20240204_062210.jpgIMG_20240203_113321.jpgIMG_20240203_064952.jpg
Dang, aren't they a beauty! still some concrete worker skills left in me from the old days back in Switzerland ;D
a teak beam will go over these concrete pillars which will receive the rafters
IMG_20240204_063231.jpg
Very nice work Sir
The concrete work is as nice as your woodworking. Glad you are adding more space!
Had a big TyG order to fulfill this week but still made some progress with the construction.
Last foundation is done, the connection to the old building
IMG_20240208_173445.jpg
the access road still needs some fine tuning
IMG_20240208_173508.jpg
first of the two entrance pilars
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Looking good
How warm is it ?
Looks to warm for me 😆
I like how the Plywood is clearly labeled. ffcheesy
Gonna be quite the lumber villa ramon. Nice work
Open up the frame work and the pilar just turned out beautiful, i'm very happy! That plywood was so wonderfull when new, i thought it was a great quality product. now the skin is all waved up like it had shifted, what a bad quality. the wrinkles are small but still, i doubt that this plywood can be reused after the second pilar. probably some chineseum crap.
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Monday i start with the carpenters work
IMG_20240210_115326.jpg
Quote from: Bruno of NH on February 10, 2024, 09:51:52 AMLooking good
How warm is it ?
Too hot, 35 degrees (95 Fahrenheit), unforgiving sun, it's dry season. Water, Water, water for the fresh concrete
How do you like your volvo excavator? Has it been pretty good?
Quote from: mike_belben on February 10, 2024, 06:33:13 PMHow do you like your volvo excavator? Has it been pretty good?
The Best, would not want another one, sadly it's getting old, year 2000. bought it in California in 2007, shipped it to Brownsville TX and drove it down to Costa Rica, what an adventure, i was young back then
That is an adventure and sounds hard on undercarriage 😂
Quote i thought it was a great quality product. now the skin is all waved up like it had shifted, what a bad quality. the wrinkles are small but still..
Sounds like the printed lamination allowed moisture to get to the underlying wood, which swelled and caused the wrinkles. Maybe just a paper overlay. You do very neat work, so am sure the wrinkles are not very acceptable.
Yeah, at 55$ per sheet i thought they were too cheap for formwork plywood, now i know why
Some updates, first beam is up
IMG_20240212_165307.jpg
Last wall pour is done, the second entrance pillar is still missing in this picIMG_20240214_172043.jpg
The holes where the wooden posts go are no choke, my worker has more than a day per hole, all done with a small rotary hammer, a drill and lots of elbow grease, pure rock
IMG_20240214_172201.jpg
I'm working on the teak structure, these are the 6x6 posts
IMG_20240214_172340.jpg
Timbers look great. Lord at the growth rings the two on the right have.
That beam is long! 12.5m
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teakwood, those beams are beautiful!
Tomorrow is a big day, almost ready for the big lift. will try to lift the whole structure in one piece, the excavator is already in position. but i'm not sure if i have the height to get it out under the roof and i'm also hoping that the beam will withstand the pressure. fixed 2 temporary braces with clamps to help support the bow
one pillar is still missing
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I would hire out that post hole diggin job too, yikes!
That was a hard day but everything went pretty smooth. it was very tight to get the structure out under of the old roof
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after lots of measuring everything fitted perfectly, i'm very happy. looks awesome
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Ramon that looks great, you sure needed the space!
You may have already stated this, but is that beam a ridge beam? As in the center of your new shed?
yes sir, that is the ridge beam of this structure. now i'm in a hurry to get the roof up and the floor poured so it can harden for 2 weeks. i have till 15th march to get all my bought lumber from a neighbor company here to my storage, still 3 triaxle truckloads there.
then this building will have 2 possible outcomes; one, i make a small side roof from the ridge beam down so it stops the rain, maybe 4foot long, just freehanging there.
second, and this would be the better option, extend the whole structure with another rafter length and make another pillar structure to support the second side. this will be pretty cheap compared to the first build and would double the roof area. As a multimillionaire friend of mine says to me, you need to destruct the old house and level all this hill to gain space and then make a additional cabin, a pool, a barbeque area and a rancho, ufff. that was the plan since 10 years but easy for him to say!
maybe i have a mad moment next year and go on with the building, it would make a lot of sense.
