O.K., all you lurkers – Listen up. We know you’re out there. We know that a lot of you come to read these forums but don’t post anything for one reason or another. Time to belly up and tell us who you are.
This forum is built on diversity. We have people from all parts of the USA, Canada, and a couple of other places. Some are general contractors, some carpenters, but a lot of us are just plain homeowners or do-it-youselfers who are interested in talking about houses. There are experts about a heck of a lot of other things – From teachers to tire changers and Architects to Agnostics.
Basically what I’m asking you to do is just post a simple message here introducing yourself. Hopefully that will get you over the hump, and then you’ll be willing to post some more and become part of the “extended family” here.
All you regulars who are reading this, please stay out of it for the time being and let’s see who pops up. Anyone giving a lurker a hard time in this thread will be hunted down for a “wall-to-wall conference”.
Replies
Hey Boss, you just lookin for some new butt to pounce on, tired of the same old stuff to kick around. LOL Yeah, some new blood would be a welcome change. maybe some fresh ideas, who knows maybe even a couple of builder babes.
Well, a builder babe I'm not, but here goes. My husband is an architect. Need I say more? He is a fine designer but a klutz with tools. My (our) problem is removing a stubborn latch sleeve from a door on our boat. I purchased new hardware for three doors (the latch type used on screen doors, 1 1/4-inch thick. He got two installed, but the old sleeve in one of the doors seems to have been pounded into place and has corroded over time and refuses to budge. I asked our marina guys to give it a try, but they only succeeded in tearing apart the small flange they were able to grip. Tried a small saw to cut through it, but by hand we got nowhere. Any good ideas out there?
Ya might try startin' your own thread. Look for "general discussion" inthe left column, and click on "post new".How do you know if your mission in life is complete? If you're still alive, it isn't. [D. Sewell]
O.K. here goes. I,ve posted a couple off times but have been reading FHB addictively for probably 5 years.
I grew up as the son of a very particular german builder in a small town north of Vancouver B.C. Canada. Learned the trade (formal apprenticeship) from Papa and became a self employed Builder /remodeler when he became ill. After about 5 years of trying to make a go of it in a dying town I moved to the big city and managed for a high end remodeler. 2 years ago I went work for my local municipality as a carpenter and work for them ( probably 9 months a year) as a relief building inspector. Currently my wife and I are considering the idea of me re-entering the real world for reasons of passion and profit.
'...reading FHB addictively'.
We all understand. Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
Hi Boss,
I have posted a few times, live in Northern lower Mich "middle of the mitten", I operate a small wastewater treatment plant. Rehabbed two houses and sold, in the process of buying our "last" one lol. Costs here aren't bad, but if you go to either Lk mich shore or Lk huron or Traverse city area costs are outragous.
Love the forum, but I do use" gulp" vinyl siding.
Alan
I'm a mathematician, been reading FHB since the early '80's while I worked in the Philippines. Have travelled all over teaching, and though I seem to be pretty ham-fisted, have never stopped admiring good craftsmanship. It's tough telling someone you think you know better (from reading) than they know (by seat-of-the-pants), but hey, I'm a THEORETICAL mathematician.
Matt
Tallahassee, FL
Welcome. I could have used your help on the 120v versus 240v hot tub discussion. I tried to muddle my way through the theoretical aspects of the problem with only the 20 year old remainder of what few mathematical skills my long suffering teachers could pound into my skull.
I think you would be a valuable addition to this, all too illogical, board. We could use a little mathematical precision around here.
> but hey, I'm a THEORETICAL mathematician.
Does that mean you don't really exist? :)
jwwhat the heck was I thinking?
Welcome aboard. You run a wastewater treatment plant. Do you have a certificate or a degree in environment sciences? Not that I would complain if you don't. I could be shooting myself in the foot with this but I'm always looking for allies in the ongoing environmental battles.
Either way I look forward to seeing you post here.
From teachers to tire changers and Architects to Agnostics. Careful Boss. Putting those professions in the same sentence will give teachers, tire changers and agnostics a bad name.
Hi Boss
My user name pretty much explains everything. I do high end framing and sheetrocking in nyc. All renovation work. I use to work for a framing sub, but now work directly for a GC.
I also have experience with plaster, Flat work, and ornamental, pretty much alot of crown and moulding work which includes coffered cielings and the like. The framing is very tedious, the tolerances allowed are very tight. All the walls and cielings we do will end up with some kind of millwork or stone that is either fabricated off the drawings or stone pre-cut in Italy or wherever, To put it simply, I hang my cornerbeads with a plumbob
Glad ta have ya around. In case you haven't noticed, Andy Clifford is from somewhere around there. Hope you'll hang around and post some more.
To the rest of ya - Keep 'em coming. We have a lot of lurkers yet to go. We don't bite - Most of us anyway. and the ones who do have had their shots.Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
NYCFRAMER
Welcome and hope to see you post more often. As the Bossman said, I too am from NY,Lawng Island. I wuz thinkin.....for a change as my wife always says.....in the spring I'm going to be framing a three car garage/barn/shop with ten foot ceilings and attic space as well as an addition in the rear of my 322 yr old house I just bought. Interested in weekend work or fill in days for me? I'm in cold Spring Harbor by Huntington. If you are, see my website below for my phone number or drop me an E-mail...
Be well
Namaste'
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
village handyman here located on the central california coast near san luis obispo
i am a licensed general contractor i do mostly small high end remodeling and finish work but i also do alot of run of the mill repair plumbing and electrical work.build decks and fences
i worked for many years in cabinet and furniture shops and some construction.until one day my uncle said to me "bill your getting real good at making money for other people"
my advice to anyone who is interested. self employed is the only way to be
I mostly consider myself a lurker,even tho I post here a little.Anyway, for those of you that don't know...I am a single parent of two boys, I have been a general contractor since 1981,and I am now the assistant basketball coach of the local high school team...whew!Living in 'The Land of Enchantment'...New Mexico.
jwwhat the heck was I thinking?
Oh Thanks a lot Boss, I was saving that can of worms for my fishing trip but no... no... you just had to grab the opener and now they are spolied. LOL
OK Boss I'll bite. I've been lurking for quite a while and only made some small comments. I'm a carpenter in St.Louis that works for a commercial GC. I've bounced around alot of contractors here working on everything from river pile-driving, bridge building, dock work to commercial cabinets setting and fixture work, high-end finish concrete work large gang-forming, millwright work, shalft-alignments, and all other types of work. On my own I work on my house and help friends work on thier houses. I've always pictured myself owning and running my own buissness but have not found the niche yet. Remodeling is huge here and lucretive but I'm just holding out to see if I can find something that doesn't involve the "homeowner." Take care all of you, you don't know how much I've gotten from all.
o.k. it's about time i threw my hat into the ring. i admit that i have been lurking here for awhile and posted only a few times. i am a remodeling gc in the sunny pacific northwest. i've been my own boss for the last four years or so and i like it. about 10 years ago i was a teacher but i kept looking out the window and wondering why i wasn't doing what i really liked--crawling around in stranger's attics and crawlspaces and trying to keep my tools from rusting in the winter here. i figure if i keep at it long enough and keep my eyes and ears open i just might learn something someday.
Hey Pete -
There are a couple of folks here who are from the St. Louis area. (Hopefully they're reading this, and will speak up) I live a little more than an hour northeast of the arch, just off I-55.
I have a friend who rehabs houses in south St. Louis, and I've helped him on a couple. They were near south Grand and Kingshighway, south of I-44 somewhere.
Hope you'll hang around, and maybe make "HogFest" next spring.A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory.
Thanks Boss. I work with some guys up near you in Jersyville ILL? Does that sound familiar? I live in Kirkwood MO. Just off I-44. Good to hear from you, the "Hog Fest" sounds like I need a bike. Sounds great.
Bossmiester
Great idea for this thread....you brought in more folks for me to argue with...lol...all kidding aside. Great idea dude!!
Be well
Namaste
Andy
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 12/3/2002 7:09:00 PM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
Jerseyville, huh? That's pretty danged close. We sell to Landreth lumber and Mundy Lumber there. Could it be you've used some of our trusses? (I work for Rehkemper)
The "HogFest" is just a get together at my place next spring. No motorcycles necessary. Here's a link to the original thread:
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=24549.1Be concerned about your future. You'll spend the rest of your life there.
Hi all,
Hello from Nova Scotia .I have been lurking here on and off for quite awhile. I am a DIY type
and have done quite a few projects over the years on my houses and with friends.Decks, shingles, framing a little bit of everything.
I enjoy it and enjoy reading the forums.
FENDER6CA- So are you a 6string guitar player or an autobody man? Or is that your last name? Either way Welcome to Breaktime, one of the greatest shows on earth. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Hi All,
I'm a recently retired papermaker ( read: mill closed down ) up here in
Erie,Pa. My son and I are trying to get a remodeling buisness off the
ground. ( since Feb.) Lurk once in a while .sometimes it's pretty
entertaining most of the times it's pretty informative. I hope to post
more often.
