Author Topic: Hide Site/Bug Out Location Construction, Part 6 (Read 68596 times)

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #50 on:** October 31, 2018, 05:56:07 PM »

Looking good Chief

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Flyin6 · « **Reply #51 on:** November 12, 2018, 01:37:13 PM »

Got down there for three more days of man-buildin' spirit!

Why? Because it was both wet and cold. The good thing is for almost two of the three days it was icy making the mud easier to negotiate

Well, one rain and with one half of the additional drainage system working the pond added a foot of water and overflowed, completely flooding my working area to about 8" depth!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #52 on:** November 12, 2018, 01:41:52 PM »

I do not see this as an insurmountable issue, as the thing usually sheds a couple inches of water to the ground and evaporation. That and I could easily excavate a sump, flooding it to bring the level down. It is, however becoming obvious that I can make the pond just about as big as I want it to be and there would probably not be a problem with keeping plenty of water in it. Just imagine what it is going to be like when I get that second (Much larger) drainage cut in!

So, the C-Max truck is doing well, and everything is holding up OK so far

Flyin6 · « **Reply #53 on:** November 12, 2018, 01:45:14 PM »

This was the first day of rifle-deer season, so I was joined by some vet/church friends. I worked, they hunted, we all told lies about this and that.

But with my primary plan of working on the pond all flooded out, I started on a couple other things. Least of which was replacing the drain system of my rain collection system. I noticed it was getting fouled with debris too large for the little drain hole to accommodate, so I basically redesigned that with a full size removable cap

Flyin6 · « **Reply #54 on:** November 12, 2018, 01:49:59 PM »

The rain collection tanks have remained topped off at their 660 gallon capacity, so I'll look to increase storage by possibly another similar tank, or plumbing in that 1500 gal tank I have for the main shed.

Speaking of water, with it being cold, I checked out the water storage shed and it was staying a pleasant 70F all day long with the outside wind chill factor in the single digits. But last winter during an extended freeze with overcast, some of the water froze solid mandating my installing a heater.

I recently discovered this cool thing, a "Thermocube" which is a thermostatically controlled outlet which switches on when it detects a temp of 35F and remains on until the temp rises to 45F.

I connected an oil filled heater and the heat tape to the two outlets and set that thing ah' werkin!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #55 on:** November 12, 2018, 01:53:56 PM »

With all the precipitation during the last year, about every 3-4 days it made for a green situation for the vegetation and a rusty one for my sawmill. With the scale starting on some parts and my being unable to dig in the soup, I started putting up my "Sawmill house."

Concept of the operation here is to get the thing first under a roof, then surrounded on three sides by walls, then gravel it out and hang things about wood cuttin' on the inside so I can forget where I placed them!

That began with fitting Spud with the post hole auger attachment I purchased last year but have never christened.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #56 on:** November 12, 2018, 01:55:37 PM »

It punches an eight inch hole 36" deep in maybe 30 seconds. Rocks be dammed this thing just pushes through.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #57 on:** November 12, 2018, 01:57:35 PM »

But like all things mechanical, while drilling the second hole, all of maybe one minute into its service life, it sprang a leak, leaking hydraulic fluid all over creation.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #58 on:** November 12, 2018, 02:01:09 PM »

So-

I did what every country boy does to brand new stuff, I took it apart!

Both factory installed lines on the motor fastened to the 90 degree fittings were hand tight only

Yup, a factory screw up by another quality employee!

I tightened them up, reassembled and only lost about an hour then it was back to boring holes.

I set all the upright poles out of cedar posts which averaged 7" (true) square. They are massively strong.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #59 on:** November 12, 2018, 02:04:04 PM »

I braced thed after leveling (Plumbing??) best I could then poured the holes full of 5000 psi quikrete, dry.

The concrete is the first thing that cost me $$$. I had ten bags left over, half of which was hardened in the bag so really, no money spent at this time.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #60 on:** November 12, 2018, 02:06:27 PM »

Then using the tractor I hefted the horizontal beams into place where I leveled them and screwed them to the uprights with a homemade 2 X 6 and ten, #10 X 3 1/2 screws...It's strong!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #61 on:** November 12, 2018, 02:07:14 PM »

It was cold!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #62 on:** November 12, 2018, 02:08:23 PM »

All of the framing members were cut from logs I had stacked nearby.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #63 on:** November 12, 2018, 02:10:19 PM »

The second lower support was easier to mount, and that tractor made the whole thing possible. Couldn't imagine hefting a 150 lb beam ten feet up to a shaky mount!

JR · « **Reply #64 on:** November 12, 2018, 02:10:32 PM »

Bet you had a big smile on using that drill (until murphy) as you have probably dug more than I have by hand.

Will the cover be big enough to set logs up using the tractors?

