Shop is finally ready to become an airplane factory. Built a few EAA 1000 workbenches using solid doors that had cosmetic damage to keep a very flat top. The doors were bought when building the barn and the manufacturer sent new ones because they got beat-up during shipping. I held onto them thinking I could used them as a bench…
After nearly 2.5 years and a LOT of help from many folks, but especially my Dad, the Barn is complete and passed all inspections. So now the real journey begins…
After a lot of research, I settled upon a heating system that leverages a hot water heater to circulate heated water through plastic pipes that I laid within the slab. It’s highly efficient and creates a gentle, even heat throughout the space. For the second floor, i added a second zone with slightly cooler water to be compatible with the…
After some winter delay, work on installing the dry wells was able to re-start and complete. The whole purpose of these monster concrete tanks are to collect and disperse rainwater collected from the gutters. Being that the building is in the middle of the woods with no neighbors within seeing distance, the requirement is quite ridiculous. But being a good citizen…
After a long winter, it’s great to see the landscape come alive
Construction of the foundation completed in November. Before pouring the slab, I ran all the 5/8″ PEX lines that will be used to heat the first floor through hot water. Here you can see the manifold. It is pressurized so I can tell if any leaks occur during the pouring of the slab The slab required 20…
After a summer of planning and working with the town on permits, excavation began in October. After clearing of a few trees, the footings were dug. I was pleased with how little disturbance was required. Here you can see a run of rebar – these are very long, 20+ feet. Instead of using ground rods, I went with…
For a long time I’ve thought of a place to quietly practice my craftsmanship and pass what knowledge I have to those with interest. And an area to build an airplane. In 2014, that idea became a reality with the construction of a new workshop, affectionately called “The Barn”. Here I’ll share progress and updates, always welcoming any good ideas.