Boss,
I have been hanging around here for about 2 years. I post once in awhile, but not that often. I did post two years ago about quitting my job and starting my own company and got alot of support from you guys. Someone did mention that if my current boss read this forum that my decision would be made for me. He didn't but I left anyway and haven't looked back since. My background was in fence. Commercial, prisons, ornamental and automated gates. I still do alot of that but have expanded my horizons to include decks, remodeling, and just about anything that comes up. As the old saying goes I know just enough about alot of trades to be dangerous. I live in Colorado, near Fort Collins and have been successfull due in part to the growth around here. I am a two man show but am hoping to hire this spring, although I was trying to avoid comp and all that. Anyway this place is where I go to relax and learn.
Cole
Cole Dean
Dean Contracting
Hi all
I hang out at Knots manly, but come over here every once in a while. After 20 years of hardwood flooring six months ago I quit installing floors and fired up a shop, making parts for flooring wholesalers and contractors. I manly make curved nosings, custom stair treads and inlays. My shop is in Santa Ana CA but I ship all over the USA thru one of my wholesalers. Before I went into flooring I made furniture and cabinets
Jeff in so cal
73 f---37%
I've posted a couple of times, mostly to tap into Mongo's concrete expertise. I'm an aerospace engineer by first degree and by trade. I build furniture on the side, do a little freelance photography, and am an adjunct professor of management at a state university. I worked residential construction in college (framing/roofing/rocking/etc) and try to find time now to improve my little patch.
I always learn something on here, and a lot of the time it's even useful!
Bart
Been lurking a while Boss / I have taught for 14 yrs in and around Woodstock Ontario : woodshop, computers, math, science, phys ed. / do a lot of woodworking and am revving up to build a cottage over the next couple of summers / I find the discussions informative and have received some indepth answers to a couple of questions so far / hope I can rely on the continued knowledge when I start framing.....
Well, I am new to the Forum as of today, even though I am known as a big talker on a couple of paperhanger forums I belong to. I am Bonnye, BonYea, and live in Central Texas and have professionally hung paper for 20 years, now doing a lot of torn-paper effects that have gotten me into the limelight with awards, tv spots, magazine articles. But...what I really enjoy doing is helping DIYs and professionals learn more about this medium as an option for badly damaged walls, paneling, horrible wallpaper nightmares, etc. Thanks for the invite to introduce myself, and I can always be reached privately at [email protected].
Bonnye Manning, Texas
Yea Bonnie,
Welcome
Those wallpapering effects sound interesting. You wouldn't have some photos you could post in the gallery here would you? I'd love to see some of your stuff.
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/list.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&ctx=16384&cacheTag=x11-54
There might even be a chance that Andy Engle (editor of FHB) would be interested in an article on wallpapering and how to prep for it, how a framer can mess it up, what the rocker needs to know, etc.
[email protected].
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Where in central Texas? I'm in San Antonio.
For those of you who live in foreign lands (north of the Red, east of the Sabine), central Texas can be a purty big spread. There's one county here, Brewster, I think, that's bigger than Rhode Island.
There are cities bigger than Rhode Island!
But I know what you mean. I worked in Lubbock with a guy from Amarillo. He was extremely Texan. He said he had worked with a damn Yankee once before, from Oklahoma. He said he had married a girl from way back east, in Dallas. He had traveled thousands of miles in his work, and never left the state..
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
ELCID72, got news for you bud, Marquette county in Michigan is bigger than Rhode Island, as a matter of fact almost everything is bigger than RI.
I actually live in McQueeney-New Braunfels area. If you live in San Antonio, check out the Jim's restaurants on the Loop 1604 and my favorite at O'Connor and IH35. Give me a call sometime to discuss the brownbag. As a matter of fact, having a tabletop demo at Wallpaper Outlet on the 14th.
Bonnye, Paper Dolls & BrownBagWalls
BonYea,
Bonnye, Paper Dolls & BrownBagWalls,
Now thats interesting, I saw your photo post of the bag walls, pretty cool, how do the paper dolls fit in? Just curious.
Paper Dolls is the name of my regular wallpaper installation company. I thought I was being so original 20 years ago, but it is very trite and overdone. You can go to almost any major US city and find a Paper Doll company in the phonebook. Heck, in San Antonio alone there are three, since Texas switched the dba laws from statewide to county...I fell through the cracks. When I tried to not use my logo and name for awhile, everyone complained. Some people in my hometown don't even know my given name...they just ask for The Paper Doll at the paint store, or yell across the parking lot at Wal-Mart..."hi Paper Doll." I'm used to it. My 15-year-old son goes to school every morning in my workvan with Paper Dolls on the side and he
gets the laughs at the beginning of the year, and then tells them I buy his clothes and keep him in a good life, so they let it go after that. I love my kid and my job!
Just thoughts,
Bonnye
Since you live where it's warm this may not have happened to you, the following is a paperhanging nightmare that happened to me a long time ago.
It was late winter of 78 and I just moved to northern Michigan from Detroit, the local paint store knew I didn't have a job at the time and sent me to this ladys house to hang some paper. Turns out she had 5 rooms worth of paper, took me a week to hang it all, turned out nice. Within a few days the paper started to peel off the walls in sheets. The walls had been primed and topcoated by the drywaller, I sized everything as per instructions. To make a long story short the drywaller had used a fuel oil heater to dry the out the place, inadvertently coating the walls with a thin invisiable coat of oil fumes. I was lucky to get off with only having to redo the labor and not get stiffed with the cost of the paper. Needless to say it was the end of my paperhanging career and I moved on to something simpler like building circular staircases.
Well...we all have those stories don't we...where we had to eat it because of other craftsman's work or lack thereof? It gets cold here, down past freezing...it just doesn't stay cold for very long. Often times, it is low 30s in the AM and high 80s in the PM...that is the problem with walls here.
I had a similiar situation where the walls were too cold to hang over, and yet the GC had the rooms very warm with kerosene torpedo heates. The fumes were awful, and also, I couldn't get him to believe me that the walls were still too cold and that
during the night when the heater was off, there would be shrinkage. I refused to hang it, so he hired another hanger. Later, that hanger skipped on him when the callbacks came around for split seams and curling corners. Some of us live and learn, and some of us just live, eh?
Bonnye in Texas
I post now and then, but read(lurk, I don't like the sound of that)mostly. I was a carp, and now just shop work,I posted a sample in the gallery.
Hi, been posting some, mostly lurking.
I'm a Navy pilot and a die-hard do-it-yourselfer. Mostly because I figure if someone else can do it, so can I. Which is when I usually discover that I can do it but not always the right way or the easy way. I guess it's like flying, not that hard to do, but it can be hard to do good at times.
My wife and I use this hobby to buy rehab houses and try to make money on the transfers. And I gotta find a second career.
Thanks for all the help and the laughs!
Ken
I've probably posted 5-6 times or so over the past year, so I'm probably a lurker. I'm a commercial loan officer at a medium sized bank. Live in Joplin, MO.
I get a lot of ideas, and I'm a great starter of projects, but my finishing of projects probably isn't all it's supposed to be, especially if you're asking my wife. They do eventually get done, though.
I'll post my name at the end, to be polite, but my handle is from my favorite TV show, Seinfeld. The episode where George's dad and Kramer invent the support device for men.
Tracy Crider
We'll just have to get you to post a reply to this thread, then,
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=25206.1.
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Okay, I'll bite, I'm a newbee.
I'm a site supervisor for a residential builder in Central New Jersey, (think Princeton U. and you're in the right area). The company develops and builds around 15m in properties a year. I spend most of my days with a tool in one hand and phone in the other. I've been in this business for 17 years and have decided to move on in Spr. 03. Been lining up work so my family doesn't starve in the transition, but it's going to be all good. Been a avid FHB reader for 6 years, cover to cover, two or three times each issue, think everyone here would agree it's a great rag (though the audience may be bias).
Where in Princeton, I'm in that area. Hopewell, Pennington, Hamilton. I own a Handyman service in the area. Can do punch lists as well. and quickMen do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing! Holmes Sr. Oliver Wendell
We currently have five projects going, two in Princeton Twp., one in Montgomery Twp and two in Hopewell Twp. Think the three corners area (at the intersection of Province Line Rd. and Cherry Valley Rd, where these three Townships meet) and your within a mile of three of our sites. One is next to the Hun School off 206 and one off Province Line by 518. We have eight other properties waiting their turn all in the same area.
