Post by chad13dnvr (DBH) on Oct 9, 2008 20:58:06 GMT -5
Well all the major construction is done. I have some details to work out, like trim and paint and things like that to make it match the house and HOA regs and so on. But for the most part the nail guns and saws will lay silent.
I have never built anything in my life and have learned allot from this experience. So, because i don't have much good advice to give on any occasion and i know that there are a few on here that are getting ready to build their facilities i thought that i would put together a quick list of things that may be important when preparing to build and building your mew.
1) Remember the things that your high school shop teacher told you when you were sitting off too the side trying to hit on Nicole with the cool flips in her hair.
Like for example. the width of the blade on a table saw or miter saw is 1/8". this is especially important when remembering what side of the line to cut on. 1/8" turns into 1/4" quickly and it is funny how fast 1/4" four times turns into an inch. And even funnier how big an inch looks when you stand back about six feet to examine your work. Or why we wore Safety glasses.
2) It's called a "skill saw" for a reason
3) When explaining to your loving understanding wife how big the new "structure" in your back yard is going to be. Tell her it is going to be 20'x45', this way when she sees a new building that is 100sqft and 11ft tall you can say that you were willing to make the compromise on the smaller design but still did what was best for the bird.
4) When said wife comes outside the first time that the walls are constructed and says "man that's really big honey". The WRONG response is, "well how big did you think it was going to be". Refer to item (3) for correct compromise answer.
5) In the design stage. It is better to actually work through the plan to minimize how many boards will have to be cut. IE. (remember the shop teacher part) using 8' studs and not accounting for the additional 3" that the top and bottom 2x4s will add will result in allot of cutting when taking into consideration that your siding is exactly 8'.
6) A table saw has a guide with measurements on it for a reason.
7) If using 4x4 corner posts. Post hole diggers suck when you decide to dig two foot deep holes.
8) make sure that your neighbor likes you, when you ask to borrow his level, chalk line, good tape measure, miter saw, table saw, carpenters pencil sharpener and every other wood working tool that he has in his garage.
9) make sure that other neighbor likes you when you borrow his third skill saw so that you can stop switching blades back and forth when cutting wood and when cutting metal conduit.
10) Borrow nail gun, compressor and "extra" nails from hunting buddy for "a couple days" to make the process go faster. apologize to buddy a month later when you still have his tools.
11) Cement shingles have a "pattern" on the inside of the paper packaging.
12) These patterns are there for a reason.
13) It is easier to cut shingles BEFORE they are nailed to the roof to come out with an even edge then to attempt to cut the edge once the shingles are on the roof.
14) "Green timber" and "green pressure treated timber" are NOT the same thing.
15) Measure twice and cut once should be Measure five times cut once. Lumbers not cheap, and it's funny how hard it is to get back an inch out of a 25 dollar piece of siding.
16) don't be proud. When a buddy that has construction experience offers to help, the wrong answer is "No I think I got it", The correct answer should be "That would be great if you could help out".
17) Don't bet your neighbor a case of beer and a whole smoked pork shoulder that you can have this thing done in two weeks.
18) When you drop the number 2 Phillips drive out of your cordless drill into the rock work DO NOT attempt to find it, this is a pointless endeavor because obviously under the rock is an endless pit that travels all the way to China. Drive directly to the hardware store and buy a new one. This will save you time.
19) Remember a good reason to give your wife that you are letting your eight year old son use a 120psi nail gun.
20) an eighteen pack of beer will NOT, I repeat NOT, make you cut straighter. It just seems that way.
I hope these helpful hints will get you through your build smoothly.
The dirt bag hawker
I have never built anything in my life and have learned allot from this experience. So, because i don't have much good advice to give on any occasion and i know that there are a few on here that are getting ready to build their facilities i thought that i would put together a quick list of things that may be important when preparing to build and building your mew.
1) Remember the things that your high school shop teacher told you when you were sitting off too the side trying to hit on Nicole with the cool flips in her hair.
Like for example. the width of the blade on a table saw or miter saw is 1/8". this is especially important when remembering what side of the line to cut on. 1/8" turns into 1/4" quickly and it is funny how fast 1/4" four times turns into an inch. And even funnier how big an inch looks when you stand back about six feet to examine your work. Or why we wore Safety glasses.
2) It's called a "skill saw" for a reason
3) When explaining to your loving understanding wife how big the new "structure" in your back yard is going to be. Tell her it is going to be 20'x45', this way when she sees a new building that is 100sqft and 11ft tall you can say that you were willing to make the compromise on the smaller design but still did what was best for the bird.
4) When said wife comes outside the first time that the walls are constructed and says "man that's really big honey". The WRONG response is, "well how big did you think it was going to be". Refer to item (3) for correct compromise answer.
5) In the design stage. It is better to actually work through the plan to minimize how many boards will have to be cut. IE. (remember the shop teacher part) using 8' studs and not accounting for the additional 3" that the top and bottom 2x4s will add will result in allot of cutting when taking into consideration that your siding is exactly 8'.
6) A table saw has a guide with measurements on it for a reason.
7) If using 4x4 corner posts. Post hole diggers suck when you decide to dig two foot deep holes.
8) make sure that your neighbor likes you, when you ask to borrow his level, chalk line, good tape measure, miter saw, table saw, carpenters pencil sharpener and every other wood working tool that he has in his garage.
9) make sure that other neighbor likes you when you borrow his third skill saw so that you can stop switching blades back and forth when cutting wood and when cutting metal conduit.
10) Borrow nail gun, compressor and "extra" nails from hunting buddy for "a couple days" to make the process go faster. apologize to buddy a month later when you still have his tools.
11) Cement shingles have a "pattern" on the inside of the paper packaging.
12) These patterns are there for a reason.
13) It is easier to cut shingles BEFORE they are nailed to the roof to come out with an even edge then to attempt to cut the edge once the shingles are on the roof.
14) "Green timber" and "green pressure treated timber" are NOT the same thing.
15) Measure twice and cut once should be Measure five times cut once. Lumbers not cheap, and it's funny how hard it is to get back an inch out of a 25 dollar piece of siding.
16) don't be proud. When a buddy that has construction experience offers to help, the wrong answer is "No I think I got it", The correct answer should be "That would be great if you could help out".
17) Don't bet your neighbor a case of beer and a whole smoked pork shoulder that you can have this thing done in two weeks.
18) When you drop the number 2 Phillips drive out of your cordless drill into the rock work DO NOT attempt to find it, this is a pointless endeavor because obviously under the rock is an endless pit that travels all the way to China. Drive directly to the hardware store and buy a new one. This will save you time.
19) Remember a good reason to give your wife that you are letting your eight year old son use a 120psi nail gun.
20) an eighteen pack of beer will NOT, I repeat NOT, make you cut straighter. It just seems that way.
I hope these helpful hints will get you through your build smoothly.
The dirt bag hawker
when you hear the heeeeeehaaaaawwww it means a bunny has flushed.
