tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12523076547840310212024-03-14T00:33:34.714-04:00Little Housefollowing the design and construction of a small timber framed cabinIan Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-39017700454083228532015-03-23T06:21:00.003-04:002015-03-23T06:21:46.803-04:00Another workshop!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Due to the huge success of the workshop last fall, we will be hosting another one June 1st through the 12th! We will be building a Cypress 20' model house, as pictured above, designed by the Tumbleweed Tiny House Co. This time we will be expanding it into a two week program. During the first week we will build the frame of the house on a brand new Tumbleweed trailer. We will finish the framing, sheathing, roofing, windows and doors. By the end of the week it will be a weatherproof shell. Week two will focus on everything else needed to finish the house including things such as insulation, wiring, plumbing, propane, and finish carpentry on the inside and out. Participants are welcome to attend either week, or both for the full experience.<br />
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Please see the <a href="http://www.worcesterthinktank.com/content/tiny-house-building-workshop-june-2015-ages-16" target="_blank">Worcester Think Tank website</a> for more information and to register, but remember that tiny houses are huge right now(sorry...), and spaces will go fast!Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-57904756035339357032014-11-26T13:02:00.000-05:002014-11-28T08:30:24.076-05:00Tiny House Workshop Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thank you to everyone who made the first tiny house building workshop so successful! It was our first workshop in collaboration with <a href="http://www.worcesterthinktank.com/" target="_blank">Worcester Think Tank</a>, and we had a full house with six participants! The goal of the workshop was to start with a bare trailer, and we had hoped that by the end of the week we would have a house fully framed, sheathed, roofed, wrapped, the windows installed and a little bit of the sidewall shingling complete.<br />
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The week started out with a nice hot sunny day. The participants arrived for a delicious lunch prepared by Giseli, our chef for the week. We can't thank her enough for her work. Coming in from and intense morning of learning and physical labor to a hot, healthy, and delicious meal was very important. She managed to read the weather and mood of the group and come up with a perfect meal each day, most of it grown in the gardens on the property. After getting settled and introductions, we went right to work, starting with tool safety, then jumping right into preparing the deck. One of the most challenging aspects of building a tiny house is preparing the trailer and creating a level, square platform to build off of. This is especially tricky if you are using a used trailer as it most likely has been overloaded and abused during its life. Every steel member of the trailer was padded out with specially cut wood shims and joists. We placed polyiso rigid foam in between the steel framing. This is when the first change-order happened. We thought, why not install radiant heat tubing while the floor was still opened up? The materials are inexpensive, and it gives Hannah the option of distributing the heat from the woodstove, or heating with a small propane or solar hydronic system. It would be very hard to retrofit later. Something we learned early on is that Hannah like being warm. Hannah found a foam insulation product with molded in tracks for the tubing. This would be installed directly under the subfloor. We worked late into the night to try to stay on schedule with the added work.<br />
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Day two involved finishing the radiant heating, some plumbing for the bathroom up front, building a section over the trailer's beavertail, and installing the subfloor. Everyone worked very well together to get this major section of work finished.<br />
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The third day started out cold, and then turned downright raw when the rain started. This would become a standard condition for much of the rest of the workshop. Luckily we had anticipated this and the team spent some time setting up the bigtop tent which was constructed out of and old billboard, some rope and stakes. It worked quite well to keep us and the tools dry. We learned about material options and selection as we build the first wall. Everyone seemed to understand the need for accurate measurements and cuts, and soon were measuring finer than a sixteenth of an inch. The resulting walls were better looking than those made by many professional framing crews... At the end of another late night we had both long walls standing.<br />
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On the fourth day we worked on the two end walls, pausing briefly for a geometry and trigonometry lesson. Yes, those subjects you glossed over in school actually do become useful. It seemed to be a particularly cold wet day. Needless to say, everyone was ready for a hot lunch in front of the fireplace after that.<br />
