Walls

One wall up,

one ready to go.

The walls are going back up, finally. My buddy Kevin came by the other morning and gave me a hand standing up the back wall and moving the freezer for the laundry room job. I got the south wall nailed together today and patched up a spot on the laundry room floor that needed a little attention before the tile guys get here on Monday. Tomorrow I'll try and get the north wall put together, move all the appliances and get the remaining linoleum and carpet up that's under them. I'll see if I can get some people scheduled for next week to give me a hand standing the north and south walls up, as well as building the east wall. It's going to take some muscle to lift up the header over the big doors. Hopefully, I'll have the lifting beams done by then so they can give me a hand sliding those under the top section. I should be able to jack them up into place by myself - maybe need one other pair of hands.

It's been a lot of work to get to this point. We had another big storm the other day and I thought about what would happen if I got to the same point in the construction process and a big storm hit again. I'm going to make sure I've got plenty of bracing on things before the top goes back on. I think I'll take some of the old 2x4 purlins from the first go-round and use those as diagonal braces on the sides. I'll screw them into the top and bottom plates as well as the studs. That should prevent the thing from racking out of shape if we do get a big blow. There's a 2x4 purlin around the bottom plate to fasten the siding to. I think I'm going to replace that with a 2x6, at least on the back wall. The extra width will let me fasten the double bottom plate and the studs together. That will help prevent the studs from pulling off the plate as well. That's what happened last time. When the wind blew, it racked out of shape and pulled the nails out of the end of the studs and down she came. Of course, if the siding would have been on, I probably would have been OK. I'm not taking any chances this time, though. It'll be hell for strong.

Lifting Beam

Lifting Beam

I'm taking a little break before I head to the gym. I got one of the lifting beams finished this morning. Thirty feet long and about 250 -300 lbs. I welded up the splice on the second plate before I came home for lunch so I'm ready to go on that one next time I head over to school. I got the back wall of the barn put together yesterday but it's a little too big for me to stand up by myself. Surly's supposed to drop the grand kids off this evening and maybe give me a little help on things depending on time and weather. It'll only take five minutes to stand the wall up - I've got the braces ready to go and everything. When I get that one up, I'll start on the side walls. I've got the south wall laid out except for a short piece of the top plate. I think I've got just about everything I need now to finish the job except a new service door and the replacement sheet metal. I might have to get some more 2x4's for the purlins but I'm closing in on it. The only other big financial outlay will be the wrecker bill. If that goes as planned, hang the siding before the wind blows it down again.

Started pulling up carpet and linoleum after lunch. That's going to be a real pain in the ass. I got everything up in the laundry room except for what's under the appliances. I'll take care of that Sunday after we get everything washed and dried. Just need to have it ship shape by Monday morning. Depending on the weather and the grandsons, I'll be working on a wall, carpeting, all or none of the above tomorrow.

Plates Are Done

I was able to borrow a mag drill, so I got my plates drilled for the lifting cradle. It just so happens a former student was kind enough to loan me one. It's good to have friends - thanks Dave. I'm baby sitting again today, so I won't see much progress today but I might be able to get to the lumber yard for some studs and layout the back wall. I've got a dentist appointment later in the day so that will rule out any work this evening. I would like to get at least one wall up this week. I need to get a material list and get the remaining lumber out to the house. I'll have them deliver the long 2x12's for the lifting cradle and then load them up on a trailer and get them over to school to finish the beams for that part of the job. I'm going to need plenty of muscle for the front wall with that big header, so I'd like to have the beams done and on site so I can have some help sliding them under the roof section while I've got the manpower.

I need to get the appliances out of the laundry room and kitchen and the carpet torn out this week to be ready for the tile guys next week. I might see about starting that today. I can do some of that while the boys are here, I think. I'll just play it by ear and do what I can, either inside or out depending on the weather and the grandsons.

Jimmy just got back from the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame. He and I might be going there to do some promotional thing later this year. The Hall of Fame is located where William Muldoon trained John L. Sullivan himself for the last Bare Knuckle Championship.. We'll stay in the barn where they trained and Jimmy will train using some of Muldoon's training methods. Sounds like it could be a lot of fun. Actually it sounds more like a camping trip - not exactly posh living quarters - but fun just the same. One more reason why I need to see some progress on the barn.

Lots to do and summer break is fast slipping away. I'll keep plugging away at the projects and take what I get. I was doing real good on finishing things until the barn crashed. It'll all be worth it once it's done, though.

Ryan

Mike

Clip Angles

Cradle Plates

I'm officially retired as the County Fair blacksmith. I handed in my key to the shop after finishing up Friday. It's just too much work and too much time, for too few people. I did see a few people on Friday, however. A couple of families with some kids and an individual who stuck around and talked for quite awhile. He's building a replica of Elwood Haynes' first motorcar. He also raises Talapia and sounds like he dabbles in all sorts of alternative energy/recycling projects. Naturally enough, he touched on WTSHTF scenarios - you can't be working on alternative energy and self-sufficiency here in the Midwest without a little bit of the New World Order or Zombies creeping into the conversation. Interesting guy, just the same.

The tractor photos above show a couple of former students lining up for the tractor parade they have every year. A couple of good ones right there. The other photos show the clip angles and plates for the lifting cradle.

The plates will get sandwiched between a couple of 2x12's to make up a pair of beams that will run the length of the building. The clip angles will allow me to bolt cross ties to the beams for spreaders. Unfortunately my magnetic drill quit working and the part to fix it is no longer available. The guy is checking to see if something else will cross reference. If not, instead of an eighty-five dollar part, I'll have to buy a new drill motor for about $600.00. I'm not liking that idea. I called around and none of the rental places have a mag drill and the pieces are too big for me to be man-handling around by myself under the drill press or the iron worker. I'll see what the guy comes up with for parts first. You would think that Milwaukee Electric Tools would make an armature that would fit the thing. I don't know if anyone could rewind it, and if so, what that would cost. I can't see me drilling all those holes with a hand drill, though.

