Thursday, July 30, 2015

One coat done

It was supposed to rain yesterday, but didn't.  I took the day off, relatively speaking.  I did some cleaning and organizing in the shop, but for the most part, relaxed.

Today Sally and I got out there and put the first coat of stain on the remaining two walls.  I am going to have to get some more stain, the rough textured wood is really sucking it up.  My arms and shoulders are like lead weights right now.  A combination of working over my head, being up a ladder and maintaining a death grip, and rolling on the stain.  I think it has been a while since those muscles got much exercise.  But I am really pleased with the end result.  The second coat will even it out and make it look just that much better.




The next job will be to pick up some more lumber and make all the trim, stain it with two coats, and install it.  Then the second coat on the walls, touch up the white, caulking and the outside is done!  Well, except the doors.  I am thinking some lathe strips on it (including one to cover the seam where the doors meet) and making them green also.  All the weather stripping I bought is brown.  I picked it up before I found the deal on stain so it figures that I ought to have got the white stuff instead.  Oh well, it will work.

I forget if I mentioned that our washer/dryer died last Sunday.  It beat itself to death pretty badly and left parts, rusty metal, and water all over the place.  We had to go buy a new laundry centre and that broke the budget for the electrical work.  We are putting it somewhat on hold until next year.  I will pick away at some of it with the stuff I have on hand but it won't get hooked up until the finances recover a bit.  Kind of a downer but I still have a place to work that is a lot nicer than before.  It won't be long until I will be able to start on a few wood working projects in there, and that is what the whole point of building it is.  A shop is never really finished any ways.  It is always changing with developing work flow and changes in equipment.  Next week is the yard sale, and things will be moving around already, as soon as the space is free.  I love being in there, it is taking on a comfortable inviting vibe and as it develops I hope to make it even more so.

Thanks for dropping by! 

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Racing the sun

Got out this morning and started cutting in the exterior stain.  I wanted to get the long side done before the full sun started hitting it.  Lucky gut that I am, Sally came out and gave me hand doing some of the brush work while I rolled it on.  It went fairly quick with her help, so I moved around to the front and got a coat on that too.

This rough textured board really soaks it up.  I went through almost a gallon and a half just getting these 2 sides done.  Good thing I ordered lots, there is still a second coat to do, but I imagine that the second one won't take quite so much.  Once the 2 sides were done it was getting much too warm for much else, so we packed it up and hit the pool.

The more I look at the colour, the more I like it.  It is called, coincidently, Loon Collar.  I may do the doors in that colour too, I haven't made up my mind yet.  Still a bunch of trim to make, stain green, and put up too.

I got in contact with an electrician, and he will be dropping by next week.  I am hiring him to consult and to check my work over, and to source the main feed line.  I want to finish the outside before I start the electric work, and our yard sale will be on August 8th, so I hope that will free up some space.

In other unrelated news, the car needed $200 worth of work to replace a rusty fuel line.  I was worried when it started reeking of gasoline.  Then, last Sunday, the washer/dryer unit decided it would be a good time to beat itself to death, leaving bits of parts, rusty metal, and water all over the place.  A trip to the local Scratch and Dent store, and $1000 later and the new one got delivered today.  Now Sally has a ton of laundry to complete, along with every towel in the house from sopping up the mess, and of course, re washing what was in the machine upon it's untimely demise.

But lets concentrate on the good stuff shall we?  This is coming along better than I had hoped.


Once it gets the second coat and all the trim, it will look great!

One other thing.  Sally bought some "camp fire" sized marshmallows.  Lil' Lee won't eat them, but she thinks they are a neat toy.


Thanks for dropping by!


Sunday, July 26, 2015

I won, I won

My battle with the siding.  It was a lot harder than I thought it would be, but I kept slowly making progress a little at a time.  Finally today I got the last pieces put up....well, except for some little filler pieces, but that is no big deal.  They will go up when I do the last of the trim and staining and that is next.  I am so glad this part is over.  The colour variations will disappear with the stain.  The horizontal lines on the front and back will have trim over them, and there will be a frieze board under the eaves and trim wrapping each corner.  There is also some touch up to do on the white and I am still pondering the doors.  So, a whole bunch of little jobs now.

So, without further ado.  Here is what it looks like today.




I had a nice dip in the pool after to cool off, then a nice cold beer after that.  I have an electrician going to call me tomorrow and after the outside is done it will be time to start picking away at getting some electricity out there......and probably a gas line at the same time when I dig the trench.