and as Wyatt
@nativewolf always likes to spend my money and advised me to spend my winters here in CR if i ever go back to live in Switzerland this would probably be a good plan
there is this ugly old house which i actually not use and its on a small hill, i could cut 4m of the hill and would gain 1000m2 of flat area between my house and the sawmill area. but i would need to put water and electrical services into ditches underground
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Roof is done and today we start with the floor concrete. had to put in a drainage pipe so the rainwater behind the new structure can flow away underground
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2 slabs done, 2 more to go. this week i will have a second helper to speed things up and hopefully we're able to finish all the concrete work. will make another concrete pad in front of the kiln because in rainseason the forklift sinks and its hard to steer
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this teaktree is the only one i grew on my own from 10 seeds they gave me and only this one came alive, so i planted it behind my house. i will never cut this one, i hope to see this tree when i'm 75.
20years old and a pretty big boy already, 24"
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That is incredible growth!
Hey Ramone, who is the man in the pic with you?
My best friend (also Swiss) has a Hotel lodge near me and he called me, there is an older gentlemen here from the same area you were and he says that he is family from your grandpa's brother :huh? so i went there and had some beers with them, turns out that the family connection is so far away that it doesn't even count anymore, but was an interesting fella and i invited him the next day to see my operation.
Looks very nice and you are making fast progress! Two weeks to deadline? You got this 💪💪
Nice big mixer! Do you have a good source for your aggregate? ffcheesy
Mixer looked like it would hold 3 buckets of gravel, 2 buckets of sand and one bucket of Portland. ffsmiley
This mixer is exactly good for one bag of cement. it holds 6 buckets of gravel, 6 buckets of sand and 50kg of cement. that gives a ratio of 300kg cem per m3 which is a normal construction concrete
i add water reducing cemicals
If done by hand, you should get some big arms. take care of your back. ffwave
3:3:1 Wow, that's a lot of sand! I've always done 3:2:1
Suspect teakwood has had good luck with his mix being as he has poured a LOT of concrete in this location. Prolly finishes up well, and smooth to trowel a nice surface.
yes doc i know, back is already worn from my years in construction, my worker has also a bad back from doing farm and machete work for 45 years, i send him to physiotherapy. we all use back belts, they help alot.
yes i did alot of concrete work in my life, i entered construction apprentiship with 16, 3 years of work and study for being a construction/concrete/ bricklaying/ rebars/ formwork worker (i have a license for this profession) we did big buildings back in Switzerland. Here it's alot slower and much harder process as we do small pours all by hand. this little mixer made at least 800 bags of cement/ concrete for me in the last 15 years.
The Floor is done, only did the area where i will store lumber so the forklift works well. left entrance pillar is done too and today we pour the kiln slab
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well, it is impressive to see what shear willpower and hard work can do. We have it easy with a big truck and a slab is done in 2 hours. carry on! :thumbsup:
That should do it for the next 50 years, that slab is around 8" thick for a 4to forklift, i tend to overdue stuff
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That was the last Pour and i'm glad that the concrete work is done. Always had a hard time to park a pallet of lumber in front of the 4sider for processing. i will still build a small roof over this area
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You do very nice concrete and look at that steel reinforcement work! I have the mixer loaded this morning and an inspection before we can have "fun". For us he is mostly looking to make sure my footings are big and deep enough for winter and that the ground is hard. The ground is hard ffcheesy . I sure like your system better, we've been ready for 2 days and have been back in the woods sawing while waiting for inspection.
Very nice. It always is teakwood. I have some concrete work this year to. Soon I'm told. Kids have been playing basketball in sand for two years 😂
Now they know how dad grew up.
It all looks great Ramon. Too bad you had to use the mixer and not a truck. Seems like a business opportunity.
Thanks guys, i do my best.
Before i started building here i did some research. A concrete truck coming from the nearest fabric, which is about 2h away, would need to add so much retarder to the mix because of the heat we have. so the quality would be questionable. 1m3 was around 450$ :uhoh: , so i did the math and came to the conclusion that i could produce 1m3 for 225$ and i'm way more flexible with my own small mixer. I bought this mixer together with a friend at 300$ each, 15years ago.
I poured a slab last fall. Started with a small mixer. Now I've made a lot of mud in years past with a mixer, but it's been a while. I borrowed this one and it had some issues- I should've looked it over better before I committed to using it! After some frustration, I mixed all the material together in the middle of my driveway with the skid steer. It worked pretty well😁
Teakwood,
Any mix on site trucks? If not, there's an opportunity!
