Monday, August 29, 2011

Homemade Trailer



With his engineering skills, a welder and mental blueprints, Kevin puzzle peiced this trailer to being.

Gate – industrial shelves from old warehouse
Frame and Winch – old Jet Ski trailer
Tongue stand – mobile home
Fenders - $10.00 pair used at metal shop in town
Black Paint – In shop leftover from previous jobs

~ Cheryl

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Go Go Go Cart Arthur!



Here Arthur and Kevin discuss where to put the throttle cable on their new weekend project.

Parted out from old projects, new life is fitted around an old Go Cart frame that survived a customer’s extreme yard clean up.

Chosen for the engine is an old water pump motor and the throttle cable donated from a used up Jet Ski. The seat’s pervious life was that of a mold for Kevin’s fiberglass canoe seats. Scrap metal met with the welder for the steering column. (See picture insert)

Totally involved in the progress, Arthur meticulously toed in (aligned) the front ties with the back. Even at dinnertime after a long day of working in the heat and humidity, he wanted to stay and work. Oh, and for the first time that I can remember, dirt, sweat and grease are not an issue!

School nights have been difficult for him, first having to spend more time on his home work now that he’s in 6th grade, then topping it off with no time left over to work at the shop on the go cart.

I believe the next side project is to turn a the motor powered skateboard given to us by a friend who said it was more dangerous than it looked in the commercial into a second go cart for Kevin.

Now, you have to understand that even though I know where and how to check the oil, transmission and brake fluid in my Jeep, I’ve had all of the above translated into layman’s terms before I began this post!

~ Cheryl

Friday, August 12, 2011

AWOL Blade Keeper Bearings!



New board count!

Seems we’re currently on hold - the Blade Keeper Bearings on the Saw Mill decided they wanted to be come independent in multiple pieces. They are on order. Maybe UPS will arrive today........

All of or most of the lumber has been moved directly into the foundation for drying. Stickers cut from old plywood and fiberboard are laid between the layers to allow airflow for the drying process.

Total House Sub-Floor Package requires: 1376 Square Feet

Complete: 1015 Square Feet

In Progress: 361 Square Feet

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In the wait for UPS, Kevin has had some down time....

He’s been preparing the gardens for winter. We’ve going to have to hot-wire the wire in between our tinker toy conduit fencing. Not much will keep out a hungry deer when they’ve got a craving for pepper plants. They only eat the leaves, JalapeƱo peppers doesn’t suit their palate, :0, but the plants do take offense and don't produce. I was so saddened that I dug up everything this year and now have my garden on the deck. Slower to produce, but ah, the green is so lovely!

From my friends at Olive Forge Herb Farm in Haddock, Georgia, I learned this year that Pepper plants can survive from one year to the next and produce again. I am tickled! Pickled JalapeƱos are one of our favorites.

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Late breaking news:

Before the Keeper Bearing went AWOL, I learned that there is a good number of boards cut that haven't been counted. We may have already met our Sub-Flooring needs!

Next I believe we will be working on the Roof Package.

~ Cheryl

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Summer Helper Goes Back To School



Arthur bought a new Nintendo DS this summer from the money he made working with Kevin. He says working the Backhoe is just like another one of his games. He has also decided that manual labor is NOT his future career (Yay!, but he is learning and will keep these skills to enhance his pool of talents.)

He begins 6th grade to day and Kevin will miss his summer helper. It has been a busy summer!

Board cut count has been updated!

Framing Package: COMPLETE!

Board 
Count:                Size:
93                        2x6x10
7                          2x6x12
97                        2x6x8
20                        2x6x16
52                        2x12x17
3                          2x8x16

Sub-Floor Package: Requires 1376 Square Feet ~ 1X6x Random Lengths

Complete: 576 Square Feet

In Progress: 800 Square Feet

~ Cheryl