New tool!

[Airbozo]

Ok I know this is not really PC mod related (unless I use it to make a case...), but I had to share.
My birthday was back in January, but I was just this last weekend able to get together with the in-laws to celebrate. My Father in law buys me tools for my birthday (so he can use them too ;) ), and picked me up this nailer for my birthday;
http://portercable.cpoworkshop.com/nailers_and_staplers/framing_nailers/fr350a.html
Now I gotta go build something!

Thanks Joe!

[nil8]

That's a nice gift.
Have fun and be careful.

Build a shed. You can do your own roofing. ;)

[moojoe]

we have a few of those in the shop I work in, while we normally use staplers, every once in a while, we have to use a nailer, and that thing is amazing.
just be careful though, Ive seen those go through a few peoples fingers before...

[Airbozo]

I do have experience with air tools. This is a framing nailer (2"-3 1/2" round head nails) to go with my 3 sizes of finishing nailer's. I am _always_ careful with tools that give me the power to hurt myself. hehe that describes almost any tool...

Oh and I have built my shed already. That is where I park my motorcycle. Many years ago we had to take a couple of redwoods down because they were bouncing off my house during windy days. We made a decision to have them taken down in 16-22' sizes and then have them milled on site. The result was some absolutely beautiful, blemish free wood that I used to build a deck and a shed. The siding came out perfect, with no knots or damage whatsoever. I just did not want them to be used as fire wood (not a real good idea with redwood), and really did not want to take them down at all so we decided they should stay on the property in some form. We since have had another tree taken down because it was pushing on my neighbors granny unit, causing it to move off its foundation. We had that one milled into 2x6's for another deck.

[AJ@PR]

Nice!!!!!

I like it!

Amazing that you used the trees in your property to build more stuff.
Kudos!

[nil8]

Can we get pictures of the deck and shed?
I've not seen redwood used for buildings because it doesn't grow around here.

Why shouldn't it be used as firewood? Too hard to split? Too much sap(creosote)? Burns too hot? Burns too slow?

You'll have to forgive me. I'm a firewood hobbyist. I do about 3-5 cords a year by hand with an 8 lb maul.
(BTW - A real cord if wood is about 2 full size truck loads, stacked. If they're tossed in, it's about 3.)

[Airbozo]

I'll make sure and snap some pics tonight. Most of the houses around me were built entirely of redwood. About 80 years ago they logged my area and felled the trees, milled them onsite and built houses. When I did some remodeling I had to remove most of the redwood in the roof to raise it a little. In the bathroom I left it there thinking I could just nail some rafters to it. No go. The redwood had "aged" to the point it was not possible to drive a nail through it. Instead I had to drill holes and bolt the rafters together... Redwood is now too expensive to be building houses with, which is a shame since it is almost termite proof (the little buggers hate the taste of it).

Redwood should not be burned in a fireplace since it throws off a lot of creosote. And I do mean a lot! Also the heat ratio in redwood is pretty low if I remember right. Interesting fact; The bark of a redwood tree is designed to burn fast. Too fast for the whole tree to catch on fire. Different approach to fire retardant material...

[Airbozo]

I forgot to take some pictures yesterday. Shame on me...

I will take those pictures today, since I have to be home to let the Propane guy in to swap my tank. I hope he gets done quick, Stanley Cup playoffs start tonight!

[nil8]

No big deal, get around to it when you have time.

[Spawn-Inc]

thats a nice nailer you got there. when our kitchen was getting renovated a worker had one and while he was out one day i grabbed it and went crazy. i shot a couple of mag's/strip's of nails into some old rail road ties in our backyard. it was even better with full auto hehe.

[bartvandenberg]

Yah.. those are sweet. we've had target practice of a couple house roofs we built. I framed for a couple years, and in that time, probably nicked myself with nails a thousand times. put one through my foot (not my fault) and a couple through my finer tips sideways.

NOTE: do not hold 2x4 on backside. nails will be driven through into hand.
NOTE: do not hold 2x4 on side, nails hit knots in the wood, and shoot sideways.

