Hello I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Rob 41 an American living in rural Japan. I am a professional mariner by trade working on a large container ship. This allows me six months off each year to pursue my many other interest. I started woodworking about four years ago. Prior to that I had honestly never picked up a hammer. Now four years later I am so completely intoxicated by the process from thought to finished project that I rebuilt my hundred year old farmhouse as well as designed and built every peice of furniture inside. Laughing... I should mention that I have made every conceivable mistake along the way! So now with the addition of two small children I've had to move my motherinlaw in to babysit while my wife works as a doctor. Here's where country plans comes into the picture. I will this summer attempt to build the 1 1/2 story for her Mom. Peace for me!!!
If anyone is interested in the quiet country life of Japan I'd be happy to answer any questions. My reasons for moving there were many. I bought my small farm with two houses on the land for $40,000. The education is good, people respect each other, no drugs and very little crime and I am allowed to pursue a simplistic lifestyle in a beautiful land which appeals to me.
It's nice to meet you and I look forward to some great conversations.
Rob
Quote... I should mention that I have made every conceivable mistake along the way!
Welcome Aboard Rob. And now you are so much wiser. ;D I would like to point out that I even made some inconceivable errors along my still continuing learning path.
I guess your six months "on" are fairly intense, nothing but work for the most part.
Welcome to the forum, Rob. YamaDaiku - rough guess I think I found that that translated to mountain carpenter. Seems it could go a couple of ways.
Sounds like you are having fun. I didn't know there was that much land in Japan that was that cheap. Great buy. If you get around to it we like pictures and are alwys interested in how things are done in other countries. Thanks for representing Japan on the forum.
How is the cost of living there - tolerance for outsiders - gardening etc.?
Hi Rob. ""made every conceivable mistake "" would apply to many of us, I guess- certainly it applied to me, but the end result makes it all worthwhile. I would like to know about the cost of living, as well- my impression was that Japan is very expensive indeed, and very much urbanised.
Hello again and thank you for the replies.
Glen mountain carpenter is correct! Umm to answer your question- things a lot different here in Japan. A house has little value whereas the land does. Interestingly anything older than ten years is considered junk so a hundred year old house to the Japanese is nothing more than garbage. I beleive this is a sad way of thinking and my heart is broken every time I see or hear about another traditional farmhouse torn down to build new what I call plastic housing developments. The bright side is that there are groups striving to protect the old buildings. Many of them are disassembled and shipped to the states! When I say disassembled you must realize traditional Japanese farmhouses were made without nails but entirely by intricate puzzle-like joinery. Fascinating stuff!!!
Cost of living- pretty high I guess if you don't do things yourself. I grow my own food, make clothes, have chickens and try not to shop in actual stores unless it's absolutely necessary. I live in a village of fourteen green tea farmers. I am the only foreigner. It took a while for me to be accepted into the community. The fact that I am at sea six months a year didn't make that process any easier. After a while though it became fun for them. People would stop by just to see what the crazy American was doing. I had windows shipped in from Seattle because for some reason the concept of double pane windows hasn't hit Japan yet. I tore off the tile roof which although beautiful added four tons of weight to the house and I replaced it with a metal roof. As people came by to see what I was doing I'd offer them a beer and try to put them to work!! The o'l Tom Sawyer trick. We have a great time. I will have to make pictures smaller so I can send a few to the forum.
"my impression was that Japan is very expensive indeed, and very much urbanised"
Hi Fourx, I get that a lot. People think of Japan and see Tokyo. It's like comparing Montana to New York City though. Really what you have is a twenty mile population belt surrounding the coast. On the interior of that belt the land is very mountainous with rather sparse populations. Like I said in my village their are only fourteen houses!
Not sure if you can see this picture. I've tried to make it smaller.
The green bushes are the green tea. To the left of the house there are fruit trees, in the low center one veggie garden, another larger garden is out of view. The garage structure was once the green tea factory and is now my woodshop / fun center. In the background my nearest nieghbor an eighty two year old woman who spends her entire day working her garden!
Beautiful place, Rob. Thanks for posting that -- it's like a postcard. :)
You can get a free account at Photobucket http://photobucket.com/ and it will automatically size the photos to fit the forum - size 640x480 is the big size that works ok in the forum. You then copy the IMG tag at the bottom of the picture and paste it into your posting and it will show up. You can also add more than one pix that way to each posting, as the file atttach option only lets you add one.
Please keep the pix coming. Very nice. :)
It's a real shame about the historic houses. I hope the preservation group prevails. I live in a historic area of California - gold rush days. Keeping the historic places is hard due to deterioration, liability and the cost and labor involved to do it. Fortunately quite a few try.
It would be great to learn more about the joinery techniques also.
Welcome aboard Rob 8-) Nice place , so your shop is the one with the metal roofed shed attached to the side ??
Wonderful place Japan 8-) Wish I had spent more time there.
The issue the older places have , from what I understand is earthquakes knockum down pretty easy :'(
My current boss when to work in Japan some years ago for 6 months IIRC to teach platform framing , he really enjoyed it , said the people where great, culture etc , He'd also been in Japan durning his USN days , I think :-/
Anyway the local lumber yard here in my area was deeply into a little niche market shipping entire houses packages , appliance , to sole plate for awhile till either the market dried up due to $$ increases or the Kolby(sp) earthquake arae was finished being re built , not sure which . It was interesting time , I could have went but after 8 years or so of USN deployments , my wife and I friggered I should stay home for awhile .
Post more photo's 8-) we like photo's , right gang, well I do , YMMV as some are on dial up :-/
But don't let that stop you 8-)
So your a merchant marine ?? Capt.? Master?? etc :-/
This is going to be an interesting read! :D
Welcome aboard Rob, I look forward to more on your projects.
Wow thanks for the replies. looks like I joined the right group!!
John thanks for the photo info.
Peg I sail as a second mate. I started out in the USN and worked up from there. I thought it was interesting you mentioned the package homes. I looked into a package for a carriage house a Canadian company sells. They ship lumber, windows, you name it! A little pricy though as you might imagine.
There seems to be a growing trend in Japan to build American style. About a year ago local lumber yards started selling American standard size 2 x lumber. Up until maybe five years ago most houses here were built post and beam style or timber frame. The design differs from those I've seen in America in regards to the bracing members and the fact that Japanese houses are raised two to three feet above the ground with no foundations. Basically the post sit on rocks and the weight of the tile roof provides (laughing) the stability of the structure. I've talked to an engineer about this and it's pretty amazing that so many houses are still standing after decades of earthquakes. I honestly can't make any sense of it.
Now that more houses are being framed the way we do it I think it will be interesting to see how the Japanese will blend traditional styles using American building methods and I wonder if the legendary Japanese joinery techniques will become a lost art. That would really be a shame. Traditional Japanese carpenters hold an almost God like status in society. I guess change is envitable. I see it here aboard ship all the time. When I first started as a deckhand I had to prove proficiency in all kinds of things in order to move up and nowadays guys walk up the gangway barely able to tie their shoes!
At some point I'd be very interested in talking with anyone who has experimented with solar or wind power.
I will try to download a few more pics as well.
Have a great day people.
A few more pics.
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/Mylittletruck5-1.jpg)
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/Ourplace.jpg)
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/dinningrmfromlivingrm.jpg)
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/firstdoor11-15-04.jpg)
Hey what do ya know, it worked!
