Goodwill Roadtrip/Sawing - Success

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Eat 1 cup of dried Grits......drink 1 tall glass of water.......call me in the morning.  ;D

[isawlogs]

Not me.  :D

You know I will back you up anytime Ray. 

   Much like steak, one eats the meat, no need to grind the bones and make mush and name it food.....  ;D

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

DanG Dr. Poston, that's enough grits to stop up a whole platoon...

Herb

[SawyerBrown]

Grits ... isn't that what you do with your teeth when you try to swallow the stuff?

I like oatmeal myself ... now there's a food that substitutes for so many things around the shop and home! ;D

[Magicman]

Success...another thread has been hijacked and turned to food!! 

Maybe this "grits distraction" will soon pass and we can keep this worthwhile project/topic at the forefront so that we can watch the progress being made.   

[ET]

Amen! 8)

[thecfarm]

I guess we will have to take the grits to another thread and pollute that one.  :D

[SawyerBrown]

Success...another thread has been hijacked and turned to food!! 

Maybe this "grits distraction" will soon pass and we can keep this worthwhile project/topic at the forefront so that we can watch the progress being made.   

Yup, sorry about that ...

So, back to the topic at hand ... and in an effort to organize the troops ... would it be worthwhile to lay out some kind of timeline so that any volunteers can start to plan their time?  In my former life as a desk-jockey, we called that a "project plan" and it was a useful organizational tool.  We'll need dablack input primarily, but I'd be glad to help organize.  Possibly we "pin" MM's saw date and work from there ...

Or, if that doesn't help ... well, never mind then.  Honest and open feedback please if that would be useful.

[grweldon]

Success...another thread has been hijacked and turned to food!! 

Maybe this "grits distraction" will soon pass and we can keep this worthwhile project/topic at the forefront so that we can watch the progress being made.   

Hmmm... I'm glad you did that Lynn.  I was thinking about it but there is no way I could have possibly done it as tactfully as you!

[dablack]

So, back to the topic at hand ... and in an effort to organize the troops ... would it be worthwhile to lay out some kind of timeline so that any volunteers can start to plan their time?  In my former life as a desk-jockey, we called that a "project plan" and it was a useful organizational tool.  We'll need dablack input primarily, but I'd be glad to help organize.  Possibly we "pin" MM's saw date and work from there ...

Or, if that doesn't help ... well, never mind then.  Honest and open feedback please if that would be useful.
[/quote]

Well, right now we are playing it by ear.  HA!  I don't know if Lynn has nailed down a date but going from memory, I think we are thinking Dec/Jan.  I have to clear off the slab and cut, buck, skid and organize the logs.  To do the logs, I have to finish the house plan. I should have that nailed down in the next seven days.  I'm hoping to start clearing the slab tomorrow if it isn't raining.  Then we will have a spot to stack the wood. 

On another sheet I have to figure out a car for the wife.  Her explorer dropped a valve at 185k miles.  I thought for sure the trans would go before that motor.  So now I'm looking for a replacement 4.0L to drop in.  I work 45 miles from home so I take the car leaving her stuck at home.  Right now she is NOT happy.  She has an old truck that she can take in an emergency but that is it.  And when momma aint happy......   I'm hoping I can find a low milage 4.0L out of a 2005 or newer mustang V6 but any 4.0L from 2002 and newer will work.  Then there is the gate that was torn up when they brought the trailer in.  Oh well.  No rest.  I just keep pushing forward. 

Oct:  clear slab, fell trees, fix gate, get engine for explorer. 
Nov:  Buck trees and skid to mill site at top of hill next to slab.  Deal with cut limbs and tops. 
Dec/Jan: Milling Time.

I can't get more detailed than that. 
Austin

[Magicman]

Mine and Willie's plans are hinged on the logs being staged.  I will be gone for the rest of October and then have sawing jobs scheduled for all of November.  I should be clear beginning around the first of December.  Of course, if things get pushed until January, then all is still well with me.   

[Biggreenavalanche]

I'm in for Dec, Jan, Feb, or possilbly as late as Mar...Nov will probably be eaten up by hunting n such... ;D...

v/r

Rich

[wwsjr]

I am good for first 2 weeks and part of 3rd week of December. As Lynn, if pushed into January I am good to go, nothing on schedule as of now.

Willie

[morgoon]

For all this forum has given me, I was only too happy to chip in a little.

I am thinkin that from the sounds of things the sawing will either be a real nice Christmas present or a great way to start the new year.

I only wish I could come and help in person

[Magicman]

I will be off of the internet for the next ~two weeks, so I will give a tally and acknowledge all receipts when I am back on line.   

[dablack]

Just a little update and maybe a question. 

