Author Topic: Hide Site/Bug-out location Construction, Part 4 (Read 122877 times)

Flyin6 · « **Reply #50 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:46:13 PM »

Then for no particular reason, I just started scribbling some of my favorite scriptures all over everything!

I know, kind of strange, but it felt right to me!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #51 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:47:23 PM »

^^^ Guess I just wanted to be reminded of those everytime I looked around ^^^

Flyin6 · « **Reply #52 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:50:56 PM »

I hauled a load of water down and started filling the new tanks. That little pe-pe pump took like, hours and got em this far. At this rate it will take three trips to get the new tanks topped up

I'll show up with a much better pump next time and a 1" or larger hose to get the job done mo-quicklier!

Sammconn · « **Reply #53 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:55:17 PM »

That old barn has some seriously high value timber in it!
Do be careful once you begin the disassembly.
I recon you should not use Sarge, other than to hold and lower the pieces.
Once you have a mill there will be all kinds of interesting old boards of various species.
You're going to need a "wood shed" of sorts to protect it all.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #54 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:55:33 PM »

In keeping with my desire to improve the conditions down there with each visit, I placed the new cofee brewer into operation.

I also mounted up the TV finally, well actually finalized that mounting. I plan to utilize the "Smart" aspect of this set to couple with my I-Pad and the AT&T streaming program to be able to settle in on some Bengals or Reds games and catch a flick or two in the future.

Mind you, this camper will become the "Guest-Quarters" once the cabin upstairs gets livable, so someone is going to have the essentials for a restful stay

Flyin6 · « **Reply #55 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:58:35 PM »

Quote from: Sammconn on February 27, 2017, 05:55:17 PM

That old barn has some seriously high value timber in it!
Do be careful once you begin the disassembly.
I recon you should not use Sarge, other than to hold and lower the pieces.
Once you have a mill there will be all kinds of interesting old boards of various species.
You're going to need a "wood shed" of sorts to protect it all.

Well, depending on whether or not I hatch this latest plan, I'll first buy a decent mill. Likely a Timberking 1220 or a Norwood LM-29 or LM-36. I know where I plan to set it and if the bridge holds and the creek doesn't rise, I'll erect a building around it using less than choice boards. Just sink Cedar poles into the earth and do a lap-board siding with the front open.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #56 on:** February 27, 2017, 06:00:38 PM »

The area where I removed all those trees near the well and "worked" until it was mostly without bumps and holes is coming in nicely. Lots of grass everywhere from the KY-31 Fescue seeding of late fall. You see, stuff does grow during the winter!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #57 on:** February 27, 2017, 06:02:56 PM »

All those roots sticking up will be history after the first bush-hogging.

The other late winter views are not so bad in a country-boy (Hillbilly) sort of way!

stlaser · « **Reply #58 on:** February 27, 2017, 06:27:31 PM »

Did you ever figure out how deep that well is total? So far we've confirmed static water height at that elevation is 30-46' it appears......

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #59 on:** February 27, 2017, 06:40:56 PM »

and did you test said well water?

Sammconn · « **Reply #60 on:** February 27, 2017, 07:25:45 PM »

Fall time is best for grass seed.
I don't know why, but even up here it seems to take better.
I've done both at the house, and fall was best, so that's when I seeded at the cabin.

The grass looks real good Don.
Everything stayed fairly 'cleaned up' too.

JR · « **Reply #61 on:** February 27, 2017, 07:32:38 PM »

Since those tanks are on the ground couldn't you just syphon fill them?

Even if you do use some of that wood you have goldmine there.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #62 on:** February 28, 2017, 08:30:21 AM »

Quote from: stlaser on February 27, 2017, 06:27:31 PM

Did you ever figure out how deep that well is total? So far we've confirmed static water height at that elevation is 30-46' it appears......

Total well depth is 52 feet!!!!!!!!

Yea, a hand dug hole over 50 feet...Quite the accomplishment

Flyin6 · « **Reply #63 on:** February 28, 2017, 08:31:08 AM »

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on February 27, 2017, 06:40:56 PM

and did you test said well water?

In a word, No

Collected the water sample...Dropped the jar...

I'll get another

Flyin6 · « **Reply #64 on:** February 28, 2017, 08:33:08 AM »

Quote from: Sammconn on February 27, 2017, 07:25:45 PM

Fall time is best for grass seed.
I don't know why, but even up here it seems to take better.
I've done both at the house, and fall was best, so that's when I seeded at the cabin.

The grass looks real good Don.
Everything stayed fairly 'cleaned up' too.

Copy that Sam

THose piles of brush would have been gone, but although there is rain, the county is under a burn ban. The clutter dries quickly although the soil remains mushy. Plus the march winds have started early. Have a feeling that burning will have to wait until April

cudakidd53 · « **Reply #65 on:** February 28, 2017, 10:03:19 AM »

Word on fescue- not worth a diddle for wildlife. OK for cattle, but wild prairie is way better nutrition wise for all critters! Round up those feral cattle and have TRN drag that smoker north for some "Q"!

stlaser · « **Reply #66 on:** February 28, 2017, 10:31:52 AM »

So in addition to the water testing I would run another test just for the heck of it. Pump the well down (if possible, maybe this summer when it's at it's lowest) then time how long it takes to refill. The diameter x the depth (say roughly 6' worth in dead of summer) should give you volume. Just to see what kind of water source you have here......

