Making the most of inexpensive materials
NannyGee
| Posted in General Discussion on
I would like to hear some stories of how anyone – professional or DIY – made something nice out of inexpensive materials. Whether using materials in unconventional ways or just a pet project that consumed more time than materials.
Too often great ideas are judged irrelevant because they are time intensive and if you’re not a DIY’er time is money. But let’s assume time is not a big issue.
The “I did this really cool…..with some donated/found/scrounged materials” ideas would be interesting, but not practical for someone else to duplicate. Ideally, we could share ideas here.
Replies
To get things started, I'll offer a simple example;
I needed to install about 80 linear feet of 28" tall pine beadboard in my basement remodel recently. A somewhat rustic look was fine. The big box store nearby sold packages of 4"x8' strips for about $1.50 sq.ft. (other options were more expensice, but handier) They also sold "budget" packs of the same material that were probably factory rejects on sale for $.80 sq.ft.. Each piece had a defect of some sort that needed to be cut out. But since I could only get three pieces of 28" material out of an 8' piece anyway, I cut around the defects without wasting more than I would have using the good stuff.
It sounds putsy, but it went surprisingly fast and the non-handy friends who see it think it cost a fortune.
We have had to shave costs to make our 45 year old ranch in a near ghetto neighborhood habitable without throwing our money away. Our bathroom had a lovely cabinet in an alcove, with a pink and gold formica vanity-top, and not a lot of silver left on the mirror. We painted the cabinet white, added a white tile counter and splash with white porcelain sink (oval shape is large and pretty, without breaking the bank.) Then added can lights behind the pretty wooden "thingy" that hangs from the ceiling. Nothing unusual here except the economical materials came together to look like something in Kitchen & Baths. The best bargain was 5 $3 mirrors from a Family Dollar store - the kind you put on a door to see yourself full-length. My husband put 3 on the main wall, and one on each side of the alcove. I can see the back of my head, the light reflects beautifully, and to my surprise, they are holding up well to moisture (we like to soak in the tub & make a lot of steam.)
Oh yes, and a lidless divided plastic lunch box became a perfect, washable drawer divider that we throw our toothbrushes in (keeps my pretty white counter clutter-free.)
Shopping carefully is important to all of us.
I'm sure Luka can jump in here anytime too, after he gets over the glow of his newfound fame.
Tim Mooney has posted a recipe for mixing older miscoloured or discontinued paint with SR Mud and water to use as a primer that I found intriguing.
The thing to be careful of is false economy. eg. I just torn down a kitchen ceiling to the bones. The owners considered leaving it all exposed for "effect" but the real reason I percieved was to save money, - "Just paint it and it will look great!" Until I pointed out that it would cost more to clean, prep and paint it, heat it, clean cobwebs out of it, light it, etc. thatn they would ever save in putting up the new rock and insulation.
One of my cost savings has been on my driveway. It is 900 feet long on wet ground. Potholes as big as a VW can open up in it. I keep all the used brick I get from demoing chimneys, etc. and fill them in with an interlocking herringbone, then pack in a few shovels full of inch minus over the brick fill. Drive gets better every year and I've saved ten grand in stone fill. On this Island we have no gravel so trucking by ferry gets expensive..
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
Thanks all.
Another example that occurs to me is using sheetrock in layers to create trim, frame, or panel effects on walls or ceilings. It costs almost nothing in materials (you could probably do a lot with just scrap) and doesn't even take that long to do. Every time I see an example of this (not often) I ask myself why I don't see it more often.
Had 2 fairly cheap.....yet real wood.....bookcases...that were to be thrown out because the room they were in was to become our baby room.
I needed to make a built-in changing table/shelving unit in there..and was planning on a pair of closets with some cab's in between for our room.
I cut the bookcases in half.....and used the top part...open shelving...as the base for the changing table....just put a sheet of ply for the top and trimmed out with 1x2.
The bottoms...already enclosed with doors.....became two side by side cab's that the closets were built around in our room.
Saved me both time and materials....on both projects. The changing table went together in less than 3 hrs....including breakingt out the circular saw to cut the tops free.
I wanted to have clothes storage down to the floor....so I turned the tops upsidedown.......and the the old top piece was now the shelving cab floor.
Painted up...both look great. Olny cost for both was the paint and 2 bifold mirror closet doors.....the rest was job side scrap.......leftover studs....drywall.....ply...1x2 poplar.......most everything came right out of the garage.
Jeff..............Al-ways look on......the bright......side of life...........
.......whistle.....whistle.......whistle........
everyone loves the look of natural wood, but you have to admit, miracles can happen with paint and a little creativity!
Try mixing old cans of paint together and adding some white maybe to tone down the color. I've saved hundreds of dollars doing rooms in my house this way.
Buy tiles that are ends of lots at your tile store for dirt cheap. Smash all the different colors up in a bucket and try some mosaic work. I made a few table tops that way.
Get skids for free from tile supply houses that come from over seas. I've gotten the most exotic woods that way to make furnature after I planed em down.
One persons garbage is anothers treasure.
Be well
Namaste'
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I built a chickenhouse out of free crate lumber. Chickens like it, but they aint none too particular. Oh well...
I'm with you on the paint mixing scheme.
My basement is 14 x28 in a main room that is my teens hangout. It needs to be rough but attractive as the thought of suspended ceilings in a 7'5" with 6'4";ers hanging out there.
The problem was the ceiling was real 2 x 12's that have survived the age of coal heat and are basically beyond walnut for color. The place sucked up light like a black hole. I strapped on the sprayer and was going to have at the surface but the paint was an issue. At 10 bucks a gallon it couldn't see that it would get done w/o a second mortgage.
I went to the local paint store (the real one where they actually make paint not open boxes from the factory) and bought mis-tints. at $2.00 a gallon I was able to sort thru 4 pallets of the stuff and pull together about 30 gallons in the white to light blue spectra. I took it home and mixed it in the yard pouring bucket to 5 gallon pail and around and around til it was all a uniform light sky blue
After spraying on a PVA coat I put the rest of the paint up on the rough sawn 2x12 and the bottom side of the pine flooring. It looks real good and it is super easy to service the plumbing & all other utilities.
Where's the boy's birthday pic?"The blue and the dim and the dark clothsOf night and light and the half light..."--???
Party was today.......Steelers decided to win to help out........pics still in camera.......will have to get a disk with the developing.........as in a fit of rage a few weeks ago.......Dad deleted all the damn scanner files!
Guess what Mom and Dad are pretty sure their X-Mas persent is gonna be.......can ya say....digital!
Besides...the real birthday ain't till T-Giving Day.
Will post pics asap. And....it's official.....as of last week......he's walking with authority.
Jeff..............Al-ways look on......the bright......side of life...........
.......whistle.....whistle.......whistle........
Old Victorians being torn down for parking lots and the like. Just hate that but waste not want not. 16 foot lengths of old growth 1x10 redwood clapboard siding. Cleaned up and inverted with paint side to the house on an addition I built. Try to buy the stuff new somewhere. If you can find in $$$$ and not the nice colored old stuff.
Same goes for interior trim casing and baseboards. That old poplar is knot free and straight. Try pricing 8 inch baseboard stock with a top rail or 3 and 4 piece trim casing. And sure beats that funny stuff they sell at the local HD. Roar!
Not quite got the gall to brave the ladder work and roofs for slate shingles tho'. Must be getting older.
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Edited 11/24/2002 10:59:09 AM ET by rez
Seems like everytime I do this I am chastized by someone because this is part of fine home building. They dont all agree with my methods. I however do it from the lanlord approach so what you are saying rings true to me sometimes. Im being paid whether I work on my rentals or not so the money is "THE" issue. That puts me in a non professional habitat of having to think about labor issues. I also work for the public where labor is money. Under conditions where I work for the public , the subject is moot . On the situation you ask for ;
I buy salvage materials from people doing teardowns and find values in straight clear lumber used years past. I always buy my brick this way and pay about 1/3 of the going rate. I visit salvage stores to buy and fix what is broken normally. Some times cammodes are bought to make one . I have even bought seats and repaired them. My shop has turned into a repair center and I often sell some of the things that I repair. Via the internet I have fixed a lot of appliances . I check at every lumber yard for damaged or returned materials while I am there anyway. One yard puts all the items in an area out side the store. There is really no telling what they will have each day. They also have a rack of four foot lumber that has been sawed up because its crooked , plus they used to give me broken drywall until they seen how much I was using . The list is long of what I have fixed and resold to contractors and used my self. I bought a new fridge not long ago that sold for 600 dollars, for 100 dollars. It had a damaged door and side . I made a homasote chalk board for the door framed in oak . I made a note board for the side framed in a matching frame . All those materials except the oak was bought from the damaged section. The oak was already paid for once by a customer in some cabinets I made to match in their home. I had some rips left over and they came in handy here. I put the fridge in one of my new rentals and the renters think its so kool ! You just have to look at the inventory and come up with an idea of how to use it . This should get you started .
Tim Mooney
In the category of the penny dish at the 7-11 (leave one take one)
Toilets are a mystery to me, but the urban environment I live in I put out 2 old toilets at the street and within an hour Monday morning they disappear. This didn't seem to work on the upright freezer and an avocodo green referigerator.
Don't pitch em. leave them at the street.
Save, Reuse, recycle!
First thing I want to explain is this how I got the nick" goofy " on here . My friends shake their head at me and joke about me . I think I have more money in my wallet and bank account that the ones that lauf however.
The avocda fridge can be sold to people with cabins , or people wanting two for holidays . Shops , garages , multiuse buildings , etc ., if it runs . If it doesnt run there are people that will haul it off for worm beds or minnow vats . Farmers need it to keep drugs in the barn , list goes on. Makes a water trough sunk in the ground that resists freezing.
They go pretty fast when put on dial a trade or peoples exchange. The worm business is the new fad right now for eating compost. Its the make a living quick scheme right now , and also homeowners free fertilizer maker thats natural. Most are being sent to Africa. Bring worms up in search and it will amaze you! I would like to have that fridge my self to keep minnows in during crappy season. They will deliver to you whole sale.
Tim Mooney
I got the avocado fridge from my sister in law. Free if you don't count the 2 flights down, trailer rental, drive up north, and the power it used before it tripped the breaker never to restart, the food that spoiled, and the 35 clams to get the city guys to haul the freon loaded carcas to the compressing plant.
I'm all for parsimonious behavior but this one is probably crushed to the size of a beachball by now.Serves it right. Next time I'll find a worm dealer!
I needed to make some paneled cabinets (18" wide x 40" long and 36" high) that would be used to differentiate the space between the living room and dining room where a wall used to be--the plan was that on the dining room side would be doors to access the china or whatever and on the living room side they would be paneled. The plan was also to paint them white to match the rest of the wood trim.
Built the carcasses out of MDF - $20 for a 4x8 sheet-built the carcas then brad nailed 1/4" x 2 1/2" strips to the edges to produce the panel effect. By the time its all caulked up and painted no one knows that it's all trickery.
Ordered the cab doors online (4 x $50) made to order and then but glass (4 x $75) in them from the local glass shop (ok the doors weren't cheap). Then jointed together a solid oak top, stained and polyed and attatched. They look great --sorry no pictures--in the end they cost about $600 in materials but if I'd had some one come and produce two built in cabinets I bet it would cost more.
Watch someone tell me they'd have done it for a clean $500 in cash.
cje
Take what you want, leave the rest
The desk that I am sitting at right now was made from the top half of an old mantle. It came from an old Victorian house that must have been huge. The space where the mirror once was, now holds two file cabinets, the computer tower, and still has room for my legs.
The carvings are still intact, but the wood was in really poor condition -- it would not have been feasible to restore the old finish. Oh well -- two cans of spray paint, a leftover formica countertop, and a few screws and brackets is all it took to make this addition to my family room. It is attractive, and extremely functional.
Dave Thompson
Tim- always good to hear reports from someone wise enough to make use of salvageable materials. A number of folks making good money running salvage stores full of housing parts. I personally got a thang for old victorian components. Wish they'd quit tearing them down tho'. Awful ugly thing to see a big backhoe destroy history in the the name of mdf and vinyl. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
I worked for a school district maintenance dept. for 6 years; the administrators got into a modernization frenzy and had us tearing out tons of birch plywood cabinets, clear doug fir drawers, and mill-core
birch doors, and throw them into the dumpster! Of course the new cabinetry was all laminated MDF that will last about 5 years.
The wood butchers that I worked with didn't even bat an eye at this sacrilege...but they're the guys that were always using clear pine for furring strips behind drywall, and temporary hand rails.
I'm not a violent person, but...
After some sneaky dumpster diving, I retrieved enough birch to build cabinets for my kitchen remodel, and a hand-carved oak office chair (circa 1910) that was tossed because it only had 4 casters! Sick, sick, sick!
Wood is Good; may Wood be with you
Guitarman- Welcome to breaktime.
Always had a dream I'd hit a garage sale sometime and find a $100 replacement for my two old 70s les pauls I sold way back when I was young and foolish. Did find a $50 old japan strat and case that plays sweet. But those pauls were a class of their own.
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
I quit smoking this morning so I may be on edge . LOL !
I think its more who pays the bills and whose decision it is to buy what type of materials. The way I see it, the customers views gets respect because they are paying . Who are we to complain ? Most senarios will be that way with the pros here , while not the home owners. No, they want the best cheaper as they should be thinking , but it aint gonna happen ! LOL! The pro is working for his labor and he wants to pour quality in his work because that is his life . So, here comes this pro [Goofy }, and he acts like a home owner , but he is realizing his thoughts. Thats goofy for the pro to understand and is bad advice for me to be giving a home owner. Its really pretty simple to understand ;
The trades man wants as much as he can draw for the best product he can build to further his reputation to do it again and again . He wants to be the man ! I agree .
The owner wants as much as he or she can get for as much as they can afford , but always the best for the cheapest . I agree .
I hope that I am acting in my thoughts as a realist to come to a compromise between the two, and I hope Ive got the sense to see the difference in different areas. I try to take the appraisors , or the bankers appproach and set a value in worth to our market, for that is the final judgement in the world I live in today .
There are many that dont come under those rules and they are free to play the pros game because the customer has unlimited wealth. Those same rules can apply to the customer who is wealthy. Thats an exception to my choices . I have to work toward a buildings worth , and come in under it to make a profit. Buying is my game , labor is my pain.[ arthritis ] [ I dont enjoy it anymore, but Im trying to hang on til I get there ] For most people on here labor is their joy in what they do for a living . My personal gain is money for a retirement . . Im the "goofy" one .
I realize my views dont belong under fine home building , for that magazine I get has houses that are not affordable to me or my customers. Im sure those guys dont hunt for bargins , but I have to, to survive as do my customers.
I just dont understand why being sensitive is goofy. Im sensitive because I realize Im the black sheep in discussions such as this one. That doesnt stop me from giving information , just a little hesitant.
Tim Mooney
Unique maybe, but I for one, would never call you goofy. If some of you would check the title of this thread, it is supposed to be about inexpensive materials. I believe that fine homes can certainly be made affordably, depending on the definition of "Fine". To me, also a special person, the fine is in the design effectiveness, and the execution of it in a professional manner. A well done piece of laminate countertop, is still well done even though it is not Granite or Marble. A lot of people seem to confuse expensive with quality, and it is not always the case. My best cheap use story is about a metal cabinet that was left behind a apartment that I was hired to clean out. Used to be a craftsman work bench, but was rusted and busted. Well I cleaned up, painted, added casters, topped it with countertop leftovers, and now I have a home for my router. Even built my own fence out of leftover scraps frm another job. Good practice for me, and it kept it out of the landfill. Both good things in my book, if I ever write one. Keep on Savin
Dan
PS I think that Jeff was just joking about the sensitive, but maybe not, because I am not that sensitive.
PS....I think Dan may be on to something here!
Jeff..............Al-ways look on......the bright......side of life...........
.......whistle.....whistle.......whistle........
Tim,
I find your posts enlightnening(sp), I think it takes more talent and fortitude to make a "fine home" from what you have. Our town has a "clean up" day twice a year, blows my mind what people throw out, this is a middle class working stiff area, but is a resort town so we get the yupsters also. I am always on the prowl for "good stuff", An old house was torn down a while back and supplied some white pine sheeting boards 18" wide, made some lovely cabinets.
Alan
I still have my Les Paul from the 70's, by virtue of the "pack ratitis" that runs in my family. It drives my wife nuts; "Why do you need so many guitars?" They're an investment, babe...The ones I use mostly are my new blue Fender Telecaster I use for blues gigs, and a sunburst Telecaster with a MIDI hook-up for fusion/jazz. I use either the Fender Deluxe amp or the Boogie Rectoverb amp. I have a stack of effects, & speakers up the wazoo, but sometimes get tired of lugging it all.
The Les Paul has had some close calls; once my wife dropped it while putting on a new guitar strap and cracked the neck, about the same time I backed her car into a parking post, so I couldn't complain too much. Then, during our first heavy rain after moving in, we realized that water was seeping in under the end of the garage/office where all my axes are stored and Les got a little damp. I fixed the water problem by removing the cute row of bricks on the other side of the wall that was funneling water in, and replaced them with a wide L flashing tucked under the bottom row of T&G.
Anyway, what kind of music do you play? Do you have time to play with any band? I'll bet when you're using a Skilsaw or router table, those bits and blades have your complete attention! Gotta keep those fingers intact to pursue your guitar muse...Thanks for the welcome...I'm just becoming barely computer literate.
Wood is Good (and to my dogs, I'm a god)
Guitarman
Edited 11/27/2002 8:52:53 PM ET by Guitarman
Sure wish my packratitis had held firm thru out the years. Only takes one slip up. Back in '77 I decided to buy my lifetime amp and ordered one of the early mesa boogie amps 60 /100 watt option- 2 to 4 tube built with head separate from speaker cab. What a machine. Put the preamp way up and the master at like .25 and it would be screamin with infinite sustain but you couldn't hear it in the next room it was so low in volume. Miss that thing. Like a fool I sold it.
No pro here but enjoy it. Jam with folks now and then for R&R. Amuse myself collecting vinyl LPs and comicbooks. Venturing more into tools now since enjoyment and a money maker. Parting with my 2 pickup blue '65 gibson melody maker tomorrow. Not teary eyed too bad over it.
Got a little stable built up over the years tho'. White jap strat that plays really well and a natural 70s american made model. An old black F-hole hollow body Silvertone for the sonic feed at those crazy moments. An old '65 Kalamazoo bass that's been thru a war and this strange creature Silvertone from the sixties that has a little amp and speaker built into the inside of the case, guitar is like a light weight toy with formica and glitter. Funny thing. Main acoustic is a Takamine 12 string from the 70s. Always stays in tune. Even the G. and a f-hole hollowbody silvertone that has a different tinny sound to it. About all I do anymore is plug the strat into my peavy bandit and do air guitar only in real time to get keep blood flowing and when lost and in doubt just go back to A. No effects but finger vibrato with pulls and hammer ons. Someday I'll get a compressor and a wah.
I'll catch you in 'the woodshed tavern'. Good luck on your gig. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
AAAARGHHHH! I can't keep up the pretense any longer! I'm actually just Guitarman's wife, and all that technical guitar stuff you threw out is way beyond my comprehension. I'm new to this chatroom business, and the system wouldn't let me log on with my own address for some reason, so my better half let me use his. He's in France at the moment, (he plays in the rythm section of this 72 year old blind piano player) so I can't pump him for the correct reply. He couldn't tell the difference between a 16p coated sinker and a 2x4, but he can change the tubes in his old Fender amp.
I'm a licensed general, the family cook, groundskeeper, animal trainer, piano teacher (I play classical, crazy as it seems) bookkeeper, artistic director, housekeeper, architect and remodeler. Unplug the toilet and garbage disposal, too. Hang doors, etc. to make alittle extra cash.
People tend to feel weird about a woman doing construction, so I try to downplay that issue. Okay, I'm a normal female in every other respect, except that I'm low maintenance, easy to please, uncomplicated, I don't ask my husband where he's going or when he'll be back, but leave his dinner in the fridge. Still think he's a packrat, but I have my own version...Every time I buy a new tool, thinking that will be the last until the next new thing (just bought a Rotozip for drywall that probably wasn't needed)I have some muscle from doing this work for 18 years, it allows me to eat whatever I want and not gain any weight. I look o.k. but am not a swimsuit model. Can see why this Forum thing is addictive...you've got all these people who are literate, intelligent, and reasonable that do construction...to some folks that's a contradiction in terms. I don't have much time to spend in front of the computer, but it is a nice break from all the other junk waiting for me to do around here. Sorry about the obfustication...It feels so much better not to be living a lie!
Guitarman (Jennifer)
Edited 11/29/2002 11:13:44 PM ET by Guitarman
So shall we call you "GuitarLady" ???
I think you'll find that the vast majority of the folks here are GLAD to see a woman in the construction business. I would definitely be included in that majority.
Hope you'll hang around and post frequently. We can always use a fresh perspective around here.
Thanks for "coming out of the closet".Smile, it's the second best thing you can do with your lips.
Thanks for the welcome! I've enjoyed reading your knowledgeable comments; and I've been thinking that you either have a bunch of guys working for you that free you up to do all that writing...or that you're retired. It always seemed a waste when a good tradesman retires; all those years of accumulated tips, etc. There's nothing like an old carpenter to go over and see what the neighbors are building and offer advice. You can never learn enough in this trade, that's for sure.
Jennifer
Boss, Welcome to Geezeerland
LOL.
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
No, I'm not retired. I post here a lot for 2 reasons:
First, I'm hooked on the place. I like the folks here for the most part, and have gotten a great deal of help here.
Second - I keep an internet connection open at work most of the day, as our jobs get emailed back and forth to and from HQ all the time. So I keep an eye on the place, and post while I'm waiting on an email to download, waiting on the printer, etc. And to some degree, I look at my partipation here as "PR" for the truss industry, so I don't have a problem with using work resources to give advice related to my job.
I almost skipped over the "lips" tag line, as I didn't want to offend you. (Being a newbie and all) But I gifured ya might as well get used to the tag lines..................(-:I took an I.Q. test and the results were negative.
P.S. About your tag line...my husband could tell you stories...
Jennifer
Ms.G- So now you're fessin' up to being the dumpster diver, aye? Nothing like inexpensive materials I always say. I have a friend who just laid a small entry way in the pergo type flooring and she spent $20 a piece for this skinny 8ft long trim stuff. Irks me to no end.
So how'd you get started on Breaktime in the first place? Thru the magazine? A licensed general and a classical piano teacher among the many hats you wear. Absolutely cool! You know you are soooo welcome here and I'm sure after 18 years in the trenches you've got some stories to tell. We're thinking of starting a Toolaholic's Anonymous so you're in good company. Roar!
Can you tell us a story of something that happened on a job where being a woman carpenter caused something different to happen be it from bias or bigotry or what have you?
Keep it coming, sister. Glad you're here. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Well, so far she thinks Boss is retired because of the time he spends here .[ Piffin got off light here for a change. ] She even goes on about it . hahaha. I would like to see Bosses face when he reads that one !
So far shes missed two of my posts and one of yours .
She will probably end up getting initiated. But shes no better than us is she ? LOL!
Happy holidays from our cabin to yours .
Tim Mooney
Yep, equality between the sexes. I just love to see a lady huffing a sheet of 5/8 ply up a ladder or rapping her thumbnail with a 22 oz. Sadistic bent in there. Gawd I can be awful sometimes. Roar!
Best to you and yours. (and keep your cash in hand because re is going to crash big this coming year:)
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Edited 11/29/2002 9:52:12 PM ET by rez
Getting a sheet of plywood onto a roof works better with 2 people or a forklift, I've used the same Vaughan 20Oz smoothface tubular steel, straight clawed, 14" hickory shock-absorbing core hammer (for longer than I've had my husband)to frame (Hah, you say),demo and do finish.
and learned not to hurt myself with it. I can carry 70 pounds of cement or break it up as well as any 5'3" 130 lb guy, and have all my fingers. There, is that competitive enough for ya? I bow down to anyone who knows construction well, and will call them "Grand Poobah" and I'm in awe of the guy who does what he does efficiently and without blowing his own horn. (I saw that once in a movie, though...did I say that?) Enough of my life story, time to cook dinner, talk to you later.
Jennifer
Edited 11/29/2002 10:31:28 PM ET by Guitarman
Mrs.G- My street degree in renovation with your GC and 18 years? And you expect me to relay a construction story?
Hah!
But who said anything about being competetive?
Tim- see what you got me into! squeek squeek
Me thinks she might be a bit on the defensive.
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Edited 11/30/2002 12:49:56 AM ET by rez
" Piffin got off light here for a change. "
LMAAAAAAAO
Should I be jealous?.
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
Life takes you some interesting places. I picked up FH about 4 years ago and became an avid subscriber. Looked at Breaktime out of curiosity and think I'm hooked now. OK, I'll try to keep it short...Music major in college,left abusive 1st husband, joined apprenticeship program (piano lessons didn't pay well enough to support 2 kids) was always good with my hands (husband can vouch for that) loved being outdoors & carrying lumber around in 110 degree heat, climbing up 20 ft wall forms and driving back 4-6 foot bolts with a sledge hammer, walking across I-beams 20 ft above concrete slab makes you feel so alive! Worked on bridges for 5 years, Kasler and CC Myers. Worked for Gen Contractors, learned to hang doors, install electrical wiring and fixtures, drywall, speak some Spanish to the laborers, schedule work with the subs, payroll records, (still can't roof or put together 2 pipes to save my life...)got type B license 7 years ago, worked for a maintenance Dept 6 years...are you sitting down? 15 paid holidays a year, two weeks paid vacation to start, 12 sick days a year, new Ford F250 covered with toolboxes all to myself, medical and dental, 401K, go home for lunch sometimes, go to work in my daughters classroom (are you puking yet?)
In short, a dream job. Some of the slobs had the nerve to complain.
Don't have many harrassment stories. At the start of each job the guys were skeptical, but figured I was okay after I ran my butt off, didn't complain about the facilities (or off-color jokes, told some of my own), and we got along alright. 1 or 2 would never accept a woman carpenter, but most were just good, decent people. You tell me some construction stories, I'll tell you some from a fem viewpoint. You have a cool sense of humor...It's nice to meet ya.
Guitarman (Jennifer)
Ok, I'll retell one I shared here earlier this year. I was doing a reno on a duplex in the bad part of town in Tulsa. One morning I was on the outside porch doing something when I hear a loud but muffled 'poof' from down the street and then some yelling. I thought what a bunch of party animals starting early or still going from last night. Then I listen to the yells and they were out of the heart saying 'Oh My God Oh My God!' So I drop what I'm doing and go tearing across the neighbors yard , around a corner and come upon a guy running in circles around his yard with his back on fire about 2 foot flames. I managed to get him on the ground and the fire out but he was burnt bad bad. Then his buddy shows up stumbling like a frankie with his burnt hands held out. In the next 15 minutes it was like a circus cause besides the onlookers there were firemen, police, ATF, DEA, bomb squad, detectives, paramedics and 2 local news stations with cameras rolling. Boy was I glad to get out of there. It was a meth lab in the basement of the house that blew up. I told the boss he really got his money's worth with me painting 'cause with the adrenalin rush I had the rest of the day I about burnt his house with the speed of the brush. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Jennifer, welcome to breaktime . I ran a post trying to lure women out in the open in construction. "How many female carpenters do you know ? " WE knew several by the time it was over . I think its great you are in construction and the rest of the ladies out there. I asked in that post because I wondered why there werent many. Well, we got a few to respond . They told us they could handle most every job but the heaviest lifting. Also found out they are more specialized like trim and cabinets for example. Ive known several female painters. Any way , makes no difference to us what sex you are as long as you are hear and contributing. I for one think its neat to have female carps. If you havent noticed we treat them pretty decent . Like we would like to be treated I would like to say. Just sign your name at the bottom of your posts will be good enough for us .
Happy holidays , from our cabin to yours ,
Tim Mooney
Tell me some more about animal trainer please . Read "Bass boats "and you will see why Im asking.
Tim Mooney
Edited 11/29/2002 7:33:53 PM ET by Tim Mooney
That initiation comment sounded vaguely sinister...well, do your worst. Still new to this, what the heck is a thread? I catch on quick. The animal trainer comment wasn't entirely correct...They are training me. You know a dogs' proper place in relationship to humankind. My Golden knows if he sits up and paws the air, he gets a biscuit. He pushes his food dish around the kitchen when it's dinner time, goes to the closet where his leash is kept at walktime, and pushes my 10yo around the living room with his nose at her rear. At first I thought Goldens must be the stupidest dogs ever, but I can admit when I'm wrong. Our other dogs are a border-collie mutt, and a muscular,low slung pit-yellow lab mix that looks like the Devil, but is the smartest, most loyal and affectionate dog we've ever had. His name is "Pogo" because he'll jump 6 feet off the ground to get to the squirrels that constantly torment him. He's been with us since Alex was 2, and she used to lay on him to watch TV. Sometimes I don't know how one dog can have so much poo-gas!
Jennifer
"Making the most of inexpensive materials" is a thread . What we send to each other here is a post. Breaktime management would call the thread a discussion. But we refer to it as a thread.
Boss has been really nice to you after your comment about him being in retirement . We never say anything about the time we spend on here except for Piffin . [Hes open game. He has more posts than anyone, but it doesnt raise a feather on his head over it . He takes it with a grain of salt , or seems to. ] A woman might want to say something like that normally , but they dont here. We are free to be here anytime with out peer pressure . Unwritten , but followed religiously.
As for the remark , I was funnin. Have a great weekend .
Tim Mooney
I'm not one of those humorless, man hating libbers, and most of what I said was "tongue in cheek" (makes it hard to talk) Men are a lot easier to figure out than women no insult to my sisters who post here. I like men, I'm on my 3rd husband. Alittle friendly competition is good...there's not many things you could say to offend me, except if you question my capability, and then I might go for vital organs.
I finally "got" that I'm stepping all over a nice lady's topic, so am switching over to a different forum. "Your own Great Moments" By the way, if you have water dogs, how do you keep them from getting recurring infections in their ears? Our Sam is having a problem because he likes to stick his head under water.
Jennifer
Sometimes ear infections if let to go on for a long time become chronic . Of course there are two things it can be ;
One being mites and two being infection from a previous sore formed from irritation.
This treatment will do both but it is necesary to keep repeating ;
A new bottle of peroxide . One that has been opened looses its fizz rather quickly, such as 30 days . Pour the ear full while holding the ear up , then rubbing the cannal back and forth in your hands on the out side of the ear. Then let the dog shake , and clean the inner ear with cotton swabs. At this point panalog should be applied which is antibiotic cream for animals. A coating of mineral oil over that to contain it and give the ear relief .
If you wish you can take a swab of the dogs ear and go have it checked for mites.
If its bad infection dogs take antibiotic pills just like humans until well.
My most often experience is chronic ears that never are ok with out constant treatment. Pretty common with all long ear breeds subjected to water. Coon dogs are just as bad maybe more so because they are hunted so much more. I had one dog that I trained out of a boat when she was young . She preferred to swim rather than run the bank . I will never understand how she could do it for a few hours straight. She did get very comfortable doing it . I later won quite a bit of money in water races with her . She later became a water grand champion , amoung other awards she recieved. She was my one time super dog that most men or women never own.
Tim Mooney
Thanks for the tip, Sam thanks you too. We had our own legendary dog (not quite as amazing as yours, though) She'd climb a tree if the kids were up there, climb a ladder and walk along the top of a fence to get to me, and clean the kids pet hampster like it was her puppy. Like to see a cat do that! Cept for the climbing part.
Jennifer
My cats climb ladders.
They will walk a fence, tops of framed walls, fallen trees of any size, thick wires, floppy swinging tarps, etc.
They clean themselves, each other, me, and Rufus, my dog. They'll even clean a stranger if they stick around long enough.
They can jump on top of the trailer from flat foot on the ground.
Startle them, and they can be over 17 feet away in one jump. In an instant.
They will jump in the river, to catch a fish. They kill and bring home rodents and other critters that are bigger than the cats are.
Oh, and they climb trees too.
; )
Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
I guess cats are ok too, as long as they're genetically mutated, highly evolved beings from the Cat Planet, where yours came from.
"Whatever Works"
Jennifer
ROFLMFAO
They're just ordinary cats.
Cats give you only as much as you expect them to give you. I give mine attention, love, food and shelter. In return I expect them to pay attention to me when I want their attention, and be an involved part of "the pack". Surprisingly enough, if you are consistant and firm as the leader of the pack... Cats WILL happily act as pack animals. At least when you are around. LOL
They will also eagerly follow cues, and learn to do new things like climbing the ladder. Mine all learned to do that because they like being near me. If I am outside, they are constatly around me. Getting underfoot. Climbing on things to get closer, to get attention. Climbing on me if I let them. They follow me around like just so many dogs would do.
As for the rest... What can I say ? The girls got it from their momma. I have no idea where she got it from. But she shore did teach them well. (When she was finished with teaching them, she promptly turned to their worst nightmare. There is no doubt who the top cat is in that trio pack. LOL)
To bring this back closer to the original intent of this thread... I was putting the roof on a 16 by 17 foot, story and a half, structure that I had built mostly from scrap materials that I had scrounged. I used 1x6 boards from shipping pallets that had been used to ship mega bucks machinery to a bakery... to completely sheathe the roof of the structure. It was while I was up there, sheathing the roof that momma taught herself to climb the ladder so that she could hang out next to me. The other girls simply followed her lead.
: )
Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
I have to respond . Ive got a cat that I brouhght home in my tool box as a kitten. Noone will ever run over this cat because the trip must have scared it pretty good.
Anyway , this cat wants to be around me as its my shop cat . Im the only hand on it for its 8 yrs of life. Its a real pest and my hands I have have laughed their butts off working at my place. It will sleep through any tool I have running . We have ran saws inches away from its sleeping body. But , start a truck , and it does one of those jumping moves you were describing. Thats unigue.
I bought a training book "Walk With Wick" several years ago. He preconditions hounds to traffic on the roads . He shocks them in a box as a car passes , then at night as lights come in view . By the time he is done the dog is "run over free". Much like this cat as he lives on a hwy. It is noted that this inhumane , but can save a life or the dogs life with the training.
Happy holidays from our cabin to yours ,
Tim Mooney
I think my cats have developed that jump thing because they are more likely to be sleeping under a log, or in a leaf nest, and discovered by a cougar, coyote or bear, than by me.
I think they would have been kibble long ago, if they hadn't developed this tendency.
Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
Not inhumane if it saves their lives. The reason we don't have a cat now is that our favorite one of all time, his name was "Moonie" believe it or not (BION henceforeward) used to follow baby Alex around like a puppy and liked to sleep on the warm asphalt of the street sometimes. Wisht I'd known about that book you talked about, Broke all our hearts when the inevitable occurred. "whatever works"
Jennifer
Edited 12/1/2002 4:28:13 PM ET by Jencar
Jenn, welcome! I like seeing more women here. I'm not in construction, I'm a girl librarian, and they've always been great to me here. Never "initiated" unless I just didn't know it was happening. (But then, I've got that librarian "Sssshhhhh!" thing to fall back on!)
Luka is totally right about cats! (usually about most things, too)"The blue and the dim and the dark clothsOf night and light and the half light..."--???
Hi Theodora, thanks for the heads up. How did you get involved in this testosterone fest? Is your husband in construction? Mines a musician.
I'm getting ready to put a slight texture on my kitchen ceiling today. Got extra motivation with the help of a bunch of nice folks here at Breaktime.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Jennifer
Hi, Jen!
I'm really one of the Gardeners from Over the Fence (look up at the top of the screen under where it says Fine Gardening) and I hop the Fence to come over here and to Cook's Talk, too. I contribute to the Woodshed Tavern, where the off topic conversations take place (go on in there and ask for a beer in the bar thread sometime), but I only mostly lurk and read and learn in the serious on-topic threads, cause I like learning. And I've asked a question or two about stuff I deal with around the house. I'm pretty competent.
My soon to be ex-husband isn't in construction, he is an academic, and is awfully good at breaking things around the house, that I then get to fix. But he has his good points, as well."The blue and the dim and the dark clothsOf night and light and the half light..."--???
Jen
welcome and stay around. We need more woman around here. Theo is probably the most articulate person around these parts. Can only imagine when.......oooops sorry. Love women in glasses. Does that make me,,,,,,whatever..welcome. Just alive is all....its gettin' late.
Be well
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
Sounds like you'd make a good husband. There's the type of guy who can eat oatmeal everyday of the week and not get tired of it. You get him together with a like minded woman, they'll do fine. You get 2 people that get bored real easy, it's a time bomb. That's just what I think, but I'm opinionated.
We need more men around that value women (the good women, anyway)
Thanks, Jennifer"Insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results" "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" A. Einstein
We need more women around who value men who value women.
Seems the majority of women may talk about wanting a nice guy, but they all seem to go for the guy who belts them in the mouth for not folding a towel correctly.
Regardless of what we hear, us nice guys see the majority of women going for men based on their looks, or thier income, more than anything else.
Being a nice guy gets us treated like a brother. Nothing more. Taken advantage of, more than anything else.
Not complaining. I am who I am. I can't change that. I am not a wuss, just a nice guy. After 4 and a half decades I have learned to take every day as it comes, and accept the fact that things is as they is.
I am simply pointing out the side of dating and relationships that I have seen for most of my life.
: )
Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
Hear,hear.
Another nice guy who knows what you mean.what the heck was I thinking?
sad but true.
But lose that nice guy image....oooooooya! woof woof!
No more mister nice guy Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
Whuts this thread all about? I am a nice guy and am on my 2nd marriage for 23 years. It was on the rocks and we stumbled across Family Life Skills International that teaches ya to care about your spouse unconditionally.. We been doin it for over a year now and we have been pair bonding like there is no tomorrow. We actually enjoy being with each other and being apart too.. Damn life can be good if you know the skills on how to do it. I haven't been insulted in over a year now.. And that has some getting used to also.. I has allowed me to grow as a person and the list goes on..
Yup
I'm the nice guy too. Married for 10 years, divorced for 10. Know what you mean. Sometimes I think I ought to go bad.
Goin' bad has it's benefits. You get to wear red once in a while.
'course 'goin' bad' needs it's own definition, which couldn't be rendered accurately here with the use of the word 'nice' being defined.
Does nice mean gentlemanly attributes of placing the welfare of the females over that of your own? Chivalry traits? Holding back your animal instincts of aggressive pursuit to that of a comment for approach and passively waiting for a comment in return? Might work on a bored wallflower. "course those wallflowers can be a well of real life since their temperament is generally sensitive and stable. So admit it, you're a wallflower yourself and go grab another wallflower and take her out somewhere.
Would you really want to rub elbows with a type of girl from 'girls gone wild', end up callousing your own sensitivity and wonder if you got some kind of STD from swapping spit or more. There's a name for girls like that and can be found in houses in Texas and Tennessee.
bang bang Maxwell's silver hammer came down
bad boys bad boys what you gonna do when they come for you.
So what's the definition of bad? Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
Im a little confused . Are you talking about making use of inexpensive materials or staying out of bad situations ? I guess which ever one you are referring to , you are talking about women ?
The girls will be here for you before long now . Would you like to slip into this jacket with the straps to save them time ?
Tim Mooney
Time to start a new thread? Seems to be a tender spot for a lot of guys.
Jen"Insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results" "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" A. Einstein
hey, what's going on ? i read # 1, and now i come back and this thing is about nice guys...
youse guys have some serious ADD symptoms hereMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Women have the our own version of that story. I can sew, cook, budget, take care of sick kids and animals, form, pour and finish concrete, frame and set walls, hang doors from scratch, play piano, keep my husband happy, have an exceptional vocabulary, can discuss music, art and foreign films. Here's my point...in LA women become non-entities as soon as they hit 40. It's hard not to buy into that.
My husband is missing most of his hair, kinda funny looking to most women, but is intelligent and laughs a lot about himself and life, and he tells me I'm a babe...when we met I was making more money than him, so I didn't fall for him for his bucks.
Alot of guys I know put "looks" at the top of their list of qualifications in a woman, over appreciation of architecture, skills, etc. So guys are guilty of that too. First part of my tagline applies to relationships, too.
Jennifer ;):
"Insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results" "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" A. Einstein
***A note from the thread parent***
You folks are having a nice conversation about something COMPLETELY unrelated to the thread title, which is not unheard of, but has been going on now for 30-40 posts. Please make a little deal with each other and start your own thread.
Also, about 3/4ths of the other posts have been based on inexpensive by way of scrounged or found materials, which is not really what I intended, as described in post #1 and a couple of others soon after.
I don't mean to be an pain, but I let this go on for a long time without saying anything and I'm getting the feeling that folks are being attracted here by the thread title and are quickly giving up because it's not what they thought.
gee, nanny.. welcome to breaktime..
ain't it distracting ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
ok.. here's an arbor from salvaged PT.. and a stone wall from scrounged stoneMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Speaking of stone.
I built a 50 foot retaining wall with 8 ton of rock scrounged from a farmer who had them in a row between fields. A case of pabst and 2 of grape soda was the total bill. Heck of a deal. Pabst? maybe he was soaking his brats after cooking them on the grill.
... "jello Sheriff" ? great analogy! Beyond the patented ROAR! I can't find an alternative that is a better laugh.
