Home Improvement Today?

Built a new gate this weekend. Old one was made of untreated 2x3's that were splitting and only had 2 hinges. I think the gate was too heavy for only 2 hinges and added a third + the anti-sag kit from Home Depot and now it opens and closes with ease

(don't mind the bricks along the bottom, the dogs like to dig at the gate)

 

Need advise on building a circle fire pit, specifically the base material. My plan is for 4" of compacted gravel across the entire base. Install the iron 12" high ring. Put 3" of gravel inside the ring, compacted. On the outside of the ring install 3" of paver sand, compacted. Install the pavers and call it a day.

Wife wants a fire ring in the back yard.

 

Funny! I totally get that. Been remodeling my house for 4 years.

 

I don't know how much yard you are working with but that sounds a little over kill but then again I don't know your back yard. I have 3/4 an acre and my fire pit is a three layers of creek stones in a circle. I will be adding stone around it eventually but nothing but dirt underneath. Originally it put it right over the grass and the first fire the grass was gone. Remember you will have to dig the ash out eventually and it is a lot easier with dirt on the bottom.

 

So this is my current task ;

Build a concrete foundation on steeply sloping bedrock to house a 7'8" x 11" hot tub that will be partially recessed below the patio level

As you approach the tub from where the pic was taken there will be 4' of Bluestone patio and the Bluestone wraps around the tub to the right blending back into the natural slope

 

We put up some 16ft shade sails.

 

Built a set of forks for my FEL, braced up some rotted floor joists in the barn, and removed stone steps to a door walled off inside the house.

 

Tiger - The equiptment yours or rental ?

 

Mine! Had it about 2 weeks now. Came with a 60" mower and 54" tiller. Looking for a trailer now to help out friends and family.

 

Looks like a cool project. How old is that framing gun?

 

It's a Senco Framepro 600 , got to be close to 15 years old , I have 4 of them

 

Is this your place Pete our still working on the project?

 

Client

 

I had one of those a long time ago. Heavy compared to current models.

Side note. Some expensive form boards isn't it?

 

Is that the gc? I've been looking at that or a kubota bx. How do you like it?

 

We had a dog that loved to dig at the gate. We laid down chicken wire about 1 inch under the dirt, and for 2 feet from the gate into the back yard. After a week of hitting that chicken wire, he stopped trying.

 

It's just 1x8 common , so no

What spiker are you using that is lighter ?

 

GC2600. It's a 2011 model, but should be almost identical to the newer models I think. And I love it! Lifts so many things I couldn't do myself, or even with help from my wife (she's had 2 back surgeries so I hate asking her to help lift/carry anything).

I'm new to any tractor bigger than a lawn mower, so it's been fun learning. I have to be more forceful than I'm used to due to the increase size and weight of everything. I'm the guy that did everything he could from a forklift at Sam's Club, so I'm loving having a similar tool at home now.

I'm working on a carry-all/ballast box for the rear now. Being able to add weight to the back will make the loader work even better, and help with traction. I got one with a mower to help justify the money spent on it by using it every week to mow, and to get rid of the old riding mower for more room. And one less thing to maintain!

I noticed some of the Kubota's around this size didn't have grease fittings along the loader joints, which concerned me. In the end though, I got the loader/mower/tiller for about $5k less than a kubota or Kioti with the same features. And I kind of prefer two side-by-side forward/reverse pedals vs a rocker one like the Kubotas. I can't remember if the Kubotas have a brake pedal or not, but the MF does. Useful to keep it from rolling, yet it's useful to allow the hydrostatic drive to allow it to roll a little to line up the 3PH. Some of the hydro drives don't have brakes because they just stop and hold when you don't push a pedal. This does for the most part, but will roll down hills. And I can nudge it a little to line up the lifting pins.

 

been doing this little by little over the past year

 

Ok, laminate floor is now in. Last thing to do is re-install the baseboard.

I got pre-primed MDF baseboards, and have a couple questions for you guys:

- The trim in my house is white. Not sure if it is white or super/ultra white. What color white would you recommend I paint the baseboards? White or super/ultra white?

- As far as nailing baseboard to wall, I have 8d finishing nails, and plan to manually pound them in with a hammer as I do not have a nail gun. My question here is should I drill pilot holes through the MDF or just pound away (carefully of course with a flat faced hammer).

- After I have nailed baseboard to wall, would you recommend using drywall compound to fill in the nail holes? I plan to use a nail punch set to set the nails about 1/8" into the baseboards. I originally planned on using wood filler, but heard for MDF, to use drywall compound.

- Last question, should I use construction adhesive instead of nails all together (for installing the baseboards)?