Author Topic: Hide Site/Bug Out Location Construction, Part 6 (Read 42342 times)

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #550 on:** July 04, 2021, 07:45:28 PM »

Officially ruined lol now

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #551 on:** July 08, 2021, 10:00:12 AM »

OK, let me un-ruin it some

First, the barn work continues with trim work. No second set of doors, and I will not get real busy with gravel and landscaping until the guys have cleared out

Flyin6 · « **Reply #552 on:** July 08, 2021, 10:06:38 AM »

Next up, the new Blue Diamond severe duty cutter showed up, so I plugged it up and got straight to work with it

The think has a huge carrier, like 500-600 lbs which has thise scallop cuts into the 1" thick plate. Next, the blades themselves are massive, and like 25 lbs each.

This one will process an entire tree. I have to use a bit of technique, but this one uses 40GPM high flow and a piston motor which makes for almost unstoppable cutting. The old cutter would stall all the way to stopping, but this one will not. When tackling a cedar tree a good 12" in diameter, I only had to move the cutter up and down the trunk until it was all reduced into shreds. I cut up twenty of so trees with it in an hour. It even cut a root ball of dirt and roots into a cloud of dust and flying debris!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #553 on:** July 08, 2021, 10:10:07 AM »

These skid steers are nearly essential equipment for a homesteader. I watched a series by an Amish couple who said it was one of the first big purchases anyone should consider. I sure love mine!

Remember all those cedars I pushed over on the hillside two years ago? 30 min with that cutter and it's all gone!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #554 on:** July 08, 2021, 10:10:48 AM »

Ah, but fresh mud is so telling...

Flyin6 · « **Reply #555 on:** July 08, 2021, 10:12:15 AM »

Pond is looking pretty good ahead of the upcoming draining and redigging...

Bob Smith · « **Reply #556 on:** July 08, 2021, 10:22:21 AM »

Nice looking building, and it looks really good on that site.
That new cutter does a quick clean job of destroying small trees.

EL TATE · « **Reply #557 on:** July 08, 2021, 12:35:12 PM »

I know she's down at the moment, but you're riding the edge of that pond a liiiitle close for TRN's comfort level I would imagine

Looking really good out there Chief. I don't recall, but do you have a chipper/shredder down there too? Cedar makes for good pest control around the perimeter of the outbuildings and gardens and you've got loads of it. even could sell it to the local co-op for pet bedding.

JR · « **Reply #558 on:** July 08, 2021, 01:37:42 PM »

Bet that set you back a penny or too, looks like it works good too. Aren't you supposed to cut things under it?

Tate, was thinking the same thing about him sinking it! Tracked or not,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #559 on:** July 08, 2021, 03:10:42 PM »

Where did the mechanic/welder come to with the arm on the Hoe?

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TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #560 on:** July 08, 2021, 04:54:36 PM »

Looking good chief.

Sam is right. I’m breaking out in a sweat just looking at that photo

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Nate · « **Reply #561 on:** July 08, 2021, 07:18:12 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on July 08, 2021, 03:10:42 PM

Where did the mechanic/welder come to with the arm on the Hoe?

i second this....

Flyin6 · « **Reply #562 on:** July 09, 2021, 12:07:49 PM »

Quote from: EL TATE on July 08, 2021, 12:35:12 PM

I know she's down at the moment, but you're riding the edge of that pond a liiiitle close for TRN's comfort level I would imagine

Looking really good out there Chief. I don't recall, but do you have a chipper/shredder down there too? Cedar makes for good pest control around the perimeter of the outbuildings and gardens and you've got loads of it. even could sell it to the local co-op for pet bedding.

I do have one Tate.
And I do shred the cedars up to use as mulch. Seems to keep some types of weeds at bay.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #563 on:** July 09, 2021, 12:09:45 PM »

Quote from: Bob Smith on July 08, 2021, 10:22:21 AM

Nice looking building, and it looks really good on that site.
That new cutter does a quick clean job of destroying small trees.

Bob, I took out 20 or more 25-30 foot tall trees with it the first day!

I shreds them into chips and chunks

Flyin6 · « **Reply #564 on:** July 09, 2021, 12:18:58 PM »

Quote from: JR on July 08, 2021, 01:37:42 PM

Bet that set you back a penny or too, looks like it works good too. Aren't you supposed to cut things under it?

Tate, was thinking the same thing about him sinking it! Tracked or not,,,,,,,,,,,,

$14,500!!!

Track Hoe is sitting on a mountain of tracked in clay. Not settling, not sinking, not moving. That retention dam wall thing is 20+ feet tall and is not going anywhere. Excavator will be repaired where it sits or nearby.

Speaking of which, Dan, the welder and fabrication expers, a friend and I were down there yesterday formulating a repair plan.

The boom is tweaked ever so slightly and the upper ears for the cylinder are heavily damaged. The stick ears are OK except that one is cracked.