I know the area very well. Grew up riding dirt bikes and hanging out up on Cradle Rock. Are you involved with anything up on the Cradle Rock? I worked on a job right up the road with the NJ Barnes group. Whats the name of your company? Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing! Holmes Sr. Oliver Wendell
Honestly don't know where Cradle Rock is. I grew up about an hour north in the Clinton area, actually still around here. The company I'm with is working eight sites in the area, Bensen Lane (2), Southern Hills Drive, Nelson Ridge Rd, Leonard Ct., Mountainview, Edgerstouned and Province Line (just north of Rosdale Mills). The name of the company is Palomar Associates. How 'bout yourself?Only in our quest of absolute perfection, do we remain imperfect. T.M. Rapp
Near PU eh? Khov or C-ton? I'm down the road a bit. Knew a guy who did your sort of job years ago for C-ton. Good luck.Never a problem, just an opportunity to create a solution... :~}
Neither actually, a smallish co. Palomar.Only in our quest of absolute perfection, do we remain imperfect. T.M. Rapp
"
25195.23 in reply to 25195.22
I've probably posted 5-6 times or so over the past year, so I'm probably a lurker. I'm a commercial loan officer at a medium sized bank. Live in Joplin, MO"
Ahhh , we could have used your imput several times with posts dealing about financing. Shame on you to take and not share your expertise . You know da rules !
Please post more .
Tim Mooney
Tracy , thanks for posting in the site Piffin listed. This tells me you have read my posts in the same area. I was being professionally watched ! LOL!
Welcome to posting in Breaktime and happy holidays from our cabin to yours,
Tim Mooney
Or the BRO, I really like it when Georges mom come in and catches Cramer fealin up Georges dad. Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing! Holmes Sr. Oliver Wendell
I'm a framing subcontractor in Denver and have been reading Fine Homebuilding for about 10 years now. Recently broke down and bought a computer and really stumbled across Breaktime. I've posted a few times but mostly I'm reading and learning
bi hoss
I mean hi boss( I'm so nervous I can't spell). Never could do it well though. I'm a carpenter that made the move to being a contractor 18 mos ago. Best thing I ever did. We now specialize in high end homes/additions that have lots of wood in them. There seems to be a lot of work around here right now (ontario, canada) so we get to pick and choose a little. I've always enjoyed Fine Home mag and the discourse here in the forums seems to be very insightful. If I get the time my 2 cents will appear regularly.
Cheers
Nice to see a Canadian on line, and willing to admit it. I too am Canadian, but, via a long story married a yank while teaching auto shop in Bermuda and came to North Carolina, where I am now, from Little Rock Arkansas, where I started in this consrtuction business - which I love. I'm originally from the Sudbury area in northern Ontario but have lots of family in Toronto and am up there regularly. Must admit I don't miss the winters all that much, although the ice storm here lately kicked us in the butts. Whereabouts in Ontario are you?
Good Day, Eh?
I'm living in Kingston now and have been for 3 yrs. I learned to build in the west though, Van and Whistler. Its cold now but dry comparatively. The first job in ON I did was on Gough lake or Birch lake near Espanola for friend's parents.
Cheers
Ian
I am Alan Roberson, I am.
I'm a finish carp in Talkeetna, AK
I have been at BT for 2 years.
I think the pictures of people from the fests don't look anything like I imagined them.
Roar! Bet you thought Luka was an old balding mountain man.
Ya, I looked at those pics and said 'so that's what all these guys that post here look like.' None of 'em matched up to what I'd pictured. Bet my visual of Tim Mooney is way off too. BossHog as a heavyset, hair to his collar, bigger moustache and sometimes glasses kind of guy.Somehow I'd imagined Piffin as a shorter Greek or Italian looking, cleanshaven with a full head of hair and a gut. Andy C as a taller slim, thin featured type.
'Course sometimes I look in a mirror and think I'm somebody. Then I realize I'm just as big a joker as anyone else.
After All, We're all bozos on this bus.
Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
Edited 12/10/2002 6:21:58 AM ET by rez
" BossHog as a heavyset,"
I'm not overweight - I'm "under tall".
" hair to his collar,"
Nope - Really short.
" bigger moustache"
Smaller - Mainly because I don't like to shave my upper lip.
" and sometimes glasses kind of guy."
I wear glasses when I drive so I don't kill anybody.
All in all, pretty good. Coward, n.: One who in a perilous emergency thinks with his legs. [Ambrose Bierce]
Part time lurker here. Boss Hog's comment about the wallflower at the high school dance encouraged this admission. (Actually, I was to wallflowery to attend the dance in the first place)
Been a FH subscriber for 3-4 years, and ask a rare question and recieved mostly excellent responses.
I trained in the automotive field (engine/transmission builder, general mechanic) but couldn't keep my hands clean enough to suit me. So about 20 years ago I began selling Real Estate here in Philly. I guess I did OK in sales but I was really a square peg forcing myself into a round hole.
I have previously built an addition on the family cabin, and for the past 3+ years have been adding a major addition to my home. Enjoyed myself so much I sort of quit the real estate, bought a lot and am just beginning to build a spec home. I do most all the work myself, but the spec will see subs for the mechanicals.
Wish me kuck on the spec because you never know, it may stop rainging and snowing long enough for me to get started.
C.
A spec house, huh ?
My Spec House from Hell thread is mandantory reading for new spec house builders.During the mid-1980s dairy farmers decided there was too much cheap milk at the supermarket. So the government bought and slaughtered 1.6 million dairy cows.How come the government never does anything like this with lawyers? [P.J. O'Rourke]
... the government bought and slaughtered 1.6 million dairy cows.How come the government never does anything like this with lawyers?
'cause lawers are the Government. When did the last cow run for Congress?
On the subject of lurkers, I'm an Australian civil engineer by training, profession and location who has mostly worked for the Government in road construction. Know a fair bit about roads, bridges and concrete which is usually way overkill for the issues discussed on this forum. Have posted a few times, even started a thread or two. I find the forums very helpful and more entertaining than the TV. Hands on domestic building experience mostly associated with renovations to the 110 year old terrace house I live in. If I'm truthful renovations and these forums are therepy after my day job.
Boss,
Yeah, I followed most of the spec house horror stories, but I'm different :)
Actually, I got a great deal on the lot, there's a dearth of new construction in the neighborhood, and of City is offering a 10 year tax abatement on new construction.
It's really superheated the new home market in an almost "built-out" area of the city.
Still, I could use any good luck that may fall my way.
Maybe I'll post some photos in the gallery as work progresses.
C.
By all means - Post some pictures. Everybody seems to enjoy seeing what everyone else is doing.
Heck, post the prints here if you can. You might get some useful suggestions.
BTW - When I started my "spec house from hell" the market was also very hot. Spec houses were selling before they had a roof on them. Couldn't build 'em fast enough. Kinda like your situation...................(-:Her kisses left something to be desired............The rest of her.
I've been with FH since the beginning, whetting my teeth on FW. While I'm not a carpenter by trade, I do as much of my own remodelling myself, which lately is limited to taking on the finish work. Fortunately I am still on good terms with my contractor. My circle of friends includes contractors and cabinet makers and I have worked with all of them at one time or another.
I make my living doing computer support, systems development, programming and web development for a central PA semi-government organization. On of our programs is weatherization; it is their job to keep up with what is the latest wisdom in weatherproofing homes. It's extremely interesting to see the evolution of wx science over the last 15 years, but that is another story.
I've worked at insulation, framing, drywall, spackling, plaster, trimwork, cabinetwork, flooring and electric, but have never built myself a set of stairs or put on a roof. Pretty mixed bag, but I'd do it for a living if I had the complete skill set.
I am currently in the throws of trying to finish up insulated and heated shop space for myself and a studio for my wife in a 200+ yr old stone barn. It will be very nice if I can ever get it done! (See show-off pictures attached.)
I have posted occasionally and don't think I have embarrased myself too much.
I really value the variety of expertise available in the forum, but hate it when the type A bozos start the chest beating (think "dense pack cellulose", or "attic venting).
It's good to be here and I wish I had more time to spend on it.
Bill
Glad ta have ya around, Bill.
The research about weatherization you've done could be interesting to a lot of people here. Why not start a thread and tell us about it? Or let everyone know where the website is that you're working on.
To the rest of you - Keep it up. I'm surprised at the number of people who have "answered the call" and posted in this thread. Keep it up.The forest would be silent if the only birds who sang were the ones who sang the best.
Wow Bill looks good. I wish I wishMen do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing! Holmes Sr. Oliver Wendell
That looks nice, what are the things near the lower edge of the standing seam metal roof, the ones that appear staggered in two rows? Are they vents of some sort?
-- J.S.
John, Those are snow catchers, they are to prevent snow from cascading off of the roof all at once and killing someone, like myself especially. I'm amazed that I managed to dodge the darn stuff for about 15 years so far, snow really sets up like cement after falling that far.
Thanks -- Being from Southern California, I never would have guessed. ;-)
-- J.S.
To All
As you can see from my name ,I am originally from Enland.
I now live near Cooperstown N.Y.,been here 13 yrs.
I do framing & trimming on commercial &residential
jobs for a local contractor. I have been getting FH since
1988 when I came here,learned a lot from the
magazine & breaktime.
