Hide/bugout site build thread Part 1

[OldKooT]

Few ideas...As for grazing grass for cattle using pasture here as an example... Each Steer usually requires between 1.5 and 2 acres per animal. That's managed grass pasture. Each dairy cow, right between 3.5 and 4 acres per animal. That's "managed mixed prairie grass bromegrass/wild oats) and normal rainfall amounts.

That's a rotational basis, meaning we have 4acres per animal. We rotate them between pastures depending on forage consumption and grass growth. Your local extension office will have figures for your area specific.

We mow our "brush lands" with a flail mower. Much easier on equipment than using a brush hog. Haying is these days not near the work it used to be. At least if you have equipment for round bales.  In Don's case he'd need "much" larger equipment tractor wise for such work, and lots more grass ground than he has to justify it's expense.

Putting up enough grass for winter feeding of cattle is again something your local extension office can help with, as well as area specific grass management.  I could rattle on all day but in short plan your goals around what your particular land can support.

[Flyin6]

Good advice all.

What I envision is:
1. A fish pond, actually 2-3
2. A chicken coup
3. Two cows. Dairy/or beef, undecided
4. Two pigs
5. A horse, good sized one, like 17 hands
6. Cats
7. Several dogs

I will just kit out the place for said critters, but not bring them in except for the cats and the fish, until I move there permanently.

Coyotes, raccoon, hillbillies, and who knows what roam there now

I am just doing the big work to get the place in shape and ready to accept more growth

Also putting in apple, cherry, and pear trees. Already have black berries by the metric ton and if I could eat locust I'm be overweight through the worse famine imaginable.

[Flyin6]

Koo-T

I like the flail mower concept. I am using a bush hog now because I am mowing trees up to around 2". Could a flail mower handle something that size or is it just for pasture weeds and grass?

[moto123]

Koo-T

I like the flail mower concept. I am using a bush hog now because I am mowing trees up to around 2". Could a flail mower handle something that size or is it just for pasture weeds and grass?

2" ?!?  I have always used a hand saw or chain saw for trees over 1" diameter.  If you are trying to mow them down, no wonder you keep breaking stuff on the tractor!  It must make an awful sound when it starts to cut into the 2" trees.

[Wilbur]

Koo-T

I like the flail mower concept. I am using a bush hog now because I am mowing trees up to around 2". Could a flail mower handle something that size or is it just for pasture weeds and grass?

Uh-oh.....do I see a Big Yellow on the horizon?  :o

[Bob Smith]

Don, you need a much larger/heavier cutter to use it as tree hog. Much larger tractor with a boom and cutter head, or skid-steer with a large flail.  Rent one, get the area cleaned up then control with the brush hog. Even with a larger cutter you still need the chain saw for 3 inch or better stuff, depending on the size of the cutter. Cut the stumps ground level and not angled or you will be buying tires.

[Nate]

he may need some of these here implements

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FReVmzrfT0

[BobbyB]

Or use a chainsaw on the trees.

[Flyin6]

Koo-T

I like the flail mower concept. I am using a bush hog now because I am mowing trees up to around 2". Could a flail mower handle something that size or is it just for pasture weeds and grass?

2" ?!?  I have always used a hand saw or chain saw for trees over 1" diameter.  If you are trying to mow them down, no wonder you keep breaking stuff on the tractor!  It must make an awful sound when it starts to cut into the 2" trees.

Yep, the MX-6 John Deere Rotary cutter is rated to take 2" trees!

Doesn't sound much different, just lugs the tractor and causes the turbo to blacken up the engine smoke some as the demand for additional horsepower is signaled.

I've cut this size trees with heavy duty bush hogs like this since the 1980's...Works just fine. None of that has anything to do with bending the rear wheel, that is from backing into stuff. Same with bending the rear guard.

From the Deere website:


Capacity


Cutting width
1,830 mm

72 in.

Cutting height
25 to 241 mm

1 to 9.5 in.

Cutting capacity (diameter)
50 mm

2 in.

Cutting chamber Depth
216 mm

8.5 in.

[akraven]

Good discussion. I am learning. After this summers fires and the ongoing dry weather I am cutting back the tree's around the house/shop. Borrowed a friends box blade to break up the roots/coarse grass. Much more to do but then will need a brush hog to maintain it as Willows come back quick. Need to lay out some fire line protection too. The brush hog I looked at only was rated 1.5" not 2" like Don's. Time for more shopping.

[Flyin6]

Good discussion. I am learning. After this summers fires and the ongoing dry weather I am cutting back the tree's around the house/shop. Borrowed a friends box blade to break up the roots/coarse grass. Much more to do but then will need a brush hog to maintain it as Willows come back quick. Need to lay out some fire line protection too. The brush hog I looked at only was rated 1.5" not 2" like Don's. Time for more shopping.

Go to the heavy duty models
Everyone buys cheapo bush hogs because they are inexpensive
But they don't last
Get a full on unit with a big gearbox, clutch, thick steel and so forth.
They can be spendy, but you will only have to buy one!

[Flyin6]

So, in-between projects, this week is way too hot to be sanding on big red
And I don't want to get into another SquareD project until I get the loader painted up and shipped to the farm
So, back on the Privy build which has sat dormant since I framed and roofed it
But that changed. I skinned it with T-111 which made it more private!

[Flyin6]

The boys have been busy, I see!

Mis-matching socks and of course, underwear around his neck!

[Flyin6]

Coming around

[Flyin6]

Windows too small?

[Flyin6]

OK, I enlarged them some

[Flyin6]

Seems like that dog will hunt!

[Flyin6]

Almost ready for 1st coat of paint!

Still needing a door, trim and windows, along with a vent pipe and some cool interior stuff

[Sammconn]

Looking good there Don!
You know, you could work on some of those little naggy punch list items and start up Square D!

