Forum:

wheaton laboratories

ant love

Kerry Rodgers

gardener

Posts: 230

Location: North Texas, Dallas area suburbs, US zone 8

129

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posted 9 years ago

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Josh Huorn wrote:I am planning on using saddle joints for my structure and this 1 1/2" timber framing gouge would sure help make some smooth joinery. Thank you!

Hi Josh, I sent you the gouge. Best wishes. Post a few pics if you get a chance. Cheers!

Chris Allen

Lab Ant

Posts: 46

Location: Wheaton Labratories

posted 9 years ago

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Kerry Rogers I am so happy that i can barely sit to write this message. The axes is better then i hoped for. Thanks so much it's such a load off my chest to know that the permies community have my back and your generosity is enough to bring a tear to my eye. The axe in question is perfect and i can't wait to start felling.

Don't forget to check out the Ant Love Forum or My Patreon

Chris Allen

Lab Ant

Posts: 46

Location: Wheaton Labratories

posted 9 years ago

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Here are some ant love item that would make my life easyer:
Camp and garden machete (Amazon)
This would be great to clear away the brush on my plot and may be widen some of the paths around camp.
Rechargable Flashlight (Amazon)
Any USB rechargeable flashlight
Digital Camera (Amazon)
At the moment all i have for a camera is a Nintendo DS. And any digitatal camera would let me post a lot more material. If it can shoot video ( Like the camera in link) even better. I'll even take a used camera.
Solar Laptop Recharger (Amazon)
Any sort of solar re-charger would be invaluable. This model can charge up my laptop and extend how long i can stay up at the lab.

Don't forget to check out the Ant Love Forum or My Patreon

Kerry Rodgers

gardener

Posts: 230

Location: North Texas, Dallas area suburbs, US zone 8

129

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posted 9 years ago

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Hi Chris,
I'm glad the axe looks good.
This "meaningless drivel" link came in my daily junk-mail deluge, and of course I thought of you and the rest of Ant village.

Cheers!

Josh Huorn

Posts: 77

Location: Eastern Mass, western Montana

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posted 9 years ago

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Caution, use of this felling axe will result in muscle growth.

Chris was all smiles when the box came and he immediately emblazoned a name in honor of this axes generous donor.

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Chris Allen

Lab Ant

Posts: 46

Location: Wheaton Labratories

posted 9 years ago

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Kerry as you can see I've gotten the axe. But what you can't see in josh's photo is that I had Carrol-ann burn the name "Kerry's Bite" into the axe. Because an axe this good needs a name. So I hope you like the name and Thanks again for what you did for me and all the the ant.

Don't forget to check out the Ant Love Forum or My Patreon

Josh Huorn

Posts: 77

Location: Eastern Mass, western Montana

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posted 9 years ago

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Here's a better picture of Carol-Anne's woodburner artistry

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Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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posted 9 years ago

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I received a nice little Ant Love package from Jenny Shore. All kinds of bicycle goodies, along with a lovely note! Fred and I were just talking about the possibility of a pedal powered washing machine, so perhaps this stuff will help us clean our act up a bit. Thank you so much for the love Jenny! We couldn't quite figure out what the wooden paddle thingies are for. Anyone?

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My Ant Love wish list:

Biodegradable Bar Oil for my chainsaw. I'm gonna need a lot of this for milling lumber with my chainsaw mill.

Darn Tough Socks that come with an unconditional lifetime warrantee! I go through socks like goats through a fence, these are supposed to last a lifetime or they send you a new pair! Size 12/XL please

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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posted 9 years ago

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I also got some Ant Love packages from Kerry Rodgers. A chainsaw mill with some accessories and a book about chainsaw lumber making! I am so incredibly excited to be able to make whatever size lumber I need! This will certainly help me push forward on my winter shelter. I am planing to use the post and shoring method that Mike Oehler recommends, and this mill will let me make my own shoring from the trees right her on the Lab. I've started reading the book already and it has some great advice, as well as some nifty devices for making milling much easier. I have already ordered one of these ripping chains so I can start milling soon. I could use a few more so I can just swap out chains instead of stopping the milling job to sharpen the chain. From what I hear, i'm in for a lot of chain sharpening.

In the lumber making book, there are plans for a set up involving a hand winch, two single puleys, and a double pulley which allow you to operate the mill from a safe distance by simply cranking the hand winch. I would really love to set that up.

Big thanks to Kerry Rodgers for the incredible gift! Kerry has been sending all kinds of love to the Ants, and is really helping move things forward as we approach winter. I think that deserves a whole bushel of apples!

