Clayton's Bootcamp Experience

Yesterday me and Orin built another firewood rack, a smaller one this time to fit right up against the door of the library. It only took us about half the time, because we created the top and bottom boxes first, and then secured them to the two outer rails. We then screwed that completed structure into the existing rail of the last firewood rack.
If you have a more efficient way to do it, please let me know! We have many more to build.


Tips and Tricks:

Measure... 8 times? Cut once

I spent most of Sunday helping Orin on his ant plot

> firewood rack

Not faster, but...

There's some weight on those bottom rails. Any help they get, in addition to screws into the posts, is good. You guys know how it's going together, so maybe all strong like bull. But now is the time for  anything more. After the wood is stacked that back rail is gone, sorta speak.

For example, a nice sized little stone under the rail at each end against the post. Cut short piece of wood ("blocks" in construction lingo) to right length and wedge in on top the stone and holding up the rail, grain vertical (less shrinkage, stronger), against the post and put one fastener into the post, just to stabilize the block in place; probably needs to be a skinny fastener or it will split the block - the fastener doesn't hold any weight, that's the stone and the block. Maybe that's a good idea, maybe not. It needs some good stones, some space under the bottom rails, enough to want blocks long enough to be easy to cut and take a fastener, and also needs some easy wood to cut blocks from and a chop saw to make the accurate cuts fast, quick, easy.

And maybe it's all fine with the fasteners. But having done much stuff over twice or so, I don't look at the 2nd time around as fun, any more. I found  respect for time and weight and sag and movement. And fasteners have distinct limitations so I don't ask too much of them if it's simple to give them help.

Thanks for the pics and reports. Hope you guys have a great summer.


Cheers,
Rufus

Thanks for the tips Rufus. They do seem pretty solid but the rock idea is a good one, and we certainly have no shortage of them around here. It certainly wouldn't hurt to have some extra strength.

Yesterday morning we continued putting up horizontals on the junk pole fence, and added more verticals as well. We now have 1/4 of the horizontals up around the perimeter of the Abby.
In the afternoon, me and Josiah finally finished the shower shack!

Tips and Tricks:

If you're trying to pull in the gap on two junk poles with nails, make damn sure you get two in toe nailed before you release the wood. Otherwise they'll slide right apart

BRK Day 10

We finally got some proper rain yesterday, so the whole boot camp spent the day refurbishing the library. I spent the day working on a large roundwood framed desk while some other boots made smaller personal desks to go up against the wall

Tips and Tricks:

When you're using a log peeler, point the bevel side down! It makes all the difference (as I found out the hard way)

BRK Day 11

Continued to work on the giant desk yesterday, it's coming along and it's pretty awesome

BRK Day 12

Spent the morning yesterday building huugels and junk pole fence at the Abby, after a a bit of cobbing on the door to the cyclone. The afternoon was spent seeding and gardening on Fred's plot.

Tips and Tricks:

Moisten and create divots in old cob before adding a new layer. This allows for better adherence

Check if cob is the right consistency by smearing it to your hand and seeing if it sticks

Loving all the pics Clayton, thank you!  Always wonderful to see the great progress you're all making.