[Wilbur]

The boys have been busy, I see!

Mis-matching socks and of course, underwear around his neck!

Haha....why is it that when manly dogs get "dressed up" by the family all have that sad "why are they doing this to me?" look? too funny.

Hey Don can you mount the window under the T-111? Not sure if you permanent mounted the T-111 in the pic or just had it tacked in for fit. Less leakage that way. But maybe I'm just being stoopid.

Looks good to me....keep a can of dirt in their to cover the "damage" and it should be good. Not sure how you're going to orient it on the property but I like being able to keep the door open and maybe have a cigar and look out over some wilderness if I have a chance. Just a thought. 

[Flyin6]

Man, the start 'er up crowd is following me here to...No place left to hide out on this site!

Naw, I need to get some nagging things out of the way. Woman wants to start going down to the farm so the privy is all of a sudden a priority.

So I finished "Skinning" it today

[Flyin6]

I closed off the front, but left room for a vent behind "The Business"

With the "Half-Moon" in the door and that vent higher in the back, my hope is that certain gasses will rise and float harmlessly to the outside.

[Flyin6]

Next up is the painting. The whole thing got cleaned up some, all except the floor, which is a mess at the moment

[Flyin6]

My dad made this shelf thing many years ago. It was stored along with some other things he built. So I decided to put it to good use. I will clean it, paint it and mount it permanently in the Privy.

I actually think he'd get a kick from that thing sitting in an out-house!

[Flyin6]

The dogs were at the ready. The black one stays close as he develops that shepherd protection instinct. The red dog is looking for a tool to snag off the job site...I baited it with a walnut shell, and it worked!

[Flyin6]

I am using some of Sherwin Williams very best exterior paint. We get a substantial discount, but it still costs a bunch.

I'll also try out this portable HVLP sprayer

[Flyin6]

The bare panel

then a single spray line

then an area

then the whole panel with one coat only.

I later discovered the stuff comes out much better after being thinned a bit with water

[Flyin6]

And the whole thing after 2 coats

[Flyin6]

The king and queens seat and the knick-nack shelf

[Flyin6]

I got the first coat of Afghani dust storm beige sprayed on the interior also

[Flyin6]

I marked my right foot for quick reference!

The dog already chewed up the left shoe...

[Sammconn]

Don, not sure what your vent plans are.
Here is what I did in our new one.
A preview of things yet to come of sorts.

One site I read from suggested a small diameter fresh air supply and a larger vent.
Now my new privy is too new to tell if it works, but the only scent at the moment is cedar.
Large vent at top of 'tank', smaller about six inches below.

[Dawg25385]

Man, the start 'er up crowd is following me here to...No place left to hide out on this site!

Could throw up a read-only board for everyone but you, problem solved bahaha


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[akraven]

Go to the heavy duty models
Everyone buys cheapo bush hogs because they are inexpensive
But they don't last
Get a full on unit with a big gearbox, clutch, thick steel and so forth.
They can be spendy, but you will only have to buy one!

Thanks for the info Don.Unless I ship one up I only have a couple of places to pick from. We have limited agriculture so limited dealers. I will shop them all and see what I can find.

[KensAuto]

I just had a good laugh this morning.

New John Deere commercial..."To make sure people don't break JD tractors on accident, we try to break JD tractors on purpose".

I should send corporate a link to this thread.

hahahhahahhaha

[OldKooT]

Funny that brush hog isn't breaking sheer pins. Must have softer tree's down your way.

The flail mower can handle heavier brush, but I really only use it for thick prairie grass. I have a tree shear for the skid loader for quick pasture clearing. The process is to cut the tree, apply some Tordon to the stump, and on to the next one.

[TexasRedNeck]

Don I'm not a fan of t-111. Make sure you keep it well coated with paint. I do like the color!  :thumb


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[BobbyB]

I was expecting OD paint.

[JR]

If the T111 is regular ply you should seal/prime it really. OSB T111 (which I like) is pre primed (used on my garage) still looks good unpainted!

Niether is really T111, that stuff is nasty and hates moisture of any kind!

Maybe a solar panel up there for a fan and light? Heck that and an old sealed battery would last for years.

Oh, went fishing last week with the boys and saw a nice weathered privy out there;

[Flyin6]

If the T111 is regular ply you should seal/prime it really. OSB T111 (which I like) is pre primed (used on my garage) still looks good unpainted!

Niether is really T111, that stuff is nasty and hates moisture of any kind!

Maybe a solar panel up there for a fan and light? Heck that and an old sealed battery would last for years.

Oh, went fishing last week with the boys and saw a nice weathered privy out there;

It has the good T-111
It got great paint
Privy is going to get a solar panel (thanks Ash) and lights

[Flyin6]

Speaking of it, worked on most of the day Saturday

Sprayed a second coat of paint onto the inside

[Flyin6]

And another coat on the seat parts

[Flyin6]

Next I cut out some door and window trim pieces. Since the ladies will use this and I do not currently have "Porcelain" down there, I am "girlying" it up a bit

[Flyin6]

Shelf thing mounted

[Flyin6]

And the top seat parts...should have mounted to side board first, but I neglected to paint it, so it was drying at this time...

[Flyin6]

Started on the roof trim

[Flyin6]

Mounted the windows and trimmed them out

[Flyin6]

I had to fill in the gaps with some scrap, but got the trim pieces up around the door

[Flyin6]

I started on the eve trim. Here they are tacked in. At present I added some "Gingerbread" and painted them with the 1st coat.

[Flyin6]

The day was waning and my back was sore...Did I mention I am volunteering at a thing called "The 99" as a security guard at church, which has me standing for 6 hours!

Yep, my back is sore...

So this is how far I got today