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By Dave, December 28, 2005 11:27 am

Several advances to report on the house building front.

Stove is working fine. Still gets a bit smokey in here when loading sometimes but I am learning it’s ways. Added a inner smoke shield flap in the top of the door and cut down on most of the smoke. There are two times I get smoke coming out into the room now. One is when I open the door all the way without stopping at about an inch to allow the chamber to clear first. The other is when loading it and not having all the wood right there to put in quickly. If all the wood is put in before the first has a chance to start smoking we are fine but if I only get one piece and put in then get another and another the first is smoking and some of it gets out. No biggie and I will make a instruction sheet for the thing if I have to but I think most of the problem is me.

Also added a layer of firebrick to the outside of the firebox. Just stacked on there for now as I have other ideas to try heating wise from some stuff I have been reading at http://www.stove.ru/index.php?lng=1 which throws a lot of what I have been doing totally out of the picture.

Was looking at masonry heaters a couple of years ago (or more) and wanted to try something but the time wasn’t right. Got this place built enough now to try again. With the addition of the “free (natural) gas movement” design I think I can build a heater of junk water heaters, rock and cement that will still have the energy efficiency of the masonry heaters. Firebrick for the combustion chamber and a clay and cement mix for the flue walls. Water heaters cut off for the heat exchange hoods. Use cardboard to space the rock and cement away from the metal so there is an expansion joint between the two. Going to try it anyway. Of course the stove I just built is right where I want to build this one. So will have to move it I guess. Such is life in an experiment…

The beam I alluded to in the title is the center support beam under the second floor that I am presently on. I added a couple of cedar posts for support on either side of the stove platform and will build the rock and cement up and around them as I build the heater but for now figured more support couldn’t hurt. Got to looking at another one that I wanted to use for the support beam and as the chainsaw was already out decided to cut it and see how much trimming I would have to do to the top. Cut one section off the large end for a west side support post and notched the top 5.5 inches down and half the diameter which was 8 inches. Put the beam on the supports and tried to use a chalk line to level my cut to but there are too many limbs sticking out on this piece to do it and it is crooked to boot. So set my head to level and cut the side level. trimmed the large end square on 3 sides to fit the notch on the post. Found the wood mizer blade for the sawsall and cut a notch out of the second floor/stair support post next to the trailer to fit the small end. Got the 13+ foot long beam inside by my self. Used the handtrucks and tied either one end or the other to them as I maneuvered it in over and around things… Got one end up on the 7 foot step ladder and was fixing to put the other end in when Bill came by so got him to help me get it in and then the second floor jacked up and the other end put in place. The second floor is MUCH more stable now.

With the post on the west side in place we now have a larger area for the bathroom. Already moved the walls some. Course the walls are sheets of blueboard. Door is a bedspread hung on a piece of bamboo. But it’s getting better.

Had Cat get a indoor/outdoor thermometer yesterday. Now I can tell just how much colder it is here than at the official Weaver reporting station. Last night we were 7 degrees colder than it was reporting. Had thought so but now I know…

Getting more of the blueboard up. Got 3 pieces on the aerie ceiling so far. 3 more to go but those have got to have additional support which means cutting plastic and then reattaching it. Warm enough today to do but hands and arms are giving me fits so may just take it easy instead.

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By Dave, December 25, 2005 9:54 am

For those of you following these exploits I thought I would put down some of yesterdays doings.

First off, the stove works! Needs more air with damp or green wood but with good dry wood does a great job. Took a while to get the brick and sand dried out but once the moisture was out of there it took off and went the entire night with just two feedings and I only put in a couple of logs each time. I think if I had filled it with dry stuff it would have gone all night without a problem. Let the Ashley go out and the heat is still holding inside here fine. Course it is only about 20 degrees cooler outside than in instead of trying to keep a 40 to 50 degree differential so only time and colder weather will tell.

Got a couple of pieces of old roofing and cut holes for the pipe in the center of each. One is a piece of 5v and the other is the 3 foot wide stuff. the 5v went inside the south end of the greenhouse at the top. Added a couple of 2×4’s, one on each side of the opening for side attachment and screwed the metal down on all 4 sides. Put the flue pipe in for a test fit and moved the stove (sucker is heavy with the brick and sand in it too!) to get the best alignment. have a nice rise to the pipe so maybe it will draw right. Put all the seams on the top so won’t get creosote running out and dripping. Made the mistake of putting the seams down on my first stove, my thinking being that the smoke wouldn’t get out that way. WRONG way to do it!. Anyway got the pipe back out and screwed it together at each joint with 3 1/2 inch metal screws. Put it back in and then went outside and put on the other metal. No triple wall here but as far from the stove and any wood as the flue is I think we are okay.