Yeah, I'll bite too. I've posted a handful of times and check in almost everynight. Only been subscribing to FHB for two years. I'm a licensed builder in MA, however I run a framing crew 95% of the time. I just got my license and have yet to build enitrely on my own for lack of financing. I'm 29 years old and live, eat, breathe and sleep wood. I work usually work six days a week, but when not working I'm here or my face is buried in a trade mag or I'm in my garage/shop tinkering with furniture, fixing tools or trying out new joinery techniques. I love this forum and it has become as much a part of my daily routine as 5am coffee and news. I've learned much here, disagreed with much here, and laughed out loud more times than I can remember. Strange how I come to feel that I know some of you guys, Boss Hog, Piffin, Blodgett, and others. I also qualify as a "homeowner type" as my own home has become my guinea pig for new ideas, skills and techniques, and styles....God bless the wife! I consider this forum to be an enormous asset to all of us and constantly encourage members of my crew to check it out. Keep up the good work all and thanks for asking Boss.
Brian McCarthy
Theo's Contracting
Hi. I guess I'm still a lurker, only posted a few. Ran my own remodeling co. for about seven years now. Did everything I could make money doing in the building trades before that. Live in central PA. Don't remember seeing anybody say they were from there. Just bought a 95yo farm. Extensive remodel. Need some time off to get it done. Love all the advice and thoughts on this forum.
Greg
gwerner: IM from NE PA--Poconos...
Doc, I'm over in the State College area. Glad to see somebody else here from PA.
Greg
Edited 12/1/2002 6:33:10 PM ET by gwerner
i am mostlylurking i am 2 years into the trades having done 15 in the kithcen including cooking school and the day i sold the rest. was the best day of my profesional career and i also did a year in a granite and marble shop
noah
I've been reading breaktime for the last couple of months, and have posted only a few times so I guess I fit the category of "lurker". In the past I owned a cabinet shop back in Texas where I am from, have done a lot of home improvement through the years, and even designed and built a house for my mom. It was a family affair, and we did most of the work ourselves. About 10 years ago I went back to school to become a doctor, and am now a pediatrician in Ohio. We have a century home which we are in the process of completely remodeling. Speaking of which, does anyone have any experience with 203k financing of renovations? Back to the original topic, I have subscribed to many magazines in the past, but FHB is the only one I currently take, and usually read it cover to cover the first day it arrives. I've enjoyed the discussions on this forum, although I don't always agree with the answers. Our diversity is what makes things interesting.
A pediatrician ? Don't know if we've had one of those around before. Don't recall having a doctor of any sort, off the top of my head.
Anyway - Glad ta have ya around. We can always use a fresh perspective, and a new skill added to the mix in here.One time a cop pulled me over for running a stop sign. He said, "Didn't you see the stop sign?" I said, "Yeah, but I don't believe everything I read."
> Don't recall having a doctor of any sort, off the top of my head.
We did have an emergency room doctor here. He had some good suggestions about getting together a list of where the ER's are nearest to a job site, and which ones specialize in specific things like burns or reattaching hands.
-- J.S.
Boss man
and you say you dont like crowds,,,,,Geezzzzz
Have a great new year
Namaste
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I am a happily married general contractor, 50 yrs old and second generation homebuilder living at north Lake Tahoe Ca. I started jobs with my Dad from when I was 8 years old. You start with the batter boards and then you do the rest.
I have been all over the internet since my mac showed up via UPS in 98. Other passions like mycophilia, skijoring and cycling take huge chunks of my life besides homebuilding. I appeared here last May I think with a question about hydronic radiant floor heating. I asked about applying slate over gypcrete. Thank you for all the replies. I am not exactly a lurker though. I post at a rate of once or twice a month since the first one.
My recent project is my own house. This is supposed to be my magnum opus. Kind of a carpenter gothic/craftsman style house if you can imagine that. I dug the foundation by hand last May and finished the roof framing just before the first snowstorm. and am now just dried in. The windows (Milgard, fiberglass) showed up today.
I have no use for architects because I know what I want and I make it.
Dog be with you
Mike Callahan
Dogwood Builders
Kings Beach, Ca.We may be slow, But we're expensive.
Dog be with you
Pardon my curiosity................
You wouldn't be any relation to the dyslexic devil worshipper who made a pact with Santa, would you?
Couldn't resist. He He
Doc - The Old Cynic
I read that doctors post , but he seemed to disapear .
Tim Mooney
I lurk quite a bit. I like to read the banter. I know bugger all about the building trade. When I'm in the mood, I post something-- dihedral angles and other esoteric nonsense always gets my interest, but I mostly keep out of those debates.
I think I'll head back to Knots now, my natural home-- I'm a hot tea drinker with milk, thankyou, and an effeminate, and a furniture designer/maker, too. All those faults admitted, and committed to one sentence?
Right now, I'm up to my arse in crap(s) tables. Read that any way you wish-- I don't flash my plumbers butt crack much because I don't do plumbing, and that electricity stuff just drips out of the ceiling. I've lurked, and posted a bit around here for about three years. I think the regulars here might vaguely recognise my handle when I do actually venture an opinion, ha, ha. Slainte.Some stuff I've made.
Sigan, we all know when your lurking about, the air dries up a mite. You crack me up with your humor. . cheers!
I'm about to hit one hundred posts - catching up Piffin!
I grew up in Spokane, WA. When I was a kid I worked on my uncle's farm every summer. But in high school I was really missing the girls so I quit going out to the farm. Went to work for several contractors building houses and such. But got tired of scraping the snow and ice off in the winter so I moved to Seattle and started my computer carear.
I don't recall much of what I learned about home building being twenty years ago or so and of course things have changed. But I always did miss the smell of fresh cut lumber so I do my own remodeling. I really enjoy it but at this age I don't think I will make it my new carear.
There are some great pros here that take the time to help us fools out - thanks guys!
Steve
Hi all...
OK, I lurk every now any then.
Grew up in St Paul, MN. My interest in construction started out by helping my dad when I was younger, remodeling our house (deck, addition, garage, retaining walls, electrical, etc). I worked residential construction through college in Fargo, ND(additions/remodels) for a small company (4 workers, one owner, design/build). Now I live in Duluth, MN. I recent bought a 1907 story and a half with two bedrooms and bath on the upper level. I look forward to working on it and continuing to learn from the threads.
I am going to volunteer info that I know I am going to get s*%& for (wink,wink!)! I am an architect. I work on commercial and institutional buildings (schools, hospitals, offices, etc); mostly new, some remodel. I understand that some of you have run into architects that do not understand the trades/crafts (IMHO there are more of them in the residential field than in the commercial field). I'll admit that I know of them too, but please understand that the road goes both ways. There are also some unqualified contractors that have 'hung a shingle' and then ruin the name for 'contractors' in general. I take pride in my work (personal and professional) and enjoy seeing the end product being used by the client. I am sure that everyone here can appreciate that.
I hope to continue to learn, and at times add my insight.
Who else is out there?
Glad ta have ya around. We've had a couple of architects come and go, but none that I can remember have hung around too long.
Hope you'll hang around, though - We can always use a different perspective. Questions do scome up occasionally about the relationship between architects/builders/homeowners occasionally.
*
To everybody:
Never thought this thread would go on for so long, or attract so much attention. I actually stole the idea from Cook's Talk - Someone over there tried it once. But I don't think they got anywhere near the responses. Even though we have a wide range of talents already represented here, there are a lot more out there who could contribute if they wanted to.Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later win a little more.
Well, I've got to throw my 2 cents in. I've subscribed to FHB along time ago, somewhere around issue 4 I think. Anyway, I am a dedicated lurker and DIY'er. I appreciate the talents here and thank you all for the info you have given and the time you take here.
I am a financial analyst for the federal government in the DC area. Too many years in to get out now, so I work on my own house to make it better for the family.
We just sold our house recently and we are looking for another in a different area. Either that or build one. One way or another, I know that I can come here for good advice. Thanks guys.Frank
"I am a financial analyst for the federal government in the DC area."
Wow. Think of the fun we could have picking on you................(-:
Seriously - There are plenty of discussions about taxes, government spending, and such. You could probably add a lot of legitimate info to those threads/arguements if you chose to.We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. [Aristotle]
BH,
Pick away dude. I've got a thick skin. I tend to stay away from political/govt discussions unless there is a glaring error that I can correct. Most of it is opinion and opinions are like belly buttons, everyones got one (family friendly version)...even me ;-). Anyway, if you don't like the current political climate, just wait 4 years, it will change.
Frank
Frank: we just got back from Thanksgiving on the Northern Neck , Westmoreland county, right off the Potomac...
what happened to the sunny south ? 26 deg one morning !
where are you looking for your next house ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Hey Mike, Hope the Thanksgiving was a good one. Ya ain't far enough south, that's what's wrong!
We're looking for a house in the Annapolis area. I thought the market in my area had topped out and so I sold. I am lucky, we have a townhouse that my FIL is deeding over to us that we had rented out. We gave the tenant notice and moved in ourselves to save some money until a deal comes along. May, my wife, has decreed that we are staying in the next house until the kids go to college. I'm just waitin for the next early out opportunity like Bobl!Frank
Frank,
I didn't take an early, retired regular
Decided not to wait any longer for that offer, kept hearing talk but nothing materialized.