Have seen concrete mixers for skid steers that look quite handy and efficient, being that one can move from sand pile to stone pile to water and then move to the pour site. Cuts out a lot of labor, but that may not be a problem for some jobs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2kwKJHn0zo
I've looked at the ones with an auger in the bucket, it would be nice. I'd say you are doing labor right if they don't mix by hand, I'd rather dig ditches ffcheesy.
We did between a half yard and a half m3, I think ~28 bags of sakrete premix yesterday for some porch footings and had a little over $200 in it. I'm going to have to stockpile gravel and sand here and just buy portland if we do any more small jobs, things have gotten insane.
they make a trailer that a homeowner or small job gets loaded, and my understanding is the tires on the road turn a paddle to keep mixing the mud. rinse and return. maybe can find something like that at less expense. build a track around the quarry. hey joe, 5 gallon of water and three laps around the quarry at 30 KPH. to whom do you sell all the crushed rock from your quarry? maybe an off the books barter. do you buy cement in bulk, or the 90-pound bags? I have a concrete bucket with a spout to pour premixed concrete. used it for the pool and 400 linear feet of retaining wall. on a footer, and 4 feet tall, 8 inches thick. had a vinyl liner to mimic slump block we have on the house. trouble was when the form was full you had to tip the bucket up to stop the flow, and instinctually all the concrete guys tend to lean their head right over the spout. lots of potential stiches and CT heads. I attached a pneumatic vibrator to help flow as needed. not perfect.
This morning i hacked the porch down from the old house and then excavated the cliff away, about 12 truck loads later i finally have the space for the second half of the roof. that was a difficult dig, no space to turn, pressed inn between the kiln and new structure. but all went well. Men, the old house really hangs up there now ffcheesy
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Forklift made a nice working platform. don't judge me on the nasty sideroof, it's just for one rainseason. Next summer i build the second half of this shed.
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Got 34 packs under the roof so far, will fill with at least one more row, that gives 42 packs or about 70m3 of lumber, that's awesome
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Congrats. Is that just clay in front of the pad? Could you put crushed gravel there? Is there a local quarry that could supply some stone? ffcheesy
Just thinking that you don't want the rain to splash dirt back onto the dry clean lumber. Terrible for cutting teeth. Or, install a temporary gutter and drain system (which would have to be very large to handle the thunderstorms in CR.
All looks great, congrats again!
TW, I don't think you have to worry about anyone here judging your work. I think you are your own toughest critic☺️
Quote from: nativewolf on March 12, 2024, 08:12:20 AMCongrats. Is that just clay in front of the pad? Could you put crushed gravel there? Is there a local quarry that could supply some stone? ffcheesy
Just thinking that you don't want the rain to splash dirt back onto the dry clean lumber. Terrible for cutting teeth. Or, install a temporary gutter and drain system (which would have to be very large to handle the thunderstorms in CR.
All looks great, congrats again!
No, it's not clay, it's all pure stone, we did some backfilling by hand with some finer material so the stones get leveled a little bit, better for walking. i will still hang a plastic or tarp on the side of the lumber. we have heavy rains with wind and the little sideroof will not protect from them. with the second half added next year i will be fine.
Got great news this week, the big firm is rolling into the quarry again, border project starts over after a delay. still have 2 month left of the dryseason, so they want to extract around 80k m3 in 2 month, it will be CRAZY!!
Well today was the last day on the deadline and i had a hard time all week to find a tandem truck. finally had a guy promise me to be here today and off we went to get the lumber, was a long day but everything went smooth. :thumbsup:
filled the new shed with all the old lumber i could to free up space in the big building
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pretty empty
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as i payed per trip i made sure to make them worth ffcheesy
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what a mess, tomorrow we start organizing
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I'd say you got your money's worth with what that old Mack could haul. ffcheesy
Happy for you re: the quarry news.
Business is good!
Quote from: teakwood on March 15, 2024, 09:48:33 PMwhat a mess, tomorrow we start organizing
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I'd like to have that mess in my barn!
Great to see a plan come together and things working out for you.
I bet the truck road a little smoother on its way 😆
So where is the next building going now that the rest of the quarry is spoken for? Are they leaving a nice level spot for kilns?
headscratch headscratch There is just no brake with you Wyatt! ffcheesy No more buildings, i'm definitively good for now with the storage area i have. tomorrow they will bring the gate and then the build is complete. and i'm most certainly don't need another kiln, the one i have is turned off since 2 month because i can't keep up with sawing and all the other tasks around the businesses.