Then got some 12 foot long shelving angle and a few pieces of shorter stuff and some bolts and nuts. drove 2 pieces of the short stuff into the ground under the pipe and then bolted the 12 foot stuff to them. Added a short cross brace under the pipe and then put on the last ell and about 10 feet of flue pipe with a rain cap on top. Another cross brace on the outside of the flue at the top and then a quick wrap with steel wire and its done.

Back inside and newspaper and a couple of cedar twigs and the fire is going. Added more stuff and it kept growing and drying the brick and sand. It will need another air intake. Guess I will take the door off, drill some holes and make a turn or slide draft control there. Once it is going the 1 1/2 inch pipe air inlet is fine but with the 24+ feet of flue (!) along with the 2 ells is just too much back restriction for the small diameter inlet, especially with wet or green wood. Once it dries out it’s fine.

To cook, perchance to eat. Got to get at it.

Merry Happy to all!

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By Dave, December 24, 2005 9:59 am

Yea though the world conspired to keep me from finishing the new stove, lo have I persevered and at dark was ready to install the flue. So put that off till today.

Found and fitted together an ell, 6 inch stub, and a tee, and another 6 inch stub, all 1 1/2 inch black pipe, and cut a piece of 1 3/4 exhaust pipe to fit the side curve at the bottom of the front of the stove. Marked and cut the stove, and with a bit of additional fitting brazed the exhaust pipe bushing into place. This allows for removal and or replacement of the air intake should my design not work. And I am not sure that it will. The open end of the ell and the middle of the tee are the intake air outlets.

Fitted the inside stuff into place and added a coupling to the end of the stub that was sticking out.

I still think I have some old gate valves and other large steam fittings or plumbing stuff out here somewhere but after an hour of searching decided to make an air control myself rather than spend any more time or money on the project.

Got another 1 1/2 inch diameter 6 inch stub and drilled a hole through the center of it to accept the bolt of my choice. Took said bolt to the shaper and cut half of it off the hard way. Removed one side of the section of the bolt that was visible inside the pipe. Found a old shock washer that after flattening fit the inside of the pipe. Drilled a 1/8 inch hole in the center of the land on the bolt and threaded it 8 nf 32. Put the bolt back in the pipe, added the washer and after a while got the screw in place. Had to remove the washer and grind one edge at an angle so it would turn in the pipe. Put it back together and had a valve good enough for air (I think). 2 washers and a spring then a nut gave a grip so it will stay where it is set. Found a piece of broken sledge hammer handle and cut it down to make a valve handle. Another couple of flat washers and another nut to secure it to the bolt and it’s done. No pix as I ain’t got the time right now. I think Cat took some of the finished product but not sure.

Finished bending the rim/legs and welded them on. After charging the battery for the welder. And finding and using the terminal cleaning tool. And telling the woman (again) that NO I didn’t want to sell the catalytic converters out of the cars in the field. And fighting with the wrong rods (again). But they are on and welded well if not pretty. Filled some 1/2 inch gaps in places too. Guess I did learn something with the 90+ hrs welding on the dozer… Another job to finish soon…

Removed the door frame and flue coupling and applied liberal amounts of furnace cement to them and put them back on. Filled the air valve hole (air bladder tank) with it also as I may want access to the firebox at some point with a thermocouple so didn’t want to weld this nice threaded hole closed.

Came up and got the yellow truck and wheelbarrow and back to the barn to load the new stove. The rim legs just fit in the barrow in either direction! Glad I planned it that way 😉

Brought it and as much flue pipe as I could find to the greenhouse and again into the wheelbarrow and inside. After moving the trees and cacti that is. The largest (got it as a 2 year old plant that was 12 inches tall for my 16th birthday in 1969 and been caring for it ever since) pony tail palm is almost too tall for the 13 ft ceiling in there! Will have to dig a hole and put it’s container in there I guess. Had hoped the new ceiling height would be enough. Should have known better…

Got the stove wrestled into place and went and got the firebrick out of the experimental kerosene smelter. Will replace it with home made out of clay, sand and ash. The firebrick I used are made to retain heat where what I need in the smelter is to NOT absorb but to reflect. So they get reused. Moved them to the truck and then into the building.