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Day five was spent squaring up the frame, applying the sheathing and working on the roof system. The rain broke and we were able to disassemble the tent, just in time for the roof work! While working on the rafters, I even saw some trig functions scrawled on the studs and calculators being used. Success!<br />
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On the last day we installed the steel roofing, wrapped the house with tar paper and installed one of the windows. We broke early for a little celebration and discussion of the week.<br />
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While we didn't get quite as far as hoped, we actually covered more material that we planned to and the only thing that was omitted was shingling. I know that on the organizational end, Dermott, Hannah, Lauren and I were incredibly happy with the entire experience. I saw a lot of smiles on the faces of the participants as well. By the end people were working together and tackling tasks like they had been doing it for a long time. I am confident that if we had that crew for another week we could have been well on the way to having a finished house!<br />
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Thank you again, and come on back for the next workshop!<br />
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*all photos taken by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/dukemantree" target="_blank">D. Morley</a><br />
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<br />Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-16967661762779571222014-10-06T22:30:00.000-04:002014-11-26T11:45:31.622-05:00Photos from the workshopCheck out this set of photos from the workshop. There will be a recap posted soon, but for now enjoy the pictures!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-maqshHoF_Vw/VHYDg0vWmfI/AAAAAAAABlA/nH9_ZBjWhAw/s1600/15447333202_2cdd12d4e0_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-maqshHoF_Vw/VHYDg0vWmfI/AAAAAAAABlA/nH9_ZBjWhAw/s1600/15447333202_2cdd12d4e0_k.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by D. Morley</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dukemantree/sets/72157648398109002" target="_blank">Hannah's Tiny House</a>Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-22102958712835854192014-09-01T11:18:00.000-04:002015-03-23T05:59:16.294-04:00Tiny house building workshop announced!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey Everyone,<br />
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I am excited to announce that I will be helping to teach a one week workshop offered through <a href="http://www.worcesterthinktank.com/" target="_blank">Worcester Think Tank</a> on building a tiny house! We will start with a 20' trailer, and in one week build the frame, sheath it, add windows, a roof, and siding. You will learn everything you need to know to build your own tiny house to the point that it is weather tight. This will be taking place on a farm in Leicester MA, just outside of Worcester. Send me an email if you have any questions, but spaces are filling fast!<br />
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<a href="http://thebeeskneestiny.wordpress.com/details/" target="_blank">Here</a> is the website for the course.<br />
Registration can be done <a href="http://www.worcesterthinktank.com/content/tiny-house-building-workshop-adults-18" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-41000627415380332952014-09-01T11:06:00.001-04:002014-09-01T11:06:15.913-04:00ElectricityOnce I installed the steel roof, I was finally able to put the solar panel back up on the roof. See <a href="http://littletimberhouse.blogspot.com/2013/01/bottling-sun.html" target="_blank">this</a> post for more info on the system. Not much has changed with the system other than a little house to keep the batteries in.<br />
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Eventually these will live in the basement.</div>
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I am still not catching as much energy as I should be because of the shade from the trees, but as long as I am careful about turning things off when they are not being used, I am getting enough energy to power three lights, the water pump, an amplifier for music, and an inverter to charge computers, phones and power a wireless router. It is amazing how little electricity we need if we are careful.</div>
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This is a short time lapse video showing the shade patterns on the roof throughout the day. It is far from ideal for a solar panel, but it works for now.</div>
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Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-22500225629257833952014-09-01T10:49:00.003-04:002014-09-01T10:49:25.164-04:00RoofFor the past four years, I have had some version of a tarp on the roof. I went through a couple of regular tarps, and two retired billboards. I have been trying to hold out for the final standing seam copper roof, but is is going to be expensive and complicated to construct. When it came time for a new tarp this summer, I finally broke down and bought the most inexpensive galvanized steel roofing I could get. For about $250 and 5 hours of work, I have a leak proof roof that I don't need to worry about. Eventually when I build the skylights and copper roof, the steel can just be unscrewed and used on another project. I wish I did this four years ago...<br />