Flyin6 · « **Reply #65 on:** November 12, 2018, 02:12:58 PM »

Then I connected the front to the back and started adding the bands to which I will screw the wooden planks as they come off of the mill. I used some screws, obviously, but other than that, no additional expense...

Flyin6 · « **Reply #66 on:** November 12, 2018, 02:13:23 PM »

Quote from: JR on November 12, 2018, 02:10:32 PM

Bet you had a big smile on using that drill (until murphy) as you have probably dug more than I have by hand.

Yea man, that thing is cool!

wilsonphil · « **Reply #67 on:** November 12, 2018, 02:35:38 PM »

Quote from: Flyin6 on November 12, 2018, 01:37:13 PM

Got down there for three more days of man-buildin' spirit!

Why? Because it was both wet and cold. The good thing is for almost two of the three days it was icy making the mud easier to negotiate

Well, one rain and with one half of the additional drainage system working the pond added a foot of water and overflowed, completely flooding my working area to about 8" depth!

you know the saying you can always dig it deeper!

stlaser · « **Reply #68 on:** November 12, 2018, 02:58:11 PM »

Hey Don, since you didn’t notch those posts for the headers and you’re planning on great great great grandchildren working this farm go to HD & invest in some timberlock screws. Just cheap insurance for years down the road

cudakidd53 · « **Reply #69 on:** November 12, 2018, 03:00:39 PM »

Nice work Don! Any Bambi-Q while you were down there or was the only thing shot the breeze?

Flyin6 · « **Reply #70 on:** November 13, 2018, 11:01:20 AM »

Quote from: cudakidd53 on November 12, 2018, 03:00:39 PM

Nice work Don! Any Bambi-Q while you were down there or was the only thing shot the breeze?

Two 8 point bucks, another buck who managed to get shot and ran off, and it was long from over when I left to come home and thaw out.
You may remember I have mentioned this big doe in the past? Have her on the trail cam. People viewing it think she may field dress in excess of 200 lbs! I told everyone she was big. The largest deer on cam is a nice 14 point buck and we now have a freaky one. A 10 point normal rack with a unicorn third "spike" growing out of its forehead.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #71 on:** November 13, 2018, 02:27:46 PM »

I second that timberlock advise. We use them things like insurance. Hold the world together with them.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Flyin6 · « **Reply #72 on:** November 13, 2018, 09:33:19 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on November 13, 2018, 02:27:46 PM

I second that timberlock advise. We use them things like insurance. Hold the world together with them.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Exactly what I was going to use as well. Would have done it already, except:

1. The ones I had were too short
2. That crappy Porter Cable nut driver broke!

JR · « **Reply #73 on:** November 14, 2018, 01:27:53 AM »

How did you break the PC, its not orange?

stlaser · « **Reply #74 on:** November 14, 2018, 09:16:54 AM »

Quote from: JR on November 14, 2018, 01:27:53 AM

How did you break the PC, its not orange?

JR, that’s like asking a barn cat how it ate a white mouse.....

Flyin6 · « **Reply #75 on:** November 14, 2018, 12:05:21 PM »

Quote from: JR on November 14, 2018, 01:27:53 AM

How did you break the PC, its not orange?

Nothing I did other than using it

It acted like the battery was weak. It would run for a second then shutoff.

I just purchased the new brushless 20V PC impact driver. Also picked up a box of 12" timber-Lock screws. Have that impact driver worn out before Monday!

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #76 on:** November 14, 2018, 05:40:46 PM »

We put that dewalt 20vs through the ringer on a daily and wouldn’t buy another brand. The milwalke impact has more torque but it’s slow!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Flyin6 · « **Reply #77 on:** November 14, 2018, 06:08:41 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on November 14, 2018, 05:40:46 PM

We put that dewalt 20vs through the ringer on a daily and wouldn’t buy another brand. The milwalke impact has more torque but it’s slow!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm going to buy that Milwaukee impact
I like Dewalt
Except
for
the
piece of crap dewalt 1/2" impact that wouldn't spin the second hand on a digital watch!

stlaser · « **Reply #78 on:** November 14, 2018, 06:58:13 PM »

I second the dewalt 1/4” impacts, mine is abused weekly

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #79 on:** November 14, 2018, 07:41:56 PM »

my 20v dewalt breaks bolts, literally. Its a beast.

JR · « **Reply #80 on:** November 14, 2018, 11:54:55 PM »

I have 3 pc impacts and they work great. Also have the 1/2 which serves me well to and what I used to setup the H1 wheels.

KensAuto · « **Reply #81 on:** November 14, 2018, 11:59:57 PM »

Problem I have with the dewalt is that #1 setting is useless and on #2 it spins so fast that sometimes it rounds out Phillips screws...#3 is definitely beast mode.