Then got a barrow of sand and put a bit in the stove and started setting the firebrick. Lined the bottom and sides up about half way. Put some across the back also and put sand everywhere there wasn’t firebrick. Hope it will work…

Cut a piece of metal roofing to 27 inches long. Turned out to be 38 inches wide with the bends stomped flat. 😉 Cut slots about an inch deep and 1 to 1 1/2 inches apart on one 38 inch side and bent the cut pieces at right angle to the rest. On the other end (the one that will face the door) I found the center at 19 inches and drew then cut out a triangle 6 inches on the side for the smoke and hot flue gasses to pass through. The idea is that the fire will burn from front to back with the air coming in the front then to exit the smoke has to pass back through the flame to get to the flue. Also should cut down on the flame damage to the inside of the tank and get a few extra btu’s out of the flue gases at the same time. The inner shield will wear out pretty quick but is easy to make and costs some scrap to do. Anyway back to the story at hand…

Rolled this in as small a roll as I could and inserted it into the stove body. Surprisingly enough the sucker fit first time. Had to move the brick on the top to let it move a bit behind them, and may have to redo the entire inside with one less brick a row which will mean not centering the first one. Anyway it ended up with about 3 inches of clearance between the flame shield and the top so should be about right. Will see.

Was too tired and too late to get the roof cut and glad I waited. I have decided to go through then end or side wall and get all the heat I can out of the pipe. Will take cleaning out quite often but that’s better than a leak in the NEW roof. This way will only need 2 pieces of metal and some extra pipe along with the wood and such but I think I like the idea better than the straight up… And will not put the creosote build up on the roof either!

About warm enough to get out and at it. Got to cook a load of stuff today too! Not ready but Christmas is here so will typo again as soon as I have a bit and stuff to say…

And a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

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By Dave, December 19, 2005 2:44 pm

Got the window in on the north wall yesterday. Along with putting blueboard up along 8 feet of the second floor. Will still have to remove the window to put the siding on but for now this works a lot better than just plastic.

Spent the morning putting plastic down on the ground on the bottom floor and then putting carpet down on top of it. Tis a LOT warmer down there now too! Going to get the rest of the carpet out of the barn and bring in to finish the bathroom and to put down up here or in the kitchen one. If in the kitchen then will bring the carpet pieces from in there up here.

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By Dave, December 15, 2005 9:27 am

got 3 of the windows installed into the aerie so far. Started with the east wall over my desk. Actually decided to put the desk there after the fact so really just started with the east wall north most corner.

Cut some .5 inch square strips of pine and pre-drilled them to accept screws. Then made a unit shaped like TT of 3 2×6’s cut to fit. set it into place and test fit a window pane (31×29.5) and adjusted the bottoms of the TT to the sides of the pane and screwed them to the cross 2×6 already in the wall. Affixed the top of the TT to the north east corner post and the upright support on the other side (all walls have 4 foot stud spacing, or somewhere thereabouts. This is NOT conventional construction…). Then put 4 of the .5 inch strips around the outermost edge of the inside of the opening and then put the first pane in. Another set of strips and then the inner pane and another set of strips and we have a window. Double pane at that. Stapled the plastic around on inside and out and done for now.

That was tuesday. Wednesday morn we moved my desk up here and I got to looking at the south wall. This is the one that overlooks the greenhouse metal roof. Decided on 4 on that wall.

Went to the pile and got the rest of the glass. have 10 pieces without getting into the other storm doors so can do 5 more windows. After much thinking and trying got two of them done. they lean in a bit at the top and that alone makes them look funky. Course then there is the paneling that I am using which is 2×6’s in whatever length works so…

Got the other 2 started and dark came on so halted for the evening. Place took the rain without a problem. Guess I finally got the ditching right.

Sitting here this am and started getting cold. The walls are still plastic and there is no insulation anywhere so this is understandable but still uncomfortable. So I got to thinking about the way that teepees are insulated with hanging inner walls of about any kind of cloth and decided to try it in here. One of the Coleman sleeping bags was in a pile in the corner so went down and got a 8 ft length of bamboo from the greenhouse/workshop and some cord, then raided the kitchen stash of clothes pins and with a couple of 3 inch sheet rock screws hung it from floor to where it reached with the top edge folded over and pined to the lining which is about 6 feet. Just right for killing the heat loss from the walls! Now to find the other 3 and hang them around the rest of the coldest areas. Going to get a load of blueboard, to cover the outside of the walls, soon but this will save some firewood till then.