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<br />Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-59233127096569181272014-09-01T10:42:00.000-04:002014-09-01T10:42:11.691-04:00WaterFor the past few months we have had running hot water! The system is still in testing mode and I will have to reconfigure it for winter, but it has been nice to turn on the tap and have instant hot or cold water.<br />
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Right now the system consists of two 55 gallon drums that I fill with a hose, then drive up to the house. These two drums last about a month before needing to be refilled. Once at the house, I hook them up the the panel you see in the photo. There is a 12V SureFlo pump that turns on when the tap opens. From there the water either goes straight to the cold tap, or through an on-demand propane water heater. The water heater is an Ecotemp L5. After a few months of using it, I can barely feel a difference in the weight of the propane tank. Right now the sink drain just goes through the floor and drains onto the ground.<br />
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Before winter I hope to have a basement finished for the house (more on that later). When that happens, I am going to try to sink a drive-point well in the basement. See <a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/how-to-dig-a-well-zmaz70jazgoe.aspx#axzz3C4iJDsHw" target="_blank">this</a> site for information on what that is. This will also give me a spot to run all of my plumbing that will be easier to protect from freezing. I will also have to dig a small drainage field for the grey water.Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-45964937771595628052014-04-28T21:29:00.001-04:002014-04-28T21:29:51.613-04:00Tiny house article in Worcester Magazine<a href="http://worcestermag.com/2014/04/03/big-dreams-tiny-house/22202" target="_blank">Worcester Magazine: "Big dreams, tiny house"</a>Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-29230299043098932502014-01-04T10:32:00.000-05:002014-01-04T11:03:08.750-05:00Installing a countertop in under 30 seconds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once again, inclement weather seemed to motivate me to make a major change to the house. Lauren and I have been staying out there more in the cold weather. It is actually warmer in the house with the wood stove going than it is in our apartment. Last week I hooked up the little propane cook stove, but without a surface to prepare food on it was surprisingly hard to cook a meal. After staying in the house for the first day of the storm, we realized that it was time for a countertop.<br />
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By the time I was able to get back to the shop with the measurements and a small sink that I found at the ReStore, it was already six o'clock, and the snow drifts were building. I used a piece of knotty-pine plywood that I had at the shop for the countertop, cutting a hole for the sink and coping around the posts. I chopped up some 2x4's for the frame, loaded the tools and headed back out to the house. By this time it was nearly ten o'clock and the temperature had plummeted to one degree, with 20 mph winds. Near blizzard conditions. It took three trips through the woods to bring the supplies up. The last one must have been a sight if anyone had been watching. The eight foot countertop acting as a sail under my arm was knocking me around, but the cast iron sink I was wearing as a hat kept me safe. Once I was back in the warmth and comfort of the house the installation went very well. Enjoy the video!<br />
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In the next few days I will get the drain hooked up to a catch bucket under the house so we can at least do some light dish washing. After all, this is still just a temporary solution until I build a real cabinet and concrete countertops.</div>
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Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-26683990762928913292013-12-15T17:32:00.000-05:002013-12-15T17:32:37.077-05:00A good snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-59743765046444998932013-12-05T19:28:00.000-05:002013-12-05T19:28:52.557-05:00In the Pines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A foggy night with JupiterIan Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-8008323320777020822013-11-19T19:27:00.001-05:002013-11-19T19:27:28.058-05:00Getting settled.The move is complete! The house is now sitting on temporary wooden cribbing awaiting a proper foundation. The roof panels are back on, once again with a tarp keeping everything dry. Lauren and I spent our first night out there last night under a full moon. It was a cold windy night, but the stove kept the cold out while we listened to the wind sweeping through the pines. We had a very restful sleep, then woke up to a fiery sunrise before heading back to a hungry cat and our busy days. This is definitely the most peaceful place it has ever been.<br />