EL TATE · « **Reply #67 on:** February 28, 2017, 12:00:32 PM »

Those daffodils; volunteers or you tryin' to beautify the place for the missus?

Wilbur · « **Reply #68 on:** February 28, 2017, 01:56:51 PM »

Don before buying a full on sawmill you might try one of the chainsaw mounted ones. Granted you lose more wood to kerf than with a bandsaw mill but its an easier/faster way to get started on milling some stuff. Just a thought.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_logging+saw-milling-accessories+chainsaw-saw-mills

Things are looking really good!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #69 on:** February 28, 2017, 06:46:23 PM »

Quote from: Wilbur on February 28, 2017, 01:56:51 PM

Don before buying a full on sawmill you might try one of the chainsaw mounted ones. Granted you lose more wood to kerf than with a bandsaw mill but its an easier/faster way to get started on milling some stuff. Just a thought.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_logging+saw-milling-accessories+chainsaw-saw-mills

Things are looking really good!

I don't like them very much

I have enough material just in that barn to pay for a sawmill, so that is the direction I will go, if/when I go that direction

Flyin6 · « **Reply #70 on:** February 28, 2017, 06:47:06 PM »

Quote from: EL TATE on February 28, 2017, 12:00:32 PM

Those daffodils; volunteers or you tryin' to beautify the place for the missus?

Volunteers!

And hundreds of Iris (white/purple) as well

Flyin6 · « **Reply #71 on:** February 28, 2017, 06:48:53 PM »

Quote from: cudakidd53 on February 28, 2017, 10:03:19 AM

Word on fescue- not worth a diddle for wildlife. OK for cattle, but wild prairie is way better nutrition wise for all critters! Round up those feral cattle and have TRN drag that smoker north for some "Q"!

Copy that...Didn't know.

But that spot is probably where I might stick a barn, so really doesn't matter

Up near the buildings I live some time, so mowed KY #31 is the way to go. Remember KY people do not wear shoes unless we are expecting company!

stlaser · « **Reply #72 on:** February 28, 2017, 06:50:30 PM »

Or teeth, then only on occasion.....

cudakidd53 · « **Reply #73 on:** February 28, 2017, 07:09:02 PM »

Quote from: Flyin6 on February 28, 2017, 06:48:53 PM

Quote from: cudakidd53 on February 28, 2017, 10:03:19 AM
Word on fescue- not worth a diddle for wildlife. OK for cattle, but wild prairie is way better nutrition wise for all critters! Round up those feral cattle and have TRN drag that smoker north for some "Q"!
Copy that...Didn't know.

But that spot is probably where I might stick a barn, so really doesn't matter

Up near the buildings I live some time, so mowed KY #31 is the way to go. Remember KY people do not wear shoes unless we are expecting company!

Easy idea for you to look into: Fire......Section off an area of unmolested grass on the place and instead of mowing it early, soon as you get a good burn day, light it up! Dormant seeds will sprout and grow and multiply! You'd be surprised how much "seed bank" might be on that place. Burn it again within the year, and the following will give you a real good indication on what's possible with a controlled/prescribed burn. Local extension office could probably give you a good plan to follow.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #74 on:** February 28, 2017, 07:10:56 PM »

Quote from: stlaser on February 28, 2017, 10:31:52 AM

So in addition to the water testing I would run another test just for the heck of it. Pump the well down (if possible, maybe this summer when it's at it's lowest) then time how long it takes to refill. The diameter x the depth (say roughly 6' worth in dead of summer) should give you volume. Just to see what kind of water source you have here......

I was just mentioning how much water filled in there, I was amazed. Figure what, 50 gallons for every three feet as a static number. So there is what, 22 feet of water in there right now, so with a 36" well I make that to be 1164 gallons, did I do that right?

pie (R)2 (Pie X radius squared)
3.14 X 18 X 18 = 1017.36 cubic inches per inch

X 12 = 12208 cu in/ft

/1728 (Cu in per cu ft) = 7.06 cu ft

X 22 feet depth = 155.3 cu ft

A cubic foot contains approximately 7.5 gallons

155.3 X 7.5 = 1164 gallons of water in there right now

Summer there would be: an observed low of 315 gallons

So without knowing the capacity to replenish the stuff I have a variance of approximately 850 gallons. That's a huge variance. Suggests I need to pump waters during the spring time into BO (Big ole) tanks and keep it there until I's be needin' it.

Of course, that's just the well waters. There is a lot of rain waters happening all summer long, so all in all I should be fine

Flyin6 · « **Reply #75 on:** February 28, 2017, 07:14:52 PM »

Quote from: stlaser on February 28, 2017, 06:50:30 PM

Or teeth, then only on occasion.....

