Author Topic: Hide Site/Bug-out location Construction, Part 4 (Read 122880 times)

Flyin6 · « **on:** February 20, 2017, 05:23:18 PM »

I felt like this would be a good point to start a part 4 to the improving Hide Site build out.

When just starting the idea was to just nail down someplace to "Go-To," in the event the need arose. I wanted something that was within a few hours drive, but still very remote. I found that location in a very low populated county in Kentucky. There are no 4 lanes anywhere near by and only one primary road in the whole county. The rest of it isjust a network of switchbacks and country roads in all different states of repair.

The land I purchased is nothing that ever showed up formally for sale, and I purchased it for cash and closed in a day. There was practically no footprint to the passing of the deed of the 91 acres.

So that was what I would call Phase 1. That and some minimal improvements to the place with the idea being that it was little more than a rally point, or if I carried in camping gear, it would sustain us in secrecy.

Phase 2 had me improving the dirt road into the property and clearing off some of the mess. The site was a farm as we know that was not used for some three and a half decades. Cedar trees had all but taken over what should have been nearly forty acres of fields. Junk was everywhere and although there was a single wire overhead on a pole with a light, there was nothing else.. Phase 2 concluded with my towing in a camper and powering it with a generator.

Phase 3 began with a couple years work clearing hundreds (Thousands?) of trees, and bush hogging the fields several times to gid them of the encroaching trees. That accomplished, the place really started to open up and could support crops or livestock with the addition of some fencing. I added the "Shed" during this Phase which brought me the ability to do more work and repair things that always seemed to be breaking.

I relocated the camper to a ledge I carved out of the hillside with the now functioning track loader. I bedded that in laying gravel and improving the site weekly. Although powered still by a noisy generator, it was becoming livable. I continued to clear the fields making all sorts of discoveries to include a 1830's Amish built well that still had six to eight feet of water, although the quality of said water is questionable still.

Another big step forward happened with the addition of actual grid supplied electricity. Now the plan remains to go off the grid and live normally, for now the power company supplies the electricity to run all sorts of tools. Speaking of which, the shed has improved and improved, now having heat, pressurized air, saws, and a more complete compliment of tools.

With more and more time being spent down there, I was going through the camper's 40 gallons of water every few days, so that became my next focus. As with everything, I am not going all the way to the final solution, however building out in steps. These smaller steps are cheaper, digestible, and quickly add to the livability and capacity of the place.

Late in part 3, I was constructing the new water tanks and enclosure structure which will house and keep 660 gallons of the wet stuff from freezing during the cold months. I am using solar power, passive type to accomplish that chore.

We shall begin part 4 and Phase 4 with that project, so here goes:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:28:04 PM »

I tore down the structure and loaded it onto the trailer. I picked a beautiful weekend to reassemble it on site. THe weather man predicted warm and sunny with 60's-70's...Perfect!

But weather men being what they are, some when throwing the tea leaves and whale bones they use to guess at the weather, pitch them in a haphazard manner and we get a bunch of junk for weather. In my case, this weekend, it was rain and mud...Lots of it!

So I started day 1 of a three day run mounting things in the shed. I picked up this HF fire extinguisher for the workshop

Flyin6 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:29:26 PM »

Northern Tool had this rack of bins on sale for like $15 so I scored one and mounted that sucker up

Flyin6 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:30:16 PM »

...Yes a handful of life-savers

This is a survival site after all!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:30:49 PM »

And a handy spot for the bottle of glue

Flyin6 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:31:25 PM »

Added this rack of spade type wood drill bits

Flyin6 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:33:03 PM »

Added a second grease gun...Dog carried off the first one. Haven't given up on it just yet, I figure when I find it along with the red handled channel locks the beast carried off too, I'll be back up to running speed

An extra piece of PVC with cardboard and a rag stuffed inside makes for a good holder

Flyin6 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:34:54 PM »

Picked up this oscillating saw for the Christmas

I'll cut some trees down with it later!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:35:47 PM »

I also hung up 50 more feet of Goodyear air hose

Flyin6 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:37:01 PM »

The start of assembling the water tank structure

Flyin6 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:37:46 PM »

The place is always growing

Flyin6 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:39:00 PM »

Two sides up, tanks moved some

Flyin6 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:40:16 PM »

Lots of parts and materials accumulating

Flyin6 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:41:11 PM »

Tanks repositioned

Flyin6 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:41:37 PM »

Front attached

Flyin6 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:43:18 PM »

Side on and working on leveling the thing

I only blocked it in for now. I will work on leveling it once again after I get another load of gravel on site

Flyin6 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:45:34 PM »

Both roof panels installed. Local security courtesy of Scout

Flyin6 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:46:53 PM »

Doors going on, and guess what??