So he developed a plan. First, he will carbon arc out the crack on the ear and weld all that back in fixing that. Next he plans to plate over the top of the boom with a big long patch of at least 1/2" steel that will cover the entire damaged area and reinforce the boom for some distance. He plans to weld two new ears 2" thick each to the plate then have the thing bored out to 3.5". I have 3.5" diameter X 12" long pins on that cylinder. Once that plate has been built, I will remove the cylinder and all the hydraulic lines. He will cut off the existing cylinder mount, then tack on the new repair plate with the cylinder fully attached. Once we are satisfied it all works, we will remove the cylinder and weld in the plate. Following that I will paint the boom and get the machine back to work!

EL TATE · « **Reply #565 on:** July 09, 2021, 12:41:49 PM »

American ingenuity at it's finest right there. carry on sir.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #566 on:** July 09, 2021, 02:38:31 PM »

Quote from: EL TATE on July 09, 2021, 12:41:49 PM

American ingenuity at it's finest right there. carry on sir.

He's a wizard...has his own shop...should see the kayak rack he just built for Duane's new 3500Ram

oklawall · « **Reply #567 on:** July 09, 2021, 03:15:14 PM »

But will he grab the ears after they are welded on and give a good pull and say"that isn't going any"? LOL

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KensAuto · « **Reply #568 on:** July 09, 2021, 09:16:21 PM »

Quote from: oklawall on July 09, 2021, 03:15:14 PM

But will he grab the ears after they are welded on and give a good pull and say"that isn't going any"? LOL

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If he's as good as Don says he is, he should be able to pull a quarter out from behind one of them.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #569 on:** July 09, 2021, 09:18:32 PM »

Quote from: KensAuto on July 09, 2021, 09:16:21 PM

Quote from: oklawall on July 09, 2021, 03:15:14 PM
But will he grab the ears after they are welded on and give a good pull and say"that isn't going any"? LOL

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If he's as good as Don says he is, he should be able to pull a quarter out from behind one of them.

He's good

I think he fabbed up some aluminum fuel cells for someone on this site with some crazy race-boat

BobbyB · « **Reply #570 on:** July 11, 2021, 11:21:40 AM »

Quote from: Flyin6 on July 09, 2021, 02:38:31 PM

Quote from: EL TATE on July 09, 2021, 12:41:49 PM
American ingenuity at it's finest right there. carry on sir.
He's a wizard...has his own shop...should see the kayak rack he just built for Duane's new 3500Ram

Didn't Duane have a Tundra you guys put a lift on?

Flyin6 · « **Reply #571 on:** July 11, 2021, 08:45:06 PM »

Quote from: BobbyB on July 11, 2021, 11:21:40 AM

Quote from: Flyin6 on July 09, 2021, 02:38:31 PM
Quote from: EL TATE on July 09, 2021, 12:41:49 PM
American ingenuity at it's finest right there. carry on sir.
He's a wizard...has his own shop...should see the kayak rack he just built for Duane's new 3500Ram

Didn't Duane have a Tundra you guys put a lift on?

Yes he did.
Then he traded it in on a 2021 Ram 3500

Flyin6 · « **Reply #572 on:** July 18, 2021, 09:19:12 PM »

Pulled the cylinder off the stick today.

Discovered that if I stood in the bucket of the Kubota and had the pre-ranger lift me up, working on it was actually a breeze!

Next step is to get that to Dan and have him create that new mount for it

Flyin6 · « **Reply #573 on:** July 18, 2021, 09:31:40 PM »

The barn is nearly complete.

Just a couple of trim pieces to install, along with the double door, gutters and gravel.

I'll do the gravel after everyone clears out and opens the area up some, as it is still scattered with everything imaginable

Bob Smith · « **Reply #574 on:** July 18, 2021, 09:36:16 PM »

Looks really nice Don. Hope in a couple months I can start spreading some gravel too.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #575 on:** July 18, 2021, 09:40:02 PM »

Quote from: Bob Smith on July 18, 2021, 09:36:16 PM

Looks really nice Don. Hope in a couple months I can start spreading some gravel too.

Here's to fresh gravel!

JR · « **Reply #576 on:** July 19, 2021, 01:47:13 AM »

Sure looks good. I would love to be spreading gravel!

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #577 on:** July 19, 2021, 09:47:05 AM »

You will be spreading gravel soon. Footings need gravel lol

Looks good Don!

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TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #578 on:** July 19, 2021, 11:32:58 AM »

Love that new barn smell…..

LGC (lookin good chief)

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oklawall · « **Reply #579 on:** July 19, 2021, 11:35:28 AM »

Looks good

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #580 on:** July 23, 2021, 10:38:47 PM »

Dan came down today to cut off the old top stick cylinder mount.

This is the first step in the actual replacement

Meanwhile back at the shop, Dan has his pieces of 1" which the machinist requested be supplied in a rectangular configuration.
Once they bore the huge pin holes through four separate pieces of 1" plate, Dan will contour them into some respectable shape.