Thanks for dropping by!

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Busy and tired

No, I have not disappeared.  Still fighting this siding to get it up.  I have not even taken time for photos.  Sorry, but all my focus has been on getting this up.  The siding is a 3/8" spruce plywood product and has a lot of waves in it.  Have you ever tried putting a nail into a piece of thin plywood that is unsupported from behind?  Yeah, that plus trying to hold the 4' x 8' sheet in place at the same time.  It is probably my lack of experience at doing this that is causing problems.  I am taking a lot of breaks and only getting a couple of sheets up in a day before I get tired and frustrated, then I have to walk away.   I will get a proper update as soon as I can, but for now, I am kind of drained.  I figured it has been a while, so I should get something down here so you good folks don't think I have abandoned you.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Thanks for dropping in!

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

A bit more trim

Up and at it again.

Now that I have figured out how to fix my oversight, I can keep going on a bit more trim.  On the bank of 3 windows I measured and cut the top piece and installed it with no problems other than me having to use a ladder and, of course, the sound of things falling off the walls in the shop as I hammered.


I then took the pieces for between the windows and applied some silicone to the edge.


I slid that up between the window to the top piece of trim and nailed it in place.  Then installed the bottom trim, again with a bit of silicone where the trim meets.


With the top of the trim tucked that close to the eave, I don't think I will need a drip edge in there.  The frieze board will take up the space.

Then it was time to do the back window.  It was a bit easier not having to contend with the width and spaces of multiple windows.  So, on went a board on each side, top and bottom.


At this point I just could not help myself.  Despite still being tacky from the second coat of stain I put on earlier in the morning, I put up the medallions in the corners and got the whole works caulked and done.  That means I can take the blue tape off the screen, which I am using as an indicator of completeness.  I think it looks fantastic!



I put a few more sheets of siding up today too, and now I need the drip edge for over this window to continue.  So a bit of progress, but it really makes a difference in looks.

Until next time...

Thanks for dropping by!

Monday, July 20, 2015

Murphy's law and making lemonade

Adage:

Murphy's Law:  Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

Adage:

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

That is how things go sometimes.  Remember when I said I made a rough calculation of how much wood I needed to trim the doors and windows?  A little too rough it turns out.

I figured I would start messing around with trim today.  I knew I needed 8" wide for between the windows, and 48" long.  I took a couple of 1 x 6's and cut them to length, then ripped them on the table saw to just under 4".  My table saw seems to cut a bit of a sprung joint, which is OK, so after ripping them I edge glued them together to make the pieces I required.




A bit of clamping pressure in the middle, where it is sprung, and a few more clamps to keep things lined up and I had what I needed.

While the glue was drying, I cut another two 4' lengths for the outer sides of the window.  I took them out and inserted them into the flange the window has.  I got them all lined up on the top and bottom nice and a few galvanized finish nails later they were in and looking pretty.  So I went back and countersunk all the heads of the nails.


With that out of the way, there was still plenty of time before the glue dried, so I said to myself:  "Self!  You know you have to slide those glued up pieces into the slots from the bottom, but that should not stop you from putting in the top piece of trim!"  "Good idea self, I proclaimed, how long of a piece do you need?"  I could not answer that, so out with the tape measure to check.  98 3/4" was the answer........wait.....that is 2 3/4" longer than my wood.  WHAT!  There was another conversation in my head that I cannot write down as it was too profanity laced but came down to "what am I going to do now?".  With a heavy heart I went in for a break and to figure out this new dilemma.  Mr. Murphy and his law struck me again.

I went in and moaned and whined to Sally about the situation and how dumb I was about not making sure of the size.  Of course Sally, being Sally, just simply looked at me and suggested I put a block in each corner like a Victorian door frame would have.  Ahhhh, clever girl, make lemonade out of this sour situation!.

I went out to the shop and rummaged around the cut off boxes and found some old left over barn board.


I ripped it to 5 1/4" (did you know that 1 x 6 is only 5 1/4" wide now?) and then turned it and cross cut it into a bunch of squares.


Now I had the basic blocks.  To make them a bit nicer I took my adjustable drafting triangle (from back in the '80's) and set it to 15 degrees.


It is now a table saw set up tool.  I used it to set the blade to the angle and put the tall fence on the saw.