The last pic of the house is how it looked when I bought the place so you can see what progress I've made so far. The roof was certainly a challenge. I got on Amazon and bought every roofing book I could. First I made the rafters too short and had to rip it all down. Then I screwed up the metal wrong and it leaked but incredibly it turned out alright in the end. The door I made out of cedar using mortise and tendon joinery. I failed to take into account the movement of the wood however and it basically glued itself in place during the humid summer. Laughing..when I told you guys I've made every conceivable mistake I wasn't kinding!!
I guess I'm lucky in that I am able to laugh at myself and learn from mistakes.
Great Photo's Rob - now you know how -- keep them coming. :) That door is a real beauty -
Only a few minutes this morning, Rob, but I do my own wind and solar.
Use this search engine above - • Click SEARCH to find a topic quickly. - not the one on the menue line that starts with Home.
Here is the same link -- http://www.countryplans.com/search.html
Search the words wind and solar and yo should find some of it. MountainDon does solar also.
Thanks Glenn,
If you have the time I'd love to hear about your wind/solar system and how it has effected you. I'm just starting the learning process. My land is situated in a valley with steady winds blowing towards the sea. My thoughts are that the area is perfect for a wind generator. The 1-1/2 story building project will have the 30' sides facing east west which I beleive would be good for a solar panel set up as well. My goal is to become more self-sufficient and reduce spending to a bare minimum. My wife and I started reducing usage by changing appliances. Using a clothesline instead of a dryer was the first change and we gained a closet. Then we installed an on demand water heater which is great and gained another closet! Presently we heat with a combination of wood and kerosene but I am hoping to install a radiant heating system in the rooms we use the most. All light bulbs are fluorescent and I may shock a few folks now but I don't own a TV - don't believe in em. I think people should live life not watch it. Anyway the possibilities seem endless. For example I was reading about augmenting a solar power radiant heating system with a small on demand heating unit. Pretty cool stuff!
Quote
#1: I may shock a few folks now but I don't own a TV - don't believe in em.
#2: I think people should live life not watch it.
#1: Humm so you don't believe in um :-/ Or don't use one ;D I can show you a photo of a TV if it'll make ya a believer :D
#2: But computers are OK :-/ ;D Sort a like a TV screen , with a monitor in all :P
Hi Rob. Glenn has a Bergey wind gen http://www.bergey.com He seems to get a lot of power from it, but he'll fill you in more on that. Sounds like you might have a good location for wind power if you have those constant winds.
Question for you... we on mainland USA have 120/240 VAC 60 Hz grid power with equipment, appliances, etc. to match. What have you in Japan? I know that some companies make so called export equipment, like Outback. http://www.outbackpower.com
The starting place would be to do an accurate energy audit to really see what you consume.
The next decision is whether to be totally off grid like Glenn or to be grid-tied like myself. Whereas Glenn generates all the power he uses I make about 30 percent on an annual basis (some months 120%, but not so in the hot summer with reefer A/C). A stand alone system like Glenn's has a fairly large battery bank. I'm grid-tied so could do without batteries. Most grid-ties do not have batteries and they save the cost and maintenance of the batteries, but they go dark too when the grid fails. My small battery bank will power our must-have circuits; fridge, freezer and a few lights.
For Internet resources/supplies here in the USA I recommend
http://www.affordable-solar.com/residential.solar.home.htm
http://www.thesolar.biz/Our%20Complete%20Product%20Inventory.htm
I have dealt with the two above. The first one below has some info, but I've never bought from them
http://store.solar-electric.com/index.html
The last one here are really friendly helpful folks but prices seem a bit out of line. Good info tho'
http://www.backwoodssolar.com/catalog/index.htm
Another factor to consider is your solar insolation, a measurement of how much useful solar radiation you receive. I had some trouble finding much Japan info, but you can start here. The quick look I took indicates that you may have a more favorable wind power location than solar PV. New Mexico is a great location as far as solar PV generation goes.
http://www.apricus.com/html/solar_collector_insolation.htm
http://www.sunwize.com/info_center/insolmap.htm
http://www.mrsolar.com/Merchant2/graphics/site/assistance/insolationmaps.html
http://howto.altenergystore.com/Reference-Materials/Solar-Insolation-Map-World/a43/
No TV! I have one, but still grab the signals from the air. 6 channels. :-/
I have a TV - I do not use it -- can't stand commercials or talking heads lying to me.
I prefer to carefully chose the lies I want to believe on the internet alternative news. ;D
So far, Rob, I find the Bergey to be the most reliable wind generator there is. I talked to a solar company that sold some of the others (popular brand) and he said he had to take them all (6) down and refund the money.
The wind generator does about 25 %of my power I think -- I don't have great wind like it sounds like you do.
What it has done for me is it has allowed me to tell the power company to kiss my grits. :) - at this place --- Still stuck with them at the other place. Now they'll probably go and turn my service off there.
Also making my own power has helped to free me from oversight by people I don't care to see on my property. :-/ :)
I am under the illusion that we still have a few property rights in this country and I plan to keep it that way if I can. :o
It is a great feeling to watch the commercial corporate power supply go down and sit here under my own power as if nothing has happened. :) Mean thoughts -- me? Naw-- just had my fill of being under their thumb and am enjoying the freedom.. Yes - I have my little power outages but if I do either I cause them or know the reason why and know how to fix them. We do not spend an excessive amount of time worrying about our energy - just mange it as necessary and live pretty well normal power lives. We do build with energy conservation in mind and expand the system as necessary to keep up with our needs. I have a bit under 2000 watts of panels and a 1000 watt wind generator. 3000 watt backup generator is all that is necessary for me.
If you are industrious - as you seem to be you can build your own wind generator.
I got a cool e-book called "Poor Man's Guide to Wind Power & Battery Systems"
I haven't built from it but it looks good. http://www.poormansguides.com/
Also check out these.
http://www.scoraigwind.com/
Hugh Piggott - Scoraig Wind Electric
http://www.fieldlines.com/
the Otherpower.com Discussion Board Make your electricity from scratch!
QuoteI haven't built from it but it looks good. http://www.poormansguides.com/
Welding with batteries guide caught my eye. We welded a broken off driveshaft spline with all 3 of our batteries, jumper cables and iron wire bits. Nasty looking, but it allowed the vehicle to be driven out rather than left behind. :) Now I have the onboard Premier welder.
The amp meter and shunt info looks interesting as well.
MountainDon, thank you so much for all the info. You really went out of your way. It was very kind of you. I saved the sites you gave me for careful absorption.
we on mainland USA have 120/240 VAC 60 Hz grid power with equipment, appliances, etc. to match. What have you in Japan?
Don I beleive the system in Japan is 100/220 50 Hz. I was told as long as I purchase things that operate between 50-60hz. I wouldn't run into any problems and so far I haven't.
I really like the idea of conducting an energy audit. I'm sure I consume a lot more than I think. A couple of months ago I was given a book called Radical Simplicity by author Jim Merkel. It basically outlined formulas for determining our impact or as Jim calls it our footprint on the world. After spending few hours trying to figure out how to use those hardly-ever-used buttons on my calculator I gave some of the forms a try. Actually I thought the book went a little overboard but it did give me an awareness as to how I'd been living.
Now is it true that with these alternative power systems you can actually sell back the power you generate? What happens, does your meter run backwards or do you just not get billed for the months when you generate what you consume?
I knew the TV remark would get a response! I know this is not really the place for this kind of conversation but my reasoning is geared toward my children. I want them to grow up learning common sense, the joy of hard work, using their hands and minds to create. I want them to know nights under blankets of stars, running through forest exploring nature. They won't learn those things sitting in front of a TV or playing games where the object is to kill as many living creatures as possible. Mozart started composing the first of his symphonies when he was 10. Would we even know his name if he had 300 channels to choose from? But that's just my opinion.
Thanks again Mountain Don!
This thread is mostly about you so please speak freely, Rob. We are kings of thread drift on this forum as it helps us to learn more and I couldn't keep to one subject if I wanted to. We keep generally to the subject with a few tangents allowed as necessary.
Sounds like the right way to bring up your kids - at that rate they will probably grow up with a functioning brain. :)
The net metering does run the meter backward. Generally here, it is only to your benefit to produce as much as you use. The repayment schemes for over-producing are so skewed in favor of the power company by the rule-makers that it doesn't pay to make more than you use.
Quote...the system in Japan is 100/220 50 Hz. I was told as long as I purchase things that operate between 50-60hz.
is it true that with these alternative power systems you can actually sell back the power
I've noticed some devices have a slide switch for 50/60 Hz selection. Cool, then you just have funny plugs to deal with? :-?
Here, it's called "net metering". Most places have it, especially the publicly owned companies. It's law I believe. Yes the meter runs backwards if there's a surplus generated. Jan Feb Mar I usually have a credit, nothing to pay, but they don't send me a check.
That would be cool!. Apr May Oct Nov not too much to pay after the credit is applied. The rest of the time the A/C takes charge !! It would not be nice to be without tho'. Not when it's in the mid to high nineties and sometimes triple digits.
Interesting thing on the reefer A/C tho'. We used to use an evaporative cooler, uses evaporating water to provide cooler air, called a swamp cooler (only work well in dry climates. we have a three week monsoon season that reduces their efficiency, raises your indoor humidity level to uncomfortable). When we junked that and replaced the older (1985 vintage) gas furnace with a 90% efficient model and the A/C with a 19 SEER rating (very good!), our combined gas/elec/water bills total went down.
also forgot to mention, Rob, that if you want to do a big rant on anything -- any topic -- feel free to post it in the Off Topics section. It's a catch all for anything.
Here is fine for things like you just posted. We're easy. :)
Quote.... outlined formulas for determining our impact or as Jim calls it our footprint on the world.
You might want to have a look at http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp
There is an old thread here on this but I couldn't find it. We had a little fun with it.
and it's originating site
http://www.redefiningprogress.org/newprojects/ecolFoot.shtml
Re: selling power back to the utility company. There can be many answers, many ways of doing business. Here, I am fortunate in that my power company does offer me true net metering. There is only one meter, it goes forward or backwards, my generation compensating for heavy simultaneous use.
There is a 10Kw cap under my rules. And the system has to comply to their innumerable rules and their authorized equipment list and their inspections, ... the bureaucracy was more difficult to deal with than the actual installation! (under their rules my backup batteries are not supposed to be there.) So in months where I generate more power than I use, I get a full credit. Other months, I pay them, if I don't have carry over credits. However, if I was to have too large a system, and always produce more power, there is no provision to actually send me a check. I get the short end of the stick. If I leave the system, sell the house, whatever, and have a credit situation, then I get screwed as they apply an "avoided cost of generation" formula, and I get credit for a lesser amount.
So Glenn's right, it doesn't pay to have too big a system. On the other hand the power company rates keep going up (new notice of application for rate change in today's mail) and the cost of PV panels keeps going down. :) :-/
EDIT: we also do not have a time-of-use differential as some locales do.
Rob, a number of years ago the unique Japanese Douzuki and Ryoba saws, Japanese water stones for sharpening, etc. all became popular over here. Anyone who sold quality tools had them. And they do work really well. Are there any American saws etc used/sold over there?
I've been cutting and pasting all this info you guys are sending me! Great stuff and thanks a lot! So much to learn. I was laughing Glenn when you said I should build my own. You give me waay too much credit. I certainly love a challenge but I'm a long way off from a full scale engineering feat like that. Let me get through the 1-1/2 story first. Laughing. I have a lot of great info from you guys though and two more months at sea to explore it.
Don, about a year ago I was lucky enough to befriend an old Japanese carpenter. He loves American baseball and teaching me carpentry. Anyway he asked me to get him a set of American saws, hammers and an axe. I did thinking he wanted to work with them but instead he hung them on his living room wall as decorations. I've never seen our tools used over in Japan. I have brought many Japanese tools to the states for friends though. I'd be happy to do the same for anyone here as well. There is a website called japanwoodworker.com they have a good selection of tools but usually at higher prices. People I know will use that site to get the name of something and then ask me to find it for them.
When I'm in Japan the net is my refuge when I need a little English in my life. So I really enjoy doing stuff for people whenever I can. Unfortunately I have to go into town and get online at a cafe. Our area is too remote for anything other than dial up and in Japan you are charged unbeleivable rates. One of my favorite spots online is Rockler.com if you guys haven't heard of them you should check it out for tools and hardware. Great service too.
I just spent a couple of hours reading some the off topic conversations. I'm really glad to have found this group theres a lot of common sense intelligence here.
I downloaded a few more pics. One of the view from the rear of my land and a stream of pics of the work my wife and I did building our dinning room. I wanted to try my hand at plastering. I watched workers plaster a few walls and my over confident ass thought it would be easy. Not so at all! But what resulted doesn't look too terrible and memories we laugh about now will last our lifetime. One example is standing on the ladder with my wife below holding the ladder steady while I was shoveling plaster into a hole between two beams. I slipped and the entire bucket of plaster covered my wife from head to toe! We laughed until we were crying. As you see in the pics I built a wrap around bench with hinged lids to provide storage. This was a very easy to build project. After going through all the pics in this site and collecting so many ideas for my own home I thought maybe I could contribute an idea or two. Enjoy!
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/dinning8.jpg)
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/dinning4.jpg)
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/dinning2.jpg)
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/dinning6.jpg)
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/dinning5.jpg)
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/dinning7Theinspector.jpg)
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/cedarbenchfinshed11-05-04.jpg)
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/viewfrombackofhouse.jpg)
Great pics, Rob- and a great cat. I noticed your query about wind and/or solar users earlier..I also use solar, but on a more basic scale than the others here, just four panels and four standard marine batteries with everything 12 volt, just a small inverter and no generator Works fine as long as suburban comforts like blenders and microwaves are not important to your lifestyle.
Beautiful work, Rob. Not much opportunity to get online from the ship I assume - that's a bummer. I have a friend here who works on the MM ships as a cook. His name is Rob also. Seems he is only out a couple weeks at a time.
Careful in the off topics - rants -- some of us get a bit weird in there. :o :-/ ::):) We try to present the other point of view -- the one many don't want to talk about or hear and the one we feel everyone should make themselves aware of. :)
Then there is just any general type of topic subject you want to talk about. John started that as a way for our community to talk about anything that interests us.
Hey guys not sure how you are making the quote feature work but to reply to fourx message I think your system may be where I'm looking to start. As I read info I got from the group I think I'll need to keep part of my place on grid and try to supplement that with alternative means. Right now I still have so much to learn. I don't yet know enough to even ask intelligent questions. When I get home I intend to follow Mountain Don's suggestion and get my place analyzed (that can't be spelled right) anyway to see what kind of wind generator would best suit me. My biggest energy drain is undoubtedly my woodshop. I have a tablesaw, bandsaw, planner etc etc that draws a lot of power. Even though the summers are very humid we don't feel the need for A/C and other than the fridge there isn't much in the house draining power so maybe a solar system like yours might work well for us. How long on average can you maintain power without the sun. I guess what I'm asking is the storage capacity of your batteries.
