Using the LT10 Sawmill Again

Well I'll be jiggered!  But let me explain - I only used the sawmill a handful of times last summer, culminating in the time Kenny dropped a 6x6 birch beam on his finger and I felt so bad that if someone had offered to just take my sawmill away I likely would have just let them.

Fast forward to a couple days ago when I realized it was a nice day, and I had time, but that I had done nothing to winterize the mill.  I poured a couple of glugs (it's a real unit of measurement - honest!) of seafoam into the tank, then topped it off with petrol.  I was actually thinking I should be stingy with the petrol, on the assumption that I would have to remove the engine and have it serviced at KC Auto before I would be able to get it to start.

Stunningly, it started on the SECOND PULL!  I almost fell off the catwalk!  Kohler engines - I am sold!

In any case, I cut up a few logs into a small pile of true two by fours to likely put towards the new sauna.  One really great side effect was the sawdust that was produced - We had actually paid a bit to the local firewood guy to purchase some of his excess sawdust and chips in the spring!

A few two by fours to get warmed up!

A nice big bucket of clean, dry, natural sawdust for the composting toilets!

Today is grey and drizzling, I'll likely skip the mill and just go under the cabin to open up the vents instead.  Then follow it up with a sauna.

A Woodpecker Visits

This morning I realized the tapping I was hearing was NOT just from my foot or the fan on the stove - a quick glance out the window revealed this guy looking for breakfast...

Storing Acrylic Storm Windows

So now that we are ALMOST to the point where nighttime temperatures are reliable around the freezing mark or above, and daytime temperatures can get up to low twenties, it's been tempting to open up the windows.

As such though, it became crunch time to come up with a place to store the acrylic.  I had a few different visions of nooks behind the chesterfield or under the beds, but felt that also finding a place that could accept the screens made sense too.

In the end, here's the scheme I came up with.  We'll see how it plays out over the next year or two.

(N.B. One picture reveals the dedicated photographer! Ed.)

First, a 48"x96" sheet of 1/2" plywood.

And choosing a spot to locate it.  Here, in front of the bedroom patio doors, up on that 2x6.

Four heavy duty hinges.

Set up some sawhorses to work comfortably at.

Another angle.

Measure out spots for the hinges at equal intervals.

Wanted to use 3/4" screws, so I had to slide washers under the hinges to make sure the tips of the screws didn't poke out on the far side and scratch my acrylic.

Nice perspective shot!

Now adding a 2x3 rail on the far edge for the sheets to butt up against.

Setting up a ladder to try to put this up by myself.

I mounted a single screw at one end, then carefully hoisted the other end into position.

Added a few more screws.

And a few more yet.

Getting ready to move the ladder.

I put the ladder underneath to prop out the shelf on an angle - to ensure the acrylic didn't fall off!

Now laying a cotton sheet down so the acrylic wasn't directly on the wood.  Note the ratchet straps now employed to hold up the shelf.

Working my way from right to left.

Time to switch to the far end. 

My photographer felt the composition here was of interest.

Now at the left edge, with the right edge falling off.  Sigh.

Trying to lift the right edge of the sheet.

And the left edge of the sheet falls off.

Tucking in the top much more carefully as I work right to left again.

Finally!

Laying the first sheet down.

Looks good, crumpling up some painters tape that I removed from the acrylic as I was storing it.  Next year, I think I'll try magnetic tape on the exterior.

Adding some of the larger sheets.

Now we're getting there.

A good view of the ratchet straps.  Opened the patio doors as I felt there were no bugs.  Boy, was I wrong that evening as mosquitoes were EVERYWHERE in the cabin!

Got them all to fit!  Yeah so far!

Ratcheted it up.  It was good to have two straps so I could alternate them.

Lots of room underneath, and I can confirm that it doesn't block any of the view from the bedroom.  I can use it for screens over the winter as well - I hope!