Putting each of the blocks on edge I ran them through the saw on all 4 edges.  I only had enough to do 8 of them, but needed 2 more for the door (Mr. Murphy! paging Mr.Murphy).  In to the cut off box again and I find a bit more barn board, but it is a bit thicker.  Too short to put through the planer so I just went with it.  Because they are thicker the centre square of the "raised panel" part is smaller.  I can live with that, as long as the thickness at the edge of the square is the same as the thickness of the trim.  It will have continuity of style at least.  Now, I can't really put them up as is, so here I am waiting for my lemonade, err wood stain, to dry again.  All the corners of the window and door trim will have this detail now.


The pine is pretty soft and the "hairs" from the table saw are still on it.  Once the stain dries they ought to be a bit more brittle and easier to trim off.  Then it is a second coat of stain and more waiting for it to dry.

As much as I am anxious to move forward and get things done at this point, I think there is something in the cosmos that keeps wanting me to take it easy.  Why fight it?  I am not stopping, but I am not pushing hard either.  The outside is close to done and my original plan was to have it closed in by winter.  If I look at it that way, I am way ahead of schedule.

I got a number today for an electrician.  It is premature at this point.  Just getting my ducks in a row  (That is a weird saying for being well prepared).  I called him up and will talk to him next week again.  He is very busy (building season is in full swing) and I am in no hurry so I am going to try to go with his schedule on it.  I am going to be doing most of the work, but I want some guidance and to check things over for me.  He may have some suggestions for me also.  I need to source the 6/3 cable that runs from my homes breaker box to the sub panel in the shop too.  I have some 1 gauge aluminium but I don't think that will work.  That cable is going to be pricey too!  Plus I will have to dig a trench, I am not looking forward to that.  It will not be done in one day.  

So, when the stain is all dry, and the windows and doors are trimmed, I will be back to continue the tale of this little trek I am taking.  I am definitely not bored, and I stumble now and then, but it is working out slowly.  I am enjoying the experience, and writing about it.  I am not sure of a video at this point, we are thinking of having our yard sale the second weekend of August.  Sometime after that the shop should be clear enough for a video tour. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Preparing trim

Work seems to be going at a glacial pace, but that's OK.  We are in the heat and humidity of the summer now and I don't mind not working hard at all.  But that doesn't mean it stops.  I did some measuring and some rough calculating for my trim today.  I had to go get some nails for the siding and while I was at it I picked up 10 pieces of 1 x 6 spruce, each 8' long.  Just cheap old strapping/construction grade stuff.  I decided I better get started on giving it some protection, so out came the brush and I opened the can of stain I used on the soffit.  It took a while and between that and the siding sitting in the shop, plus all the yard sale stuff, I don't have much room in there.


I got the first coat on it none the less.  

Somehow in my mind I had it that the siding went on first, then the trim over top of it.  That is kind of backwards to what I am understanding now.  I put the trim on first, then the siding goes to it.  Like you do with vinyl siding.  I had better be accurate with my cuts on the siding I guess!  There will be some other trim that goes over top of the siding, but I have to do the window and door trim first, then the siding, then the rest of the trim.

By the time I was done putting on that coat of stain, my shirt was just about soaked.  It is warm and humid, so that is enough for today.  It is supposed to dry 24 hours between coats, making sure I don't over exert myself.  It doesn't take much to get me to stop today!

Thanks for dropping in!

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Soffit is done

A short day again today.  I spent more time ripping and staining the rest of the soffit over the last few days.  I had my neighbour come over and give me a hand for the whole hour it took to put it up.  I also added a couple of details to dress it up.  The first, which was suggested by my neighbour, was a piece over where the fascia joins at the peak.


It is a small detail, but I think it really makes a nice addition.


The second little bit is at the peak where the soffit meets.


There is a perfectly logical reason why I put that piece there.  I measured wrong.  I did the measuring before my neighbour came over and while my knees were knocking in fear up the ladder, I messed up.  Then I cut to that length.  It just happened by chance that I had a piece in the cut off pile that had the proper width, and rounded edges.  I fit perfectly and, I think, looks better with it than if I had cut the right length and just left it as originally planned.  I am putting it down as a "it was meant to be" situation. 

In other news, the local Rona had stain on sale.  We could not get exactly what we had in mind so we changed direction on the colour.  We ended up with a colour called "Loon collar".  Which is again, the cosmos directing things considering the logo I use for the Watertone Workshop.  It is a very dark green (I got my green!) semi transparent stain and I got enough to do 2 coats on the whole shed.  