BTW on retiring on the 3rd thing, "work" up until that time, cause they reduce your check for that month because you weren't retired.
Had a buddy take leave and retired on the 3rd, so he lost some money.bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's cheat sheet
Don't mind me Bob, I'm just jealous! :-)
Still waiting to see what is happening with all the reorganizations and buyouts etc..
Frank
B.H.
I'm a lurker mostly because I tap in here fist thing in the mourning and the fingers don't work with the brain that early ( coffee, I need more coffee) .By the time they do it's time to get to work.
Been building cabinets for 20 years, one man operation, been in construction for 30+. We left San Deigo 9 1/2 years ago for New Mexico and love it here ( will not go back to live there if I have anything to say about it). Live about 10 mi. east of Albuquerque. I had some time to post , but mostly it's work ,work , work, back to work.
Daniel Dunn
Hey Ron T.
Your Raiders had better be really ready next week because my Chargers will be.
Boss- Really great move to start this thread. Good to see so many new folk taking the opportunity to post. A hat tip to you.
Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
Edited 12/3/2002 5:53:48 PM ET by rez
Armin, someone has to be as 'wet' as Smifff, Mike, with three f's mind you, and good at speeling, too. His wetness may be political, but my particular dry type of wetness tends towards hot tea, milk, extended pinkie, plus I'm a wooftie furniture type, with a beer habit, and a funny foreign accent---- but, to borrow a phrase, well, wha'd'I know, or something like that. Slainte, RJ.Some stuff I've made.
ye gods skian... what 's with all this wetness ? and how did my innocent name get dragged into this ....i ain't been lurkin.. honest
hey... how u speel "bite me" ?
but hey, whadda i no ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
bight moi, maybe?
I just couldn't resist. I had to see if you'd pipe up. Slainte.Some stuff I've made.
so, what's it to be ?.. McLelland's, Bowmore.... or Glenlivet ?
slainte yersefMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Glenlivet is allways good with a Budweiser chaserOn An Island By The SEA
Ha, Novy, the only thing Budweiser is trying to catch up with is very poor actual beer. After it's caught up with that, the world might be its oyster. How did someting so close to 'sex in a canoe' ever get itself described-- even jokingly-- as (ahem) beer? Slainte. Some stuff I've made.
Sock Knife,
To begin with they brew Bud in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada under licence.
It bears absoposolutley no resemblance to your corporate American swill. It is acually reformulated to resemble Labatts Blue which is the Canadian version of corporate swill.
Secondly I like it with scotch.On An Island By The SEA
Novy, you mean they actually brew Budweiser? And I thought the darned stuff was just a hop pop mix of liquid arsenic, waste Wolman fluid from pressure treated lumber, a little raw juice from a sewage treatment plant, a couple of spoonfuls of a sugar, a handful of galvanised nails, a hop harvest truck that passed within twenty or 100 miles (or about 30- 160 Km's) a hint of used condom, and a light, bright, smack of other nutrionally helpful chemicals. Jings.
I had no idea that they actually brewed it. I think I need a drink. Pass the whisky. Slainte.Some stuff I've made.
that's what I like about this site - you learn something
I always thought Bud was watered down pig urine.bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's cheat sheet
Canadian Bud is the lager of the gods !
On An Island By The SEA
Novy, is that a typo?---- lager of the gods
You surely meant to say--- the largest of the dogs? Slainte.Some stuff I've made.
I was talken American Bud.bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's cheat sheet
Oh, just all of them-- thanks Mike, but I'd prefer separate glasses, and no ice, ha, ha. Slainte.Some stuff I've made.
doc,
I'm suprised to see you consider yuour self a lurker. Maybe you don't post often but your comments are generally so valuable that your presencce is felt..
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Piffin,
I really haven't posted much except for a few questions. Is there any chance there could be more than one doc out there, or does the web site prevent that?
You can only register under one name but when you choose your online nickname, all of us could be the same person. There have been four Larry's, I think. There were days when it seemed like thirteen.....
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Is there any chance there could be more than one doc out there?
Yup. There's at least three of us, not counting the variations, like "Tooldoc".
You sign off as "doc", with a small "d", while I use a capital "D". The other Doc I don't know anything about him, as he hasn't supplied any info on his profile either, but I think he's a better lurker than both of us put together. How about it, Doc? Are you still with us here?
I have one other distinguishing feature besides my fantastic intellect and dashing good looks - not forgetting my humbleness - is that I very often add a tag to my posts, as you see below.
Doc
Keep smiling - - It makes everyone wonder what you're up to
How about you "Doc" types come up with new names, so we can figure out who is whom?
Maybe one of ya could use "Doc Campbell" or something like that.............(-:Q: Why don't roosters have hands?A: Because chickens don't have boobs.
T
Since I'm a pediatrician, I'll change my name to kid.doc (if I can figure out how).
just ckilck on your name in this box and another will come up offering you choices.
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
How about you "Doc" types come up with new names, so we can figure out who is whom?
Fair request.................And a fair response from doc
I'll just add on the handle I use in another forum, and become
Doc - The Old Cynic
If a hen-and-a-half can lay an egg-and-a half in a day-and-a-half..................
how long would it take a rooster sitting on a doorknob to hatch a hardware store?
Is there a contest here for the most unlikely Breaktime lurker? I'm a 70-year-old retired college English professor, building his own house on a lake in Wisconsin. A handyman in every home since I was 30, most of what I learned was from books that gave the the itch to build more. And then I learned more.
Doing all the work myself (with DW) except for foundation and heating; hired casual help for the heavy lifting, esp. building the 14/12 roof. Hired the shingling because we were right on the edge of snow season.
Am I having fun? You bet! Do I respect the pros who have answered my occasional questions here? You bet! Do I look for your spelling and grammar errors? Not much--nothing here compares with what my students inflicted on me, usually with much less intelligence that I find in most posts here.
I come here directly after the New York Times website.
Purple,
Glad youre aboard. At 70 (I'm 51) I'm guessing your hobby (? DYI) will bring you into decades more of staying fit and healthy and sharp and wise. Building can do that for a soul. So many things to compare each job to in your life. Spose' I'm kind of a Zen thinker. Just love where each building process takes my mind to in conjuntion to everything else. One of my favorite peeps are Helen and Scott Neering (Nearing sp?). Have you ever read any of their books...specially the ones with the pictures of the work they did. Oh, and I don't apologive for for my grandma..I mean grammer or is that grammar?
Be well
Namaste
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
"Doctor, doctor , doctor!
Glad I'm not sick!" Spies like us Chevy Chase
Doc you are a regular, At least I think I've heard your voice of reason before.
What exactly is a lurker? Is that someone who's name doesn't appear on the advanced search pull down menu?
"What exactly is a lurker?"
A lurker is someone who hangs around and reads the posts, but doesn't contribute. Kinda like a wallflower at a high school dance. We judge others by their actions, but we judge ourselves by our intentions. [Jerry Wunder]
don't underestimate the power of the lurker!
remember we add to the hit list for the site and help taunton decide to keep it going.
what was it Mark Twain said?
wish I could remember.
Are magazine readers "lurkers" cause they don't write articles?
even tho you're typing into a computer and reading words, people think like they're talking to real people and not the software that automaticly writes responses.
look how folks take responses personnally when the writer forgets to change the To to all, and reponds to the last poster.
look how personally i took being called a noncontributer.bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's cheat sheet
I don't necessarilly think lurkers are a bad thing. My intent on starting this thread wasn't to critize anyone lurking, it was to try to promote more participation. Add to the depth of knowledge that's already here.
Sometimes all it takes is a nudge for someone to open up and start talking.
BTW - I'm surprised no one asked me what a "wall to wall conference" is. (From the original post in this thread) Is that because everyone already knows what that is ???If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization.
just trying to add contraversy to the thread
I knew what you were doing and what you ment ( at least I think I did)
just pulling your chainbobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's cheat sheet
You pulled it well........................(-:What are we in life if we don't give ourselves room to kid, as adults? [Adam Rifkin]
Bossmiester........by the way...wheres my girlie calender buddy? lol
Be in a well
Namaste
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
The check/calendar is in the mail................(-:What is the white man's greatest contribution to the world? Blondes. [Adam Rifkin]
Alright, I am a lurker as well...I have a lot to learn, so I just sit back and read most of the time. It is funny that I say that, because I am one of those "E Words" {GASP}
Yup, I am an Engineer, although of the Electrical breed - I'm glad to see that most of the "Are Engineers REALLY as Dumb as They Seem?" talk centers around the "knuckledragging" engineers - mostly mechanical or civil - because I KNOW that EEs are better than CEs or MEs!!!! (just kidding, just kidding...although we all know it is true... :~P )
Anyway, I work in Telecom, but have roots in the building industry, via trying to pay for college, and working for my Dad/Grandpa on various building projects. My dad was a farmer, so he taught me that a used 2x4 is better than a new one ANYDAY! :~)
So, for all of you "real" workers out there, keep on setting us engineers straight...(that is sarcastic, but also being serious - I have NO delusions that I know everything...although my wife may not agree. :~)
Jamie
Ok, I'll bite. What's a wall to wall conference?
