Showing posts with label a. Show all posts
Showing posts with label a. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
How To Build A Chicken Coop Easily In One Weekend
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Alford]Andrew Alford
Building Your Own Chicken Coop Can Be a Very Smart Decision
If youve made the decision to build your own chicken coop youre a part of a growing group of Americans who are saying "No" to economic downturns, and doing something positive for themselves, their family and their own nutrition. Raising chickens and harvesting your own eggs dates back to earlier simpler times, but its something that almost any do-it-yourselfer can do if they put their mind to it.
STEP ONE: The first step in building your own chicken coop is to study the procedures, which is what this article is about, and while it may not be comprehensive it should serve as a good starting point. By doing your homework, youll understand more about the breed and number of chickens youll need to satisfy your needs, as well as the chickens tolerances to temperature and environment.
STEP TWO: Be certain to check the zoning laws in your community, this will tell you the number of chickens you can have, whether a rooster is permitted, and whether youll need an inspector to sign off on your finished coop. Unless youre located far from any city and have ample acreage, zoning laws may be applicable, and its best to find out before you are forced to dissemble your creation.
STEP THREE: Next comes the design, choose a design that is not only aesthetically pleasing for you (and possibly your wife or significant other) but also functional for your chickens. There are multiple designs online as well as detailed books about choosing and constructing your chicken coop. Basically, youll want to design a chicken coop that is roofed, well ventilated and has ample space. Of course youll need to have nesting boxes and roosts allowing your chickens to nest and sleep, exercise, and other assorted chicken like activities.
STEP FOUR: How much space do you estimate youll need? Step four is very much part of the planning phase, and will depend on the breed and the number of hens you plan to house. Packing too many chickens into a small space is a recipe for disaster; theyll need space to move around, nest, peck the ground and of course lay their eggs, etc. While this recommended space will vary depending on the breed, approximately 4 sq. ft. per chicken has proved ample for my needs.
STEP FIVE: What is the climate in your area? While its not necessary to have an air-conditioned chicken coop, there is an optimal climate for a particular breed, and this will need to be considered prior to building and purchasing your chickens. If you live in a cold climate, youll need to ensure the inside not only has suitable ventilation, but also heating and insulation if required; this might include a heat lamp for young chickens, and/or a heating pad for your hens.
While chickens for the most part are easy to maintain, youll need to keep a watchful eye, and potentially make changes to their environment as the seasons change. Plan on supplying electrical power to your chicken coop to run the necessary heating, cooling, or monitoring devices you may require.
Once youve given adequate thought and planning to your new chicken coop, its time to set aside a weekend accomplish the task. Once your chicken coop is up and functional, and your hands used to their environment, youll soon be enjoying fresh eggs for breakfast, and possibly answers to share with family and friends.
Did you know the average American spends over $400 trying to build their chicken coop. It can take may of them 2 months or more to come up with something that quite honestly can be less than adequate for raising healthy chickens.
You may also be surprised to know that most people who decide to [http://buildanewchickencoop.com]build a chicken coop rush in to it totally blind and without any prior planning.
Andrew Alford has been building chicken coops for many years and it you want to save time and more importantly MONEY then learn [http://buildanewchickencoop.com/how-to-build-a-chicken-coop/]How To build a chicken coop the right way first time.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Build-A-Chicken-Coop-Easily-In-One-Weekend&id=6708266] How To Build A Chicken Coop Easily In One Weekend
Read More..
Building Your Own Chicken Coop Can Be a Very Smart Decision
If youve made the decision to build your own chicken coop youre a part of a growing group of Americans who are saying "No" to economic downturns, and doing something positive for themselves, their family and their own nutrition. Raising chickens and harvesting your own eggs dates back to earlier simpler times, but its something that almost any do-it-yourselfer can do if they put their mind to it.
STEP ONE: The first step in building your own chicken coop is to study the procedures, which is what this article is about, and while it may not be comprehensive it should serve as a good starting point. By doing your homework, youll understand more about the breed and number of chickens youll need to satisfy your needs, as well as the chickens tolerances to temperature and environment.