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Chris Allen

Lab Ant

Posts: 46

Location: Wheaton Labratories

posted 9 years ago

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WOW. I was just asking Josh about milling lumber here at the lab. And i have a big ponderosa pine that would make some good lumber (epscially for bee boxes). But the size of the tree whould make transport hard. Now i could bring the mill to the tree.

Thanks again Kerry.

Don't forget to check out the Ant Love Forum or My Patreon

jenny shore

Posts: 16

Location: Berkeley & Somes Bar, CA

posted 9 years ago

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Foot rests from xtracycle which was stolen back in '08 and they don't fit on e mundo very well so now you have them Jesse!

me: big permies evangelist who doesn't like to type

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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posted 9 years ago

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Ah, I see. Thanks Jenny. Now we have somewhere to rest our feet.

Jim Barnes

Posts: 9

Location: Stevensville, Montana

posted 9 years ago

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Greetings ants and all! I have greatly enjoyed reading of your exploits and seeing the progresses made. To that end i have come to offer what assistance i might in the form of supplies. I work at a plumbing supply shop in Missoula and have access to pvc copper and such things, i dont know what might be of most assistance but if you have any thoughts from a place like this please let me know and id be more than happy to fill your need. I do have shovels, machetes, limbers, rakes and such as well. Keep up the good work all.

"Only a fool walks into the future backwards." — Commander General Trimack "Stone of Tears"

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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posted 9 years ago

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Hi Jim. Thank you for your generous offer, and I am glad you are enjoying our exploits out here. I just picked up a cast iron bath tub yesterday, which I plan to make into a rocket mass hot tub. I could use a good length of 1/2" soft copper tubing to coil around the barrel as part of the water heating element. I'm sure there are some other plumbing fixtures I will need when the time comes. I won't be building the hot tub until my house is finished however. Although, over wintering in a hot tub doesn't sound too bad

Hand tools are always a welcome addition to our tool library. Thanks again for the love!

Jim Barnes

Posts: 9

Location: Stevensville, Montana

posted 9 years ago

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Jesse i have a 50 foot roll of sofy copper with your name on it when you are ready, i also have 4 machetes, tjey will need a good stone as apparently we cant have them shipped with live edges... Please let me know what other neefs you might have and ill do what i can to accommodate. Also moosage me with instructions for tje procurement of that copper.

"Only a fool walks into the future backwards." — Commander General Trimack "Stone of Tears"

Su Ba

pollinator

Posts: 2142

Location: Big Island, Hawaii (2300' elevation, 60" avg. annual rainfall, temp range 55-80 degrees F)

1064

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posted 9 years ago

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I plan to be cleaning out and re-organizing my tool/supply shed next week. So I plan to put an assortment of items in a box and send it to ya'll. I'm sure there will be tidbits that might be useful. Maybe some kitchen type supplies too.

Question -- I just had boxes of used clothing donated to me. Much of it is in good condition. All sorts of items. Would something like this be useable by people there? For clothing, rags, fiber art, garden ties, etc? If so, I'll sort through the boxes and wash to good items before mailing them off to you. Someone....just let me know.

It's never too late to start! I retired to homestead on the slopes of Mauna Loa, an active volcano. I relate snippets of my endeavor on my blog : www.kaufarmer.blogspot.com

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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posted 9 years ago

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It is getting colder and more warm clothes would certainly be welcome, along with any tools and the kitchen stuff. Thank you very much Sue! Even if they are not warm clothes I'm sure we could find uses for the cloth.

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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posted 9 years ago

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We got another Ant Love package! Ryan Barret sent us a box full of audio goodies, a few microphones, a recording device, an SD card with reader, and a USB battery pack for portable charging. Thank you so much, Ryan! Our videos will have much better sound quality now. We have also been talking about forming some bands, so now we can record the music!

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Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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posted 9 years ago

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And the Ant Love just keeps rolling on in. An anonymous donor sent me the hand winch and pulleys I need to set up my chainsaw mill for hands free operation. I just need to gather up a few more odds and ends at the hardware store and I should be able to set it all up. I'll be sure to make a video review of the set up so all you permies can see how it works.
Thank you anonymous donor!

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Vera Stewart

pollinator

Posts: 513

Location: 7b at 1050 feet, precipitation average 13 inches, irrigated, Okanagan Valley

186

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posted 9 years ago

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Hmm, sounds like it's getting a bit chilly in Antville these days. Perhaps I can have a look through the mitten-and-toque box and see if there's anything there that would be of help...
I also have access to a great thrift shop that should be putting out it's winter stuff in another couple of weeks, if anyone has anything specific they need, maybe I can look for it there.
However, I have to ship this stuff from Canada, so bulky is not cool!