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Unfortunately I did not have time to photograph much of the second part of the move, but luckily others did! Follow this link for a great series.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dukemantree/sets/72157637695423925/with/10885462343/" target="_blank">dukemantree Flickr series</a><br />
<br />Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-83430727011567216602013-11-03T18:31:00.001-05:002013-11-05T07:29:53.210-05:00The Move - Part IIIHere is the first of a series showing how the house gets packed up and moved. Every time this happens the system gets refined, but there is no way around it: It is a lot of work! For now, enjoy this time lapse series.<br />
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This first series photographed by Russell U.</div>
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<br />Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-56044018193897019852013-11-03T18:23:00.000-05:002013-11-03T18:23:02.331-05:00The Move- Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Two years has passed since the house was relocated to my shop in Worcester. It is time to move again. Lauren and I are taking it just a few miles out of the city to a beautiful piece of land in a neighboring town. Once again we will be surrounded by the sounds of nature. Even on our first night in a tent we had a visit by a curious <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fppKGJD3Y6c" target="_blank">Barred Owl</a>. Otherwise, I have seen signs of fox, moose, coyotes, deer and many other woodland animals. Even the sounds of the train I know so well from the shop occasionally filters up into the hills. The site is situated in a small pine forest, surrounded by many acres of well maintained hardwood forests, sunny meadows, and low wetlands. But from our perch we have well drained soil, steady air movement and soft filtered sunlight. Ideal!</div>
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The first step was to make a small clearing for the house. A couple of weeks ago Dermott and I enlarged a clearing that was created by the ice storm of 2008. We dropped many of the standing dead pine trees. The logs will be milled into lumber for future building projects. They were still deep in the woods though. With the generous help of Dale (the person), and Jake and Judy (the horses), from Mesa Farm in Rutland, we pulled about thirty logs to a staging area in one of the meadows where we will have them milled.<br />
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It is amazing to watch the power of these gentle horses. They seem to do their work so happily and effortlessly. The jingle of tackle and chains, their snorts, clomps, and even somewhat musical flatulence are so much more pleasant than the din of a skidder. In the end, they leave only a clean swept path through the woods.<br />
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Lauren and Dermott admire the work. Almost ready for a little house!<br />
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Thank you so much Dale, Jake and Judy!</div>
Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-41622433786000751982013-10-20T19:47:00.000-04:002013-10-20T19:47:09.663-04:00Another move. Part I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Stay tuned for more!Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-69930686660233215752013-07-24T22:00:00.001-04:002013-07-24T22:00:42.606-04:00Skylight designRight now I am working on a porch that is getting a standing seam copper roof. This has gotten me thinking about my roof again. One of the holdups on this is the design of the skylight. I would like the skylight glass to be practically flush with the roof surface. Each side will be made up of three panes of glass that correspond to the ribs on the copper roof. Building this flush makes the job of keeping water out of the house difficult. I think I have finally worked out the details though. Almost all of the components will be folded out of the same 16 ounce sheet copper that the roof will be made out of.<br />
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The edge pieces will roll into the seams of the roof pans.<br />
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The picture below is a detail of the insulated glass unit. I am hoping that one can be made with the top sheet of glass longer than the lower piece. This way the roof can overlap the glass at the top of the window, but at the bottom the glass can overlap the roof.<br />
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There are still some details to be worked out, but I think this will work!<br />
<br />Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-77388440074814080082013-07-21T20:36:00.002-04:002013-07-21T20:36:16.014-04:00A small detail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here is a photo series of the construction of the copper window frame on the gable end.<br />