Oh by the way that is the world's most useless cat! I actually watched him watch a rat cross the yard and he didn't lift a paw to even attempt a chase. He makes Garfield look like an overachiever!
Glenn your description of the off topics sounds like just the place for me. Aboard ship we get into some great healthy debates. I say healthy because we don't allow egocentric mind sets into the conversations. The immigration topic went on for weeks! I think it's a wonderful way to learn. I feel like I get an education every trip! So is your friend on a tugboat? A couple of weeks at a time is usually something small. As cook he has the most important job on the ship! Out here nothing changes moral more than a good or bad cook.
Any kind of question???
Oooohhh!
Does your cat have a full tail?
(I have read about a few restored farm houses in Japan. Nowhere near as many as here. Windows might be one of the reasons there are so few.)
If you want to quote the whole paragraph, Rob, hit the quote button right above the reply you are interested in quoting - it will open the reply box with the proper tags around the quote. You can take text out - try not to get part of the tag at start and finish of the quote, --- or --- you can copy the part you wish to quote - select- right click - copy - then hit the reply button - reply box opens - then hit the quote button on the top line 12th button over -blue arrow on paper- --it will insert quote tags - then you just paste the message you copied earlier - then go below the last quote tag and type the rest of your comments.
I am not sure what type of ship my friend Rob is on, but I think it is something bigger. I will ask him next tie I see him - I think they do the West coast of the US.
I have 12 L16 batteries wired series parallel for 24v 375 AH per set - or 1125 AH - using about 1/2 of total would give me about 550 AH if fully charged. Gets into a bunch of number crunching for not to much use - many variables but 8 to 12 L16's is a pretty good system --- Probably about 3 or 4 light sun or wind days there for me -- I kick the generator on an hour or so about 1 time per week --plus or minus -- in the winter. Seldom in the summer. I would encourage you to start out with at least a 24V system if you do it. Smaller wire - -more versatility to expand. I went with stackable sine wave inverters and make 220 v to pump water and other things with. Heavy use with bigger machines requires a pretty good system.
QuoteDoes your cat have a full tail?
I think it has an empty tail, Amanda -- it didn't eat that rat so there's probably nothing inside. :-/
Glad you enjoy the off topics, Rob. Sassy, a few others, and I try to keep things stirred up in there a bit. If we find things getting a bit too quiet we just open up another can of worms there to keep things interesting. Most of our cans of worms originate in Washington D.C. ::)
Quotesuggestion and get my place analyzed (that can't be spelled right) anyway to see what kind of wind generator would best suit me. My biggest energy drain is undoubtedly my woodshop.
Rob, you might be able to get some use out of the "Kill-A-Watt" meter.
http://www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html
It does have a max wattage of 1875 so it may not be any good for some shop machines. I have one that I've used to measure innumerable appliances. One interesting thing I found that many of my appliances test out at using fewer watts than the nameplate rating. As much as 10-12% in some cases. It meters down to about 1 watt (on 120 VAC), gives the amps, Hz, watts, KwHr over a period of time. Got mine a whuile back on Amazon.com
...and you have it spelled right. Do you use Firefox? built in spell checker.
...one more thing.. have you noticed you can modify or remove any post you've made. It's in the same location as the quote function.... upper right. The modify makes it easy to try out editing quotes, etc. As well as changing any errors you might make when typing. One of my fave features.
Rob,
Q: what kind os wood(s) are in common use there? Where from? :)
Don
I think Amanda maybe is asking if it's a Manx cat ie: with just a stumpy tail?
Rob, you woud need a generator for power tools, etc, if you ran a small system like ours- all I run off it are a laptop ( via an inverter), lights, car CD player and radio, and house pressure pumps and pumps for the garden. We don't evan have a fridge now, just an icebox, no TV ( although we used to have a 12 volt colour one)...and no washing machine..hey, I did say non-suburban :) We can run about five days on our present storage with no sun.
I have to give Amanda a bad time whenever I get the opportunity--so Is the tail half empty or half full?
QuoteDoes your cat have a full tail?
Hi Amanda, I'm sorry but I don't know what a cat's full tail is supposed to look like. I coexist with the animal because we happen to share an intense love for the same woman however there is a silent agreement to stay clear of each other. It's much the same between my wife and my beloved Golden Retriever.
Glenn I had to go back and forth between sites to understand what you told me but now I got a better understanding of it. I guess my next question should be about cost. My budget for building the 1-1/2 story cottage on an existing slab plus the alternative energy system is $50,000. I'll build the cottage myself hiring out only for the wiring and plumbing. Baring extreme cost differences between America and Japan do you think it's possible?
Mountain Don! Amazon is my third home! Thanks for advice on the P3. I ordered it right after I read your message.
What kind of wood? Well in my area there is an abundance of cedar. Not red cedar more of a white cedar and a beautiful cypress called hinoki. Hinoki is very similar to Port Oxford cedar in the Pacific Northwest. It is used for bathtubs. Wonderful smell. Pine is available from China, Canada and the US. Hardwoods are somewhat difficult to find. The native Japanese elm is wonderful but expensive. I get it quite often though by liberating boards and posts from houses due for demolition. I always find it amazing that the Japanese would rather burn perfectly good wood than recycle it. I could go on forever about the hypocritical way most Japanese view enviromental conservation but I'll leave that for an off topic day. Where was I? Oak is imported in small amounts but not in my area. I've been tinkering with the idea to build a Morris chair which calls for quartersawn oak but I haven't been able to find it yet. Some birch but very small sized. I would say the white cedar is the most commonly used wood.
Quote...hiring out only for the wiring and plumbing.
You know your limits better than anyone, but I wouldn't sell yourself short on electrical or plumbing, depending on local laws, etc.
Locally a homeowner has to pass a test to be able to do electrical installations on any building permitted work. It's not all that difficult; I've done it three times here, over 22 years. Plumbing isn't all that bad either, especially if you can find an old plumber for gyidance like I did when enlarging a bathroom. Same thing; simple enough test and I did for $200 or so what the pros wanted $1K to $1.5K for. :o The most difficult part of both the electrical and the plumbing was finding out just how things must be done to pass code. Anybody can do the grunt work. Ya just have to learn the approved way of doing it.
QuoteI guess my next question should be about cost. My budget for building the 1-1/2 story cottage on an existing slab plus the alternative energy system is $50,000. I'll build the cottage myself hiring out only for the wiring and plumbing. Baring extreme cost differences between America and Japan do you think it's possible?
From what I've seen others here do by doing most of the work themselves, I would say it is doable. We have seen the houses dried in for less than $12000 as I recall -in materials.
Alternative energy system can start small and be built up. We could go over phases with you so you don't get overwhelmed all at once. Don't buy stuff that is too small to start or you will spend more. --Do as I say -- not as I did. ;D It does not have to be new -- only working good when bought used. Try to buy from a trustworthy source though. Both of my sine wave inverters were used.
We could also help you on the plumbing and electric as Don mentioned- with study on your part - you could save there too.
QuoteI always find it amazing that the Japanese would rather burn perfectly good wood than recycle it.
Not so much different from here, except here it would end up in a landfill. :'( I'm about 1500 miles south of the Canadian border and I find it weird that most of the lumber I buy is from Canada, :( rather than homegrown.
It is against the law to burn lumber here.
I keep a few hot dogs handy. :-?
I just have barbecues --- big ol' barbecues.
Usually I save the junk lumber up and cut it into kindling sizes for winter wood though.
