Outdoors
Outdoor projects I've worked on.
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It Started Out Just to Cover Up Some Dirt
We got a call from a family in Antigonish who were looking for one of our folding bench picnic tables. After we delivered it, the conversation turned into, “I was wondering if you can also do this…”. They wanted some sort of box to wrap around the deck posts columns to cover the dirt, and at the same time allow a shelf to place one or more social beverages while they sit out in their back yard.
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New Floorboards for an Old Trailer
We have had this trailer for nearly 12 years. It is well used for hauling mowers in the summer and the quad with plow in the winter. It has even carried logs. While the metal body is hard looking, it is what it is. Can’t do much about that now. We have known for a while that the floor boards needed to be replaced. One of those jobs you keep putting off for later. Well, we don’t have much choice now. Jim was stepping up onto the deck of the trailer to get on the ride-on mower and he put his foot right through the floor. Ouch.
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Kiln Shed: Setting up the Unit
We last left off with starting the electrical. While waiting for the electrician to get back and finish his work, we had some work to do ourselves to prepare. First up was getting the computer portion of the kiln in place. And before that could be done, Jim had to build a shelter for it since it gets attached to the outside of the building.
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Takes a licking and keep on clipping
Every lawn mower eventually starts to show its age. Ours is no exception. I can’t even tell you how old it is because we bought it second had at Proudfoot Motors about 6 or 7 years ago. I hose it down about once a month during the season and a good cleaning at the end. The rust though never sleeps here in the Maritimes.
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Making an Eagle Whirligig
We see a LOT of eagles in our neck of the woods. There is a fish hatchery just down the road. That could have something to do with it. They patrol the edge of the lake looking for fish. Every once in a while we actually see them dive into the lake for fish. They often park themselves on the highest tree on the edge of the water. So beautiful. We decided to build a whirligig, and what better than an eagle for our first kick at the can.
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CBN Plated Chainsaw Sharpening
Uniformity in design brings consistency in results. When it comes to chainsaw sharpening, consistency in the tooth sharpening and rake height means that your job of sawing through wood takes less effort. You literally have an easier job of slicing through the wood.
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Wind Spinner 2.0
With the success of our first wind spinner, we wanted to make another one… but different. We were wondering if cutting out a different shape would make a big difference in appearance or even wind spinnability. Thats a word. But if you spell it a little differently you get a different meaning. Don’t do it. Here is the first one we made, a little blurry cause, well, it was spinning.
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Kiln Shed: Electrical
We are back to making progress on our kiln build. With the board and batten complete, the next order of business is to upgrade the electrical panel in the workshop. The kiln equipment requires electrical needs that the original, small 4 circuit panel just did not have.
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Firewood and Dog Sitting Round 3
We picked the second hottest day so far this year to start getting firewood ready for the winter. The first hottest day was the day we cut them down. We must be cracked. Or have very bad timing. We still have about 3 cords left from last year, but that’s not enough to get us through the winter. We usually use about 5 – 6 cords a year but its always nice to have extra. We started by cutting up the small parts of the rock maple we cut down a few weeks ago. The one large log from the base of the tree will go on the mill later.
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Making Window Boxes
I’ve always loved the look of window boxes. I think they are really beautiful. Our house doesn’t lend itself to having window boxes, there is really only one window that would make sense, but one would look odd, plus I like symmetry. A lady contacted Jim to build her four window boxes, so I will have to live vicariously through her. Here is the picture she sent along to us.