My timber frame build

[GRANITEstateMP]

Always excited for John to start making progress.  Getting wood on the roof last year really made it feel like you were getting that much closer to the finish line!

[Andries]

It's good to see the 'season opener', up on the mountain top timberframe.
This is so self-serving, but I'd be sad to see him finish the project. 
It's a great read, all summer long.

 I'd hate to see an end to all the stories of obstacles overcome, big and small.

[Ljohnsaw]

The missing keys are still a mystery. I came back up Friday with some random keys. What I thought was a collection of tractor ignition keys (12 duplicates) were actually keys for the hatch locks on the Genie.

The double cut Genie ignition key fits into the single cut tractor ignition switch. With a slight jiggle, it turns and works.🙄 That problem solved for now.

I went to put the head back on the mill but it doesn't fit. In my packing up last year in the snow, my tractor started to slide sideways when I had the mill head suspended. I quickly and carefully (I thought) set it down to halt the slide. But it bent the left side uprights. Now I have some fixin' to do.

With my son's help last week, we de-stickered 115 2x8s, moved four 4x11x25' (stair stringers) and cut the other 4x11s up into stair tread blanks. They have some nice wane that will look good on the bottom leading edge.

Yesterday, at home, I replaced my awning on my popup that the hail destroyed last summer, hitched up and packed some food and gear.

Today I hauled my popup up the hill and set it up.

Just finished lunch so time to go look at the mill head and see what I can do.

[Ljohnsaw]

The mystery of the keys has been solved. Now, if I could find my memory...

Last week I took the old ignition switch home to try and find some keys that would fit. It was sitting on my makeshift table/shelf in my shed (truck box) from when I removed it last year.

While pondering how to fix my bent mill, I was looking around in the shed. There  was a tore up plastic grocery bag (chipmunks 🤬) kind of hanging from the tool rack next to the table. Hanging from it was an O'Reilly's key chain with 4 keys on it, all the same cut. Two were from my specialty locksmith shop. The original keys to the tractor. And, they are double cut!🙄

So now it makes sense that the double cut key works in the tractor. So which is the right key for the Genie...

My mill legs are 53" inside at the top. At the bottom they were bent down to 51". I cut some boards to 53" and knocked them into place at the bottom. I used a come along to bend it back part way.

There's a lot of clutter in this picture. The head is sitting on some scrap 4x6s that look fresh. The spacer blocks are weathered. About midway up on the left is a gold colored pipe handle for the cable winch hanging loose from a white strap.  You can barely make out the cable going to the right. The winch on the front is obscured by the white strap but you can see the pipe handle hanging down.

I then put a second board up higher to help focus the pull where it needed to be. To straighten the front leg it took both winches, each rated at 4,000lb pull.

The head goes up and down without binding. It seems a little harder to push so probably not fully straight.

[Ljohnsaw]

Taking it slow today. At 7:30 this morning I got this delivery.


If you look closely at the pallet, you can see it's stupidly built. Three 2x4s flat on the bottom, two 4x4s cross ways and two 4x4ish on top. My right side fork is bent down so getting it under there was a huge challenge. To make it worse, the banded some parts on those 2x4s. Was able to get it down without damage. 4,900 lbs.

Anyhow, it's a 12w x 32l x 11h quonset hut from Steelmaster. The walls are 12g and the arch pieces are 14g to take my snow load. 

The plan is to erect it next year when the cell tower guys cut my road in and clear their work area.

I've collected too many toys tools to fit in my basement. I plan on getting rid of the Skytrak but keeping the Ford 545D and maybe the Genie. I also have my camper trailer and 18' boat.

I'll pour a long slab. I can always add on to it. I'm also thinking of making a big timber frame carport in the front that I could use as a saw shed.

For some unknown reason we DON'T have a burn ban in place this year. Normal years it's mid May that it goes into effect. So today is the day to rid myself of piles of mill waste. A nice 70°F day.

[Stephen1]

Was that delivered In town or up at the build site?

[Ljohnsaw]

At the build site. Fortunately. I don't have a trailer that can haul 5,000 lbs! Free shipping and tax free out of Canada. $42/sqft. for the kit. I will build the end walls and pour a slab next year.

[Stephen1]

Tax free would be the best part!

[SwampDonkey]

I'm surprised the governor didn't get his dibs. 

[GRANITEstateMP]

John,

Very interested to know the process that your Q-hut goes up.  Is Roof height determind by width?  Example, your 12ft wide now and 11ft tall, but if you wanted a 12ft roof height you'd have to go 14ft wide?

[Magicman]

In my area I could add courses of cinder blocks to raise the height, 8" per course.


But I do not know the code/regulations elsewhere. 

[teakwood]

John, nice to see some progress. very interesting roof material but i don't get it, where does that curve go? 

[teakwood]

In my area I could add courses of cinder blocks to raise the height, 8" per course.


But I do not know the code/regulations elsewhere.

oh man that is not how rebar/ foundation works. i hope it's just a chicken coop

[Ljohnsaw]

I guess I shouldn't say tax free. They absorbed the tax to make the sale. No, height is determined by the wall section height. The wall start with an 6' vertical section. You all won't see any progress on this until next year.

Here is an example from the assembly manual. I will make wood end walls.

Vertical wall section, eve section, roof section, eve section and wall section. Walls are 12g, others 14g.

[Magicman]

oh man that is not how rebar/ foundation works. i hope it's just a chicken coop

Cabin foundation but only for enclosure.


The load bearing blocks have dug pillow/foundations.  


The foundation completed.


2X12 sills and floor joist.  There is no problem with foundations shifting here.  Also no problem with freezing as long as you are below the grass roots.  Absolutely no rocks.

Sorry John, no intent to hijack.  At least I could have talked about food!!