I thought I would update everyone on my progress. Amazingly with no softball, I've been able to get a bunch done. I am sure that it will not come as a surprise that several other projects were added along the way. Completed: Raised gardens Garden planted Added Projects: Front bed weeding, trimming back, removing some plants and mulching - Completed This took me 3 days while on PTO Paint daughters bureau - Completed Worked on in between the weeding of the bed. Powerwash deck - halfway completed Recover outdoor storage box I built 5-7 years ago for a trash bin Our trash pickup started out at $23/month. It's now $45/month and I have a truck. Each trash bag tag costs $2.10. We run between 2 and 3 bags per week and 2 barrels of recycles that are free. Even if we did 3 bags for 4 weeks that comes out to be $25.20. Clear away brush Remove old contents (hay and tools) Move to garage Build a new top - (in progress) Replace the bottom parts of our Weber Genesis Grill and the innards. (next project) When I do this, I need to build a patio for the grill to sit out. The reason it rusted out is that it's sitting on the grass. I'm going to build a small patio just big enough for the grill and to stand on when grilling for now. That should prevent it from rusting out. Clear brush in an area behind deck to include taking down a large cherry and a large evergreen tree. This is to make way for our fire pit. (After the grill) The stump of the evergreen will need to be removed so I can put the firepit in properly. I'll also need to put in a new pole for the wife's laundry line when the evergreen comes down. Brush for graduation party/confirmation to place a tent In another area where the old swingset was and behind it, the brush has overgrown the area. I need to clear that brush to make way for a tent to be used during the graduation party. Yes, it's brush, but I hadn't planned to clear this area until I was done with my brush removal plan. Most likely next year. Logs: Two loads picked up by my son and I in my truck and bucked. One load picked up with my cousins 12' dump trailer that has been partially processed (bucked and split) Shed: Putting in a shed on piers is a no go. Going to put in a shed on skids once we clear the area. Brush: The new order of attack: Complete the trash bin storage top and put it in place. (Should be done tonight) Fix the Weber Grill and build a patio for it. Clear brush behind the deck, removing two trees and one stump to make way for a firepit. Process logs assuming no other projects come up from the wife. Build the woodshed on skids. Oh, and I did not put on the workshop on there at all. The workshop will be worked on during raining days. I have a plan that I am in the process of writing down. Jason from Ri
Giddyup!!! I keep my gas grill on our deck, covered. The deck gets cleared of snow. So, the grill, is used all year long. No interest in keeping your grill on your deck?
I run the league and use to coach. Last fall I had another coach step up and take over the team because I couldn't concentrate on the team with dad terminal with cancer. I did run a fall clinic with 15 girls. This fall I am not sure if I am taking the team back over or not. While I love coaching, I enjoyed working with the younger kids and being done. That would allow me to keep up with the work at home. Jason from Ri
Jeez, and I can’t remember what I did this morning,,,,,if anything,,,,, Sometimes I look at the dirt/sawdust on top of my shoes for clues.
That is what my wife wants. I've been reluctant as the deck is Trex. The grease will not come out of Trex. We used a pad in the past, but it wasn't big enough. You inspired me and I bought a pad from Amazon today. That will prevent me from needing to build the small patio for it. We do use our grill year-round.
Huh. Daughter was 24 hours from getting on a plane to Florida March 13. Went from trip cancelled to season cancelled to get out of your dorm in about 36 hours. She is going to play in a couple chitty in state tournaments though.
Last night after work I worked on the top for the garbage bin. I wasn't sure how I wanted to build the top. After a while of contemplating my options, I was able to cut the doors for both ends. Tonight I modified the 6" brackets I picked up at the local hardware store to include two more screw holes as the top two did not line up. With the new holes, they lined up nicely and I mounted both sides that will open and the handles to open them with. With both end doors mounted, now I just need to cut the middle piece of plywood and screw that to the bin. With that done, I'll just need to find something to mount to the doors to overlap the centerpiece of plywood to keep rain from getting inside. With my current progress, I should be able to get the garbage bin in place by Thursday and get a coat of paint on it. Jason from RI
My wife and I were just talking about this. It's my youngest daughter's turn, and she is 14. They are scheduled to play in a tournament every weekend in July and one in the middle of August. Tonight we received an email letting us know that they have a doubleheader scrimmage this Sunday. This is going to make it hard for me to stay on task. I think my wife and I will need to trade off weekends in order for me to try and stay on task. Jason from RI
We are enjoying her being able to go by herself, we just show up whenever. Last couple years have been that way. Usually a bunch of the girls would ride together and the parents went later to get into the hotels.