Don beleive me if I could do the work I would. I've already run into problems with some locals who seem to think I am hurting their business by doing things myself. I installed a small light outside my front door. Next thing I know a city inspector shows up saying he got a tip I was building without a license! The way this guy acted I truly thought I was going to be taken off and beaten! He was rambling on at lightning speed and I couldn't get but one word in ten. I'm not ashamed to say my wife came to the rescue telling him to carry his mafia ass off our property. Now I get watched which is another reason to go wind/solar. Traditions here say that only a carpenter builds a house, only a mechanic can change the oil in your car and only an electrician can wire a house. It's tough getting past that. I recieved the plans for the 1-1/2 story a couple of days ago and faxed it to my wife. She will have it translated into Japanese and then we'll bribe a carpenter to stamp it with his seal of approval. Only then will I have permission from the city to build it myself. Playing the game.
A pic for Amanda.
(https://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/YamaDaiku/DSC_0039.jpg)
QuoteIt is against the law to burn lumber here.
Glenn, sometimes I don't know if you're kidding or not; but you're in the People's Republic of CA so anything absurd is
possible likely. ::)
QuoteDon believe me if I could do the work I would. I've already run into problems with some locals who seem to think I am hurting their business by doing things myself. I installed a small light outside my front door. Next thing I know a city inspector shows up saying he got a tip I was building without a license!
Oh dear! The permit gestapo strike again! They're everywhere, followed by the black helicopters.
I vacillate between trying to stay underground, under the radar, or surrendering (re my-cabin-in-the-woods to-be-built.) So far I haven't made any overt moves.
Cute picture!
QuoteDo as I say -- not as I did.
Learning from other people's mistakes is my favorite way to save time!
Careful Don big brother might be watching us as we speak!
I' not kidding, Don. I watched two neighbors loading waste lumber from the old dancehall into the back of a pickup to haul it to the landfill where it will cost them about $40 to dump it - rough guess. They were trying tothink of someone out in the country far enough to be able to burn it. Our fire departments are like little police forces here too. Some even carry guns. Most are decent though.
Rob, we have areas with the same problems -- mostly where the unions are strong.
Great for your wife. Run those little public servants out of there. :) ;D
Are they considered public servants over there? or a division of the Yakuza?
QuoteCareful Don big brother might be watching us as we speak!
There is no doubt- he watches anything he wants to and now he wants it all.
http://www.rense.com/general76/fedsplan.htm
[highlight]Thread drift and helicopter alert.[/highlight]
QuoteLearning from other people's mistakes is my favorite way to save time!
...I can say -- and money. :)
QuoteAre they considered public servants over there? or a division of the Yakuza?
More like servants of the yakuza or yakuza unions. Lot's of good o'l boy groups over in Japan. Honestly I don't think I'd get away with half the things I do if were Japanese. I sell crafts at a local flea market but I'm the only one who doesn't pay a share of the profit to the "parking lot attenders" who sit in an office miles away from the parking lot.
I never stop smiling but maybe they feel intimidated by an American and leave me alone or maybe because I'm always smiling they think I'm dangerously insane! Who knows.
Keep them guessing.
People wonder about me too.
Sometimes I wonder about me too. :o
Hey, Rob, I talked to my friend, Rob here. He said he works on an ATB - articulated tug boat barge. You had that right. He said it's 4 weeks on 4 weeks off. Crew of 8 counting him.
The barge he is on holds 135000 gallons of diesel in it's fuel tank(s) and burns 350 gallons per hour - max 9200 horsepower I think he said. At 350 gallons per hour they must cruise around 5000 horsepower per my rough calcs.
Hey Glenn,
Your friend has a cool job. I worked tankers for a few years on a run between Seattle and Valdez AK. It was great because I lived in South Puget Sound so I got to go home every week or so. Sounds like he has a nice run too with a schedule like that.
The ship I'm on is 950 ft powered by LM2500 gas turbines. In fact last week one of our ship's was on a television show called modern marvels. For the most part we carry military cargo to and from the sand box.
Here's a pic.
Cool Ship, Rob.
I pulled up some quick info from www.thefreedictionary.com
QuoteThe General Electric LM2500 industrial and marine turboshaft gas turbine is a derivative of GE Aircraft Engines' CF6-6 aircraft engine. The LM2500 is offered in addition to the LM6000.
Current versions of the LM2500 deliver 33,600 shaft horsepower (25.1 MW) with a thermal efficiency of 37 percent at ISO conditions. It has been used in various applications such as in U.S. Navy warships (as well as those belonging to other navies), hydrofoils, hovercraft and fast ferries. As of 2004, more than one thousand LM2500 gas turbines have been in service for more than 26 international navies.
Many of the military LM2500 installations place the engine inside a metal container of the same dimensions as a standard 40 foot intermodal shipping container - 8 feet wide, 8.5 feet tall, and 40 feet long. The containerized LM2500s may be designed for easy removal from their ships if the air intake ducting is shaped appropriately.
The LM2500+ is an evolution of the LM2500, delivering up to 40,200 shp or 28.6 MW of electric energy when combined with an electrical generator. Two of such turbo-generators have been installed in the superstructure near the funnel of Queen Mary 2, the world's largest transatlantic cruise liner, for additional electric energy when the ship's four diesel-generators are maxed out or fail.
The LM2500 is license-built in Japan by Ishikawajima-Harima, and in Italy by Avio.
The LM2500/LM2500+ can often be found as turbine part of CODAG or CODOG propulsion systems or in pairs as powerplants for COGAG systems.
The latest development in the LM2500 family is LM2500+ G4, which offers 6% more power over the LM2500+.
History
The LM2500 was first used in US Navy warships in the Spruance class of destroyers and the related Kidd class, which were constructed from 1970. In this configuration it was rated to 21,500 SHP. This configuration was subsequently used into the 1980s in the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates, and Ticonderoga class cruisers.
The LM2500 was uprated to 26,500 SHP for the Arleigh Burke class destroyers, which were initiated in the 1980s and started to see service in the early 1990s, and the T-AOE-6 class of fast combat tanker.
The current generation was uprated in the late 1990s to over 30,000 SHP.
Dam Glenn, now you know more about the engines on my ship than I do!!!
I was head mechanic at Dodge 1969-70 then on to learn diesel mechanics a bit in the logging country - PNW. I collect old engines sometimes and am always interested in them. On the steamer in New Orleans I had to check out the steam engine. :)
Very cool Glenn. It's too bad you're on the other side of the country. My ship will be inport here in Newport News Virginia for a while so if you were near I could give you a tour. You might get a kick out of our engine room!
Glenn I have a question for you. I've been playing with the plans I got (1 1/2 story). I want a couple of built ins and I am wondering how I would tie in a 2x8 wall with the other 2x4 walls. I was thinking a 2x8 wall made into a built in floor to ceiling book shelf. I guess I can just build out the corners of the connecting walls to match the 2x8. Any ideas?
Rob
The ship tour sounds great but as you say -- too far away.
PEG gets into the most framing around here. He's done it all, I think. :) I'm mostly steel and alternative building with an occasional venture into standard building and repeating things I learn here. :-/
Was that wall going to be an exterior wall or interior wall? -- Seems you are talking about a single wall material over the back of a 2x8 framing and bookshelf?
Quote
#1: My ship will be inport here in Newport News Virginia for a while so
#2: Glenn I have a question for you. I've been playing with the plans I got (1 1/2 story). I want a couple of built ins and I am wondering how I would tie in a 2x8 wall with the other 2x4 walls. I was thinking a 2x8 wall made into a built in floor to ceiling book shelf. I guess I can just build out the corners of the connecting walls to match the 2x8. Any ideas?
Rob
#1: I thought you where in Japan :-/
#2: Why not build your "built ins " as cabinets inside / in front of your exterior walls ?? I don't understand your question maybe , but if you really want a 2x8 wall and you need a sheet rock backer in the inside resulting corner just make a "L" corner / backer using a 2x8 as one leg of the "L" attached to a 2x4 , if you do it right you'll have a 1 1/2" area for that S/R backer.
Hi YamaDaiku! What a darling picture of your baby & the cat! The cat looks huge :o - the baby is so cute :)
QuoteWhy not build your "built ins " as cabinets inside / in front of your exterior walls ?? I don't understand your question maybe , but if you really want a 2x8 wall and you need a sheet rock backer in the inside resulting corner just make a "L" corner / backer using a 2x8 as one leg of the "L" attached to a 2x4 , if you do it right you'll have a 1 1/2" area for that S/R backer.
Thanks Peg, I see what you're saying. My thoughts was to use a 2x8 exterior wall so that I would have room on the inside to have built in bookshelves inbetween the studs without giving up too much floor space. Maybe it would be easier though to make cabinets inside. I'm just playing with some ideas here. I really like the window seat I saw in one of Mike's cabin pics. I like that craftsman built in look. Also I was thinking I'd put in a cedar wainscoting with sheet rock above so I guess as a base for the cedar I will use plywood. What do you think?
Hi Sassy thank you. He is a little monster. Just started walking or should I say stagger. He sure keeps my wife busy. I miss them a lot. I'll be working on a ship for another two months before I see em. The cat is huge. He does nothing but eat and sleep. The ultimate in couch potato!
Rob
QuoteQuoteWhy not build your "built ins " as cabinets inside / in front of your exterior walls ?? I don't understand your question maybe , but if you really want a 2x8 wall and you need a sheet rock backer in the inside resulting corner just make a "L" corner / backer using a 2x8 as one leg of the "L" attached to a 2x4 , if you do it right you'll have a 1 1/2" area for that S/R backer.
Thanks Peg, I see what you're saying. My thoughts was to use a 2x8 exterior wall so that I would have room on the inside to have built in bookshelves inbetween the studs without giving up too much floor space. Maybe it would be easier though to make cabinets inside. I'm just playing with some ideas here. I really like the window seat I saw in one of Mike's cabin pics. I like that craftsman built in look. Also I was thinking I'd put in a cedar wainscoting with sheet rock above so I guess as a base for the cedar I will use plywood. What do you think?
If you used the stud bays as built in where would you put your insulation?? Maybe you don't insulate in Japan :-/ it was cold / cool when I was there so I'd think insulation would be wanted if not required.
If you build the cabinet right you can geta built in look with the speed and precision of shop built cab's , this mantal was shop built , but looks "built in" ,
(https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/PEG688/may82.jpg)
(https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/PEG688/apr282.jpg)
Next ,photo.
Built ins??? Or shop built??
(https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/PEG688/Nov191.jpg)
(https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/PEG688/sept17008-1.jpg)
Your plywood substrate idea is a good one , I'd guess a cap / ledge / chair rail would finish off the top above the Cedar, but ya that would be a good way.
Ok thanks Peg I understand. I rebuilt an interior wall in my kitchen and I used 2x6 framing. Since it was an interior wall I had no insulation and the shelves inbetween the studs came out good. I was thinking I could do the same in the cabin but I will need to insulate. We don't have much snow but it does get pretty cold come Jan / Feb. Thanks again.
A fair number of Japanese cats are bob-tail.
Different gene from the Manx (which is good, by the way)
Handful of cute pictures in the first link:
http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/japanese.html
or this description, from Wikipedia here ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Bobtail_(cat) ):
QuoteThe Japanese Bobtail is a breed of cat with an unusual 'bobbed' tail more closely resembling the tail of a rabbit than that of an ordinary feline. The short tail is caused by the expression of a recessive gene. Thus, so long as both parents are bobtails, all kittens born to a litter will have bobtails as well. Unlike the Manx and other cat breeds, where genetic disorders are common to tailless or stumpy-tails, no such problem exists with the Japanese Bobtail.
The Japanese Bobtail is a small domestic cat native to Japan and Southeast Asia. The breed has been known in Japan for centuries, and there are many legends and myths, as well as pieces of ancient art, featuring it.
Nice picture of the cat and kid!
Hi Amanda, that was interesting. I've seen a few cats with those short tails and just thought they must have had them chopped off or something. Learn something new every day!! Thanks! My fat lazy animal has a big bushy tail. My wife rescued him at a shelter. We were told by the vet he was a wild cat. He has battle scars on his face and neck and is missing a small chuck of ear. I guess his wild days are over though because the only time he seems to move off his cushion is when he eats or my son wants to assault him.
Rob
Looks--and sounds--like a perfectly lovely cat. Nothing quite like a battle-scarred veteran cat who has decided to be domesticated after all.
His head looks like a Manx, though, Amanda..I wonder if the breeds are related?
Hey guys! I was looking at the great story of Dave's building project and I had a question concerning the way he framed the loft. Instead of framing it in what I beleive is called platform style with the loft joist sitting on top of the walls he used longer studs and attached the joist to the studs with brackets. Is this better worse, stronger or weaker than platform style?
Oh yes I wanted to tell you guys about a great book I just finished. "A handmade life by William Coperthwaite
Highly recommend it!!
Dave has done a great job, well documented here. The method is called semi-balloon framing and is stronger than platform framing due to not having a hinge point at the bottom of the knee wall. A 2x ribbon is let into 2x6 walls and the loft floor joist are set on it and tied into the studs also for strength.
Search balloon framing here for more info http://www.countryplans.com/search.html
As PEG says - it's not the only way to do it ------- but it seems to be the best, especially for 20 feet or less wide.
I read a review on the book - seemed interesting.
http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Life-Search-Simplicity/dp/1933392479/ref=sr_1_1/104-1511507-9611960?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177908136&sr=1-1
Thanks Glenn I guess I should read more before asking questions. Dave's work is really beautiful! I love the siding. I thought that method of framing looked stronger. In earthquake prone Japan whatever is stronger is the way I want to build. Thanks again I'll study this more. I imagine the hangers and ties add a considerable cost to the project but that's something I'll have to look into when I get back home. As the days wind down on the ship I'm anxious to put tools in my hands and get going with this!
I asked for earthquake insurance for my existing house and I was actually laughed at!!
We had a bit of talk here about pole building. John mentioned doing something with it possibly on a design. This is one place where I think modifying a post and pier design to a pole building timber frame design could be of great benefit. Frank Lloyd Wright was actually influenced by Japanese design using something similar to a pole building design.
Below is part of an article for non-members:
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0037-9808%28199103%2950%3A1%3C68%3AAJIFFL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-2&size=LARGE&origin=JSTOR-enlargePage
Otherwise, well connected to a good post and deep pier or something similar to the Bigfoot footings could be good also.
Quote
Imperial Hotel (long)
Frank Lloyd Wright was once commissioned to design a hotel in Tokyo which would be capable of surviving an earthquake.
"When the architect visited Japan to see where the Imperial Hotel was to be built, he was appalled to find only about eight feet of earth on the site. Beneath that was 60 feet of soft mud that slipped and shook like jelly. Every test hole he dug filled up immediately with water. A lesser man probably would have given up right there. But not Frank Lloyd Wright. Since the hotel was going to rest on fluid ground, Wright decided to build it like a ship. Instead of trying to keep the structure from moving during a quake, he incorporated features that would allow the hotel to ride out the shock without damage.