STEP TWO: Be certain to check the zoning laws in your community, this will tell you the number of chickens you can have, whether a rooster is permitted, and whether youll need an inspector to sign off on your finished coop. Unless youre located far from any city and have ample acreage, zoning laws may be applicable, and its best to find out before you are forced to dissemble your creation.
STEP THREE: Next comes the design, choose a design that is not only aesthetically pleasing for you (and possibly your wife or significant other) but also functional for your chickens. There are multiple designs online as well as detailed books about choosing and constructing your chicken coop. Basically, youll want to design a chicken coop that is roofed, well ventilated and has ample space. Of course youll need to have nesting boxes and roosts allowing your chickens to nest and sleep, exercise, and other assorted chicken like activities.
STEP FOUR: How much space do you estimate youll need? Step four is very much part of the planning phase, and will depend on the breed and the number of hens you plan to house. Packing too many chickens into a small space is a recipe for disaster; theyll need space to move around, nest, peck the ground and of course lay their eggs, etc. While this recommended space will vary depending on the breed, approximately 4 sq. ft. per chicken has proved ample for my needs.
STEP FIVE: What is the climate in your area? While its not necessary to have an air-conditioned chicken coop, there is an optimal climate for a particular breed, and this will need to be considered prior to building and purchasing your chickens. If you live in a cold climate, youll need to ensure the inside not only has suitable ventilation, but also heating and insulation if required; this might include a heat lamp for young chickens, and/or a heating pad for your hens.
While chickens for the most part are easy to maintain, youll need to keep a watchful eye, and potentially make changes to their environment as the seasons change. Plan on supplying electrical power to your chicken coop to run the necessary heating, cooling, or monitoring devices you may require.
Once youve given adequate thought and planning to your new chicken coop, its time to set aside a weekend accomplish the task. Once your chicken coop is up and functional, and your hands used to their environment, youll soon be enjoying fresh eggs for breakfast, and possibly answers to share with family and friends.
Did you know the average American spends over $400 trying to build their chicken coop. It can take may of them 2 months or more to come up with something that quite honestly can be less than adequate for raising healthy chickens.
You may also be surprised to know that most people who decide to [http://buildanewchickencoop.com]build a chicken coop rush in to it totally blind and without any prior planning.
Andrew Alford has been building chicken coops for many years and it you want to save time and more importantly MONEY then learn [http://buildanewchickencoop.com/how-to-build-a-chicken-coop/]How To build a chicken coop the right way first time.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Build-A-Chicken-Coop-Easily-In-One-Weekend&id=6708266] How To Build A Chicken Coop Easily In One Weekend
Sunday, March 2, 2014
A New Desk
Weve spent months looking around for the perfect desk for our oldest sons room. We really wanted to find just the right one without having to spend a lot of money and since hubby is always going to storage auctions, we figured that was the best place to keep our eyes open for one.
We finally hit the jackpot but it took me awhile to finally decide that it was indeed the jackpot. This is what he brought home.
Neither one of us were a fan of the way it looked but it was solid wood and heavy. Plus, I liked the modern lines and knew I could do something with it. I just wasnt sure what, yet.
I went through a bunch of ideas in my head and kept going back and forth on painting it or not painting it until I finally decided to completely sand it down to the raw wood. I really had my heart set on a wood desk for his room and I knew the wood could be really pretty if I gave it a makeover.
I hate using stripper so I tried to sand the orangey varnish off the top first. Surprisingly, it was fairly easy to sand completely down.
At this point, my plan was to paint the base and only stain the top, but after staining the top with Minwax Dark Walnut, I loved it so much I decided to sand down the entire desk. I also removed the drawer pulls and spray painted those with Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint.
Also hiding in storage was a vintage school desk chair that needed a bit of repair and some new castors to look as good as new. I thought it would go perfectly with the desk. Here it is in the room.