Grill update - Calling Weber now to order the replacement parts to the bottom of our Genesis grill. The cost to replace the parts for the bottom half of the grill? What do you think? $200, $300 maybe even $350? Oh no. I was way off base. Let me start with this. A brand new Weber 3 burner with the cabinet below will cost me $699. Now one would think that the bottom half could not make up more than 50% of the original cost to replace. Boy was I wrong. Try $640 to replace the bottom except for the doors. I have the doors and they are both in good shape. When I tell you I was floored that not even 35% of the grill that does not include any hosing, the block or other mechanical parts that pertains to the operation of the grill itself doesn't even come close to how I felt. Weber is telling me that to rebuild 35% of the grill will cost almost as much as a new one. What the hell is wrong with these companies? Now I am looking to possibly build a base for the grill to avoid spending $699 + tax to buy a brand spanking new one. I am thinking about making the base out of hypertufa blocks I make myself. They are lighter than cinderblocks and will stand up to the weather just as well. I just wouldn't be able to put it on the deck. Jason from RI
Here are two pics of the top on the trash bin. I sanded the plywood lightly and it's ready for a coat of paint. It was too damp for a coat of paint, and rain is possible tomorrow. Looks like I'll be painting Friday now. Either way I'm going to try and put it in place tomorrow. Jason from RI
Sheesh! You could have a local fab shop cut/brake some metal for ya cheaper than that! Heck, maybe even stainless steel...
Between my shop and the machine shop across the street, we could do it ourselves. I've considered that. In the end, I decided to do the following: get a Weber Spirit for us. The old grill I am going to build a hypertufa base making my own forms. Here is a video where the guy uses a product called AAC, It's here in the US, but a slow adoption rate as it requires a new learning curve. Which seems odd. There must be something more to it. Anyhow the hypertufa would be an acceptable substitution in my book. That grill will be used by the apartment if they choose to use the grill. BBQ area makeover Jason from RI
You've definitely been busy. Buddy of mine and I were BS'ing last weekend about the grill prices. I'll keep rebuilding the Chargrill for a few more years.. But the firebox on the Brinkman smoker may only make it another year or so. But I know that it cost less than $200 when I bought it in 2010.. so it's not so bad.
Change to the schedule. With the trash bin just about finished, my next project is to finish power washing the deck. That should only take me part of Saturday, and I should be able to fit it in with the DR test on Saturday for work. After some discussion, I was able to convince the wife that I should be able to do a me project next. Her question was, "weren't all of these projects a me project?" Most of them were done for her, and deep down I think she knows it. The trash bin was for the household and to save money. The me project will be the first phase of the garage cleanup/organization. I'll be removing the shelves on one wall and will be putting up a paint rack close to the ceiling and 2 lumber racks made from Bora - Bora Potamate Lumber Rack System, 6-Tier. I'll be cutting them down to three sections from each rack. Then creating two racks with three sections each towards the top of the wall. I'll take pre and post pictures. The good thing is that I will be able to put the wood rack system up as I dismantle the top shelves. This will give me a place to put the wood that is currently on the lower shelves. When I've removed the shelving brackets I'll be able to install the paint can rack. That will remove cans from the floor in the main part of the garage along with a smaller cabinet. The floor space will be left free for now as I'm not ready to cut my dad's old workbench in half the long way and put new legs on it. That is what will be taking up the bulk of the floor space. If there is still room, there are three cabinets I want to remove from the main part of the garage to temporarily put in the back. Personally I'm not a fan of cabinets as you forget about things that are stored in them. We'll see. If they fit back there well, I might keep them. This whole project should only take a day total, but I am planning for it to spread across two days just to be safe. It will go a long way in the start of organizing the shop. After that project, we'll be moving my dad's old workbench. Cutting it in half the long way and adding legs to both halves. Once in the backroom, it will really open up the floor space in the shop. That will be followed by building the new mobile workbench which will also include a significant amount of storage space for tools, screws, and other items. That will further declutter the shop. Both of these projects are probably a day or shorter and will be done on a rainy weekend day. Jason from RI
Painted the top for the trash bin. I’ll put up a pic of that tomorrow when I get it in place. I also finished power washing the deck. Finished deck pics: Unfortunately work got in the way of me starting the shelves in the garage extension. I plan to pick the wood up tomorrow during lunch and start work on the paint shelf after work. Jason from R.I. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