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #82 on:** November 15, 2018, 04:59:48 AM »

Two words.

Torx drive. I don’t use Phillips anymore

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #83 on:** November 15, 2018, 06:33:44 AM »

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on November 15, 2018, 04:59:48 AM

Two words.

Torx drive. I don’t use Phillips anymore

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We have a “rookie” that we don’t let him use any setting but 2 or 1 on them. Mine is old enough it doesn’t have the settings and as you said will break bolts or screws. We use torx bit stuff as much as possible.

We have one set of Milwaukee impact drills and it doesn’t leave the trailer unless we are setting windows.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

stlaser · « **Reply #84 on:** November 15, 2018, 10:30:58 AM »

Yeah, mine doesn’t have settings either. It’s just all go.....

JR · « **Reply #85 on:** November 15, 2018, 11:02:02 AM »

None of mine either, but getting torx as much as possible now.

rpar86 · « **Reply #86 on:** November 15, 2018, 11:49:00 AM »

I must be the oddball... I really like my Makita set. About 10 years old and still going strong, though the batteries aren't lasting as long as they used to. Buddy of mine has an older Dewalt impact and it is on or off -- no in between. I use the impact for everything - can throttle it down real slow and set even the tiniest/most delicate of screws.

Bear9350 · « **Reply #87 on:** November 15, 2018, 12:14:14 PM »

All of my tools are red, corded or not. I've gone through several yellow and other color grinders. The original 9" Milwaukee grinder and several smaller ones have outlasted everything else and are still running strong.

KensAuto · « **Reply #88 on:** November 15, 2018, 03:28:45 PM »

^^^ everything at my shop is red and no issues. I only switched from Rigid to yellow at home to get the flexvolt tools. ...love the chainsaw, circular saw, and weedeater.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #89 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:07:33 AM »

Got back down farm side for a couple days of hard work...Felt GREAT

new parking area for my beasts of burden:

The John Deere was broken down of course. Needed a new battery this time, and in all fairness, it is a 2012 so that's about right.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #90 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:10:07 AM »

I had one bad line which I discovered in the late fall, so I replaced that and Chief roared to life, and gave me a couple hours of it's earth eating work. Man, that thing can dig...What a powerful concept, the hydraulic excavator.

It digs what amounts to a full pickup box full of dirt in a single bite. Imagine if you can all the earth that has been moved in this single project...???!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #91 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:11:29 AM »

That deck I built a couple years ago has simply not weathered at all. Still yellow and fresh looking. But I have it on the north side of the camper and shielded by a roof overhead

Flyin6 · « **Reply #92 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:14:19 AM »

Pre-Rangers had a good time. Took a friend along, a Marine vet from the first Fallusia and another tour in the Iraq. He zero'd the little guy's M4 and together they spent half a day of romping and shooting. It is so good to get your boys/girls around strong/real men of God. I can see a bit of all my friends in my boys...Wonderful! Of course, being teens, then were lazing around as well!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #93 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:16:46 AM »

I was basically down there to shake off the frost of winter and get the machines a good exercise, so I worked repairing and widening one of the roads and on the pond. Here I cut into the banks either side to my south road, then started lining them with the long, slender "Bob-the-Builder" stones

Flyin6 · « **Reply #94 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:19:00 AM »

Signs of spring were everywhere, I love this time of year, still cold and a bit tough, but full of the promise of approaching greening of the forest

Flyin6 · « **Reply #95 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:20:29 AM »

It takes a couple frost heaving cycles to settle in fill dirt, and after this winter, everything is looking great. This clay and being tracked in stands up very well

Flyin6 · « **Reply #96 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:22:04 AM »

I added the final courses of large stones to this wall to finish it out. Afterward I added earth to the back side to bring it level with the surrounding contour. SHould look great in the years to come, almost natural

Flyin6 · « **Reply #97 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:25:30 AM »

Then I continued the wall around an entire curve on the west side. I still have about another 300 feet of wall to build here, but at least I got it started. The pond just keeps filling, so I added another foot to the low side of the levee. Might as well capitalize on the thing's ability to impound water. The first courses of large stones are now well submerged. That will make for great critter habitat when the time comes

Flyin6 · « **Reply #98 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:27:30 AM »

Although it is not readily apparent, a lot of earth was relocated, and I even deepened one side of the thing another couple feet.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #99 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:31:33 AM »

Here as you view a small section of the woods, you can see the damage caused by the Emerald Ash Borer. Those destructive beetles have killed off almost all of the Ash trees in Kentucky.

Kentucky is the number one producer of hardwoods in the world, so losing an entire species of tree is no small thing. I heated my home this winter on three ash trees and a couple cords of logs from Duane. Of that a percentage was Ash.

Here in this one "patch" you can see all the dead trees: