Creating a Lake

EddieWalker · Mar 17, 2014

I prefer to use a bucket and a paddle drill to mix small amounts of concrete, but for bigger jobs like this, it's great. I like how quiet it is to use. I can get two 80 pounds sacks into it, or three 60 pounds sacks. Which is all I can handle in the wheelbarrow. To power it, I'm using my Honda 2000 generator, which is also very quiet.

I've had it a dozen years or more, and it's just like the one I grew up with that my dad had for several decades.

Eddie

Western · Mar 17, 2014

What brand? I have a genset on my Miller 250 welder and a small troy built genset that should run it. I know mixing 100's of bags in a wheel barrow has not made me any smarter

EddieWalker · Mar 18, 2014

1/2 HP Portable Cement Mixer-105890DPT at The Home Depot

This looks like it, but I can't find a brand name on the website to see if it reminds me of the brand I have. I forget who made mine, but in every detail, it looks like the same thing with a different color paint job. Price seems about right too. I've taken it to jobs, but usually it just sits for months or even years at a time. It's one of my must have tools that take up too much room that I wouldn't want to be without.

Eddie

Western · Mar 18, 2014

Thanks Eddie, reviews are great all around which is unique for a box store tool:thumbsup: Price is about 2k cheaper than a pull behind too!

EddieWalker · Mar 18, 2014

Dennis,

I'm done with it for now, but once I get the gazebo built, I'm thinking of pouring concrete all the way around it to define a flower garden and grass areas that is the same height as the grass so I can drive the mower on top of it. I'm wanting to minimize my weed eating time and have something permanent. We will also be doing the same thing around some of the trees to create flower beds, so it will be useful for that too.

The wedding is August 9th, are you coming?

Eddie

Western · Mar 18, 2014

EddieWalker said:
Dennis,

I'm done with it for now, but once I get the gazebo built, I'm thinking of pouring concrete all the way around it to define a flower garden and grass areas that is the same height as the grass so I can drive the mower on top of it. I'm wanting to minimize my weed eating time and have something permanent. We will also be doing the same thing around some of the trees to create flower beds, so it will be useful for that too.

The wedding is August 9th, are you coming?

Eddie

If I'm not out of town working, I can sure make it. That is a busy time for me. As the summer moves along and I get all the contract details, I will let you know for sure. Shoot, they may have me working in your neck of the woods during that time:thumbsup:

Might think about adding some color to the boarder when you pour it, might look nice with a lt. Brown or mottled look to match the gazebo?

vukhuongduy · Mar 22, 2014

vukhuongduy · Mar 22, 2014

How much you use cylinder

EddieWalker · Mar 22, 2014

Started on the logs. I have a pile of cedar logs that we've taken out of the land over the years. I picked out the four biggest to get started and have three more marked in the pile. Number 8 is eluding me, but there are plenty to look at, so I'm sure I'll find him.

I put them on a rack that I made a few years ago, cut them to 102 inches, cut out al the branches and grind it smooth with a paddle disk in my 4 1/2 inch grinder. Then I put a chain at the end of the log, pick it up with the tines on the grapple and carry it to the peninsula.

I line it up, brace it and drill two 3/4 inch holes through the logs through the holes in the 3 inch C channel. I'm using 3/4 inch hot dipped galvanized threaded rod. I tried using really long 3/4 carriage bolts on my last gazebo and found them to be short most of the time. This time around I'm going with cutting each rod to length after getting it through the log and bolted together from both ends. So far, this seems to work a lot better.