The Missus and I are doing some baby-sitting next week, plus we're getting new tile in the kitchen and laundry room the following week. I can save a few bucks by moving the appliances and ripping out the old carpet myself, so I won't have a lot of time for the barn project between the grandkids and floor prep. I've only got three weeks of vacation left. It's looking like I'll be lucky to have the barn at the same stage it was before summer started. Regardless, it'll get done.

Hopefully, before the snow flies.

Enjoy the weekend, it's supposed to cool down a little here. Lets hope so.

Fair Days

Working the Blacksmith Shop again. I'm thinking this is going to be my fairwell tour (I know I misspelled farewell, it's a joke). It's too damn hot and too much work for the amount of traffic that goes through there. I saw a grand total of three people on Monday and not much better on Tuesday. I had a couple of friends stop by both days to say hi, but hardly any actual fair traffic. It was pretty slow last year as well.

I did get my pork burger and pork tenderloin sandwiches already, though. The Farm Bureau sells a chocolate shake for two bucks that I got on my way out yesterday. So I've pretty much hit the high spots.

They've got some nice tractors on display again this year. The Allis in the picture is just like the one my brother used to have - WD 45 Diesel. I really enjoyed driving that thing. The Minneapolis-Moline has been fitted with a GMC 4-53 Diesel. They did a nice job of putting that engine in. It looks like it belongs. I'm assuming they pull with it judging by the size of the tires on it.

There's a log cabin a couple of buildings away from the Blacksmith Shop and I went down that way today to eat my tenderloin under the shade tree. I went inside and noticed that they had a fireplace but no tools, so as soon as the fire got going I made them a poker. Nothing fancy but it fits with the log cabin era. I made myself a little knife today as well. I picked up a piece of antler a couple of years ago, figuring I'd get around to making a knife to go with it some day. Yesterday was the day. I haven't been making anything like that because of the little chilluns that come around but since there hasn't been anyone at all coming around, seemed like a good time. It needs some finishing work but it's about 80%. Not sure what I'm going to do today but I've got a few small things to work on. Fortunately the temperature is supposed to stop climbing before it hits 100. With the heat index it should be about like it was in Oklahoma. It was 105 in the corner of the shop away from the forge yesterday. That's with a window fan between it and the heat source. Gotta be 120 when you get up close to the forge.

Oklahoma Recap

Only in the West

Stretch limo made from a dually. This was at the Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City. I found it rather ironic that they named an airport for a guy who died in a plane crash.

4-8-2 Baldwin

Almost a million pounds with loaded tender. The St. Louis-San Francisco Railway bought thirty of these. This is one of the six survivors. Lots of scrap iron here. This one ran up to 1960, I believe.

American Bison

This was inside the city park but they have a wildlife park outside of town that has buffalo, elk, deer, and longhorn cattle. I would have liked to have spent a little time there. Maybe when it was a little cooler, however. That 100 plus heat kind of takes the fun out of tramping around outside.

Native Dancer

He performs a dance in the ring before The Comanche Boy enters.

George "The Comanche Boy" Tahdooahnippah

George was kind enough to pose for a photo after wrapping his hands and getting gloved up.

Jimmy "The Fighting School Teacher" Holmes

Here's Jimmy after gloving up with his "game face" on.

The Winner

The referee raising George's hand in victory. Not at all what we came to Oklahoma for but that's the old fight game.

Jimmy and I had a little debriefing Sunday morning and Jack and Karen, his trainer and cut man, and I talked a little as well. I think we came up with a couple of things that, looking back, could have affected Jimmy's performance and how to make sure things go better in the future. With a knockout comes a 45 day mandatory suspension, so Jimmy will have a little time to rest, recover from the hard training, and then move ahead once again.

It was a good trip. Everyone treated us real well in Oklahoma and I got a chance to rest for the first time since school was out. Other than that one left hook, it went well. Now it's blacksmithing time. Still not sure what the heck I'm going to do when I show up there today but I'll come up with something. It's going to be in the 90's with a chance of rain, so I don't expect a lot of traffic anyway.

Have a good week - try to stay cool.

Not Exactly as Planned

The fight was over in the second round when both Jimmy and his opponent threw left hooks at the same time. Unfortunately, The Comanche Boy landed first and caught Jimmy flush and down he went. Jimmy was up by the eight count but the referee did the right thing and stopped the contest because Jimmy was pretty rubber legged still. Jimmy never got into a rythym in the fight. Had it lasted a couple more rounds, I think he would have settled down and taken control. In fact, The Comanche Boy injured his right arm just prior to hitting Jimmy with the left hook, so he would have to have finished the fight using mostly left hands. I'm not taking anything away from The Comanche Boy, he's the real deal. In fact, having spent a little time observing him wrap his hands and seeing how he carried himself after the fight, he seems like a really nice young man. Actually, he and Jimmy would probably get along just fine. Two, nice young men chasing their dreams.

Jimmy was naturally down on himself after the fight, but sometimes it just doesn't go your way. I'm not sure what's next for him but I'll be there in the corner for him, one way or the other.

So now I go back to being barn repairman and, for a week, blacksmith. Not sure what I'm going to make at the fair this week - haven't given it much thought at all. Maybe I can do a little mental smithing on the plane ride home and come up with something. It's supposed to be in the 90's from what I've seen on the TV. Better than 110 but the humidity is going to be much worse than the dry, desert heat here in OK. Maybe just make some little doo-dads and try and stay cool.

Home in a few hours. Always good to go, always better to come home.