I put in some stepping stones.
Louka has a little row of her own choices along the wall.
Showing posts with label building a stone wall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label building a stone wall. Show all posts
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Front garden
Some weeks ago, Graham built up a garden bed in front of the house. Suddenly it stopped looking like a building site and started looking like a house and garden. Apart from two figs, three passionfruits and three citrus, it's my garden, and mostly natives.
I put in some stepping stones.
Louka has a little row of her own choices along the wall.
I put in some stepping stones.
Louka has a little row of her own choices along the wall.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
South Side Path Gone
I finished collecting my stack of blocks today - yay! I also made a healthy start on removing the concrete paths. I've mostly removed the path along the south side and managed to remove some of the brick foundations as well. I was thinking I might need to hire the jack hammer again for the foundations, but fortunately I was able to break it up with the trusty rusty crow bar.
It is getting dark early now. I had to wrap it up at 5:30pm. The Kimbriki recycling guys put me on the weigh bridge this morning - $34 instead of $11 - ouch. I was carrying 1.49 tons - just over my official carrying capacity.
One of the things about not having side braces with the gantry is that it allows one to walk it around. It does not detract too much from the strength since the feet firmly burrow themselves firmly into the ground.
The gantry and the block grab will certainly become handing in building a stone wall. I'll me able to simply lower the blocks effortlessly onto a layer of mortar.
It is getting dark early now. I had to wrap it up at 5:30pm. The Kimbriki recycling guys put me on the weigh bridge this morning - $34 instead of $11 - ouch. I was carrying 1.49 tons - just over my official carrying capacity.
One of the things about not having side braces with the gantry is that it allows one to walk it around. It does not detract too much from the strength since the feet firmly burrow themselves firmly into the ground.
The gantry and the block grab will certainly become handing in building a stone wall. I'll me able to simply lower the blocks effortlessly onto a layer of mortar.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Gantry 2.0
I though it would be prudent to ensure my stack of stones is a significant distance from the proposed dwelling. I found that, at the moment, it is probably about 1.2m away. But it does mean that I really should not consume more space with stones. This lead me to rebuild the gantry using a weaker, shorter, but less flexible 2x4 piece of timber. It worked well and my pile of stones is now around 2.1m high.
The rear neighbour has just about finished their renovations and they have put up a screen. It looks good!
The rear neighbour has just about finished their renovations and they have put up a screen. It looks good!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
More Block Salvaging
My trolley effectively died today, but I managed to salvage it with a pine brace (cut with a pruning saw). I need to pull out my welder to complete the job - but the brace stays!
After effectively removing most of the back flat's foundations, I came to conclusion that I don't need all of the blocks and further more, I would run out of room to store them all. I have decided to keep only the outside ones. I think I have collected around half of the blocks I want to keep. Needless to say, some are really quite heavy.
After effectively removing most of the back flat's foundations, I came to conclusion that I don't need all of the blocks and further more, I would run out of room to store them all. I have decided to keep only the outside ones. I think I have collected around half of the blocks I want to keep. Needless to say, some are really quite heavy.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Blocking
I started some serious block removal today... and I encountered a problem with my gantry. Too much load and it warps! I had to use the car to assist me in lifting one of the blocks - even though the pulley system was 1:6 ratio. The beam warped and it was impossible to move. Eventually after a few more really heavy blocks, the beam started to fail. I think this was more to do with the pressure on the stays after man handling the gantry around. This DIY block grab I made really seems to do it job. It is an easy way to move sand stone.
I put a brick on one of the stones to give an idea of how big these stones are.
I decided to build a simple tripod to replace my gantry - lift and place on trolley.
Unfortunately the really big ones cause the trolley to bend. I think I have decided to just leave the big one for the bobcat to move. You can also see todays progress - one of the rear rooms.
I put a brick on one of the stones to give an idea of how big these stones are.
I decided to build a simple tripod to replace my gantry - lift and place on trolley.
Unfortunately the really big ones cause the trolley to bend. I think I have decided to just leave the big one for the bobcat to move. You can also see todays progress - one of the rear rooms.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Gantry
Today I finally finished off removing the bricks - yay!
I also experimented with my block grab. Initially I tried it out with my crane. It worked well, but it was quite troublesome and it had it's short comings.
I decided that a gantry was the go. I built one out of the timber I salvaged. Quick calculations suggest I should not come close to the wood's rupture point.
Assuming a 1" x 8" beam that is 4m long, strength rating of S4, it should be able to handle 1 ton before breaking - yes well in theory.
I'll probably find the gantry more useful in stacking the stones. Here is my stack of stones...
I also experimented with my block grab. Initially I tried it out with my crane. It worked well, but it was quite troublesome and it had it's short comings.
I decided that a gantry was the go. I built one out of the timber I salvaged. Quick calculations suggest I should not come close to the wood's rupture point.
Assuming a 1" x 8" beam that is 4m long, strength rating of S4, it should be able to handle 1 ton before breaking - yes well in theory.
I'll probably find the gantry more useful in stacking the stones. Here is my stack of stones...
Friday, March 20, 2009
Jaws
This week, in preparation for moving the sand stone blocks, I welded up a "block grab".
Initially I had heaps of problems with the mig welder wire getting jammed. I fixed the problem by re-seating the gun cord into the main unit and it all worked fine. I have one of those Lincon 180c mig welders. I really recommend it.
It is a very simple device made out of 2mm thick 50mm square section. It has been designed to lift around 200kg. You can't see it, but the pieces of wood are resting on a metal lip. I'm going to use it in conjunction with my 900kg rated crane. Almost as good as a Probst Block Grab TSZ Uni grab ;)
Luckily I don't need to get Workcover approval or any sort of engineering certificate for my $40 device. I'm sure people in the industry would shake their heads saying it should not be allowed.
Initially I had heaps of problems with the mig welder wire getting jammed. I fixed the problem by re-seating the gun cord into the main unit and it all worked fine. I have one of those Lincon 180c mig welders. I really recommend it.
It is a very simple device made out of 2mm thick 50mm square section. It has been designed to lift around 200kg. You can't see it, but the pieces of wood are resting on a metal lip. I'm going to use it in conjunction with my 900kg rated crane. Almost as good as a Probst Block Grab TSZ Uni grab ;)
Luckily I don't need to get Workcover approval or any sort of engineering certificate for my $40 device. I'm sure people in the industry would shake their heads saying it should not be allowed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)