2011 at the Hammond Barn

[Bob Carriere]

As of September 7th this year I will have been working for 51 years....... not a bad record......

I have worked for the Feds, municipal and provincial goverment, manufacturing in TO and in Ottawa. Officially retired in 1995 but it lasted only 2 weeks......

I have now been working temporarily as a 6 month term for 12 and a half years this August...... I now have 4 weeks holidays and have accumulated more sick leave credits than most of my young staff.....

I am probably good 'til the end of Sept 2011 and being threatened with another extension until end of March 2012........

I do find myself slowing down and am considering staying home next Summer....but then..... I have said that before.

When I retire I will buy myself a CMP as a retirement gift..... and certainly not golf clubs..!!!!

Bob
.... the energizer bunny!!!!!

[RHClarke]

Most of the activity at the barn has been limited to inside the barn. However, on Sunday Bob and Grant decided to take advantage of the hot weather to cut some fire wood for the coming winter.

Off to the big field they did go. They cut the seasoned logs into smaller lengths and loaded a 3/4 ton trailer with cut wood. While they attended to this important task, I spent the morning with the whipper-snipper cutting back the vegetation that threatened to engulf our south side shelters. After running out of cutting cord, I spent the rest of my time refitting tarps to various vehicles in both fields. The weird weather sure took its toll on the tarps this year. Two of the shelter doors had to be re-stitched, and one was deemed to be beyond repair. Replacement tarps will be needed, so it looks like another trip to Wright's Surplus in Kars. Hopefully Greg has a supply of mod tentage for sale.

Once Bob and Grant got back to the barn, Joyce treated us to a feed of BBQ back bacon sandwiches and beer. These folk know how to live! The conversation over lunch included talk about sea containers. My HUP measures 7 foot 10 from dirt to hatch cover on top and won't fit into a regular 20 ft sea can.

Some investigation revealed that there are 20 ft high cube for sale but they are more expensive than the 40 ft high cubes. Economics dictate that the 40 ft can is the way to go, but the issue is how to get a 40 ft sea can down the road to the barn. It won't go in by truck or tractor trailer. Bob mentioned that we could possibly jury rig a small truck to attach underneath at the half way point. Then we could use the tractor and the three point hitch to wiggle the can down the twisty trail. We are open to suggestions (and no, airlift is not an option).

After lunch I headed back to Ottawa to pick up the family and head north to Blue Sea in Quebec for a couple of days at a friend's cottage. These folks also know how to live... More later.

Photos
1- Bob the Dentist - filing teeth on the chain saw
2- Grant working on his project truck

[Jordan Baker]

Rob

For the shipping container, why not make up some brackets and put a pair of axles under it with some wheels? That way the tractor could tow it in

[Robin Craig]

Pardon the intrusion to the learned circle, but I feel I must chime in.

Container prices, especially 20ft units have been climbing in price over the last year.

Pick a good one.

Before it arrives put down 6" minus stone where the corner will go, in liberal piles about 4 ft in diam and about 2 ft high. This should be tamped as it is put down to achieve this height

Make up some forms and cast yourself a cube of concrete about 2ft square and about 18" tall.

Once on site have the container placed on top of the stone piles.

Then using a jack, raise the container and "slide" the concrete cubes under the corners. Use wood or preferably steel plate to shim the unit level. now you have a generous air gap underneath and somewhat level

Next clean the roof of any loose paint and apply roofing tar sealer.

Take a couple of moulded roof vents from the local hardware store and either in the sides or the door, where ever you have a large flat space, cut an opening to surface mount it. Put metal screen material over the opening and then using self tapping screws and a generous spooge of a propietary sealant screw the roof vent on.

Now you have a breathable rodent free storage unit with no building permission required as it is a "temporary" structure under most municipality building codes.

Keep container mounted on the corners is how they were designed to be used. If you keep air flow underneath the floor support beams last a whole lot longer.

Keep vegetation down removes moisture as well.

We have 4 on site and they are all mounted like this.

The two that were shot with a matte green paint blend in against the trees behind quite nicely from 500 metres.

Will try to post some pictures between making hay and building a dry stone wall this week.

R

[Wpns 421]

The best way I found to move a container is to drag it. Yesterday I moved a 20 ft by dragging it, it was 3/4 full and quite heavy. just back up to the container, put a chain through the bottom holes and as you go forward the front will lift, the tractor should be able to tow it. Your problem is getting around the corner going over the ditch, this will require a second vehicle, rope and a pulley to hoist the rear end over to the right. It will work, just make sure you have the door in the right direction so you don't have to flp it around. When you are ready call me and we will see if we can't come down with Brutus (M816 wrecker) to give you a hand.
Gilles

[Bob Carriere]

On the last and first 20 ft container I fabricated and axle that can slip in the pockets for the fork lift. It essentailly locates the axles at 1/3 of the container.

Welded some 4 inch square tubing with removable spindles from PA and used car tires. We jacked up one end of the container..... inserted the axle..... and dropped it down on the tires....lifted the other end off the ground using the 3 point hitch and manoeuvred the box inplace......

We had already made 4 piles of gravel for the corners..... fabricated 4 wooden pads using pressure treated 2x6...... across the pads we used 6x6 to support the back and front section fully.... and 3/4 inch shims to get it level and slightly pitch forward for possible drainage.

Once in place we reversed the axle process and "Voila" .... container in place.

Now doing that with a 40 foot container would exceed the capacity of the existing axle or capacity of my tractor. Not impossible but....

Robin is correct in advocating additional ventilation....... lots of frozen condensation on the steel wall in Winter..... good air circulation is highly desirable....... same can be said for crawl space underneath

Note...crawl space makes ideal place for "critters" that have just been shot to hide and raise a stink....... or maybe the smell should be considered a theft deterrant....... sure keeps us away !!!!

Bob

[RHClarke]

The hot weather we experienced in July has extended into August. We do get some good downpours, but for the most part it is hot and humid in and around the nation's capital. Today at the barn was no exception.

However, we did spot the elusive Guy Vapeur on one of his rare visits to the barn. Bob, Grant and I spent some time chatting politics and then actually doing things CMP. Grant fixed the front crossmember of his truck (previous owner had cut away a small portion of the part) and reinstalled it on his truck. Bob pulled his rad off his truck in order to set it up at the correct height. I played around with the HUP doing small tasks. While this was going on, we chatted about sea containers and the layout if and when we buy a few more. I found a source for 20ft High Cubes, but they are somewhat pricy. However, the 20 footers are easier to move so when the conditions are right, I'll have one or two delivered to the barn.

Noon rolled around and I headed back to the city while the boys sweated out at the barn. Hopefully they will provide some photos as I left my camera at home.