I'm also wondering if anyone needs/wants writing supplies? Why bother with computers and stuff (which don't like getting wet and frozen) when you can use a pen and paper? Then you only ruin a $5 writting pad, instead of a $500+ "notepad"

Follow some of my adventures in fiction writing here.

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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Hi Vera. Thanks for thinking of us ants, it is starting to get a bit chilly out here. Hats and mittens are always a good addition. Personally, I could use a set of insulated rubber boots, "mucks," for stomping around the snow this winter. Size 11.5 or 12.

Su Ba

pollinator

Posts: 2142

Location: Big Island, Hawaii (2300' elevation, 60" avg. annual rainfall, temp range 55-80 degrees F)

1064

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Jesse, I'm mailing some boxes to Paul today. They're filled with a strange motley variety of items that I've found re-organizing my own supply shed along with many items donated by others in my community. Clothing, coffee, honey (from my own hives), kitchen items, hardware, tools. I've only gotten four boxes packed so far, but there will be more to come. Donations are still showing up. I figure that somebody there should be able to use most of this stuff. If not, it could be saved for future use or else given away.

Have fun going through the boxes. Sort of like an early Christmas package. Enjoy!

It's never too late to start! I retired to homestead on the slopes of Mauna Loa, an active volcano. I relate snippets of my endeavor on my blog : www.kaufarmer.blogspot.com

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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Thank you Sue. It's so great knowing that there are people like you out there thinking about us ants and wanting to support the growth of our community. Honey! From your very own bees! I am so honored to receive such a special gift, as I am sure the other ants are too. Thank you so much.

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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posted 9 years ago

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We received a couple of lovely Ant Love care packages all the way from the Big Island of Hawaii! Thank you Sue Ba for all the thoughtful gifts! There was a collection of warm clothes and T-Shirts, a hand made winter hat, a few tools for the Ant Village Community Tool Library, some cookware (including a cast iron muffin pan), a few jars of coffee (yay coffee!), some reading material, and last but not least, a little jar of magic from Sue's bees. Mmmmmmm, tropical honey! We waited until all the Ants were present to open the packages and it was like a little early Christmas. Thank you so much to everyone sending Love our way! It is great to have the support of the permies community behind us.

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Julia Winter

steward

Posts: 3718

Location: Moved from south central WI to Portland, OR

985

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posted 9 years ago

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Wow, thanks Su! So good of you to send all those things.

I'm curious - what's a rice knife?

Ask me about food.
How Permies.com Works (lots of useful links)

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Skill verified by Mike Haasl

Su Ba

pollinator

Posts: 2142

Location: Big Island, Hawaii (2300' elevation, 60" avg. annual rainfall, temp range 55-80 degrees F)

1064

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The rice knife is a handy hand sickle. Great for close work, cutting weeds, cutting back brush. One just needs to be careful not to also cut fingers in the process. I managed to slice the index finger on my left hand so many times in the exact same spot that I was amazed that I didn't build up permanent scar tissue....that is, before I finally learned to wear a glove. Took me a long time to smarten up. This little knife is one of my favorite hand tools. I've worn out several of them over the past dozen years.

Jesse, I use canola oil for my chainsaw bar oil. I shop at Costco 3-4 times a year and pick up several gallons at a time. I've been using canola oil for a few years and it seems to work just fine. Regretfully I can't mail it to you. The post office on this end won't accept it.

It's never too late to start! I retired to homestead on the slopes of Mauna Loa, an active volcano. I relate snippets of my endeavor on my blog : www.kaufarmer.blogspot.com

Chadwick Holmes

Posts: 618

Location: Volant, PA

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I make a lot of trad tools, but not sure if they would be all that usefull to you all, any of this stuff usefull? I'll start making some things.....

I use nothing but food grade flaxseed oil for my finishes, so it takes a while to dry before it can get sent, plus I am winterizing my campground right now too, but if you like any of these tell me and as I have time I will start a box.

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Chadwick Holmes

Posts: 618

Location: Volant, PA

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Also if you have something that I can make you, give me suggestions! It will be silly stuff to get in winter, but it'll be ready for spring!

Julia Winter

steward

Posts: 3718

Location: Moved from south central WI to Portland, OR

985

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Wow, that rake is gorgeous!

Or, what is it called?

Ask me about food.
How Permies.com Works (lots of useful links)

Chadwick Holmes

Posts: 618

Location: Volant, PA

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Yeah just a rake......that's how they used to be made, it's not really fancy but utilitarian, just shows how much we've lost in manufacturing tools.

Thank you for saying so, I do appreciate it!