Edited 12/12/2002 5:44:42 PM ET by Booch
My apologies to you nannygee. I did get carried away posting after others far off the original post. I normally try to be attentive to not do that as a forum etiquette but I wasn't thinking and blew it. I see it happen in other threads and consider it rude. I believe it is called 'hijacking a thread'.
A serious breech of contract. Deserving of a boot in the backside. I stand corrected. Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
Sorry, we got started on this because of something I said. I've started a new thread, but am certainly not making any friends with the topic. Please accept my apology.
Sincerely, Jennifer"Insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results" "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" A. Einstein
Nah Jen- you're doing alright. Any girl who proves she's not stuck on herself by admitting she did a dumpster dive is alright in my book. :o)
Sorry nannygee- just one last post. Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
NannyGee-
"about 3/4ths of the other posts have been based on inexpensive by way of scrounged or found materials, which is not really what I intended"
Are only new inexpensive materials eligible for this thread? It may not have been what you intended, but the judicious use of scrounged and found materials is without a doubt a great way to save real dollars on a project. I'm glad (I think) that this thread is sort of back on track, but now I'm lost as to what you are asking. In my old house, trim made up of layers of scrap sheetrock might look out of place, while trim made of salvaged wood might look like it belongs. IMHO old (scrounged or reused) materials, when installed with care in combination with new materials, help to make a renovation look like it belongs, rather than just being tacked on. =====Zippy=====
If the thread was going to include a choke collar, it should have been stated in the title.
If people are being attracted by the thread title, they are certainly not expecting Sister NannyGee Knucklecracker, any more than they were expecting a dissertation on the merits of nice people vs the demerits of bimboism.
I don't want to be a pain, but, if you wanted this thread to be a tight-fisted, lock-step, narrowly defined, vye for print in the magazine, thread... Then you should have outlined that in the originating post.
I guess I can see where the nanny part of your name came from.
; )
To be fair... The "dissertations" should have been done in the woodshed. That is the place for them, not out here in the general section. It WAS unfair to hijack the thread with that.
But, having your thread hijacked is part and parcel to making posts here in the forum. Any forum that I know of, as a matter of fact. Playing jackboot with the content that others are allowed to post in "your" thread will only eventualy lead to people avoiding your threads.
Lighten up. Free, recycled, or scrounged materials is about as "inexpensive" as you can get.Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
Pull your head out of your ####.
I am a veteran poster of several boards.
The name NannyGee has nothing to do with what you think.
My chiding post was as kindly worded as anyone could have hoped - unlike yours.
I waited almost two weeks and several dozen posts to impose at all.
I am perfectly willing to let this thread die, but others have expressed interest. Perhaps they will read your post and give up. Thanks.
You're most welcome.Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
"If the thread was going to include a choke collar, it should have been stated in the title. "
Wit ya on that! A gentle nudge or reminder is cool but ... hey, it takes a while to find the handles on this wheelbarrow.
Saw a beat up but rather ornate 5 foot newel post about 9 or 10 inches square at an antique mart yesterday.
They wanted $225 for it. No rails or balusters.
Think I'm going to back out and start looking for demos again.
Hey, and a Happy belated Birthday greeting to NannyGee.
Gotta love these old threads.
be Roarin'
Thanks for responding.
You are quite correct, that wonderful things can be made from scrounged materials. Those are always interesting stories, but difficult to duplicate. Even if the kind reader says "wow, I never would have thought of that!" they may not have practical access to replicate your project. I was looking for ideas.
But this is really nitpicking, I guess. By all means, share your favorite projects.
You're right, you know.
Not too many people would have access to the sort of huge packing grates that I ran across. I wouldn't even be able to replicate that my own self.
Good point.Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
Individually, my scrounging successes would be hard to duplicate. A pile of slate countertops from a closing lab, a truckload of hand cut flagstone intercepted on its way to become part of a jetty, or in a variant on your first example, T&G beadboard on its way to the county dump all have been integrated into my home and its surroundings, along with many other things that cost me no more than my time. These finds are hard (or impossible) to duplicate- but they happen to me again and again because I encourage my friends in various trades to be on the lookout for interesting tearouts that are dumpster-bound. I make the most of inexpensive materials by actively seeking them out, imagining a realistic use for them, and being very selective in what I choose to keep. =====Zippy=====
Zip- A few years back I went to a house auction. Out back of the barn they auctioned off 5000 unused silo brick I bought for 30 bucks and 2000 new firebrick for $20. Then the dawning realization. Moved each one by hand to the numerous truckloads. Still got them sitting out back on pallets. I'm going to make a kickin' fireplace someday.
I hope.
For a while I got in the habit of stripping old victorians that were criminally being torn down for stores and parking lots. Ended up with a slew of old interior trim. Love those high baseboards and multi-piece wide window trim. Glad I took the time now that I'm finally using it. Try pricing the straight defect-free poplar now. It doesn't get much more cost effective lest you're making 50-75 an hour. The sweet and sour part of it all is that it is still a renewable source of supply.
Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
NannyGee,
I have been an @$$.
I'm sorry.Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
Roar!!!
Luka, it's those ants!
Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
Edited 12/10/2002 12:17:52 AM ET by rez
"I have been an @$$" Oh no you haven't You"ve just been dealing with another "jello Sheriff" that has attempted to intimidate by doing the poor little me routine. Maybe Nanny Gee paid a lot of money to be here , but nobody answered the posted question from the start the way Nanny Gee wanted by N.G. own comment . Maybe rewording and starting a new thread would have given the answers N. G. was looking for to start with , at no extra cost. You don't walk on somebody elses job ......................well you know.
You're right.
My first post was poorly worded. I should have tried English, I guess.
I had no right to interject any comment on the thread that I started.
You are the arbitor of all that is right and proper on this forum.
I heartily apologize.
"Your right" Oh no I'm not and I can prove it . "I heartly apologize" not to me N.G. I don't deserve it ..........Happy Holidays!
no problem.
Luka
Dont worry dude...I'm guessing she didnt the $100 subscription fee to write in BT like we did.
Be
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
5000 brick for $30!
Wow!
What are the dimentions of that style brick? Whatever it is, that's quite a deal even figuring in hauling cost & time. That's enough brick to do a small house!
Don't have dimensions here but the bulk have a slight wedge shape that makes about a 15 foot diameter and some are rectangular. 6 square openings in each and the large face is smooth with a slight glaze. Some of the firebrick is a wedge shape and of a whiter color than normal. Haven't researched them to find out what they are but think they are furnace liners.
Always wanted a turret.;o)
gotta love them auctions. Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
All...
Oh come on. It's a thread on a forum. It's a conversation at a party. It's not a lesson in a schoolroom with a nun walking around, ruler at the ready. If that nun is going to take over with her ruler, a lot of people are going to start ditching class.
Jencar,
You have good points. (Take that any way that you want to. I probably mean all of them. hehehe)
The main difference here is that most guys _do_ put looks at the top of their list of proiorities. And they make no bones about it. They do not sit around talking about wanting a "Nice girl", and then drool all over the first hotty they see. They sit around talking about that hotty.