Men has Costa Rica become expensive, i'm spending about 15k on this small build only in materials, not including the lumber or my working hours!
You certainly deserve a chance to enjoy working with what you have before you convince yourself you need more,I have enjoyed your journey thank you for sharing it with us.
Thanks, i do my best ffcheesy
Installed the gate, it will look great when i finish it up with some teak boards.
The old guy sitting there is the owner of the precision metal shop, he is 78 years old and let me tell you, he is a walking encyclopedia around all topics involving metal, welding, machines,... you need a new piston, bushing, pinon you name it, go to Jorge. I can't even count the times he has saved my butt with a quick fix to keep on going. As he is a calm guy with no hurry he always fights me because i always need things done quickly because i don't have patience and we get in each others hair, there is no winning with him. But dang did i learn some things from him the last 20 years. Next fight will be when i go to him for the bill on this gate, probably 2500$ because he is proud of his work ffcheesy , he used 2x4" by 1/4" galvanized steel :uhoh: The hinges are nice though, he did a bronze bushing insert with a grease nipple. You can open this 500kg/ 1100lbs gate with one finger
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Quality begets quality and you are very deserving Sir. :thumbsup:
That is a Honking Nice Entrance. ffsmiley
The gate is made of 2x4" galvanized steel, 1/4" thick? :thumbsup:
Very, very secure.
When you lock up at night, you'll know that everything will still be there in the morning!
You and your 'metal mentor' do very good work.
I smile at your progress. It reminds me of when WDH would show up at my place, while I was still in the growing stage. Not that I have quit growing, just at a slower pace.
Y'all do mighty fine work, and should be proud.
Need stickers!!?? ffcheesy
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@cutterboy Now it's organized!
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HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!! "GIANT SMILYFACE" LOL
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Yes please. I would like a pallet full please. I think I can glue them back together. might build me a sailboat! ffcheesy surfer-smiley :thinking2:
@tule peak timber
Almost done with the installation of the crusher line.
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These fotos where made before they rolled in with the machines, very cool to see the quarry from a bird view. I will do another clearcut above the green area
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I am assuming that they are taking manageable layers so after it is taken down to the level where the crusher is, will they begin another layer deeper. I suppose that I am wondering how deep your recoverable stone goes. Maybe to China? :thumbsup:
maybe tunnel to the southern US so I can get my pallet of Teak. :snowball: It will make it easier to get stuff from the US as well. ffcheesy looks great!
I just see lots of flat ground for buildings ffcheesy .
Congrats Ramon, having them come back so quickly will really change your economic situation and for that I am very very happy for you. You'll have to strip some more overburden I guess and mill the new harvest area. Did you sell the topsoil last time?
I kid you not that you'll need more space though because you've made an amateur mistake in making your new building just the right size for today. There's always tomorrow!
unless the Teak buy is a onetime deal. Ramon the lumber broker. you have to sell it without it landing in your yard! ffsmiley :thumbsup:
That all looks so good. Thanks for sharing.
Quote from: Magicman on March 27, 2024, 07:24:30 AMI am assuming that they are taking manageable layers so after it is taken down to the level where the crusher is, will they begin another layer deeper. I suppose that I am wondering how deep your recoverable stone goes. Maybe to China? :thumbsup:
Yes, i have a extracting plan which was accepted from the mining ministry, so more or less i need to follow some rules and guide lines. One thing they are complaining is the first wall (the bottom hole, where the crusher is), is way too high and vertical so i need to cut another terrace. We will do all that but last year was very hectic and they needed to full fill orders. this year i will make more use of the D9 dozer (as it is payed from this firm and doesn't cost me a dime) and organize the quarry a little better. make more room, strip more overburden and make more terraces.
I did a extend of my original permit and could expand my estimated extraction volume from 1.2million m3 to about 1.6million m3. this extension costed me about 6k $ because we needed to do more studies. so now i got an extra 20m from the quarry floor down, where the good material is. we needed to prove that there is no water there because it's forbidden in CR to cut into the water lines. Also no deep hole quarries are allowed, or under ground mining. only open pit from the quarry floor up, down is not permitted.
the extension was expensive but i did it for 2 reasons: my annual extraction quota got bigger and i have a extra selling point if i ever sell the quarry.
