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Timber framing

• Life, Sketchup, Timber framing

  Cobra appendix take two (get it?)

  09.04.10 | Permalink | Comment?

  

  Today I finished correcting all the text in the Post and Beam book (remember, we’re back to 3) and making it all uniform size. I finished two full days ahead of schedule, which might be the first time I’ve ever been in that position on this project. I sent James a draft to look over this afternoon, and checked to see how he was coming along with the edits to the manuscript. Since flip-flopping back to the original 3 book idea, the main thing that needs to be changed is the introduction. Other than that, the text stays fairly close to the same (or at least that’s what I’ve been told…).

  I then moved on to laying out the first part of the appendix. I spent most of the evening fixing models of tools and remaking a calculator that got eaten by cyberspace singularities last week. I was going to stop there, but I kept going until I had the first page of the appendix roughed out (above). Then I emailed it to James and called him to get his opinion on the layout.

  He had a brief moment of terror when he turned his computer on and saw that his email inbox had 4o11 new messages from someone named Facebook. A minute or two, and a bunch of confusion later he figured out he was signed into his teenage son’s account and he managed to calm down a bit. A minute or two after that he figured out how to sign in, and we were in business. He said the layout looked great, and to carry on with what I was doing. I told him I was packing it in for the night, but that I would be back at it first thing tomorrow.

  An hour after that I finally walked away from the computer (no, not this one) having completed the rest of the text layout for the entire first section of the appendix. Tomorrow I have to model a new electric hoist, and block and tackle (fuck you cyberspace!) before I can finish the next part of the appendix. Hopefully they are both easier the second time, because I just realized I also have to redo these. Fuck.

• Life, Timber framing

  3 books, 1 book, 3 books, 1 book, fucked up notebook

  08.31.10 | Permalink | 1 Comment

  

  We went to see Jon on the weekend, hoping he’d be able to rescue some of my lost data on my laptop, and so Holly could go to her favourite Mexican restaurant. We were there until almost 3am and had no luck at all trying to find any of my files, or repairing the file system. So now I have officially lost about 30-45 hours of work for James, about 30 gigs of photos/videos of Holly and I, about 400 hours of personal work, 2 complete sets of questions for Dallas and Roan, and who knows what else (I’m sure plenty more, but I can’t be certain because I don’t even remember all of what was there.

  Even though it wasn’t good news to find out, I’m still glad I know that it’s gone. I have had a rough couple weeks now, and I need to sort my life out. When I thought there was still hope to save some of that data I was avoiding redoing the work and carrying on with other important things. Now that I know better what I have to do (work-wise) in order to get back on track I can start moving on.

  As for my financial stress, it hasn’t been even remotely alleviated. Last week I applied for social assistance, got home, got a phone call from James assuring me he was depositing money in my account, called and cancelled my welfare claim, and rejoiced slightly. That was last Friday. As of this moment there is still $5.07 in my bank account. I’m doing my best not to stress, but I’m about ready to give up. I can’t seem to get ahead of the game at all, no matter how hard I work.

  So, as it stands now, I’m currently continuing to work on the book (possibly for free it seems) and actively seeking a job in Timber Framing. I most likely won’t be attending Disney with Holly and the boys in November (mainly because of money, but also because I spoke with some Ontario TFG members who said they’d have a booth setup at the Royal Winter Fair, which takes place the week we’re supposed to be at Disney.

  James has told me to go easy on the number of hours I devote to the book (or should I say BOOKS, as he’s once again changed his mind and decided to go back to the original plan of 3 separate books – makes perfect sense considering how close we are to finishing the project as one book), so I’m taking that as more incentive to seek out the job I really want when I’m not working on the book(s) (which could be pretty often if that fucking money doesn’t show up soon).

  I’m trying my best to stay positive through all this, but with a lack of money comes a lack of pot, and therefore a lack of patient, calm cobras. Thanks to everyone who has helped me out over the last week, and an extra big thanks to Holly for not only helping and providing for me, but also enduring my insanity (something no one but me should ever have to cope with).

• Life, Sketchup, Timber framing

  Cobras keep on truckin’

  08.13.10 | Permalink | 2 Comments

  

  It’s been a while since I posted anything regarding the progress of the book (not to mention a while since I posted much of anything – I’m a slacker), which I’m still working on daily. Just yesterday I received my latest revised edition of the manuscript in the mail, and now it’s a matter of editing pretty much the entire book (images and text). I’ve already finished editing the first half of the book – the Timber Post and Beam section – but didn’t bother with any of the images. I’ll finish the second half of the text – the Timber Bents section – by Monday hopefully, then I’ll start redoing basically every image from scratch.