I cant believe how perfectly the desk and chair go together and I didnt even plan that. :) And I love the color of the desk so much better now.
Our son loves to pin things on the wall that mean a lot to him so I decided to make him a pin board with an old painting canvas that I simply covered in a coffee sack. I used bronze upholstery tacks for the "pins". The pins stick into the painted canvas perfectly.
I still have a couple more things to do on the opposite side of the room before I show the full reveal. And by the way, I was having a terrible time with taking photos that day because it was raining and dreary outside and Im still learning the manual settings on my camera.
If youd like to see the other projects in this room click here, here and here.
I have had so much fun putting this room together for him and I know he is loving it which makes me so happy. Ive also been working on our other boys rooms, as well, and will have some fun things to show you soon on that.
On another note, I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving next week. Id love to know what you have on the menu.....I need some ideas! :) On Thanksgiving evening we always put up our Christmas tree and so Im really looking forward to pulling out the Christmas decor, watching a Christmas movie and being with my family. :)
Have a great day!
Diana
Read More..
We finally hit the jackpot but it took me awhile to finally decide that it was indeed the jackpot. This is what he brought home.
Neither one of us were a fan of the way it looked but it was solid wood and heavy. Plus, I liked the modern lines and knew I could do something with it. I just wasnt sure what, yet.
I went through a bunch of ideas in my head and kept going back and forth on painting it or not painting it until I finally decided to completely sand it down to the raw wood. I really had my heart set on a wood desk for his room and I knew the wood could be really pretty if I gave it a makeover.
I hate using stripper so I tried to sand the orangey varnish off the top first. Surprisingly, it was fairly easy to sand completely down.
At this point, my plan was to paint the base and only stain the top, but after staining the top with Minwax Dark Walnut, I loved it so much I decided to sand down the entire desk. I also removed the drawer pulls and spray painted those with Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint.
Also hiding in storage was a vintage school desk chair that needed a bit of repair and some new castors to look as good as new. I thought it would go perfectly with the desk. Here it is in the room.
I cant believe how perfectly the desk and chair go together and I didnt even plan that. :) And I love the color of the desk so much better now.
Our son loves to pin things on the wall that mean a lot to him so I decided to make him a pin board with an old painting canvas that I simply covered in a coffee sack. I used bronze upholstery tacks for the "pins". The pins stick into the painted canvas perfectly.
I still have a couple more things to do on the opposite side of the room before I show the full reveal. And by the way, I was having a terrible time with taking photos that day because it was raining and dreary outside and Im still learning the manual settings on my camera.
If youd like to see the other projects in this room click here, here and here.
I have had so much fun putting this room together for him and I know he is loving it which makes me so happy. Ive also been working on our other boys rooms, as well, and will have some fun things to show you soon on that.
On another note, I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving next week. Id love to know what you have on the menu.....I need some ideas! :) On Thanksgiving evening we always put up our Christmas tree and so Im really looking forward to pulling out the Christmas decor, watching a Christmas movie and being with my family. :)
Have a great day!
Diana
Monday, February 10, 2014
A Serious Question for Serious Woodworkers
Ok, guys. Lets be honest here. It is time your fellow woodworkers know the truth.
How many of you have found yourselves ready for the clamp-up process, having laid out all the bits and pieces in front of you in a logical manner after painstakingly applied glue to all their mating surfaces, only to discover you suddenly had to really pee?
Peace,
Mitchell
Read More..
How many of you have found yourselves ready for the clamp-up process, having laid out all the bits and pieces in front of you in a logical manner after painstakingly applied glue to all their mating surfaces, only to discover you suddenly had to really pee?
Peace,
Mitchell
My Bucket List Sprung a Leak
While I was sitting around recuperating and watching every B-movie Netflix has to offer my mind kept running through my “bucket list”. What ever happened to the “ToDo List”? Who the hell came up with the stupid term, “bucket list”? Anyway, the more time I spent thinking about it the more I came to realize that the damn thing had sprung a leak. When it first came to mind it held an ungodly number of items. By the time I got off my butt and got to work on striking the items off of it, there was only one left on it to tackle as I realized that all the rest were fluff and bullshit.