I've been slowly clearing the slab of metal and larger pieces of lumber.  I usually back my truck up to the slab, fill the bed with the big stuff and then drive it down to a low spot that used to be an old logging road.  I dump everything there and then go back.  It has been hot and dirty work.  I throw all the metal to the driveway to be picked up later.  This past week it has rained pretty much every day.  I really wanted to get some work done but it was just too wet and the truck would have gotten stuck.  So I walk up to the slab just to look around.  I didn't want to risk using my tractor because of all the nails in the wood still sticking up everywhere.  Finally I had had enough and went and got the tractor.  The slab is built on a hill so I brought in a bunch of dirt to get a level spot.  One end of the slab is 6' higher than the surrounding ground.  So, I just pushed all the debris off that end of the slab.  Now the slab is mostly clear.  To inspect it, I'm going to have to finish getting the bits off, unbolt the toe boards and rinse the slab off.  Then I will be able to tell if it has to be resurfaced or not.  So, I'm very please to have most of the debris off.  It looks like it will be nice this weekend so I'm hoping to have the rest done then. 
The reason I'm clearing the slab before felling trees is that the condition of the slab determines the build.  If I have to have the slab resurfaced, I will go ahead and use posts in the middle of the house to support a central beam and use sawmill floor joist (2x10s 13' long).  Using these posts and beams will require a footer be poured where they go.  If I'm having the slab resurfaced, that footer won't be such a big deal.  If the slab does NOT have to be resurfaced, then I will NOT use posts and beams to support the 2nd floor.  I will use engineered Ijoists to keep my open span downstairs and to speed up the build.  I know sawmill lumber would be cheaper but cutting out the slab to pour footers is not. 
So, I can't really finish the cut list until I find out if the slab is ok.  since I can't finish the cut list, I don't know how many trees to fell and so on.   

Question.  How long do I need to let the lumber sit before I can start building? 

thanks
Austin

[mesquite buckeye]

Nail it green. ;D

[giant splinter]

dablack,
Cutting out parts of your slab to add concrete spread footings may not be as expensive as you think, the concrete flat sawing is relatively inexpensive and you already have a foundation guy to pour them in place.
Concrete flatsawing on an existing 4" slab is $1.50 to $2.00 per linear foot, you can get a bunch of flatsawing done for the minimum charge on your site. If you request it ahead of time you can get the slab cut overlapped and an anchor set so that you can lift the piece out with your tractor and dig your foundation footing, another method is known as core drilling and it gives you a circular hole that is large enough to dig anything you might need even if the footing is square and in this case the core is removed for you and ready to start digging. Your local rental yard more than likely has the flatsaws available to rent and it can save you a few bucks to help things along..
In some areas you might even be able to simply use a method known as a controlled break where you just blow part of the slab out with a jackhammer and start digging, when the foundation is poured the cement mason can blend it back and you will have a nice clean patch.
Not sure if this helps but you have these options available if you need them.

[dablack]

Splinter,

That is exactly what I was going to do if I had to go that route.  I was going to rent the required saw, cut it out, dig it out and then have them pour the spread footing while they put an additional 4" on top of the slab.  I figured it would cost about $2k to get all that done.  That would allow me to use sawmill lumber for beams, posts, and joists.  So, if I do have to resurface the slab, then not having to buy I-joists will pay for the concrete work.  The problem with posts and beams is that they end up being 10x12 or 10x14 and I just don't have the trees big enough to pull that off.  It would take more effort to source the trees, do the concrete work and stand up the posts, beams, and joists than it would to just buy I-joists for $2400.  Of course that is assuming I don't have to resurface the concrete.  If I have to resurface then, I will have to find some big logs. 

So, $2k and a bunch of work and trees that I don't have or $2400 and no extra work.  Plus, no posts in the middle of the house. 

Isn't that what building is all about?  Compromises between time and cost. 

[outerbanxer]

Mailed my check towards the project today...wish I could come help out for a few days :(

As far as the slab question, I think you will probably find it ok. If it was just framing and building materials, I really couldn't see where it could become hot enough to damage concrete. But I am not a structural engineer, so take it for what it's worth. Whack it in spots with a four pound hammer and see if it shatters like glass

[Red Good]

Do we have a paypal address for donating to this or just cheques . If cheques where do we mail them to ? Red

[beenthere]

PM Magicman for him to send an address, just in case he is resting at the moment from posting all those great pics.  ;D

[Bill Gaiche]

 Red Good, welcome aboard. I am just west of you. bg

[Magicman]

I sent Red Good a PM with the mailing information.

There were 7 envelopes with contributions when I got home.  Our total contributions received is now $2855 with $915 pledges that I have not received.

I will not cash any checks until the expense need is there.  At that time, we should know how to properly distribute it in an equatable way to cover some of the felling, sawing, and even framing expenses.   

[Draco]

Mailed my check towards the project today...wish I could come help out for a few days :(

As far as the slab question, I think you will probably find it ok. If it was just framing and building materials, I really couldn't see where it could become hot enough to damage concrete. But I am not a structural engineer, so take it for what it's worth. Whack it in spots with a four pound hammer and see if it shatters like glass

I lost an A frame to a fire.  It was on a slab and a total loss.  The front porch survived because they put some water on it before all of the water went on my garage and propane tank.  I watched.  It took about an hour.  There wasn't much left, but the legs on the wood burner, on the slab, were melted.  No refrigerator.  The washer, dryer and furnace were small melted metal chunks.  The iron spiral staircase was in the best shape.  You could still tell what it was.  I didn't look for gun barrels and other items that may have been recognized.  The slab was not something that anyone considered salvaging and removing it created problems because I'm low and close to water, but it had to be removed.  It can easily get over 1,100 degrees and concrete starts to fail.  If the fire wasn't too hot, it might have survived, but how do you get the stink out?  Muriatic acid?