Thank you for the explanation. Yours is something that I will never be associated with but your venture and business is a very interesting read. I admire your successes and look forward to your future. :thumbsup:
61.
Quote from: nativewolf on March 27, 2024, 08:55:19 AMI just see lots of flat ground for buildings ffcheesy .
Congrats Ramon, having them come back so quickly will really change your economic situation and for that I am very very happy for you. You'll have to strip some more overburden I guess and mill the new harvest area. Did you sell the topsoil last time?
I kid you not that you'll need more space though because you've made an amateur mistake in making your new building just the right size for today. There's always tomorrow!
Thanks Wyatt, yes, strip more overburden and mill some more trees from the clear cut. i sold very little overburden last year, the overburden is a real problem. the took some samples last week and are hopping to use 5000m3 of overburden mixed with rocks for some applications which require less quality. they will pay me less but it's kinda two birds with one stone situation, it will serve me well. hopping the lab will accept it.
you really underestimate me! i didn't made a amateur mistake, the new building is exactly right for this lumber buy (which was a one time deal). next year i extend the building and will double the space which i currently no need for.
Quote from: doc henderson on March 27, 2024, 10:29:39 AMunless the Teak buy is a onetime deal. Ramon the lumber broker. you have to sell it without it landing in your yard! ffsmiley :thumbsup:
It was a one time deal. I think of me as a not so dumb guy, so i rather unload the lumber at my place, select into different qualities, plan or mould the lumber and resell it at a 200-300% profit, lol
There was a older gentlemen driving into the sawmill with a expensive car about a month ago, with a chauffer/ assistant. "I'm a wholesale wood buyer, how much for the whole lumber storage!?" I thought it for 5 seconds and didn't even give him a price. told him: i don't sale wholesale. I knew exactly what he wanted and he knew exactly that he would not achieve anything with this guy so he left.
Marked the next clearcut in the quarry, let me tell you, there is some height up here compared to the quarry floor. about 60m. lots of m3 left
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finished up the gate with my little brother who is visiting from Switzerland. He is using vacation work clothes ffcheesy at 36 degrees, dang is it hot this year
I'm very pleased and proud of how the entrance turned out
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5.20am, the best hours of the day
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nice!
Your morning picture, at first glance, looks like the view from Sacramento of the snow covered Sierras! :snowball: ffcheesy
It is the same sun! :sunny: ffcheesy
The production manager has a drone and sent me some pics of the quarry and plantations, for me they are just astonishing. All this i did in the last 20 years of hard work
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The green line is my neighbor, all the dry trees is my teak. we are at the peak of dryseason now
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Very cool pics!
The birds-eye view is amazing and it really does show how much you've accomplished in twenty years. Well done!
Your little brother who is visiting from Switzerland may be wishing for ground water to fill the quarry so that he can swim and cool off. 36°C must feel very hot for him.
Do you use a hook behind the D9 to cut new terraces, or is that most excavator work?
Great pictures.
Great views of your teak plantation and quarry. Thank you for them.
Do they do any blasting to loosen the quarry rock, or mostly excavator work?
Local quarries will blast for the limestone (or at least used to do that).
Nice pics! :thumbsup:
When the crusher starts up should yell: "Let's get ready to crumble!" ffcheesy rayrock rayrock rayrock
The drone pictures really showcase everything you've accomplished. When you've talked about not only the size of the quarry, but also the size of the teak plantation, it's been hard to visualize how large of an area you cover
The pictures really help see things and understand you're working with.
Thanks guys. i have 50ha of land and 36 is planted with teak.
I do have a small pool to cool of so my brother is fine, i'm not really working right now, finishing up some minor stuff. so i'm enjoying the time with my brother and we go out, have food and drink alot of beer ffcheesy . Friday we head off to Colombia for 9 days, if you don't enjoy life and you loved ones for what would all the hard work be for?
We don't blast yet, still using ripper on the machines for material loosing. the D9 has a single shank ripper and this machine is a beast. for the lower layers in the future blasting will be necessary
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teakwood, I do not understand. Can you explain why there is a line between some brown tree and some green trees?
How does the dry weather affect your Teak? Do all teak loose leaves in the hot or dry times of the year? Or are those trees dead from some reason?
Nice operation there. I enjoy reading and learning about how folks do different things in different areas of the world.
.
What was covering the ground of your plantation before you put in the Teak?
