1973 Blue Bird

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:00 pm

We end up here, which is to be the driveway for the Underground House.

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:18 pm

The lifting of the first post. It is a 20 footer. It is cedar, as well as all the other post.

At this point we were not sure how we would be able to set this post.

Shortly, we discovered that we needed a jib on the end of the forks in order to reach out far enough to bring the post into position.

A twelve foot oak which was 10 inches in diameter was chained to the forks.

The posts were now attached to the end of that (jib-log) with a chain that held the post upright.

The bottom of the posts were cut flat with a chain saw. A 1 inch hole was drilled into the center of the log. A 1 inch piece of rebar was sledge hammered a foot into the log

Soft dirt was removed in the work site to expose the rock surface just below it by six inches.

A 1 inch hole was dug into the rock with a gas powered drill to a depth of one foot. The poles were stood, the pins (rebar) went in to the holes. The poles were leveled and braced.

Here are the pics.

graydawg · Post by **graydawg** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:20 pm

Rudy them tree houses are city folk hunting shelters, I know who would have thunk such a thang, wander what the deer think. I see from your post you may have found a happy place for yourself. Keep having fun and be careful especially around equipment.
James in da GRAYDAWG

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:23 pm

The initial try of setting one upward.

The fork boom did not reach out far enough. It was then that someone came up with the wooden jib idea, which extended the reach to be able to set the three rear poles.

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:28 pm

Here are some hooks that Gary has on the back of his Ford tractor.

I must mention now that both Gary and CJ have been of tremendous help on this project. They both volunteer their time and tools.

Here are some pics of Gary hauling the cedar logs to the staging area where they will be cut flat on the bottom, drilled for rebar, and then set in position.

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:49 pm

Once the jib was attached to the forks, the setting of the posts went smoothly.

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:21 pm

Edited post

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:33 pm

Three poles have been set. Now the giant "strong-finger" machine goes for another log from the bullpen.

The bullpen where lonely logs are patiently waiting to be put in to play.

Some nice pics of the first three members of the pole family.

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:38 pm

While the crew was having lunch, Zac used the superfork machine to break up some dirt so that Gary could haul it out of the way with his tractor.

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:49 pm

I get to touch the magic Genie.

More pics of the beautiful beast.

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 2:03 pm

Even though we had a concrete drill bit, the medium size drill was not quite strong enough for the task.

Zac and I went to yet another neighbor's house and borrowed a gasoline powered drill that worked much better. It had an engine similar to a weed- eater engine. While at that farm, I took a photo of this old building.

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 2:06 pm

The soft dirt has been removed in order to set the post on the rock.

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 2:09 pm

The rest of the pictures show today's progress. Tomorrow's work should go faster as we have good methods of setting the posts.

We no longer needed the jib because these posts were closer to the machine.

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 2:13 pm

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 2:15 pm

Tune in tomorrow evening to see the further adventures of Building The Underground House.

NOMADICISTA

1973 Blue Bird

Who is online