  I’m hoping it won’t take too long because, although I love that I have a job, I want this job to be over. I have been working on my lesson plan and handouts for the course James is interested in having me teach at the ISBA, and it makes me want to be out there teaching, and learning more. I think I might post a tutorial on here when I finish it, in case any of my cobra colleagues have constructive cobra criticism for me.

  

  Along with my revised manuscript, I also received a new version of the appendix and glossary via fax. When I scanned through the appendix I noticed James had included some tools he neglected to mention to me when he originally assigned me the appendix drawings. I immediately started working on them because I love modeling, even though I’m sure he’d rather I focus on correcting the text and images already in the book. Above are a few of the smaller things I needed to model (I left out the really small ones, as well as the really big ones). Later I’ll post some pictures of a neat model I made of a sight-level, but at the moment it’s rendering.

  

  There are still a few models I need to make (an electric hoist, and some clamps) but they are ones I might leave for now. I might also just get some models out of the 3d warehouse and modify them accordingly, but that all depends on how much time I have I guess. I prefer to model everything myself, but occasionally I can’t be bothered to spare the brain-power or the time.

• Life, Sketchup, Timber framing

  Last night, Darth Vader came down from planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn’t update that he’d melt my brain.

  06.24.10 | Permalink | 2 Comments

  

  I haven’t been updating much recently mainly because it’s too goddamn hot upstairs to sit with the laptop on me, and also because I’m mega-lazy. I suppose I could start writing blog entries from my desktop machine, but that means sitting in a leather chair which makes me almost as hot as the laptop. Plus, I enjoy writing while relaxing and not while I’m sitting at the desk I work all day from. I have made several attempts at updating but I seem to either lose interest or start to get tired and just pack it in. Then I forget what I was going to say and another update free day goes by.

  This morning I’ve moved my laptop into the basement where it’s nice and cool, and there’s a t.v. to keep me background entertained. So here goes another attempt!

  I have finally finished the drawings for James’ residence (I think, but I’m sure that will all change soon once he has a really close look at it), and he’s sent them off to his engineer. Above is the new floor plan, complete with the enormous deck James forgot to mention until the day he expected the drawings to be on his desk. It was quite a lot of work, and nothing was easy. I also had to use 3 different programs to create it because his engineer refuses to look at any image that isn’t in .pdf format, and because Sketchup has some annoying idiosyncrasies when dimensioning in 2D which force me to touch up every thing in Photoshop or GIMP afterward.

  Regardless of how annoying the work was, this house is going to be pretty amazing. I still think it looks like the Flux Capacitor, and I’m considering asking James to put blue strip lighting along all the roof ridges.

  In total there was about 15 images which make up the blueprints for his house. I figure the above one is the least technical looking (therefore probably the most interesting to people who don’t care about building). If you’re interested in seeing a slighlty larger version just click the image.

• Log building, Sketchup, Timber framing

  Finally something to read that’s not on a monitor!

  06.21.10 | Permalink | Comment?

  

  The other day I got excited when I saw an envelope sticking out of the mailbox on my way back from walking over to get a coffee. I have been expecting a package for a few days from my friend Ryan. I had lent him my PS3 headset while our PS3 was broken, then after repeatedly forgetting to grab it from him while in Toronto, he offered to mail it to me at Holly’s. I was really looking forward to killing some zombies with Jeff and not having to hold the phone at the same time, but I was mistaken – it was an envelope from the Timber Framer’s Guild. Equally exciting, but for different reasons.

  I had spoken with the guild administrator a short time ago and then forgot I was now going to be receiving regular guild publications. When I saw what it was, I was thrilled to have a reason to sit outside and read in the sun. I opened it up and was pleased to see the two latest issues of Timber Framing and Scantlings, as well as this nice little note from someone important at the guild.

  

  I look forward to reading all the stuff I’ve missed, and I hope once I have money I can check out some of the guild conferences. Or maybe James will spring for me to attend and promote the book and school!

• Life, Sketchup, Timber framing

  Elevation frustration

  06.10.10 | Permalink | Comment?