There's a difference. One is honest, the other is hypocritical and misleading. If nice guys are really not going to stand a chance, then it is wrong to constantly mislead them into thinking that they do.
In my book, a good woman is a good woman, no matter what side of 40 she is on, and no matter whether she is a "hotty" or not. I think the attitude that makes non-entities of women over 40 is a shame at best, criminal at worst.Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
Luka you bad boy.
inexpensive materials Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
ROFLOL
That was my last respons on the subject in this thread anyway. I'm with Theodora on this, if I say any more, I am in danger of "protesteth" ing too much.
: )Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
A friend at a local lake uses a Nalgene wash bottle, a plastic one with a bent straw drawn to a nozzle commonly used in a laboratory, filled with an alcohol solution on both her and her dogs ears. She tackles the dog and squirts his ears and then her own. They spend the next five minutes shaking their heads. Sometimes in unison. The picture of a black lab and pretty girl bent and shaking kinda stuck. <SEG>
She claims it prevents infections and kills amebas that multiply in these southern, warm water, lakes. I would check with the vet before squirting my pet, she wasn't very specific as to which alcohol or its concentration, just to make sure it wouldn't cause problems.
With a "clean "ear it would probably work, or be effective with bacteria from the lake that was just attained in the water . A dog that already has an ear problem will have a lot of black mucus in the ear covered with wax build up. The dogs body has tried to fight it but the wax holds it there in a bacteria state or the mites are untouched under the wax . It is then necesary to remove the wax with peroxide to get close and personal with the real problem at hand. Peroxide boils out wax , and a second dose will disinfect . Antibiotic can then be applied directly to the ear shin to effectively do its job . Mineral oil holds it in place until the next days treatment and helps loosen more wax plus bring infection to the surface for the peroxide to work once more.
Your friends approach is preventitive for the contact recieved that day. I would like to have seen all of them shaking their head. That would have been a blast !
Tim Mooney
Not to hijack the thread, but I had a tobacco sunburst 1978 Gibson Les Paul Pro. It had 2 white soapbar pickups and I sold it. I bought it for $600 and sold it for $650. I was in highschool and didn't think I needed two guitars. I haven't stopped kicking myself. I still howl in pain. What an idiot.
Started a new thread so we don't hijack this one."Guitar and the like' in the woodshed tavern.
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Edited 12/1/2002 12:58:20 AM ET by rez
Tim...
yer a sensitive kinda fella, ain't ya.
That's.........well.......kinda Goofy!
Jeff..............Al-ways look on......the bright......side of life...........
.......whistle.....whistle.......whistle........
Why is being sensitive goofy ? I was under the impression that my ideas were goofy because they are not common to most folks .
Tim Mooney
Tim- I think it all comes down to differentiating between home building and renovating. Two different breeds and two different animals on the same street. One creates new into the air and the other recreates or strengthens what remains. Each operating under different rules of conduct in the trade. A discolored hardwood flooring strip would get set aside as a discard. A renovation with a discolored strip in an old floor gets blended in.
A lot of times renovation is more of an art than straight home building. And a quality renovation on an older home can be much more involved and time consuming than building new.
So I guess ya gotta be a bit goofy to know what to do in a situation. Years of experience aren't necessary. Just caulk and paint and forget about it. No one will ever know. Just make sure the writing untensil hits the back pocket or you might look a little funny walking around with a pencil sticking out the crack of ...
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Edited 11/25/2002 11:45:38 PM ET by rez
Removed 600 sf. of oak strip flooring from a fire job. Pulled the nails, then installed it, in phase one of my house. Yeah, carpet glue, soot, etc. , still in place. Dragged the table saw and other stuff around on it for a few months. Then sanded & refinished it, good as new! Best part is, I was paid to remove it!
Brudoggie
NannyGee,
In Illinois, there are a lot of old barns that are falling down because the farmers can't afford to keep them up when they can't put any of their farm equipment inside (doors too small). I got a 42x84 two story barn for free, and am building my house (timberframe) out of it. Got almost all the beams I need, plus about 15,000 board feet of pine 1x12s. It took me and one other guy about a month to take it down. Plus I had some help from God, he took the roof off one day with a 60 knot wind. Did it on my schedule, too. Didn't hurt anything else but the brand-new 32 foot ladder I had tied to the roof so it wouldn't blow down. The roof landed on the ladder, and it kind of looks like an aluminum snake now. Anyway, interesting string. Later!
Rick, great observation on a source of wood but you lit up a burning question by this observation:
"a lot of old barns that are falling down because the farmers can't afford to keep them up when they can't put any of their farm equipment inside (doors too small)."
Same situation here north of you in Wisconsin. What I can't understand is that (back-in-the-day) someone cut the trees into wood by hand, hewed the beams, hoisted it with their friends and all the horses they could muster. They built an enormous structure with minimal equipment and inefficient methods while squeezing a living out of a few acres of wheat and corn. Yet today's farmer can't find the wherewithal to paint it and replace a few boards or shore the foundation. It is a troubling passing.
What is the problem? Taxes, no 7 child family farm hands, unlivable market pricing, lazy people, lack of worth percieved in the barn, is the door too small for the combine? I am glad you are salvaging what you can from the barns.
The barn visualizes the problem with small farms disappearing and factory farms flourishing.
It seems the tide is turning in Wisconsin. More are being renovated and less torn down. (Visual survey statistics.) although there are fewer and fewer to survey.
Just so great to hear stories like that. Kinda helps keep the hope flames for america still burnin'! Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
When I was in high school, I had a Mother Earth News magazine with an ad for a book on how to make wood stoves out of hot water heaters. It promised a way to burn wood slowly and evenly by distributing the air through the woodbox.
I asked my father what he thought about getting the book. He told me we didn't need the book, he could see what they had in mind.
I, being a teenager, was very skeptical.
Spent the next few weeks gathering hot water heaters. My dad built three: one for the farm shop, one for the deer lease, and one for a friend's weekend hang-out.
Twenty years later I still hear comments about how well those woodstoves worked.
Yes, I have seen those heaters before and it is amazing how well those woodstoves worked. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
I professionally do a torn-paper effect with low-cost materials that you can look see at http://www.brownbagwalls.com. It is a DIY technique and I can send free instructions upon request.
Bonnye in Texas
hey nannygee
when my wife and i bought my house i told her i wanted a garage and a flagpole well i built the garage all i needed was the flagpole so i was on job and they where throwing out 16 foot long staging planks because the were cracked i grabbed about ten of them and ripped them up to make my flagpole i made it 24 ft tall with a cross piece 16 ft up that i made out of an old galvanized closeline pipe that my nieghbor had that i just painted white and my other nieghbor gave me a brass garden ball that i used for the top i coated the whole thing inside and out with epoxy and three coats of spar varnish i got the instructions for building it out of woodenboat magazine a couple of years ago so far its withstood 70+mph winds with a 5x8 ameican flag and two 3x5 flags on it all told it cot me about $250 for the epoxy,rope hardware,concrete and the steel brackets i made to hold it in the concrete i have seen 24 foot wooden flagpoles for sale at over $1700 and i think mine looks great and so do my nieghbors