They fit!!!!!!!!!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:48:24 PM »

Trim is going on. The front and rear roof panels secure the whole thing

Flyin6 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:50:06 PM »

Getting taped up for painting of the trim pieces

I think I got some of the paint onto the bare wood, along with the doors and the sides

Flyin6 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:53:47 PM »

Painting complete, although I ran out of 1 X 8 and could not trim the back two corners yet

I tied the roof panels together on the top side with a section of the same poly carbonate roof stuff. I screwed that mohekin down and called it G-T-G for now

Flyin6 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:55:21 PM »

I ran Sarge, and both tractors to keep the fluids circulated, batteries charged, and seals exercised

Flyin6 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:56:08 PM »

That thing is a tree murdin' tank!^^^^^^

Flyin6 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:58:34 PM »

The place looks good for later winter. I even say some grass coming up from what I planted last fall

Flyin6 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 20, 2017, 05:59:50 PM »

The boys dumped a couple hundred 5.56, .22, and 20 gage rounds into the range berm over the three days

Flyin6 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 20, 2017, 06:01:19 PM »

And I'd like to plug this handy little step from HF. Costs $19.99 and is pretty sturdy and well built. Definitely worth the money

cj7ox · « **Reply #26 on:** February 20, 2017, 06:01:24 PM »

Lookin' good, Big D!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #27 on:** February 20, 2017, 06:01:52 PM »

Quote from: cj7ox on February 20, 2017, 06:01:24 PM

Lookin' good, Big D!

Danke!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #28 on:** February 20, 2017, 06:02:37 PM »

I hung up some more peg board in anticipation for mucho-mo toolage

Sammconn · « **Reply #29 on:** February 20, 2017, 11:00:50 PM »

Looks great Don. The farm as well as the water shed.
Little stools and steps can be worth their weight in gold some times!

DOOLEY · « **Reply #30 on:** February 21, 2017, 08:07:45 AM »

HEY HOVER JUNKIE, HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE AIR TOOLS AND HOSES YOU LEFT AT SOUTHEASTERN? RICHARD STILL HAS THEM SET ASIDE FOR YOU TO PICK UP, LOL

Flyin6 · « **Reply #31 on:** February 21, 2017, 08:18:15 AM »

Quote from: DOOLEY on February 21, 2017, 08:07:45 AM

HEY HOVER JUNKIE, HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE AIR TOOLS AND HOSES YOU LEFT AT SOUTHEASTERN? RICHARD STILL HAS THEM SET ASIDE FOR YOU TO PICK UP, LOL

Larry, holy smokes, I did forget

BTW, Sarge is running great!

Almost stopped by on Firday. I was in your A.O. and planned to stop in for a chat, but was running late for some appointment or something.
I'll stop in...Any cool excavators for sale cheap?
Case 160...Case 160...Case 160...

Flyin6 · « **Reply #32 on:** February 21, 2017, 08:21:24 AM »

Quote from: Sammconn on February 20, 2017, 11:00:50 PM

Looks great Don. The farm as well as the water shed.
Little stools and steps can be worth their weight in gold some times!

Stacks of rocks forming little "Wait-ah-minute" check dams work too.

When my rich uncle dies in the poor house and I buy an excavator, that place is going to look like some terraced hillside in Thailand!

Can you say "pondage?"

Flyin6 · « **Reply #33 on:** February 21, 2017, 07:41:32 PM »

Got the parts ordered.

There are some specialty fittings going from the strange IPC thread which really just makes for a compression fitting seal and adapts that to 2" NPT male that I can work with

The fans, two each, I selected are blower fans designed to be used in maritime applications. They are commonly used to ventilate bilges or bath rooms.