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By Dave, December 12, 2005 2:02 pm

finally got the staircase to the new second floor done.

and the new greenhouse/conservatory.

among other things. got pix of some of it. will try to post some later. not up to typing yet. taken me way too long to get this much typed.

update — got the handrail up now. still got to put the top post in. Working on the last of the flooring for the second floor now. using 2×6’s and will overlay with rugs and such. feels firm. have had 6 people up there at one time already so guess it will hold… 😉

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By Dave, October 18, 2005 2:10 pm

got the parlor stove installed and working in the 14×70. took 32 rows of cans 12 wide to fill the opening. about 4.5 80 lb bags of quickcrete sand topping mix at the point I am now. Got a bit more to do on the edges on the inside and another layer on both the outside and inside but hands are hurting too bad to try anymore right now.

limbs cleared off the trees the power wire will be hanging in. got the chainsaw, fuel and oil in the truck now waiting for hands to quiet down a bit before going at the pines, poplar, and sweet gum that are in the way. was going to clear them anyway later but get to do it sooner…

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By Dave, September 15, 2005 6:45 pm

been a long few days and I am paying for it today. did yesterday too but about this time of day started getting a bit of energy and used it to add the last second floor joists into place and then put several 2x6x16s up as flooring. guess I am paying for that and the digging and moving of the other 2x6x16s from the other side to here by the trailer. counted 65 left before starting yesterday and still have 15 + left to move over here. should be enough to finish the building anyway.

having to use them for flooring as all the plywood is heading south or the contractors have bought it up and won’t sell it.

more when I have the energy.

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By Dave, September 9, 2005 3:18 pm

Treehugger: Zip-Shelter: Housing For Those Without

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Interesting design, but I wonder how practical they will be in the real world.

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By Dave, September 5, 2005 11:43 am

Desertteardrops.com – – TEARDROP PLANS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD |||!||!||||

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By Dave, September 4, 2005 3:47 pm

Working on a ladder that curves to fit the qhut to allow me to work along the edge above the safe zone on my 7 foot step ladder. The 18 foot extension ladder has to sit too far out to be far enough down on the to of the curve to climb on safely. Or not to my liking anyway. Got it up 8 feet. A couple of more 2 foot sections to go, I think. Maybe 3 but I think 2 should put me over the hump as it were.

Debating on a car port now. Should be easy enough to build but not sure I want to spend the time right now. But part of it has to be decided before I go further with things now. Gonna go and stare at it a bit more…

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By Dave, September 3, 2005 9:16 am

Got the wall at or above the second floor level from trailer to qhut. Put in half gallon bottles as a transom window above the door. Still not sure I like it and in this case it IS cast in concrete so guess I will learn to live with it…

The last 2 bags of SAND mix has had rock in it! Got a window screen and am “screening” them out but shouldn’t be there in the first place! Guess that’s why it was so cheap. Screwed myself again trying to save money…

Suspect I need to go and buy a load of sand and mix my own. Just have to figure out how to cat proof the sand pile. 🙁

For now am going out now to build a sifter box. May try to build the shaving horse today too. Need it for quite a few things.

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By Dave, August 28, 2005 10:41 pm

Got the door installed. Or in. Or kinda in. The 2x6x16 went in fine. The 4×4 likewise. And the door. Added another 2×4 on the other side of the door frame closest to the qhut.

Mixed about 3 shovel fulls of topping mix with water and started stacking cans. Got the bottom of the area between the qhut and the 2×4 by the door frame stacked up to about 2 feet high. Mixed another like amount and coated the outside ends of the cans and then used the leftovers to start with the rock on the trailer side of the door.

Slowly it goes, day by day…

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By Dave, August 27, 2005 10:49 am

Got the storm door moved from the center wall of the qhut to the greenhouse entrance in the end wall of the 12 wide. Footing dug where the door is going and blocks set in place for sizing. Cat has gone to get weekend food stuffs and a hose pipe. Will start pouring cement when she gets back.