A "wall to wall conference" is when you bounce someone of this wall, then that wall, etc.The human mind is like an umbrella; it functions better when open.
I have to bite also. I support my family as an asset manager during the day. But on the side i do remodeling, decks, flooring, roofs, basements, repair jobs, etc... My father in law is a real estate agent and keeps me busy most of the time with repair jobs before closing or after people purchase a new house want they besements finished. I do everything from electrical to tile floors. It is my true passion to do this for a living but for now I work behind a desk to take care of my family. Since I now have a son(for a little over a year) I have slowed down on these jobs to spend with him, but the down time has gotten me into woodworking. I must say it is a lot of fun. Buying all the stationary tools to do it is even more fun. Just can't build furniture with a 77 and a 22oz framer. Thanks to all you for the information. One thing I would really like to know on another thread is what tools, fasteners, etc... the framers carry in their bag. I have a habit on putting in everything I need and my bag weighs a ton. But I never have to go searching for something!
I've posted only a couple of times in the few years I've been reading this. As said above, by the time I get to reading most threads, answers way better than what I have to offer have already appeared.
I'm the homeowner/DIY type. My work and passion is geology--I'm a research geologist for our state survey (Montana), working on assessing the ground-water resources of this big place (a 25+ yr job!). I certainly can pipe in on ground water, soils, and well systems.
I've been reading FHB and FW for years, I think of myself as more of a "finish work guy" but, boy do I have a lot to learn. We have a 112 yr-old Victorian in Butte--the second largest national historic district in the US. Those 4000+ sq ft plus basement and outbuildings have given me many challenges that have been surmountable by what I've read here. What has been so handy is being knowledgable while getting bids for big projects. I've found that a good number of people are pretty hardheaded that their way is the only way to do things (read--repoint old brick with out-of-the bag mortar mix). I chose to repoint my brick house myself (still in progress!).
A major thing I've gotten from reading BT is the general perspective on a contractor's business and pressures--I think I've become more understanding of how my project is not the center of a contractor's universe.
Larry Smith, Butte MT
Larry,
Montana, you lucky dog, what a beautiful state. Only been there once, Glacier and surrounding area, loved it.
".....by the time I get to reading most threads, answers way better than what I have to offer have already appeared."
Don't let that stop ya. Sometimes it takes some reinforcement before a poster will take an idea seriously. They have to be told several times that there's no cheap way to stop their basement walls from leaking, etc. They won't always believe it when only one person tells them.
Don't know if you've paid attention much since you've been here, but Splinter is from up your way somewhere. She's very shy and reluctant to share her opinion, but she's O.K. otherwise.Is it possible to be totally partial?
Jeesh, the pressure is tremendous...
Not only a breaktime, but entire Taunton.com lurker. I hit every forum. Interests run too broadly, perhaps. I've been hanging out since before the big change in style. We bought a started shell a couple of years ago and I finished it with assistance from this forum. From tile to electrical to finish carpentry assistance-there wasn't anything I couldn't get an answer for from this forum and/or it's archives.
1/2 mile from the big lake in SW Michigan...
...if I had a hammer... oh, wait; I have a hammer... if I had a bigger hammer:))
Measuring tape, speedsquare, 16penny sinkers, 8s, Framing hammer, earplugs, sunscreen, nail puller (catspaw, pigfoot, etc) chalkline, bandaids ;):
Jenn
OK then. I'm a first-timer. Northern Colorado, general tinkerer, personal home basher/remodeler among other things. Just wondering, what are all those little icons that show up near the posts? i.e., the little paper clip, the thumbs up, and all the others?
Don't know if I can answer ALL your questions, but........
The thumbs up/thumbs down is to rate your interest in a thread. Thumbs up means you're interested. Thumbs down puts it on ignore, so you won't see it anymore.
I don't have a paper clip on my screen. Could be that it's unique to one browser or another.
Keep in mind that the sandbox was created for the purpose of new people practicing using this software, and answering questions. You can always mess around in there and try ignoring a few threads just to see how it works.Live simply...so I can have the stuff you don't use
I have mine set for advanced viewing and the thumbs up appears automatically when I post to a thread or I can set it at the bottom after scrolling and reading all to date.
The paperclip shows up in the left list of threads when there is an attachment within it, such as a photo or a drawing..
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
OK then, a bunch of philosophers . . . I'm just a simple boy myself. I'll give this forum my best. 'Till next time, PS
I am a registered architect and practice in Boston, MA. I am currently building an ICF home 30 miles west of the city. My goals include re-establishing the architect as the prime builder in the construction process.
Hi all,
Retired form the big Blue Oval in the real motor city moved to Brooklyn, Mi. on a lake. Tons of woodworkers and do it your selfers in the area. I am the jack of all trades but the master of few, so I built a 46X60 pole barn for all the toys and a shop. Thanks to you guys I am learning how to do all those neat things correctly. Thanks to everyone Jim G.
I've been reading here and at Knots for a few years now. I tend to post more there, though still a rarity.
i've doen a total of about a year of house carpentry, from digging foundations and framing to rock and finish. Went to the northwest school of wooden boatbulding to learn how to use traditional hand tools. worked at legendary yachts near portland, or doing large scale finish work on wooden sailboats, but basically worked on all phases of construction. after a few years on my knees, went and trained with james krenov and michael burns at college of the redwoods. I now teach woodworking to kids in grade k-8 at a private school in las vegas. build furniture in my spare time and dream about the day when my brother and i can go into business together. he is an experienced carp and is currently working his way through architecture school
i've learned a helll of a lot here over the years. thanks.
-kit
Hi Boss,
I am currently working on a retreat center in Batavia NY. I have been on staff here as a volunteer for the past two years mostly drywalling, shingling, and trimming out the new building. I have also been in charge of maintenance of the other two buildings in Rochester NY. Our web site is http://www.RZC.org. The retreat center is called Chapin Mill after the person who donated the land. I have also worked as a wood- shop teacher in inner city Chicago for ten years, did heating and AC for a year, and worked as an outdoor educator (NOLS) for a couple of summers. I worked for a company that did high end restoration for some of the old mansions in Rochester and helped build a LARGE log cabin for a sheep rancher in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming.
Mike Chrest
I have posted a few times but mostly I read and learn. I am in East-Central Illinois and work for a builder who does ICF homes. I have learned alot from FHB, JLC, and these forums.
Mark
Yes, I am serious. And don't call me Shirley.
Hey Boss.
I am a carpenter in NW Colorado. Been reading FHB for a few years and just got into Breaktime this fall. Work with another fella on nice custom projects and nice smaller projects. Just built my wife her first house and she lets me stay here. If I'm not working, you can bet your bottom dollar that I am on the river or backcountry lake wetting a line. Thanks for the opportunity to introduce myself. This forum has been informative and entertaining, I hope that I can continue to learn.
After tossing back a few in some of the other threads in the Tavern, I suppose I'll officially "introduce" myself... I've been on Breaktime for about a year and a half, still learning so much that I spend a lot more time reading than posting. Currently reside in Milwaukee Wisconsin, graduated from college with an accounting degree last year, spent my college time managing rental properties and doing small rehab on the side. Currently I'm tied to a desk all day as a tax accountant, but I try to spend nights and weekends making as much of a mess as possible. Will be gutting/rebuilding an 80 year old bathroom starting in a couple weeks so I'm sure I'll be posting questions.
Cheers
Andy
Hi, my name is Mitch, and I'm a Lurker.
Boss knows who I am, I don't post much, but read often. I'm located in central Indiana. I got my start doing room additions and light remodeling. I now specialize in interior trim and custom woodworking. I come from a line of woodworkers, my dad, his dad; I got my start at woodworking at age 13, my dad teaching me a lot of what I know. Now the apprentice has become the teacher, just don't tell him that.LOL I got into this profession because I love building, the way a 25 oz. framer feels in my hand. But anyhoo, I keep telling myself I need to post more often, but the bug hasn't bit yet. Also want to thank the regulars on the board for the insight they bring to the table. Knowledge is power, never stop learning. Nuff said.
Mitch
Hey Mitch -
Nice to hear from you again. Hope you'll start posting more often. I'm sure you have something to add somewhere. There have been several threads about trim of various kinds. You can jump into those if nothing else.
BTW - Did you see the posting about HogFest next spring? Hope you'll consider making it over for that..........Q: Why does a women rub her eye's in the morning?A: Because she doesn't have testicles to scratch.
