Spencer's Pole Barn Project

Robert_in_NY · Mar 1, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

The easiest way is to put an abrasive blade into a circular saw. You will use a few blades but it cuts quick and easy. After the cut you file down the cut edge to remove the burr and throw some spray paint on the cut edge (spray from the back of the sheet as it won't show on the finished side).

jeepinator · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Outstanding thread and project!
I just read the entire thing. It was a good investment of my time as I will be starting a (much less fancy) barn/shop this spring.

I am truly impressed.
Cheers!

Spencer · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

( AWESOME JOB SPENCER!!! so far that looks amazing. Im only 17 yrs old but when i get my own house first thing when i get money is to buy a tractor and then to build a garage or pole type barn you have, are those garage doors insulated? and are you going to heat that shop? when its complete can you tell me how much it cost so i can start saving up for mine /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif )

Kyle, sorry I missed your question about the garage doors. Yes they are insulated, but they only have an R-Value of around 10. They are pretty darn thin for insulated doors. I have attached a photo to show just how thin. I hope to heat the barn next winter, but time will tell.

Spencer · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

I forgot to mention that all the doors are Wayne Dalton Thermospan 125's. All four doors are 10' high, two are 10' wide, and the other two are 9' wide.

Spencer · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

( I tried it today, but it's not working. Hope you do this again with more warning, I'd love to see how it works, not to mention your barn.

Eddie

)

Eddie, sorry you didn't get a chance to ckeck out the web cam. I'll post some interior shots of the barn just for you.

Spencer · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

No my TC-33D didn't shrink into a TC-18, I just came across a deal that was too good to pass up.

Besides, if Henro can have two tractors then I guess I can too.

Spencer · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

This picture shows a 24" exhaust fan that I picked up at TSC. I wanted to install it before I did the metal on that wall instead of trying to install one after the metal was all up. There are no windows in the barn for quite a few reasons, so this fan should help out from time to time.

Spencer · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here is a view of the other side of the barn.

Spencer · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here is a picture from the front looking towards the back of the barn.

Spencer · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

This is the last one for now. This is a shot of the 16'x16' addition that faces towards the house.

Spencer · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Well maybe one more photo. This is an aerial view taken from Google Earth. This is a few years old so it does not show the pole barn yet, but it does show the site for the barn. This must have been taken after I pulled out all the stumps and started filling the site with fill sand. There could even be a pole or two in the ground, it is just not a good enough resolution to tell. The fill sand sure does stick out next to all of the trees. You can also see my "storage yard" where I keep all of my tractor implements. I sure would like to build some sort of shelter in the "storage yard" to keep them in, but I guess I better finish this barn first.

Spencer · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

( Long time in the works but very nice job. I'n a way, I feel that I have been a part of this project after watching the photo's in progress. You sure have given me many ideas plus the encouragment to try the big projects.
When this is finished whats the next project?
PJ )

Thanks PJ, I'm just concentrating on getting this thing far enough along to get my final inspection. It sure will be nice to be able to work in the barn instead of on the barn.

Spencer · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

( Spencer - What tool/method did you use to cut the siding for Gable ends. thanks )

Dullpain, I used a 9" Morse Metal Devil circular saw with a 68 tooth blade specifically designed for cutting thin steel.
http://www.metaldevil.com/evolution.html

This is the same saw as the Evolution 230Xtreme
http://www.evolutionpowertools.com/usa/usaevolution230xtreme.htm

Spencer · Mar 2, 2006

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

( Barn is looking ood. In one of the photos it looks like some trees are awefully close to the building. Perhaps it is jsut the photo. Are you concerned at all about falling trees or limbs as an endangerment to the barn?

Also how is your life going? As I reacall somewhere in this thread I think you quit your job, too many days on the road, I think it was. Perhaps I am thinking of someone else.

I was not able to view the webcam as i didn't want to sign in. however I am enjoying the photographs you are attaching.

I hope you will take this with a smile, and that is how it is intended. I am always wondering who will finish first. You with your barn or Harv with his Building a pond. Now I know Harv has the pond basically built but do to the drought in the area he has not displayed any photos with water in it (that I am aware of correct me anyone if I am wrong about that).

Between harv's pond project and your barn I wonder who will finish first. Seems liket here should be some kind of trophy, simply for endurance and perserverence. You are an inspiration to all of us. )

ROX, yes there are quite a few trees near the barn. There is no way my wife would have allowed me to take out all of the trees that could possibly fall onto the barn. I try to think of the trees that are real close to the barn as my "blockers". Hopefully they will block any falling trees that are farther away from the barn and stop them before they hit the barn. Ya, thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

Life? Well it has been quite a change for my whole family. My daughter started Kindergarten last fall and I was glad to be home so she could focus on school and not my absence. She seems very secure now and is doing great in school. My wife is also very glad that I am home, but she will be even happier when the barn is "done". Winters had ususally been slow for me at work, but last year and the year before were pretty busy. Before that though I use to only work about 15 days or so from the holidays up until about tax time. I always had to plan my finances accordingly to get me through the winter. That is how I have been getting through this winter. I have been living off of last years profits just like I usually did to get through the winter. Only this year I don't have my normal work to return to in the spring and that has kept me awake more than a few nights. Especially with the ton of money that I have had to shell out for materials to get the barn finished up. I have to start looking into work here real soon, it should be interesting.

As far as who is going to finish first, Harv or I, I am sad to say I haven't had time to keep up with his thread so I don't know how far along he is. I know both Harv and Eddie have some great threads going and I am looking forward to sitting down and reading them someday.

As far as a trophy goes, I think that should go to Muhammad and Hakim for allowing me to keep this thread alive all of these years. I sure hope they have all their data backed up and have backups of their backups. I would hate to lose this archive of my project along with all of the helpful advice and encouragement that I have received.

cjfling · Jul 9, 2010

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Spencer said:
( And, after my experience running a Ditch Witch through only 40' linear feet of cement-like hard pan to install a gas line, I was expecting you to say that it didn't turn out so easy. But, after seeing your pics of that beautiful 400+ foot trench, it looks like you mastered that task pretty good.
)

Don, it wasn't easy at all. The tires on the trencher would load up with the soft sand. The tires looked like they were bald because they had so much sand on them. I kept having to kick the tires to try and knock the sand off of them. There were times when the trencher would just not move any further. For liability reasons I cannot explain my solution to this problem at this time.

A solution for the DW's tires getting clogged up was hooking up an ATV or similar device to the tie down loop between the wheels, below the handle and keeping slight pressure on the DW with the ATV. (Not that I know that from first hand experiance.)