A whole hour worth of work to put up the soffit and then we kicked back and had a couple of beer and chatted about our favourite genre of music.  Mainly blues.  Turns out he is as big a fan, perhaps more so, than I am.  After imbibing a few, there is no more work for the day, which is just as well, I seem to be lacking a bit in the energy and motivation department lately.  Now I have a clear path to putting up the rest of the siding and getting it stained, that and the trim will complete the outside pretty much.  At least for this year.  Weather tight and pretty, what more could you want?

Thanks for dropping in!

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Easy Sunday

Sunday mornings for me are for watching car shows.  I'm still a bit of a gear head.  When that was done I wandered out and put in the last 4 vents.  It didn't take long, so I figured I would see how the siding went up.  Not too bad as it turns out.  Being only 3/8" thick, it is a bit wavy, but flattens against the wall nicely as you nail it down.  The first one was the hardest and I had lots of help from Sally on the level and guiding eye.  The sheets are a bit long, so snapping a chalk line and lopping off about 1 1/2" off the bottom is in the plan.  I am also going to put a trim piece on top, so I am not worried in the least about the top edges meeting nice.  As long as I keep all the sheets vertical I will be in good shape.  The colour debate debate continues.  I guess if I see something on sale, that is what it will be.





As far as the rest of the day.  Well, a guy has to kick back every once in a while, and the weather is perfect for just that and....


Now I know they caution about drinking and boating, so, a designated driver is always on hand.  Not that we are going any where.


I am puttering along at an easy pace now.  Trying not to push too hard.  Slow and steady!

Thanks for dropping in!



Saturday, July 11, 2015

A good start on soffit

Whew, I wore myself out again today but I got the soffit down the sides put up and 6 of the 10 vents.  Then I ran out of steam.  The side toward the river is done.



I put the soffit up on the other side first, then moved around, and started on my way back putting in the little disc vents.  By the time I started coming around to the sunny side again I was done in.  I am not extending the soffit out to the ends of the gables......just because.  No real excuse other than this is the whim that moves me.  

I also found out my hole saw is metric.  The disc vents are imperial.  Which means that I have to do a bit of work with the file to get things to fit.  I got one put in on the sunny side before I gave in though.



I have not posted a bigger view of the shop in a while.  It is looking good.  Though a bit like a billboard ad for RONA.


I also had a delivery yesterday.  I found 4 x 8 sheets of wood siding, on sale, at RONA.  I bought 18 sheets and did not expect them until Monday.  A lot cheaper than board and batten, but with a similar rustic look.




So far, the plan is to paint it "Barn Green".  Suitable I think for our rural area.  Lots of green barns around here.

So here I am, posting with my wrists aching, but not at all sweaty now.  I could not resist the urge for a bit of some refreshing activity.


That's it for today.  Not a whole lot, but probably more than I should have done.  Working on a ladder, using a hole saw on the hand drill, making a hole over my head.  I think I will leave the rest until tomorrow.

Thanks for dropping by!

Friday, July 10, 2015

Watching paint dry

Well, I have not been totally idle for the last little while.  Some yard work and a few odd tiny jobs on the shop have been done.  I finally went and bought some 1/2" exterior plywood for the soffit.

I first measured out what I needed and I also marked where all the rafters come over the walls.



Then I swung the saw into the middle of the shop and put in a new zero clearance insert I made along with a micro splitter.



It turns out the first piece can use the full 8' length, so I just ripped the ply to 11 1/2" to fit.  I checked at the local hardware store and found some opaque stain in the mistint section for 1/2 price.  I guess that answers the question on trim colour.


When I get a large can of paint that I will be dispensing from more than once, I like to put a few holes in the rim so the paint will drip back into the can after pouring.  It saves the mess that gets into the groove where the lid goes.


The colour is an off white/cream and after setting up a work area I started rolling it on.


It is an oil based stain that calls for 24 hours between coats, so after not much work I have to wait.  I will be putting a second coat on today and that will be another short day of work.



The job takes up a lot of space, but easier to do it first and then put it up than trying to do it overhead and not get it on anything else.  I will be getting some vents to put in it after it is up though.  Just to get the spacing nice.

It ought to look nice and I will use the same stuff for the door and window trim.  If I have enough left over, it may to the ceiling inside too!  I haven't made up my mind yet.  

So, slow progress, but we are taking it easy (for a change) and getting things done.

Thanks for dropping by!