All right, you smoked me out...heavy lurker, sometime poster, regular FH reader. CT architect - (dare I say that out loud?): commercial work, dabble in residential remodels/additions. DIYer on my own old house...that's what brings me here...
hello all,
i post every once in a while and "lurk" 4 or 5 times weekly. i've been a carpentry/maintenance/handyman sub for 9 years. moved from the Western Slope of Colorado to Asheville, NC a year and a half ago. this forum is a great resource for me relating to my business as well as renovations to my own home. the information and experience here is not found in any book. the personalities of the posters make the information much easier to relate to. i appreciate everyone's knowlege and help over the time i 've been reading here.
i'm no expert on anything but i'll put my $0.02 every once in a while. if anyone mountain bikes and wants info on riding in WNC, that i do know about.
Earl
Hey Boss-
Thanks for asking. I'm a halfway-regular lurker and occasional poster to all the Taunton forums (except the sewing one). I'm also a long-time subscriber to FH. Like this thread, by the time I notice a thread it is already 2-3 days old and most of what needs to be said, has been said. I've been interested in architecture and building since I was a teen many years ago, although I haven't worked in the field in over twenty years.
I live in the southwest corner of New Jersey, which is, believe it or not, a very rural area with an agriculturally based local economy. My GC is finishing up the major phase of the restoration/renovation/addition to our 150+ year old farmhouse. I could have added a lot to the recent you-know-you-have been-on-the-job-too-long thread, but it still isn't funny yet.... There are a few great stories to tell when I get my sense of humor back!
FWIW, I have a whole herd of relatives in Madison County, IL (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Alton, etc.) and lots of fond memories of summers spent there as a boy.
While I'm not much of a DIYer (too lazy, I guess), I really like understanding how things work and how they are put together. This forum helps me do that!
OK, long time lurker/reader. So long, I feel like I know most of you better than alot of people I've actually met. I only post when I have questions or absolutely know the answer to something. (Rarely) I'm one of those "know a little about alot, alot about little" people. Anyway, I live in northwest New Jersey, pretty rural, after growing up a stone's throw from Manhattan. My background is eclectic to say the least. Been in and out of computer operations/programming/administration for the last 20 or so years. With stints in the middle in bowling center management, remodeling contractor, bartending, UPS delivery, knife sales, etc. I have rehabbed/renovated 3 of my own houses and am in the middle of an add a level addition/remodel on my current house. When I don't have a big project going on, I get bored. Then my wife sends me to friends/relatives house to destroy..Uhhh I mean remodel them.
Hi Boss,
Reading some of your posts has helped me to empathize with our truss fabricator!
I've been in construction since getting out of college in '86. Started in historic preservation, then to new/ tract homes and finally settled into remodeling. I ran my own company for 6 years, but closed it down last year. learned alot in those six years, but God..............expensive tuition!
I'm working for a small remodeler in Md., just outside of DC. Mostly office stuff, but occasionally I wear my belt.
Mostly, I guess I'm a learning junky. I'm always interested to see whether my instincts are shared by others, whether I ought to reconsider some things, or whether, as my wife occasionally reminds me, I'm just full of it. The spirited give and take is what I like the most.
So far, it's been easy to find the time to lurk, harder to find the time to actually chime in (busy at work & 3 girls under the age of 8). I'd like to contribute and hope to soon.
Mike
DIY addict.
22 or so rooms, not counting bathrooms, 4400 sq.ft, built in 1888.
OK, so it is three units, 6br, 3br and 1br apartments.
This stuff is very addicting. I tried having someone in to do some simple sheetrock and I wound up almost getting fired by staying home to "supervise". One day I'm going to quit cold turkey. Really.
Gotta go, there's a sale at HD.
I've been luking here for two years. Asked one question last winter about hiring a home inspector. Great advice. I'm now sitting in that house becoming a DIYer.
Curently in VERY Northern N.Y. but when I retire from the service (USCG) I'll head back to the woods of Maine and start building My own house.
Untill then I'll just keep reading and learning!!!!
Ward
Howdy Boss,
I'm mostly a lurker, but have found the courage on occasions to post some questions and answer a few as well. Answering questions feels good!
I'm a mechanical engineer by education but work in HVAC sales. With the help of FH magazine and this forum, I've undertaken the role as "Dumb Homeowner GC" for my house addition. I might have bitten off more than I can presently chew but I know I made the right decision to GC myself. I really feel like a contractor because as I hear you guys say quite often, your own homes take a while to build and finish.
Thanks for everyone's input ,patience and dedication to this forum
Tim from NJ
Hello all..
I work for a school district in Texas, not far from San Antonio, as acomputer support person. Have worked in lumber yards, truss plants, andcabinet shops when I was younger. I still do some smallish projects tohelp out neighbors and friends, but most of my woodworking now ends upin one of my adult children's homes.
This is a great site to "lurk" on and relieve the brain-drain from thenormal days stresses. Whenever I need a break, I usually end up eitherhere or on Knots.
Have learned a lot here
Thanks all.
Chuck
Hey Boss,
Taking a guess here but I think I have been lurking here for about 5 years. I do post occasionally about pencils & simple stuff.
I build mostly unusual things.
I could become one of the most prolific posters ( No offense Piff ) if I wanted to be a writer.
I very much admire the effort that the regulars put into their replies to the most complex and mundane of questions.
I usually have an urge to post a reply but by the time I have composed a reply in my head there is usually a very good answer. The problem is that there is also alot of really bad answers to the same questions as well. I get frustrated with non Pro Thinking!
I run a crew of pros (Union) and take pride in being able to communicate the requirements of the job which they will then go out and accomplish.
I am a cabinetmaker by trade ( Apprenticed with an Italian Master) who has been exposed to all levels of construction. I mostly work now as a construction manager in the film industry.
Some of the most important things my uncle taught me ( See Italian Master) were :
Learn to Think
Learn Design & Proportion (See Above)
Learn Buisness (See Above)
Invest in your future
His wife (My Aunt) taught me to never write a letter with a sentence that started with the word I.
To quote a great breaktimer "So what do I Know?
HI; Been lurking for a couple of months on and off. Got the idea from the magazine. I'm into remodel, tile and small additions. (1+1= ?)
Currently building a house in the now snowy hudson valley.
Lou
Nothing to prove and a lot to learn
Stoicone
Hudson Valley New york?
andyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Yeah, that's the spot.
I've been reading FHB since the 80's and have been on the Forum for a couple of years -have posted half-a-dozen times. I work as an architect in the Wash DC area and I read a lot of spec's on building materials and installation techniques. I do a little DIY on my own place-the demo work tho seems to outpace the actual new construction. My favorite on-line threads are the vapor barrier discussions and anything tearing into architects-I've learned alot from both.
Welcome Clev
Personally I don't tear into Arch's.I like tearing into home inspector duche buckets. There are maybe one or two good ones but yet to find em'
Be a wall
Namaste
AndyYou don’t complete your inner work before you do your outer work. Nor do you say, "Well, the hell with the inner work: I’ll go do the outer work because it’s so important and pressing." That’s not conscious either. The conscious thing is the simultaneous doing of both. "Ram Dass"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I've only lurked a couple of times but plan to check in more often. The "Fonzie" comes from a teenage desire to be cool that never happened.
I was always building things as a kid. Went off to college to be a teacher (math) like everybody else. Got sick at college, had to come home and start the perfect profession for me, construction. Started in '65, my own business in '70. I worked mostly by myself for 18 years, doing all kinds of remodeling from the smallest of jobs to complete houses. The last 14 years I have "teamed up" with another family man with 25 years experience from a different direction. This has turned out to be the best of all. It just gets easier and easier. We do drywall, carpentry, electrical, ceramic tile, concrete, painting, all remodeling, all residential.
One thing I have enjoyed most is the privilege of meeting people in their homes. You are there longer than the relatives, and get to know them in a special way that no one else has the opportunity to.
Hi my names Rick and I am a toolaholic
Take a number and move to the back of the line. Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
Hi guys....my names Rick and I'm a toolaholic can you help me? Been in denial for years or should I say in the tool aisles for years...
Answer: Well rick, I'd suggest you go and take a vacation. Possibly to an impovished country where your tools may incorporate some worthy function.......such as the South Bronx here in NY or maybe even Turkey where they dont even raise turkeys.......otherwise...HD with an orange apron...oiy...teach folks about the roto -zip and,,,,,uh.....wont say his name due to the HD police :)
AOne works on oneself, always. That's the greatest gift you can give to community because the more you extricate your mind from that which defines separateness, that defines community. The first thing is to become community. "Ram Dass"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Boss,
I'm a home appraiser, DIY rehabber in the Suburbs of Chicago. I'm rehabbing a 100 year old house and find the forum an invaluable resource. I also enjoy the personalities of those who post. I hope to be able to someday contribute to the forum. For now I'm in the learning as I go stage.
Before I start any new project I search the forum. Many times the comments and advice have saved me from learning the hard way. Kudos to all those who contribute.