[Airbozo]

Here are a couple of shots I promised. Excuse the mess in the first picture, we are cleaning up for a dump run. Also one of my friends thinks that because I brew beer I want every keg he sees on the side of the road...

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/56862007_0413newmisc0102.JPG

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/19262007_0413newmisc0106.JPG

The deck...
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/72772007_0413newmisc0103.JPG

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/38322007_0413newmisc0104.JPG

This is a shot of the front garden. We used the scrap from the tree milling to build the garden fences. They are only meant to keep some of the critters out...
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/80292007_0413newmisc0107.JPG

and these are some smaller logs not worth milling. Used them for the front garden but they are pretty rotted and will have to be replaced next season...
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/71932007_0413newmisc0108.JPG

[nil8]

You have a pretty nice yard, minus the junk.
Don't have to worry about termite damage, just weathering.

What do you grow in your garden?
What type of beer do you brew?
Dog? Name?

Keg mod? Yes yes yes. =)

[Zephik]

You got a pretty nice lookin place there bozo. Fantastic scenery. Its very lush and green compared to where I live. Just a bunch of ugly pine tree's. Unlike yours, you got some nice big beautiful tree's surrounded by bushes and other plant life. Lucky sunovagun.

+rep to your pad.

[Canadian Eh?]

Man i wish i could live in a place like that! I swear to god, as soon as i make enough money too, im movin' downhome!

[Airbozo]

You have a pretty nice yard, minus the junk.
Don't have to worry about termite damage, just weathering.

Yeah this time of the year my yard is usually a little messy. Spring cleaning...
Our local transfer station (as opposed to a landfill), has a free weekend once a year around this time frame, so we take advantage of it. Plus add in all the crap that falls from the trees and it builds up.

So long as I keep the redwood sealed it lasts pretty long. I usually have to treat the deck once a year and the shed every 3rd or 4th year.

What do you grow in your garden?
Lots of tomato's, tons of hot peppers, asparagus, tomatillo's, beans, peas, squash, and pumpkins (that is just the front beds...).
What type of beer do you brew?
Depends on the time of year. I ferment naturally and will take advantage of the weather to brew lagers or ales. My neighbor is really the expert at brewing. He has a setup put together that allows us to brew 15 gallons in about 5 hours (including all the weighing and processing of ingredients), then each batch after that only takes about 1 1/2 hours extra. We usually do 3 15 gallon batches in a day, which ends up yielding only about 35-40 total beer. Our next step is to "mod" his brewing rig to totally computerize it. (we have been talking about it for a couple years now)
Dog? Name?
BJ (pronounced Beej). She is 12 and was a rescue mutt. I went to see one of her puppies and once I saw the conditions she was living in I knew I was not leaving that place without her. I took her home that night. I have another dalmatian/terrier mix named Eddie we found wandering the streets of San Jose...

Keg mod? Yes yes yes. =)
This is a great idea. I know it would be expensive to have the keg cut. I think it would fit in with the Brewing system quite well.


You got a pretty nice lookin place there bozo. Fantastic scenery. Its very lush and green compared to where I live. Just a bunch of ugly pine tree's. Unlike yours, you got some nice big beautiful tree's surrounded by bushes and other plant life. Lucky sunovagun.

+rep to your pad.

Thanks! I really like my town and community. It was really the cheapest place we could find when we were looking many years ago. Could never have afforded it in the first place without my veterans loan. Now I could not afford to buy here if I didn't already own...

Owning really can be a pain in the but though. I liked renting because if something broke, all I had to do was call the landlord and he sends the maintenance guy. Now I AM the maintenance guy... (as I head outside to dig up a leaking gas line)

[luciusad2004]

Boulder Creek is a lovely little town. I used to like going down to one of the State Parks nearby. I think it was Henry Cowel. I don't think i spelled that right. There was a really nice redwood grove their though. Brings back memories of going hiking or driving to Santa Cruz to chill out downtown or play some disc golf.

Haven't really gotten a chance to do anything like that since my Dad moved to Carmel though. Now when i go out to visit i just sort of sit around the house all day. Oh well, i guess ill always have the good memories. It makes me happy every time i read Boulder Creek under your name.