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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A great part of living here in the Ant Village at Paul Wheaton's place in Western Montana is all of the Love and support we recieve from the permies.com community. We are constantly receiving gifts from people all over the world who want to help us in our efforts to get the Ant Village off the ground. Recently, permies.com member Hans Quistorff sent us an old cant hook, minus the handle. A cant hook is a great tool for moving around heavy logs, and especially rolling them while you are peeling the bark. I have been doing an awful lot of this lately, so I was very excited to receive the cant hook and immediately made a quick handle for it using a small dry tree trunk from right here in the Ant Village. It still needs some improvements, but it does the job and I was able to get right back out into the woods to peel more logs for my house, this time with a handy tool to make rolling the logs much easier. Thanks Hans!

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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Su Ba wrote:The rice knife is a handy hand sickle. Great for close work, cutting weeds, cutting back brush. One just needs to be careful not to also cut fingers in the process. I managed to slice the index finger on my left hand so many times in the exact same spot that I was amazed that I didn't build up permanent scar tissue....that is, before I finally learned to wear a glove. Took me a long time to smarten up. This little knife is one of my favorite hand tools. I've worn out several of them over the past dozen years.

Jesse, I use canola oil for my chainsaw bar oil. I shop at Costco 3-4 times a year and pick up several gallons at a time. I've been using canola oil for a few years and it seems to work just fine. Regretfully I can't mail it to you. The post office on this end won't accept it.

I will make sure to be extra careful with the rice knife, Su. It does have some pretty mean looking teeth.

Paul was using canola oil for his chainsaws when I was here last summer, but from what I hear he switched to the biodegradable manufactured bar oil because the canola oil freezes in the winter time and gums up the insides of the chainsaw. I have used a brand called "Motion Lotion" for a while, but it isn't available on Amazon anymore. It is also a good bit thinner than regular bar oil and so it tends to leak out of the saw when you aren't using it, which is kind of a hassle. Perhaps there is some kind of natural additive I could put in plan old canola oil to keep it from solidifying in cold weather. It would certainly help to find a cheaper alternative.

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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posted 9 years ago

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Chadwick Holmes wrote:Also if you have something that I can make you, give me suggestions! It will be silly stuff to get in winter, but it'll be ready for spring!

Wow, those are beautiful. It would be really cool to have some hand made, functional works of art like that in our community tool library. I will pass the word along to the ant villagers and see what we can come up with. Thank you so much!

Vera Stewart

pollinator

Posts: 513

Location: 7b at 1050 feet, precipitation average 13 inches, irrigated, Okanagan Valley

186

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I'm ashamed to say that I won't be able to send the package I'd planned to send, because the shipping cost turned out to be too high when I inquired on Friday at the post office. I've been trying to think of what I could take out to make the cost lesser, but it just doesn't seem to me to be a very efficient use of the materials, unfortunately. If I had some neat high value tools to send it would be a different story! But sorry, I guess I won't be sending anything after all.

I'm glad other people are able to send cold-weather gear!

Follow some of my adventures in fiction writing here.

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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No worries,Vera. It is awesome that you were even thinking of sending us a care package. It's the thought that counts, right. It's great to know that people are thinking about us and want to help.

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52441

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

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Vera Stewart wrote:I'm ashamed to say that I won't be able to send the package I'd planned to send, because the shipping cost turned out to be too high when I inquired on Friday at the post office. I've been trying to think of what I could take out to make the cost lesser, but it just doesn't seem to me to be a very efficient use of the materials, unfortunately. If I had some neat high value tools to send it would be a different story! But sorry, I guess I won't be sending anything after all.

I'm glad other people are able to send cold-weather gear!

Vera,

Take a look at uship.com. Apparently, sometimes there is somebody driving by your house on their way to montana. They'll take a big box or two for something like $40. Usually much cheaper than regular shippers.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

Timothy Black

Posts: 17

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Can you guys use a Froe?

Jesse Grimes

Lab Ant

Posts: 274

Location: Orange County, CA

159

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A froe would be awesome! I learned how to make cedar shakes while woofing at a farm on Vancouver Island last year. There are some cedar groves in the national forest near here. I was thinking I might be able to find some stumps or trees to get bolts from. I would love to have cedar shakes as siding on my house. Thank you!

Timothy Black

Posts: 17

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Ok, I'll send it to the 'ants' address

EDIT: Sent! It has my name on top of it.. just ignore it and split some damn shakes

Timothy Black

Posts: 17

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Oh my goodness! Found a great resource... its a guidebook to wildlife in your area

http://store.msuextension.org/publications/OutdoorsEnvironmentandWildlife/2B0323.pdf

That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I think a piece of pie wouldn't kill me. Tiny ad:

permaculture and gardener gifts (stocking stuffers?)

https://permies.com/wiki/permaculture-gifts-stocking-stuffers