"Supports were sunk into the soft mud, and sections of the foundation were cantilevered from the supports. The rooms were built in sections like a train and hinged together. Water pipes and electric lines, usually the first to shear off in an earthquake, were hung in vertical shafts where they could sway freely if necessary.
"Wright knew that the major cause of destruction after an earthquake was fire, because water lines are apt to be broken in the ground and there is no way to put the fire out. So he insisted on a large outdoor pool in the courtyard of his hotel, 'just in case.'
"On September 1, 1923, Tokyo had the greatest earthquake in its history. There were fires all over the city, and 140,000 people died. Back in the US, news reports were slow coming in. One newspaper wanted to print the story that the Imperial Hotel had been destroyed, as rumor had it. But when a reporter called Frank Lloyd Wright, he said that they could print the story if they wished, but they would only have to retract it later. He knew the hotel would not collapse.
"Shortly afterward, Wright got a telegram from Japan. The Imperial Hotel was completely undamaged. Not only that — it had provided a home for hundreds of people. And when fires that raged all around the hotel threatened to spread, bucket brigades kept the structure wetted down with water from the hotel's pool."
[The Imperial Hotel was torn down in the 1960s to make room for a more modern building.]
Wright, Frank Lloyd (1869-1959) American architect and designer [noted for his influence on the modern movement in architecture; and for his designs of such private homes as Falling Water and of such public buildings as the Johnson Wax Company Building in Racine, Wisconsin (1939), the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City (1943–1959)]
[Sources: Bits & Pieces, January 7, 1993, pp.11-14]
More Frank Wright anecdotes
Related Anecdote Keywords:
Architecture Earthquakes Hotels Buildings Japan
from
http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=7299
Quotewell connected to a good post and deep pier or something similar to the Bigfoot footings could be good also.
I have been planning to remove an old garage and build the 1 1/2 story on the existing concret slab but reading some of the treads here and seeing how those bigfoot units are used I am tempted to go that way instead. I'll have to take a look at the cost difference and possibly delay construction until I aquire the funds. My goal is to do it right the first time.
I usually avoid Tokyo like the plague but I would have made a trip to see that hotel. It's too bad it was torn down.
Rather than blow the money on the Bigfoot you could just make a similar footing with a wide base and a reinforced concrete post coming out of it. You could use something like the Sonotube cardboard tubes. The stability would be the same. The Bigfoot is great where there is a freezing problem as the ice will slide up the plastic.
I haven't been here in months.
The gene that gives you the Manx cat is one that the cats have to have from only one parent. Otherwise they don't get born or are horribly deformed because of spinal problems.
With the Japanese bobtails, I gather it doesn't matter if the bobtail gene comes from both sides. I don't know if it's recessive or dominant. With the Manx, it is dominant, but there are severe problems if it comes from both parents.
(Scottish Fold cats have a similar quality--but they "just" end up with club feet. The blue merle color in collies and shetland sheepdogs may be the same as well.)
Very interesting read, Amanda. Our Manx, a de-sexed female who is now around 11, has had a severe and on-going problem with ear mites, despite expensive vet ""solutions"" far in excess of any other cat I have had, and has big problems with fleas, as well- much more than our other ( two, short-haired common-type) cats. The other two cats have nothing to do with her. ..a little cat racism, perhaps?
Hi folks,
Just thought I'd give you an update. Im back in Japan after being at sea for 4 1/2 months. We thought we'd be able to start construction of the 1 1/2 story this summer but we're having a little trouble with the paperwork aspect of building in Japan. You might be interested in knowing the quote given to me by a Japanese construction company to build the 20 x 30 place was $175,000. Needless to say we're going to build it ourselves. I anticipate we'll start building after my next sea tour so sometime in Feburary. My wife and I enjoyed so much going through all the pictures and reading all the fantastic conversations. She loves the window seat in Micky's place and the wrap around deck of Navada Mike's place. I've found so many great details in books and magazines as well so it's good that construction has been put off for a time as it will give us time to carefully plan. On ship I had built the house so many times in my mind I was and still am anxious to get started. When Im in the states I usually stay with friends in Washington state near my former residence on Treasure Island on Case Inlet, South Puget Sound. I plan to buy all the windows and doors there and have them shipped over to Japan. I've done that before and even with shipping the price was less than half what I'd pay here. The only worry my wife has is me doing the roof alone. She has suggested if any of you would like a free trip to Japan next spring we would be more than happy to pay for all expenses in return for a couple of weeks framing the roof. I think that would be a lot of fun.
So this summer I'll have to be contented with my honey do list which I had thought to escape. A cedar fence around the front yard to contain my sons. Fixing the roof over kitchen, changing three windows and installing a cyprus floor in two bedrooms. She also wants a four post bed with a canopy. Hopefully I'll be able to throw a kayaking trip in there somewhere and a BBQ or two!
Thanks again for all the great advice! I'll be sure to keep you posted as things develop and seriously if anyone is interested in the trip please let's discuss it!
Rob
Hey Rob, long time no see.... I'd been wondering where in the world you were... ;D ;D
Hey there Don,
How've you been? My ship was at sea for a while so I couldn't use the net. It's good to be home again. After the cold steal of the ship being back in the lush green countryside is a wonderful charge to the soul.
QuoteAfter the cold steel of the ship being back in the lush green countryside is a wonderful charge to the soul.
Must be something like us getting into our mountains from the suburban desert home.
We've spent most of June up there continuing the clearing of fallen and dead and ready to fall trees and changing plans as to where the cabin will be and which way it will face. :-/ Back home for a few days. No internet connection up there. :(Some pictures at http://www.countryplans.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1181361337/0
Off topic... are you a beer guy? Just wondering what brews are like there. I've only had a japanese beer once; Sapphoro, I think it was.
Don,
Love the pics! It's like you have the living room set up before the house is built! Great stuff. So when do you think you'll build? It looks like a great location. I can see building a deck around a couple of those trees.
Yes I am I guess you could say a pretty big fan of beer. I often say I wish I could bottle that first taste after a hard days work. Nothing like it!! I don't like whiskey or anything like that. Here in Japan I drink a beer called Yebisu. It's a nice malt beer with 5% alcohol made by the Sapporo beer company. Having lived in Washington State I really enjoyed all the micro brews but there isn't much of that over here. Kirin is real popular Japanese beer. The young people here all like to drink Bud though for the life of me I can't understand why. It's $3.50 a can!
Don I was at the local lumber yard a couple of days ago and they just got in a supply of a wood called Ipe. I thought it might be nice for a top rail on a cedar fence to contrast the color. It's extremely heavy and I was wondering how it works. Have you ever used it?
Rob
QuoteI can see building a deck around a couple of those trees.
The young people here all like to drink Bud though for the life of me I can't understand why. It's $3.50 a can!
... supply of a wood called Ipe. ... Have you ever used it?
A tree deck is a possibility, tho' a screened gazebo is likely coming first as an anti-fly mosquito measure.
"Bud" only if there's nothing else. :'( it must be the advertising/marketing/it's American
Never used it, or heard of it. :-/
Careful, Rob -- you may have half the Countryplans crew over there helping you put the roof on. I'll have to think about it and see if I can work it out-- no fear of heights here.
One problem -- with the .gov monitoring my postings in the off topics and rants, I'm afraid I'm in for a full cavity search if I leave the country. :-/ If they will even let me fly.....
