What Was Your Top Project in 2012?

[Gary Fowler]

I finished a12x16 shed with a shed roof around back. I also had a pond put in out behind my house.
I built the shed but hired out the pond.
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I also graded and seeded around both projects. Came in decent before winter set in.

I added a lean to on my shop similar to this one but completely enclosed with a 12 foot garage door with opener. Actually started it in Dec. 2011 but finished it in 2012. I contracted the actual building of it and concrete work but I added lights(4) and receptacles (4)one of which is switched and only works with the lights on. This was mainly due to having some wire that would reach from the last light but not to any power point to tie it in so I just jumped it off the lights. Its useful for running saws etc when I am working in the shop and when I turn off the lights it is dead. I have 3 others that are live including one on the outside parking slab. I just finished putting up some shelving in it a few days ago that I had been needing for a while to store my fuel cans and fishing tackle boxes on. When I first built it, I put up one corner shelf in the back for storage that is 2 feet deep by 4 feet in each direction from the corner. It is high so need a step ladder to reach most anything on it which is why I put in the lower shelves to be more accessible at about chest high.
Also did a lot of stump removal with my TLB plus finished thinning out my thicket around the creek, built a couple of dams on the creek to create 3 mini-ponds. NOW I can see the back pasture and the mini ponds from my back porch. NOW have to get some photos of all of it.

 

[BuzzardA91]

Here are some construction pics I dug up.

Starting the floor (with help)


Raising a wall (with help again)


This time lost my helper.....


Almost there.....


Time for primer and trim

 

[ededic]

This year was the year for the cottage. Built shed to do woodworking a other projects during the summer months May-Oct while we are there. Could have been bigger but large enough to store kayaks, beach toys and tools.



Later in the summer, got a little tired of sitting on an incline around the fire every night and decided to build it up with rocks and fill from family gravel pit.



After returning home for the winter months, started on the list of furniture to be built. These end tables were next on the list and were complete from my end by the end of 2012. Wife runs the finish and paint dept. of our household so that is currently underway.



Wondering if we have any Tractor guys (gals) who also build furniture. Have not seen much of that on this forum.

Ed

 

[BuzzardA91]

Nice end tables. I do woodworking as a hobby as well. Will try and dig up some pics. Built a timber frame house five years ago, and lets just say.....still trying to finish. Most woodworking projects went on hold but spend the last few weeks getting my basement shop in order.

I wish my wife did the finishing. My least favorite part.

 

[ededic]

I wish my wife did the finishing. My least favorite part.

My wife is very particular and also does a great job. So it works out to our advantage and we make a great team.

 

[ededic]

For the furniture builders, this was the 2011 project:

Entertainment room, turned library/reading room. Again, I build, wife finishes, paints and caulks.



After all done, we loved the room so much, we sold the pool table and purchased some chairs (pictured), couch is on order, floor lamps are being built in the barn and tables are on the list to be built.

Ed

 

[BuzzardA91]

Really nice job. I will try and dig up some pics. Mostly small boxes and stuff for me as of late. Trying to get back into maybe a small table or cabinet. Boxes have always been my favorite.

 

[westcliffe01]

My most effective projects were not on my property, but on the sheep farm where I do my predator hunting.

Put in 2 5" culverts to take barn roof runoff underneath the driveway instead of over it - needed trenches over 30' long and getting progressively deeper as it went to maintain positive slope. That single job has meant that the driveway has been converted from a swamp with 14" deep ruts to a year round dry road. I can get out now to open the gate and keep my feet dry.

Graded and graveled about 600' of driveway which was flooded and potholed. This was sparingly done with about 40 yards of crushed limestone and locally sourced fill dirt.

Installed a 14" diameter x 15' long culvert at the outlet of one of the stock watering ponds. There used to be a double 5" culvert that took the water underground, but it had silted up and in anything other than ideal weather conditions it was near impossible crossing the creek due to mud/ruts and standing water. That particular job took about 16 days worth of backfill using my loader backhoe with all of the bottom backfill being clay. A pretty big area was built up more than 3 feet high and leveled with the "bridge" section over the culvert about 12' wide and then becoming wider on both sides so that the approach is not too critical. That job is not finished, it still needs more fill and then to be grassed over, but crossing the creek is now no problem, any time of year.

Dug the holes and trenches for a septic system over 2 weekends and then filled them back in after putting in the tank and drain tubes.

Replaced all the hydraulic hoses on my backhoe boom, since the leakage became unbearable. The damage was mostly due to a poor quality bracket/clamp put on by the factory which cut through the outer layer of rubber on the hose. It was a real mission to find a place which sold the DKOL crimp fittings needed as well as the 5000psi rated hose. During this year, several other hoses failed due to chafing from poor installation, so I am preparing for the replacement of the majority of the remaining flexible hoses on the machine so that I reduce the downtime in the next season. Also looking to install steel plate in certain exposed areas underneath to prevent some of the damage I experienced this year. I had a 3/4" hardwood sapling take out my radiator and radiator fan, that was pretty embarrassing.

Payback was hunting 3 does and a buck in deer season. So far the coyotes seem to be reluctant to try their luck after killing a few of them last year. The size of the sheep flock more than doubled due to only 4 animals being lost to the coyotes all of last year. So things are looking up financially for the family running the farm part time and working part time.

 

[Combustix]

Depman this is for personnel use. Wife wanted one so you know how that goes. I will say wife makes her own dough out of berries she mills and sauce from tomatoes from the garden. Goat cheese is from the goats she milks. These are the best pizzas you could ever hope for and yes at 850 degrees it takes all of 80-90 seconds to cook. The next day 3 or four different kind of breads in the am. Then a seven hour goat leg in the Dutch oven goes in. Don't brew my own beer but buy by kegs from local micro brewery. I recommend these ovens highly

 

[forgeblast]

Combustix I have my oven all done but for the outer covering. What did you use on top of your fire brick, is that masonary mortar or portland? did you use anything to hold it together?
thanks