Now most of you that read this will think that when my mortality kicked me in the head a couple of months ago, it shook a few screws loose and suddenly I am now starting to prepare for death. That assumption would be the opposite side of the truth. I never had a near death experience, or anything that even came close to one. Hell, when they were wheeling me down to the operating room all I was thinking about was getting out of that place so I could see my dog. I should explain that my wife was with me the entire time I was in the hospital but the dog wasn’t. The bases for this newfound purpose in life is on other thoughts, as I have no plans on dying anytime soon.
Here’s the deal. What struck me one day like a ton of bricks was that fact that out of everything my parents left behind - the bit of cash, the bit of real estate, the basement full of knick-knacks - the only thing that matters to me then and now is my father’s old tools. The fact that I paid him cash for them while he was still alive doesn’t hinder their meaning to me one iota. They were a part of him and that part sits in front of me day in and day out, 24-years after his death and I expect them to mean the same to me 24-years from now.
It was his little bit of his legacy that caused me to spend the last however many years adding to them, expanding the scope and depth of his collection. I have the 5 planes he made a living with and have added many more to expand the set. I have replaced tools of his that I destroyed when I was a kid and added others that I know he would have liked to have. What all of this means is that my legacy has become one of adding to his. This is what I want to leave to my son when it is time for me to move on. I don’t want him to feel obligated to keep the legacy going; he can dump it, sell it or put it in his basement and forget it. What I hope he does get from it, though, is that we are all part of who came before us. Whether we go off in an entirely different direction or stay constant to generations past, we start, because of nature and nurture, with the person who came before us as our base. As difficult as my old man was, I am proud of the fact that I am based on who he was and it is that concept that I hope to pass on to my son when he takes possession of these old tools.
With this in mind, I had a look at how I was storing all those tools and realized that I was coming up a tad short. Ok. In truth, I realized I was coming up a few miles short. I had to face it – my tool cabinet sucked.
In my defense, dealing with life has certainly got in the way of reaching my goal of building the kick-ass combo tool-cabinet/work-bench that I wanted to build. I also realized, though, that part of this downfall could be placed squarely on the fact that I love the look of tools and putting them away in a cabinet will put them out of sight. If I built the tool-cabinet/work-bench that I had in mind I wouldn’t have them spread all over my office shelves like they are, and as a result, I wouldn’t be able to look at them every day like I do now.
The only way to deal with all this is to rethink my original concept of a tool cabinet. Instead of making usability the priority, I have to rework the design to place the display of the tools at the forefront. This isn’t going to be easy, but for my own satisfaction, it has to be done. The result of going at this tool cabinet again not only achieves what I want to pass on to my son in the end but it will also allow me a fantastic sight day in and day out until the times comes around. Ok, it is a little selfish, but what the hell.
Originally, my tool cabinet started out looking like this…
The problem I had is that I kept buying more tools. Over time, I went from less than a 100 or so to way over 300 and the cabinet wasn’t originally built to store that many. I dumped the power tools in the bottom and added a third drawer in the base, which made the doors on it a pain, so they came off. I then started to reconfigure it, doing a complete overhaul three times and not scoring a winner with any of them. I was trying to make it another Studley chest but without his abilities, so naturally I was doomed from the start.
As a result of the added tools, the cabinet ended up looking like this...
The cabinet is made from mahogany marine plywood and while it needs some changes to the outside design, I do like it. It would be a waste to throw it away so I am going to have to modify it. That means increasing the depth of the centre section from 4 ¼” to a full 9” and increasing the depth of the two wings as well. I’m not going to draw up any plans for it, as I don’t enjoy working from them. I find working from plans constricting and I get a much larger buzz working from my head, changing things as I develop new ideas.
I’m starting with the centre section and the first order of business is to strip out everything I don’t like about it and start from scratch.