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Copper is not a cheap material, so a job like this always starts with railroad board templates. Making a template is an interesting process. It is a nice combination of calculated thought and dumb luck, mixed in with a fair amount of persistance. I like to make one piece that represents the flat copper with creases where it should be folded (right side of photo). Then I make a second piece with the profile (bottom of photo). Together, these two pieces of paper give me all the information needed to confidently cut, mark, and bend the copper.<br />
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The next task is to miter the two halves. I start with a simple wooden frame that matches my window opening. This gives me the angles I need, and something to support the copper while soldering. It can be a bit of a challenge to mark the mitered cut across all faces of the profile. When available, I the laser attachment included on some miter saws. It is as simple as setting the desired miter angle on the saw, then tracing the laser line with a marker onto the copper. Now the only thing left is to find the right combination of snips to make each section of the cut. I routinely cycle through at least five different pairs.<br />
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Here is the finished miter on one piece. The mating piece has the same angle, but must include tabs to aid in assemble and soldering.<br />
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Here it is, ready for solder. For some reason, this piece did not want to take the solder. I tried many combinations of flux and solder, but it would not flow until I used the oldest tin of flux and the crustiest looking roll of solder in the shop. Go figure.<br />
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The solder joint is a bit messy and will need some touchup when I get to the second half.<br />
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Now that the lower half fits, I start the process all over again for the upper half. It must be a slightly different profile to fit up under the overlapping siding. When it is all finished, this window will get a stained glass panel.Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-82946901096320919562013-07-20T10:39:00.000-04:002013-07-20T10:39:41.972-04:00In the works...Look forward to the evolving design of a small tree house. The plan is octagonal, and designed to be suspended from cables rather than fasteners into a tree. This minimises potential damage to the tree, allows for growth, easy relocation, and longevity.<br />
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The entrance will be through the opening in the center of the floor, and could be as simple as a rope ladder, or as complicated as an elevator. This model is approximately 8' in diameter, from point to point.Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-61941215412228071482013-07-14T22:41:00.000-04:002013-07-14T22:41:11.204-04:00Color change?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am nearly ready to put a top coat of paint over the primer. I have been toying with the idea of a color change. Originally I wanted the traditional New England red that is so common up here, but now am thinking of something a little different. I have seen several Colonials with a mustard yellow that looks really nice. So far the closest match is the second from the top. It still needs some tweaking and a different trim color.Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-32886767400254472072013-06-11T21:02:00.000-04:002013-06-11T21:03:48.588-04:00Closing in on it (the siding)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It has been a few years since the siding was started, and I finally dug out the remaining pile from storage. With the help of Lauren and my friend Corwin, some progress has been made. Just as I started to get into a rhythm though, we reached the midpoint of the diamond shaped window which will be getting a (not yet made) copper frame. Siding a house often requires lots of finicky detailed work, then quite a bit of straight forward work before the next obstacle. On a house this size though, one doesn't often get that break of the easy work... At least it is fun.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EuyK-lHtyBQ/UbfGqBAJcQI/AAAAAAAABWM/G4kb2w_mIRo/s1600/IMG_1649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EuyK-lHtyBQ/UbfGqBAJcQI/AAAAAAAABWM/G4kb2w_mIRo/s400/IMG_1649.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My goal is to finish the siding and trim ASAP so that I can get a couple of coats of real paint on the house soon. Next in line would be the roof and skylights.Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-29863582462201196272013-06-11T20:52:00.001-04:002013-06-11T20:52:43.523-04:00The end of the safe, mini safe inside...but still no valuables other than the money for scrap.<br />
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<br />Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-65306728362291168012013-04-13T18:49:00.000-04:002013-04-13T18:58:41.831-04:00SpringI just noticed that the last photos on the blog included huge piles of snow. Well winter is over, spring is here! I have several large projects that have fast aproaching deadlines, so any work done on my house has been spontaneous and unnecessary (I have very interesting and productive bouts of procrastination). It has mostly been limited to work on the "front yard". Here is a quick summary. Enjoy.