Mike in Aurora, IL
" I got banned from Mike Holt's NEC forum for using profanity and agitating the regulars because the attitude was that I couldn't wire my own house"
Probably not the best thing to have in your introduction........
I hope you'll use a more little discretion here. The fact that some don't think you can wire your own house is no reason to go off on them.
It's like raising 120 kids all going through puberty at the same time.
I've been reading the forum off and on for around 7 months or so but I mostly lurked. When I first found this site, I went and purchased about 8 back issues. :)
I'm a homeowner and been finding little bit here and there to do. I've been avoiding tackling any big projects though. I am about half-way into my stacked rock border project and pond project. Last Sunday I turned on the pump. Waterfall! Success! I still have to backfill a lot of dirt and lay the border rocks around the pond. Maybe I'll grab a few feeder fish from Petsmart and throw them in, to see if they can survive the fierce Georgia winter. :)
I'm an attorney, but I try very hard to work 40 hours so I can putter around the house looking for thing I can do myself. A great site!
I don't think you can wire your own house!
...actually, I really don't care.......
just wanted to see what would happen.......
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Jeff
I thought the same thing!
Apparently that discretion that Boss is talking about doesnt apply to the regs, have you ever saw Andy go off?
If you want discretion go over to Fine Woodworking, their the politest bunch of wood workers that I have ever been around.
Doug
doug is dat u ? man ...i can't keep my dougs straight...
lessee.. i'm guessin reckoMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
No
Recko is Dougbobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's cheat sheet
thanks bob.... at least i know who you are .... don't i ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
yea, unless you look for my login name, then I'm not me, I'm walerjan.bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's cheat sheet
"If you want discretion go over to Fine Woodworking, their the politest bunch of wood workers that I have ever been around."
I hope that changed that impression. Polite? Tish! Not me. Slainte.
Some stuff I've made.
"Apparently that discretion that Boss is talking about doesnt apply to the regs"
I think it does. We don't need more people "...using profanity and agitating the regulars..." - Or agitating anyone else, for that matter. Last night I had a dream that my flour sack was kidnapped and the abductors started sending me muffins in the mail. [Frasier]
Hello everyone,
I'm a retiring soldier Combat Engineer settling into a small Alberta town. Done 25 the hard way with the green machine as a Combat Engineer and now the mileage is catching up. Bought my first house (20 yr old 3bdrm Bungalow) and I'm in the process of updating/improving(?!) I have lots of experience with horizontal construction and demolition (bridges/roads, earthmoving, etc) and a desire to learn more about vertical. I'm originally a BC boy and eventually may return, but for now I grow kids, dandelions, and some tell me, cranky.
Town finally it's first chain grocery store last summer and that is where I discovered FHB/FW and ultimately this forum. Since I'm in the process of acquiring tools/eqpt and converting a garage into a shop, I have found the advice here to aid greatly in my decisions. I look forward to contributing in my own minor way to the brain trust here.
Merry Christmas!
D.
P.P.S. I was born in Twisp, WA
long time lurker, prefer reader, rare poster. wall flower? could hold up a wall with the best of them. after 184 posts its been said, again. i too often get here late. made money for others for too long-just ask my wife- so at 51 got my own lic up here in no. cal. after 6 months- as others have said- not looking back. wish i could get here more often. love the banter the community and the information. thanks all of you. paul.
Combat engineers, huh? I spent 4 years in them myself - 299th combat Engineers in Ft. Sill Ok. and then the 99th combat (heavy) Engineers in Kahrlsruh, Germany.
Loved blowing up things. (Gotta watch who ya tell that, though)
The bailey bridges were kinda neat, too. And the heavy equipment.It's not dying for a faith that's hard. It's living up to it.
boss... i spent 3 years at Sill.. ever get out to Medicine Park ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Medicine park? Was that the one NW of the base, with that little "mountain" you could drive up to the top of?
I was out there quite a bit. wandered around out in the rocks and hills on the west side of the park off and on, when it wasn't too hot.
There was also some neat places out on the west side of the post, where there were small lakes and woods. That's where we used to take excess materials we had once a year and dump so we didn't get caught when we had the I.G. coming.
What unit were you in? Remember Sheridan Road? It went into post a ways, then made a 90° turn south. The motor pool I was in was on the inside of that curve.Life is playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.
TAD.. target acquisition dept. Artillery Survey instructor, ...
Medicine Park was an old summer camp with a hotel and lots of stone cabins , probably from the 20's..
Medicine Creek ran right thru Sill... and Geronimo supposedly rode his horse off the cliffs into the creek to escape at one time or another ("Geronimo ! " the first airborne trooper )Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Don't remember Medicine Park. Where was it exactly?
Remember the "Golden Dragon"? Was it there when you were around?
I was there from 1980-1982.An erection doesn't count as personal growth.
so solly, no dragon....
'66 to '69.... spent a lot of time on the weekends at OCLA in ChickashaMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
'66 to '69.. ???
DANG, you must be old.
The "Golden Dragon" was the premier strip club, right outside the gate in Lawton. You couldn't hardly move in there, it was so packed with guys. (Or so I've heard)Do they ever shut up on your planet?
"premier strip club"
"couldn't hardly move in there, it was so packed with guys"
That must have been interesting when the acts were on!bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's cheat sheet
Hey Mike....
tell us younger guys.....
What was Geronimo really like ...in person?
Thanks,
Respectifully,
Jeff....jr.Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
don't know.. but i did date Chief Quanna Parker's granddaughter while i was there..
now, i never saw her jump off no cliffs....
hey wiley... this is my instant messenger.... works great !Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
dang , jeff... i sure wanna be a fly on your wall when you start tellin corey about the good ole days... hah, hah, hah..
respectfully, my arseMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I bet you Mike remembers back to when Centurion was a rank, not a tank;)
well I'v been avoiding this question for sometime now (I like to travel the internet in my secret form so no one will know that I'm really mick jagger. gotta dance,gotta dance,boogy,boogy.) just kidding. I'm just a jack of all trades master of none handy man that lives in up state new york (look out the yankees are coming back)I build homes,remodel homes,enhance homes,clean homes,paint homes,smell homes.basically i dont get out much.meanwhile while lurking about mysterioulsy,you folks have had me rolling on the floor kicking and screaming laughing all the time.except for when something serious was posted and thats when the knowledge of this group really shines through.When not depleating homeowners of their hard earned cash I like to drink beer,beat on my old six string(which i keep promising myself that I'll refinish someday),and spent time with my wife and kids.
add- I think your MO could fit a lot of the folk that hang around here. And if you play guitar and sing in a nasal tone so what! Look at Dylan! Roar!You pompous egotistical redneck, it's not a ponytail. I'm just getting ready for a mean combover and it'll look a lot better than yours!
Wrong answer !
Hello all, another lurker here. I've posted once or twice in past year or so but mainly just pop in and look here for info, opinions, laughs, etc. I'm a GC in W. Michigan, full time for about 2 years, part time 2 years before that, factory worker-diy-handyman 17 years prior. I'm basically a one man show but pick up help when I can't do it alone. My wife is often my right hand man (person), and yes, we can work together all day and still come home together. We build about 2 houses each year, 1 spec. 1 custom and fill in with small remodel stuff when possible. It's tough starting out from scratch basically (the competition is fierce-a different builder on every corner) but I've achieved my first goal which was getting out of the factory work and replacing that income. Now we just have to stick it out and let our work build a reputation for us and we will do just fine. Love this forum!
Just catching up here after the holidays. I am a radar engineer working for the Navy. So the few posts I have here are comment on radar detectors, satellite dishes and jobsite radios. I also have a hobby of cutting and polishing gemstones, so I occasionally comment on stone work.
Erich
Hi all
Been lurkin here for awhile I post once in a while If I can say something useful, or not .I'm a freelance carpenter in B.C. Mostly subcontract stuff, alot of trimwork some cabinet making ,some boat building, some commercial highrise stuff, some logbuilding, anything that provides an excuse to by some tools . I tried contracting but I don't have the stomach (read attention span) for it .I've never had to look for a job ,people just seem to find me and pay what I ask.Most of my apprentiship was building custom homes so I learned abit of everything along the way.So far it's a good life. So hi all see ya around ! Thanks fer the interesting reading ( it beats TV most of the time) heres some custom carpenters pencils for whoever needs one.
Rik
" i'm a signature virus , copy me to your sig line ,resistance is futile"
Know anything about garage door openers?
I've wanted to increase the range of my transmitter for some time, but haven't been able to figure out how. I have to kinda drive 'round the house to get to the garage, and the transmitter won't transmit through the house. So I end up waiting for the door to open.
I suspect that increasing the output of the transmitter is illegal. But can you incease the size of the antenna, or put in a repeater of some sort? Or maybe increase the size of the antenna? (It's just a wire hanging out the back of the opener)What is a "free" gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
> or put in a repeater of some sort?
Maybe move the RF receiver to the other side of the building, and just run a hard wire from there to the garage. Most of them work on momentary contact, like a doorbell button.
-- J.S.