Here is where it sits today…
Peace,
Mitchell
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Beginnings of a built in the sides
Ive built two base cabinets for either side of the window. These are 24" deep and will have bookshelf sections above. Ive also assembled the tops for these, and trimmed them out underneath. There will be a window seat between the two side towers. Ive used basic cabinets construction and pocket hole joinery for the tops - see previous posts on how to do this.
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Friday, January 31, 2014
ideas for painting a wooden chair
Useful ideas for painting a wooden chair must see
Ideas for painting wood furniture | ehow - ehow | how to, Wood furniture can be transformed with a variety of paint techniques. from adding decorative patterns to metallic paints, an old piece of furniture can appear brand. Paint wood furniture - lowe's, For a fast, economical way to breathe new life into an old piece of furniture, give it a coat of paint. follow these easy prep & painting tips for beautiful results..
Painting & finishing ideas, tips, & advice, Painting. want to paint your home's exterior, pick a bold color palette or paint a faux finish? get painting and finishing ideas, tips and advice from the experts at. Painting wood paneling design ideas, pictures, remodel, To search for all words in exact order, you can use quotes around the term. example: "painting wood paneling" to search for all words in any order, add "+" before. Painting wood furniture - how to paint special surfaces, How to paint wood furniture. find tips and information on prepping, priming, painting, color schemes and ideas for wood furniture. from diy advice.. Woodworking ideas - wood furniture projects & ideas | minwax, Minwax provides simple solutions for your furniture, from creative staining of unfinished pieces to reviving an antique.. How to paint distressed wood furniture - better homes and, Give a piece of wood furniture an aged look with this easy diy distressed painting technique.. Painting ideas and paint techniques - choosing paint, Take charge of your painting project, both interior and exterior, with painting tips, ideas and techniques from the experts at diy network..
Try ideas for painting a wooden chair must try
ideas for painting a wooden chair ,
Friday, January 24, 2014
T Chisel gets a show!
As some of you may, or may not, know Im a fan of Tommy MacDonald, aka T-Chisel, over at t-chisel.com. His work is amazing and the videos he has are some of the best around; they are raw, real and chock full of information. I recommend spending some time, a lot of time, and going through the bombe secretary videos; this piece is AMAZING! I love to go back and just watch some of these videos as they are just inspiring to me in the fact that Tommy does an awesome job of taking something that is complicated, or seems daunting, and breaks it down into its most simple form and makes it look easy. It was this inspiration/attitude that made me want to build the coffee table with a double bead time, cabriole legs, etc. Definitely check out his site and his videos; heck, sign up for the forum too!
So anyways, today I was cruising around The 207 Forum and came across a post that mentioned that Tommy is in the process of getting with WGBH out of Boston. This would be amazing! I know the shows would be better "quality" in the fact that the videos that Tommy has on his site are pretty raw with him walking around with a camera on a tri pod, but there is something neat about that to me. Anyways, I think it would be amazing for Tommy to have a show to validate the hard work he has done, and put on display all of his amazing work and talent. The other great thing about Tommy is how much he gives back to the woodworking community. Just look at his videos and all the information he gives for free on those things! Also, the 207, there are some great build alongs and other things on there; just full of information.
Below is a video "announcement" of the show...check back with his site for more details:
Read More..
So anyways, today I was cruising around The 207 Forum and came across a post that mentioned that Tommy is in the process of getting with WGBH out of Boston. This would be amazing! I know the shows would be better "quality" in the fact that the videos that Tommy has on his site are pretty raw with him walking around with a camera on a tri pod, but there is something neat about that to me. Anyways, I think it would be amazing for Tommy to have a show to validate the hard work he has done, and put on display all of his amazing work and talent. The other great thing about Tommy is how much he gives back to the woodworking community. Just look at his videos and all the information he gives for free on those things! Also, the 207, there are some great build alongs and other things on there; just full of information.
Below is a video "announcement" of the show...check back with his site for more details:
Thursday, January 23, 2014
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