Should have all this week and maybe installed by the weekend.

JR · « **Reply #34 on:** February 23, 2017, 02:18:21 AM »

Just when I was getting board and not DOT'in anything up, you start a new thread

Those fans should move air well, but check on their cycle life. Not sure they are designed for hours of running unless they are brushless.

If the gen is loud just build a box for it and add a second muffler.

Is the new dog camera shy??

Flyin6 · « **Reply #35 on:** February 23, 2017, 09:18:47 PM »

First up, I repaired the Shur-Flo 55psi water pump installing a new plastic housing which replaces the damaged fittings

Flyin6 · « **Reply #36 on:** February 23, 2017, 09:20:08 PM »

It was just a simple R&R and I once more had a good water pump.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #37 on:** February 23, 2017, 09:21:02 PM »

The marine application bilge fans came in today

Flyin6 · « **Reply #38 on:** February 23, 2017, 09:22:38 PM »

So, I got right to work, building in a suitable mount for these fans to the backside of the solar heat collectors

I built a base out of 3/4" plywood to give the thing a solid fitting

Flyin6 · « **Reply #39 on:** February 23, 2017, 09:24:20 PM »

Cutting the hole out allowed the fan to fit directly into the elbow structure that will divert the ambient air into the collector to be heated and shoved out the top

Flyin6 · « **Reply #40 on:** February 23, 2017, 09:25:22 PM »

The sides are angled to turn the air into the plenum on the other side of the OSB

Flyin6 · « **Reply #41 on:** February 23, 2017, 09:27:15 PM »

Closing all that off yielded a robust housing that will be glued and screwed to the backside of the collector after I cut an access hole through the back panel

Flyin6 · « **Reply #42 on:** February 23, 2017, 09:28:00 PM »

It will mount approximately here:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #43 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:27:05 PM »

Went down to the hide for a couple days

Those fittings I scored did not fit.

I have to figure out which type of fitting does before I continue down this road!

I didn't go down there to work this time, but just to sit and pray.

Ever do that? I'd recommend you do. Just go somewhere for no certain peroid of time and be still before the Lord and see what if anything he says. I needed to shed off some of Old Don (Well all of me is "Old-Don" these days), things that do not serve God's purpose.

It was a good stay and he showed up like I was hoping while I was reading scripture in a book a friend gave me.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #44 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:29:20 PM »

I did spend some time wandering about accessing things. The recent rains has filled both ponds to nearly over flowing

Neither one is anything to brag about, just starting on those projects. Both will be enlarged, cleaned out, and cleared of trees

Flyin6 · « **Reply #45 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:31:51 PM »

I measured the well and was stunned to discover it has 16 more feet of water in it than last fall! Only 30 feet down to the water yesterday, whereas it was 46 feet down to the water last summer/autumn

I am always looking to buy a sawmill, so I thought I ought to take a look at those old logs stacked up in my falling down barn

Flyin6 · « **Reply #46 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:35:03 PM »

The shortest logs run about 8 feet long, the sides of the corral are around 16 feet and the long ones a bit over 24 feet

Most seem to be 13"-15" in diameter, and all are eastern hardwoods. I can see Oak, Ash, Hickory, Walnut, Elm, I think a Cherry log or two and a couple I cannot yet identify

Flyin6 · « **Reply #47 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:39:36 PM »

No telling how many thousands of board feet all that will someday saw up into, but I think I know a place for it!

There are some really cool ax hewn squared up beams as well. One must be 30 + feet long and really big. Part of it is rotten though and will have to get cut out, but that thing just might make a bunch of cool mantles dressing up some fireplaces

Flyin6 · « **Reply #48 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:42:21 PM »

There is a bunch of barn wood siding remaining as well

I think it has come time to tear that barn down and sort and stack the wood.

I'll incorporate the usable beams into the expanding "Shed" project and save some for the new, yet to come house

Flyin6 · « **Reply #49 on:** February 27, 2017, 05:43:50 PM »

Scout took a cruise in the freezing water in the new sink-hole pond