The line between the trees is a fence line to my neighbour's property. The trees drop all the leaves in dryseason and are at a stand still, harden the wood and make a darker ring, much like your winters. And one month into rain season everything is green green again.
The land before I planted was a mix of pasture, bush and second growth forest
Back from Colombia and quarry is full tilt right now. As the D9 is getting a new undercarriage they brought in another toy, dang is that a nice machine, 50to Volvo
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Opening new ground
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Now thats a bucket!
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They bought 3 new chinesium Trucks, 7 more are on the way. 20m3 dipper
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I dropped 32 trees so we can do more overburden removing
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It must get noisy at your house with that size of machine tearing up the rocks.
But, that might be the sound of money coming in, right?
Are the Chinesium trucks common in CR?
Quote from: Andries on April 20, 2024, 10:29:34 AMIt must get noisy at your house with that size of machine tearing up the rocks.
But, that might be the sound of money coming in, right?
no noise, only the sweet sound of cha-ching !!! ffcheesy
Quote from: Corley5 on April 20, 2024, 02:07:21 PMAre the Chinesium trucks common in CR?
They are getting more and more common, this ones are Sany, a well known brand, but there are names out there you never heard of.
if you compare a 140k $ dump truck to a 240k $ mack, inter, mercedes, scania,...
See any hippos in Columbia?
No, no hippos, but nice mountain range, the Andes.
Just some pics, it's going great. 7 days a week they are crushing and hauling. trying to get as much material to the project before rain season.
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The Excavator is gone and the D9 is back. (they have a lack of big machines for extraction in all of the 7 quarries they own)
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In the one picture, what is the loader loading? Looks to be on the wrong end of the crusher.
They were loading brute material directly from the cut, without crushing. needed to fill some wet spots inside the project, so it had to had bigger stones
Thanks. Just had me scratching my head. I thought about yelling at the picture that he needed to put it in the crusher first.
we are getting into some serious rock now. that blue ones is a very good quality
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Cha-CHING! Looking good :thumbsup:
You would think a little TNT would make the job easier.
And not so hard on the dozer. ffcheesy
Probably the wrong thread to drop this in, but it will do. :wink_2:
So it's come up a few times about you shipping some packs of wood stateside, and there are the obvious hurdles, shipping cost being one of them. You may or may not have read a couple years ago where I shipped about 400 mushroom logs from upstate NY down the Hudson river on a sail freight Schooner for delivery in Brooklyn, NY. Since that whole project I have been following the whole sail freight thing.
Last week this article popped up in my reader about a sail freight operation that is trying to get off the ground in Costa Rica. They have a good part of their ship built, but a lot more to go. This vessel will carry some serious cargo. I know you are a planner and a forward thinker, that's pretty dang obvious. Perhaps there is an opportunity down the road for you. I have no idea how far this project is from you, but maybe you could help them out, and they can help you out? I don't know but I do know, you never know until you ask. :wink_2:
Anyway, HERE (https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2024/04/24/sailing-cargo-ship-climate) is the article I read. That article talks about the Appolonia sailing on the Hudson which is the ship I worked with and why I caught this particular article.
At any rate knowledge is power, they plan to sail to NY if I read it right. You never know. Stranger things have happened, but first they gotta get that ship in the water and based on the size, several packs of lumber will barely be ballast in that ship. The Appolonia only carried 10,000 pounds if I recall and I gave them their heaviest load up until that time.
Just a thought Ramone. See you in Augest.
That is quite impressive and i like the boat with all the lumber, very beautiful.
Economically i don't see how that will work out.
I doubt its intended too without subsidy via higher rates or donation, but I like the intention and the art it takes to build it..
Well, i's not as complicated as it seems, and I can't say how their bottom line will work out. But that ship they are building will carry an awful lot of cargo which spreads out the cost, and there is no fuel costs to speak of which provide a huge cost reduction. They will likely have a small diesel kicker for docking and departing. The voyage time is longer of course.
The local schooner here travels the Hudson river here regularly from May until November and I think they use about 5 gallons of diesel for the season. They run from Brooklyn and NYC ports up to Hudson, NY then back again with a bunch of ports they stop in. Their financial model gets better every year, the crew is paid a living wage.
SO there must be something to it. Getting in on the ground floor is sometimes an easy way in and you could help them out on the finishing lumber side for decking, etc. in return for reduced shipping costs.
Hey, you never know, I just threw it out there.