Well, yea, those too! (Two! ;-)

Reminds me this of this thing one of my pilots, a rugby player used to say, "Which teeth do you need to floss?" Answer: Only the ones you wanted to keep!

Irony in all that is that on any given weekend he was subject to lose a tooth or collect a black eye, or show up with his arm in a sling or leg in a cast. I think his T-Shirt read: "Rugby Players eat their dead"

Flyin6 · « **Reply #76 on:** March 03, 2017, 10:52:29 AM »

I finally figured out what I needed to order to finish the collector electronics.

I picked up a couple of thermostatic switches, called "Scan-Disks"

These little buzzards will mount to the backside of the collector, measuring interior temperature, and switch the fan on at I think 105 degrees and off at 85F.

Then i picked up a bunch of digital thermometers, one for the water tank, one for the interior space of the water tank enclosure, one for the collector output, another for the camper underside temp, and another for ambient.

I should have everything completed and protected against freez-up just in time for spring! I look forward to a spring/summer free of frozen pipes!

Solid plan right there^^^

I also picked up a PEX crimping tool and a bunch of fittings/pipe to complete the water manifold and more PVC to complete the tank filling, and rain collection manifold.

I'm slow, but at least I do poor work!

EL TATE · « **Reply #77 on:** March 03, 2017, 12:35:14 PM »

Good, fast & cheap, pick two.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #78 on:** March 04, 2017, 07:28:04 PM »

I have tracking numbers!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #79 on:** March 07, 2017, 02:27:04 PM »

Scan discs and thermometers are in. I'll pick up two relays and I should be ready to wire these things up.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #80 on:** March 11, 2017, 08:52:29 PM »

Back to the solar heat collectors, Here is the intake down low with the fans mounted

Flyin6 · « **Reply #81 on:** March 11, 2017, 08:54:19 PM »

I picked up a four pack of thermometers that show the "In" temp for the thermometer location and the "Out" for the temp probe at the end of a 4 foot wire

Flyin6 · « **Reply #82 on:** March 11, 2017, 08:57:08 PM »

And here is the scan disc temp switch. The ones I chose are adjustable allowing me to turn the fan on when the temp reaches, say 100 degrees and off when it has lowered to say, 80F

I mounted it on top in it's own dedicated hole

The top received 5ea. 2" holes from which to expel the solar heated air

Flyin6 · « **Reply #83 on:** March 11, 2017, 08:59:14 PM »

The remainder of the electronics include a relay which will be controlled by the scan disc and switch the fan motors on and off

The left collector has a hot bus bar

Flyin6 · « **Reply #84 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:01:40 PM »

A simple split block of wood holds the temp probe wire securely, however allows for some movement to allow me to fine tune its final placement

Flyin6 · « **Reply #85 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:02:54 PM »

Just placing the probe into the collector out of the light caused this two degree split in temp readings

Flyin6 · « **Reply #86 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:04:26 PM »

The wood on the building latch support moved a bit, so I had to trim some away with my super sharp axe

Flyin6 · « **Reply #87 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:06:55 PM »

Then I started on the lower water manifold which will connect both of these tanks

The correct fitting was a cam-lock design which locked on and fit perfectly

Flyin6 · « **Reply #88 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:07:58 PM »

Next a 2" adapter to NPT was tightened onto the nipple

Flyin6 · « **Reply #89 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:09:03 PM »

The left side gets a "T" with an outlet for draining with a valve and the other connection to connect with the opposite tank

Flyin6 · « **Reply #90 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:10:28 PM »

The opposite tank elbows 90 degrees toward the existing T

Flyin6 · « **Reply #91 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:11:52 PM »

And that gets another "T" which is reduced to 1/2" NPT to transition to the PEX tubing which connects to the pump panel

Flyin6 · « **Reply #92 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:14:03 PM »

Without the PEX fittings (Left them home 8-( ) I could go no further

So I moved onto the fill pipe assembly

Flyin6 · « **Reply #93 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:16:00 PM »

With a few measurements and cuts, the fill pipe was completed and plumbed into the tanks

Flyin6 · « **Reply #94 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:17:52 PM »

At the far end (Closest to the camper) I fitted a drain spout connection fixture

Flyin6 · « **Reply #95 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:18:39 PM »

Which effectively added a set of horns to the buildings appearance

Flyin6 · « **Reply #96 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:19:50 PM »

The bit of space in the visible opening is the approximate location of the collector outlet holes

Flyin6 · « **Reply #97 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:22:04 PM »

The Pex is the way to go. I decided to dive in deeper and picked up some copper crush rings and a set of crimpers to make the connection leakproof

Flyin6 · « **Reply #98 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:24:30 PM »

The pliers crush and shrink the copper ring just enough to firmly fasten the PEX tubing onto the barbed fittings

You can see in the last photo the sleeve was reduced in size somewhat

Flyin6 · « **Reply #99 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:26:56 PM »

That crimper was the first thing hung onto the pegboard on the door I installed a couple weeks ago

The blue handled fence wire pliers are the ones I dug up after cleaning and painting