He uses a portable 400 amp machine, and today was burning with 3/8" carbon arc rod. The compressed air pushes the molten metal out of the cut resulting in a clean weldable surface.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #581 on:** July 23, 2021, 10:41:06 PM »

Poor guy, wearing all that protective stuff with a lot of humidity and high summer temps. Dan is a consumate professional. No matter the conditions, he will produce excellent work

Flyin6 · « **Reply #582 on:** July 23, 2021, 10:43:06 PM »

And yes, all those sparks started several fires.

With the pond right there, no worries!

It took a couple hours, but he got it off.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #583 on:** July 23, 2021, 10:44:05 PM »

Look at the size of the stuff he's dealing with:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #584 on:** July 23, 2021, 10:46:39 PM »

I did a lot of cutting today. Mostly with the Kubota and that severe duty Blue Diamond cutter.
That is one awesome combo. Nothing can stand up to it. It even pulverizes football sized rocks instantly and with very little blade damage

Flyin6 · « **Reply #585 on:** July 23, 2021, 10:48:30 PM »

I used the tracked zero-turn for everything else. All in all, it cut several acres today

Flyin6 · « **Reply #586 on:** July 23, 2021, 10:50:29 PM »

And it looks like the pond is starting to turn over. I hate it when it does that. If I wasn't about to drain it, I'd toss four grass carp in there and they'd have that all clean in a month

Flyin6 · « **Reply #587 on:** July 23, 2021, 10:51:40 PM »

Troop approves and took a dip several times today to cool off

dave945 · « **Reply #588 on:** July 24, 2021, 07:42:38 AM »

Quote from: Flyin6 on July 23, 2021, 10:41:06 PM

Poor guy, wearing all that protective stuff with a lot of humidity and high summer temps. Dan is a consumate professional. No matter the conditions, he will produce excellent work

I don’t understand Don…. I don’t see any cardboard shields or special duty open toe flip flops. Just a lot of heavy full coverage stuff.

All joking aside, I was out in the same humidity and temps yesterday in shorts and a tshirt and was sweating buckets. My hats off to the guy.

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #589 on:** July 24, 2021, 01:45:15 PM »

Quote from: dave945 on July 24, 2021, 07:42:38 AM

Quote from: Flyin6 on July 23, 2021, 10:41:06 PM
Poor guy, wearing all that protective stuff with a lot of humidity and high summer temps. Dan is a consumate professional. No matter the conditions, he will produce excellent work
I don’t understand Don…. I don’t see any cardboard shields or special duty open toe flip flops. Just a lot of heavy full coverage stuff.

All joking aside, I was out in the same humidity and temps yesterday in shorts and a tshirt and was sweating buckets. My hats off to the guy.

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Dan is the man to be sure.
I arrived farmside around 1000 and worked until 1900 having only eaten a few bites out of a Micky-D's terrible breakfast sandwich. Luckily, I spent the hottest part of the day in the AC cab of that Kub.

JR · « **Reply #590 on:** July 24, 2021, 03:34:12 PM »

You really get a feel for the size of that EXC with him up there.

KensAuto · « **Reply #591 on:** July 24, 2021, 04:12:34 PM »

She's a big girl.

Hope Don appreciates his latest investment in a brand new Dodge dually with a shiny new Miller on the back.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #592 on:** July 24, 2021, 04:24:51 PM »

Quote from: KensAuto on July 24, 2021, 04:12:34 PM

She's a big girl.

Hope Don appreciates his latest investment in a brand new Dodge dually with a shiny new Miller on the back.

I do
4500, I think
Dan's business continues to grow. He does a lot of heavy equipment repair

Flyin6 · « **Reply #593 on:** July 27, 2021, 05:49:48 PM »

Started tossing some fish in today.
four triploid grass carp in the large pond (Recommended 8 per acre foot)
From Jones Fish Hatcheries in Cincinnati, $12 ea.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #594 on:** July 27, 2021, 05:51:22 PM »

Believe it or not those fellas will keep this mess at bay. May take them some time, but they will get there

Flyin6 · « **Reply #595 on:** July 27, 2021, 05:54:08 PM »

And tossed two grass carp and a bunch of Shubunkins and Comets into the viewing pond.

May be a mess now, but I'll get it in great shape in time.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #596 on:** July 27, 2021, 05:57:16 PM »

Free at last, free at last, Good God in heaven, we are free at last!

EL TATE · « **Reply #597 on:** July 27, 2021, 05:57:48 PM »

I bet the satisfaction of watching those fish do their thing and the transformation of the pond is about as mentally therapeutic as gardening for some and cooking for others. Having been to the Japanese botanical gardens in Seattle and seen the koi ponds I can just imagine sittin on the bank, sippin on sweet tea watching the fish with a nice breeze.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #598 on:** July 27, 2021, 05:58:09 PM »

Can you explain what the fish are for? I guess I thought you wanted to sell them and raise them for resale? Food, looks, pets?

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #599 on:** July 27, 2021, 06:00:42 PM »

^^^^^ Debris was from a recent cutting around perimeter of the pond with the cut-o-matic tree and planet killer.^^^^

Miss Kat helped me place a glider rocker beneath the tree overlooking the pond for a shady spot to relax and view our future swirls of color that is just got started.

May not look like much right now, but give is some time, and I think it will surprise you