Welcome back to dry land, Rob. I'm surrounded by timber mills and it a new wood to me- maybe it's a Japanese type, only seen there?
Don, they had those Cimagegi or whatever they are called fireplaces on special in town yesterday for 99 bucks-I was tempted to get one. Does yours that you have at the building site work OK?
QuoteDon, they had those Cimagegi or whatever they are called fireplaces on special in town yesterday for 99 bucks-I was tempted to get one. Does yours that you have at the building site work OK?
Chiminea... ;D
Yes ours works pretty good. After much research and humming and hawing I decided to go with the one we got, not one of the cheapest. No it was one of the more expensive. We got it from
http://www.thebluerooster.com/catalog/index.php?gclid=CPfo6fiO74wCFQYVhgodPW628Q
We got the "Dragonfly" design.
Around here there are many that are made in Mexico from fired clay. I'm told this is a traditional Mexican design. That's bound to grab the hearts of the mindless masses. (Sorry, that's not PC). Not worth the dirt they're made from unless; [A] you never light a fire in them, (a brother of a friend had one split while being used) or
you keep them indoors and follow [A]. (someone else had one slowly dissolve into the clay dirt it was made from as it was repeatedly rained upon.) Many of the others I found locally had stamped sheet metal parts that I'm certain, after a number of fires, would suffer burn through. The only cast iron was the fire grate. Mine is cast aluminum alloy (or is it aluminium downunder?), with a cast iron fire grate. There's also a cast iron grilling grate where the lower body meets the upper tapered chimney. Haven't used that so far... too much bother to remove the chimney before it's hot, to bother to cook on it. That's what I have a charcoal grill, as well as a propane grill for, isn't it? I'll never lack for something to cook Bambi's Dad on.
Though the instructions didn't state so, we "burned" it in with several small fires before going for a bigger fire. (My experiences with cast iron stoves was the basis of my reasoning)
My only criticism is that the Chinese (of course, where else would it come from!) skimped on the hinged safety screen. Let's just say the hinge mount was rather imprecise and allowed for a major amount of door sag after a few heat/cool cycles. No amount of bolt tightening would secure the hinge in it's proper place. I welded a piece of strap iron onto the hinge, drilled new holes and all is now well. :) Okay, one more thing the spark arrest screen in the chimney top was too coarse for my liking and I added a layer of hardware cloth with finer openings.
Thanks Don. The clay ones have been around here for a while, but this the first alimunium one I have seen.
Anyone tried Singha? It has to be one of the best beers around- it's Thai. And Fosters is the worst. :o
QuoteCareful, Rob -- you may have half the Countryplans crew over there helping you put the roof on. I'll have to think about it and see if I can work it out-- no fear of heights here.
One problem -- with the .gov monitoring my postings in the off topics and rants, I'm afraid I'm in for a full cavity search if I leave the country. If they will even let me fly.....
Hey Glenn, I think for few bucks we can get you a new passport. Of course you might have to wear a fake mustache and dark sunglasses but I think it will work.
I just looked up ipe as a wood type- it comes from Brazil. It is naturally fire resistant, insect proof, resists rot and decay and weathers to a beautiful silver sheen. However it is so dense that it is not easy to work with. I guess with the right fasteners it would be perfect material for a fence.
There goes the rain forest. Rob's using it to build with. :-/ I have heard of it - but that's about it.
I suppose I could smash the chip in the passport --- probably get the exam for sure then. I think I may be allergic to rubber gloves. What a dilemma. :-/
I could say I was one of The Blues Brothers in that outfit, eh? ;D
Ipe as you have found is a good exterior wood , commonly used for deck here in CONUS. Hard on / to machine , dulls blades and bits . It's more $$ than Red Cedar but is comperable in $$ to Trex and other composite "fake " wood. It will be hard to nail on to the top of a fence , pre drill and screw .
Mtn. D do you have to get over "sea legs" when you go from the Mtns to the desert?? ;D
I'd guess when you say 4 1/2 months at sea you mean with port stops ?? The few merchant marines I've know never or rarely got off the boat in port as that was when they had the most to do , as in off load / relaod cargo.
On the beer subject I think Thialand had about the best beer , can't recall the name It was close to dbl. digit Achohol content , and pretty cheap at the time .
Welcome back to the hard eh ;)
The sea legs problem comes when you go from low elevation to high - lack of oxygen at higher elevation - so you get sleepy as you get higher until you become acclimatized. MountainDon is pretty high already though. :)
QuoteThe sea legs problem comes when you go from low elevation to high - lack of oxygen at higher elevation - so you get sleepy as you get higher until you become acclimatized. MountainDon is pretty high already though. :)
Visitors from back home, mean elevation 760 feet, get whacked when they visit here, It can take a couple weeks acclimatization time. I don't notice too much change going back and forth between here (5400 ft) and the mountains (8700).
The adjustment comes in with temperature. Up in the mtns the lows have been around 55 - 60 in the evening/overnight. The mtn highs have gotten to 85 for about an hour or two in the afternoon. Even then if a few clouds blow over you can watch the temp drop some.
Down here in the high desert the lows get down to the low 60's with yesterday's official high 97, 100 in places.
Cold here last night - got down to 70 during the night - Brrrrrrr. :-/
Re: Ipe wood.
I ran across this when looking for something else
http://www.ipe-deck.com/
QuoteI'd guess when you say 4 1/2 months at sea you mean with port stops ?? The few merchant marines I've know never or rarely got off the boat in port as that was when they had the most to do , as in off load / relaod cargo.
Hey Peg, This is true. If I do get a chance to go ashore in port I may only get a couple of hours at a time. As far as the sea legs go I've only experienced it when I worked on a small fishing boat. We hit port and as soon as I stepped on the dock I fell down! Very weird feeling when you so used to making constant adjustments. On the large ships we simply don't adjust as much to stand straight. That beer in Thailand is pretty good but I can't think of the name either. I'll tell you the worst beer I ever had was in Egypt. It's called Stella and I swear it had enough formaldehyde in it to embalm an elephant! Nasty stuff and brother what a headache the next day.
I've given up on the Ipe. I started thinking about what it took to get it to this small lumber yard in Japan and realized buying it would only create a demand, better to use local stuff. More often than not things don't become clear to me in a flash. With me it's more like a clearing fog. Add a few beers to my naturally snail like quickness and that fog becomes thick indeed!
good idea on the local wood.
Especially if it's a pain to work with.
(Clearing fog is how my mind is apt to work too)
Hey folks,
Geez where do I start? First problem is the largest sized 2x lumber sold over here is 12 ft. With that in mind how do construct the ceiling joist without supporting beams underneath? I want to use the same floorplan as sold with the plan and I wanted to have a full ceiling for the loft. I am going to search a few lumber yards to see if I can have the ceiling joist specially cut. There has to be a way.
I thought I would post a few pics of my main house and explain some of the work my wife and I have done so far. I'll post them this weekend.
Have fun!
Rob
I'm sure you can find a plan for a bolt together truss that will be able to use the short lumber. We have a Hostel up here that did that - no problem. I don't know if you have codes or engineering to deal with there.
Reading again it could present a problem in the loft area. Could work on some of the rest though? :-?
does truss-joist design allow for splices? This brand might be available in Japan
http://www.tjm.com/index.cfm
Looks like it does have plenty of splices in this brand:
http://www.ilevel.com/floors/default.aspx
But I'm not sure about home-built versions of these.
Yama you anywhere near that quake that happened yesterday, 15 July 2007??