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First there was a garden. The parking lot is going to be repaved soon, so the raised garden beds had to be moved. Together with shop-goers Amanda, Jennipur, Josh and Dave, we tossed some rocks up on the concrete pad and extended the garden bed that was started last summer. It is nice to see more fresh dirt ready for plants! This summer much of the industrial landscape will be transformed and beautified.</div>
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Next came the safe. This thing has been sitting out here unopened for longer than any of us have been here. One warm spring night, curiosity got the better of me. Wielding a cold chisel and hammer, I started in on the steel exterior. By the end of the evening I had made it through the first layer of steel, about eight inches of concrete, and managed to punch a small hole though the inner layer of steel. Two musty Polaroid photographs of early CAD drawings of alien looking structures were all I could manage to fish out before I gave in for the night. The next evening with renewed energy and sore muscles, I enlarged the hole with a sawzall and retrieved the rest of the booty. Unfortunately, there were no bags of coins, gold bouillon, or stacks of cash. I was really hoping to find the money to hire myself to finish the house. Instead I was left with a soggy moldy mess of years of business records for a company that owned the building in the eighties. Nothing even worthy of blackmail. The worst part of it is that the hundreds of rubber-banded bundles of check copies I handed out really felt like those wads of cash you see in movies. Now I need to figure out how to get rid of it... Oh well, at least I know.</div>
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I have been hoarding half of an old lamppost for a couple of years now. I have always wanted a street lamp outside of the house. The idea seemed enchanting when it was out in the woods. Now I think it will go very nicely amongst the rock garden beds. I have just been waiting to find the right base for it. Last week Josh, the blacksmith, came home with some big steel pipes from a demo job he helped with. One of them looked perfect to finish the lamp post. It even had a big bolt flange on one end.</div>
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After a few hours of digging through the scrap bins and some welding, I had a complete post! Luckily we had even left the perfect little curve in one of the garden walls to mount it in. </div>
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Now I need the lamp. I had been envisioning some sort of twisted iron light perched on top. Something like what you might see in a Tim Burton movie. Today I found these.</div>
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They are hand blown glass globes inside of a steel structure. The glass bulges out around the steel. The perfect start! Now I need to come up with the rest of the design.</div>
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With some help from Josh, I'm sure we will come up with something interesting. He is already scheming.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XADt8Elwszg/UWnaihRDQZI/AAAAAAAABUs/sHDviQyncg8/s1600/IMG_1531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XADt8Elwszg/UWnaihRDQZI/AAAAAAAABUs/sHDviQyncg8/s400/IMG_1531.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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Once these jobs are finished in the next few weeks, I will jump onto finishing the exterior of the house. I have some siding to finish, a bit of trim, a new coat of paint and the roof to think about!</div>
Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-15033885889272979772013-02-15T17:00:00.000-05:002013-02-15T17:00:01.464-05:00A door to the pastWhat's on the front door? Where did it come from? I don't know its origins, but I do know that it is one of a set of twins. The other one lived out the end of its life as a passage through a fence to the neighbors house where I grew up. This one spent that time as the front door to one of my dad's coworker's wood shop. Now it is here.<br />
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126 is the street number of the Firehouse, where the early stages of construction happened. These are the actual street numbers from an old door that I found in the basement. </div>
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While it was not built at the Washburn shops, I did do a lot of daydreaming about the plans of this house while working in the Washburn shops. The Washburn Shops were the foundation of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute when it used to be a free institution. Students would learn the fundamentals of engineering while working in the shop, producing goods for the industries of Worcester. I spent much of my senior year in a temporary office set up in the welding shop in Washburn.</div>
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This doorknob was also an artifact from the basement of the Firehouse. This style once adorned all the interior doors there. </div>
Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-64623699094083010542013-02-10T21:53:00.000-05:002013-02-10T21:53:26.593-05:00Paneling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the past week I have been picking away at some paneling for the gable walls. I had some extra shiplap pine that was too twisted to use, so I ripped it into narrower widths and put a tounge and groove joint on it to make v-joint paneling. I also bought a new shaper for the shop that I really wanted to try out.<br />
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Here is the finished product. It came out well and didn't take very long either. This week I also insulated the gable wall panels where the pine will go. Before I can install it though I need to properly fasten the wall panels to the frame from the inside so that they are still removable once the siding goes on (they are temporarily affixed from the outside). Remember that the roof needs to be removed to transport the house.<br />
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Finally, one last detail for the week, just in time for the snow storm, is a threshold under the door. I should have built this years ago. I have always had trouble with the weather sneaking under the door, and it only took me about 30 minutes to make.<br />
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<br />Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252307654784031021.post-38758457019877136482013-02-10T21:40:00.004-05:002013-02-10T21:40:58.922-05:00Nemo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Another nor'easter. Worcester received over thirty inches of snow this weekend. I was ready to go enjoy the warmth of the stove and grid-free electricity when the power went out in the city, but it never did. I finally made it over to shovel out the house this morning. There was no snow on the roof or solar panel, none piled up against the house, and only a sprinkling of fine white powder that found its way under the door where the solar panel wires enter. Not bad. I had quite a bit of snow to move to open up the paths around the house though.</div>
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This drift is five feet high.</div>
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The other tiny house fared well also.</div>
Ian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249963477032860913noreply@blogger.com0