'Go Live' test of new Tray

 Full field run test of new trays.

First test in the evening.

Next day in the afternoon.

Both trays performed quite well.  All refreshments delivered without incident.

Serving Trays

 As much time as we spend out at the firepit, I realized it would be nice to have a serving tray or two to help carry refreshments.   So I made a few.  Then I made a few more.

Oak and Mahogany on the left.
Hickory and Walnut on the right.

 Actually, the longer the quarantine drags on, the more we realize we would rather hang out at home around the fire pit anyway.  We are fully embracing the hermitage life style of the old school monks, hermits and other general anti-social types.  Even the most secluded recluse still needs the ability to properly carry two beverages, and a small snack to the fire pit seating area safety without spilling.  These trays are perfect for that task. 

Wooden Spoons

We saw on Pintrest where folks use a wood burning kit to decorate wooden spoons.  That looked like a great gift idea, but I also decided to make the wooden spoons.  Most of the spoons we see in the store are pretty flimsy so I decided to use some hickory and make some spoons that could really hold up to stirring up a big double batch of snickerdoodles.

Cutting out rough shape from 5/4 hickory plank

Turn handle on lathe

Use Drill press w Forstner bit and
then Dremel to hollow out bowl

use belt sander for outside shaping

stencil pattern and wood burn

A coat of 'spoon butter' provides a food safe finish
and really makes the wood 'pop'!

(Spoon Butter = Bees wax and Mineral oil)

 

Welder Cart Upgrade !

 The Old Raven Workshop has upgraded the Welder.

The old Old Easy MIG100 was a great little welder.  However it has moved onto a new home....

Old EasyMIG100 and 12" x 24" table top

New Klutch 140i Welder and bigger
18" x 24" table top (5/16 thick)
Welding Cart / Table

The new Klutch Mig140i seems to be a nice up grade!  To go with the new welder, I put together a new Welding cart/table.   Most people have a welding cart to hold the welder, and a separate table for welding.  What I find most useful is a smaller, more convenient table to weld on that also stores the welder below.  Much more convenient for a smaller shop.  Eventually I hope to add a small argon bottle to the set up, to go with full gas MIG (flux welding is messy) - there is enough space in the back of the cart to add a bottle.

  

Doors are on the shed, and windows are in.

I think that little Cherry tree is going to get transplanted . . . eventually.  The gutters still need to be hung (they are on ground to the right)

 

Porch ceiling is up.

Vintage Doors and Windows are hung - now need to trim the doors and add a threshold and door hardware.

View from the front - hoping to reuse some of the original door hardware.  Still need to put on rain gutters

Siding going on

Finally starting to see what the final project will look like.

Cedar Siding, with a skirt of vintage galvanized corrugated steel siding on the bottom

Next steps are to finish installing the siding on the front (two sides and back are done!), install teh Windows and Doors, and get the rood edge caps on.

.

Roof

 Roof is going on.    

Shed Windows

 I have the window frames built and boxed into the frame.

Window openings done!

Nice view of the fire pit.

Post Beam hardware - made from 7 gauge steel plate - drilling the holes was more problem than the welding.

Post base - made from salvage steel
(my favorite roadside score - bed frame!!)

Beer fly

Some nights you just have to flick the fly outta your beer and enjoy the beverage anyway.

Kindling Splitter

The original idea

 While I had the welder out making the plates and post bases; I also welded up a kindling splitter project for a friend.  Based on the Kindling Cracker idea, we drew up this device.  I am curious to hear if it works.

Shameless knock-off

1/2" rebar
8"x10"   12" tall

Building the Shed.....

Here are some photos of the shed build progress.  I put the slab in last month, and spent the last several weeks gathering materials.  Time to put everything together and see what it turns out like....

Monday:

 - nothing much happened

Tuesday:

Tuesday morning - getting started.

First wall up

Camera check

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Beams in place, first joists test fit.

Saturday/ Sunday:

 - I had some other stuff I had to do - only worked a little bit on shed. 

Rafters on

2nd Monday:

 - after work....

2nd Tuesday:

 - ready for the rain now.

Now time to order roofing and to look for siding.

Backyard Transformation

The old shed had to come down.  Then we moved the garden.  Once the garden (fence and boxes) was in new location, then time to prepare the foundation for new shed.

old shed in NE corner of the yard

Shed gone - garden moved to NE corner

Slab for new shed (12 ft x 15 ft) - lots of rebar and 8 tons of concrete 

  

Hobo shack

Build a small shed in the side yard.   Used leftover decking (thanks Sandie!) for the siding.

Hobo Shed 

View out the door - snow covered pine and pond waterfall

before the siding

True hobo style booze bottle lighting!

Used a metal roof from Menards.  My days of using asphalt shingles are over!

Wall sculpture

Here are a few concepts-turned-into-reality.  Sometimes you get an idea, and don't know what it will look like until you are all done.