Built a set of steps out of industrial shelving standards. Still got to cut the 2×6 or 8’s to make the treads but this way I can adjust the step height as needed. Make nice semi portable steps. Got to get a couple of longer uprights for the bottom and then I can add hand rails out of pipe, bamboo or wood as the mood strikes. I think I have figured out a way to use the erector set or bolt together type to build a spiral stair case to the second floor. Will try to remember to charge the cam and take pix as I build that.

Still got to get the nails out of the fiberglas window on the end of the qhut. The second floor support is going to over lap it about a half an inch. Will be covered up inside and out anyway so no biggie. Soon as I get those out I’ll set the 2x6x16 and then the corner 4×4 and drive the angle bracket into the ground to hold it level and square. Then will take the 4×4 out and pour the cement and lay the blocks, and put it back in. Then will be able to set the door and start on laying cans and bottles to make the qhut side wall section.

About got the root cellar hole filled and packed. If not for the packing I would have some energy left but can’t leave voids so am wearing me out. Got to get it almost filled to put a ladder on it to pull the nails out of the fiberglas.

Sequential Vortex # 7532 on this project…

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By Dave, August 25, 2005 9:45 am

Working on the old greenhouse area again. Plastic is off of part of the back wall and getting ready to start on the foundation under the front door. Planing on starting with a 2x6x16 8 feet above the existing floor line across the back wall of the greenhouse and extending out to the mobile home. Will drop a 4×4 treated post from there to the foundation at the corner and then frame the door in from that side, extending the header over to the side of the qhut and anchoring it into the metal there. Will fill the qhut side with cans, bottles, old electronics, as the mood and material strikes my fancy. And I got a LOT of fancy to strike at with all the junk around here.

Want a shed type roof to extend from the top of the qhut to the edge of the trailer or a bit beyond. Still working the mechanics there. Have thought of putting a deck above the door with the flooring the top of the roof. I may just put a tin or tire roof on it for now and add a deck to the top later. Tis all gonna happen later anyway so guess that should go without saying.

Junk building at this scale should be interesting. I got most of the materials or will make do other than the concrete. Need to check with the plant in Ragland and see what they charge by the 55 gallon drum. There is supposed to be a guy that delivers and will pick up your empties and drop off filled drums but haven’t gotten the 2 different people that have said they would ask about it to do so. Need to just get a name and call him myself if guess.

Guess I will get back at digging the foundation trench. Doesn’t seem to extend an inch without me being there digging… 🙁

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By Dave, August 23, 2005 3:30 pm

Custom Vessel Sinks and Bathroom Vanity Design

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Interesting stuff. I wish the site was a bit more informative but still interesting. Wonder if the Lithistone is available in bulk?

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By Dave, August 20, 2005 10:18 pm

Houses of the Future

Cardboard house. Another one. But this one is made out of recycled materials and has a plastic membrane roof and water tank (read the article) liner. Interesting concept. Still not sure about the practicality.

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By Dave, July 15, 2005 4:14 pm

ScrapHouse – Gallery

Interesting house!

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By Dave, July 14, 2005 3:06 pm

Woodland Yurts

Here is a free copy of my book Build your own yurt, written in 1998, It has been used by a great many people who have built their own yurts. Our designs have progressed somewhat since 1998. For a much more comprehensive guide see The Complete Yurt Handbook

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Some good info here. For those yurt minded amongst us… 😉

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By Dave, July 10, 2005 9:00 am

New Scientist Breaking News – String, mud and bamboo make a quake-proof house
“Most of these houses are do-it-yourself, and we’ve never quite grasped the enormity of the practical side. The new technique has a huge potential application in south and central America, central Asia and India,” says structural engineer Michael Griffith of the University of Adelaide, South Australia.

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The above is taken out of context but sums up what I have seen as a problem with BIG science and BIG business, for quite a few years.

Where a poor man looks at what is here and available and cheap or free a consultant or scientist studying the problem thinks about what is available with corporate funding or grant money and how the [ house, crop, fence, water supply ] can be replaced or redesigned to work better.

Big gap between one and the other.

I have a problem with using old or making do even when new is available. Would rather use mud than cement. Or new cement anyway.

I like the idea of tying or bracing the adobe walls with bamboo. I have seen pix of 3rd world slums where something similar was done. They had build with old brick (it looked like) and used bamboo and wire or rope (or whatever they could get) and pieces of corrugated tin to sandwich the brick in between. Not quite the same concept as drilling the holes but I suspect that hovel was cooler/warmer than the ones around it made with just tin, packing crate scraps and cardboard.