  

  I’ve been working on some elevation drawings for James’ house. Normally houses have a north, south, east and west elevation. This house is huge and has multiple gable ends. This means I have 3 gable end drawings along with 3 side elevations and none of them have been much fun. I just finished my third revision of each drawing, along with a site plan, and a foundation plan view, and hopefully that is it for that project.

  I think all I have to do now is put everything together in a large multi-page .pdf, but I’m not sure until I talk to James. I regularly run into communication problems with him, which I believe can be attributed to his lack of computer knowledge, and our constant failure to both be looking at the thing we’re discussing at the same time.

  Once this is over and done with I have to go through the entire book with him over the  phone, so we can sort out all the edits. Originally he offered to mail me his version that he’s been scribbling edits in, but the other day he decided we should just do it over the phone. He says there isn’t much that needs fixing, so it won’t take long. Hopefully that means I won’t have a ton of text to shift when it comes time to edit. But again, this could be a matter of him not understanding computers, and I could be looking at a month worth of work and a two hour phone call.

  I suppose I should be happy to be employed, but I want to build stuff.

• Life, Sketchup, Timber framing

  Cobra codex now officially PRO

  05.28.10 | Permalink | Comment?

  

  The other day Holly brought home a printed copy of the book layout. Today we took it to her mom’s work and borrowed their binding machine. It feels neat to hold it and know I made it. I looked at it at dinner last night before it was bound, and thought – If I saw this on a bookstore shelf, not only would I buy it I’d also be impressed with the illustrations. That makes me feel good.

  

  This is just a copy for me to look at and find corrections I need to make, without having to sit in front of the computer. I spend too much time sitting at the computer staring at a monitor, as I’ve mentioned here many times before (I complain using the very computer I complain about… fuck you irony). These days I look forward to having things to read that aren’t on an LCD display. Earlier today I had to call and renew my Timber Framer’s Guild membership, and they asked me if I’d like to save $10 annually by receiving their regular publications (Timber Framing, and Scantlings) via email, instead of in print form. I explained to them as well that I look forward to staring at anything other than a monitor, and although I could really use the $10 I would prefer to still get them in print form.

  

  I then explained to the woman from the guild that I have never received any of the publications I should have, and asked her to check my contact info. It was all incorrect despite numerous emails between myself and the guild rep last year. It also turned out I had expired almost 6 months ago. The lady was kind, and fixed all my info then renewed my membership for free. She’s even sending me a few back issues of Scantlings she still has copies of (which I should have already received a long time ago).

  I’m excited to finally get them since their full of great industry related info, and neat things I’ve yet to learn. It’s also one of the first places I read about how useful Sketchup could be for the timber framer. Perhaps one day I’ll read about myself in Scantlings. Oooooh.

  

  When she was updating my info, the lady from the guild asked if I was currently employed as a timber framer. I said I wasn’t, but that I was working on a timber framing text book. She said “Oh, well then I’ll put you in the directory as a PROFESSIONAL.”. I said “Fucking right I’m professional, have you seen my Kill/Death ratio?”, then I spin kicked a boulder into a statue of myself banging aliens and saving the universe.

  

  So far since Holly brought it home it hasn’t left my side, and I doubt a single person has managed to visit us without being forced to feign interest after I shove it in their face. So be warned. If you are one of the lucky few invited to attended the birthday bash in honour of everyone’s favourite nine year old tango neutralizer, you can expect to suffer the same fate.

• Log building, Photos, Timber framing

  Cobras will cut you!

  05.17.10 | Permalink | Comment?

  

  My new collection of old chisels!

  After our incredibly long day Friday, we came home and Mary and Brandie came by to hang out. Mary came by with presents (as she often does) in the form of antique chisels. Some are pretty beat up, but I figure that gives me a great chance to practice sharpening. Some of them are completely homemade (one is clearly an old triangular file someone took a grinder to) which makes me want to find out how well they work, and possibly make some myself.

  I really want to get some wood and build something. I’d love to get building that shed I designed for my dad (that he hated) now that I have all these tools. I think I will take another look at the plans I made and create a materials list and estimate cost of materials.

  

  I don’t think it would take me long to build, but it could cost quite a bit for the lumber. I also need to find out about permits, and figure out a way of avoiding having to get one.

• Log building, Photos, Timber framing

  Cobras <3 tools

  05.10.10 | Permalink | 1 Comment

  

  The other day Mary came by and brought me some new tools (new to me) she found in her parent’s antique shop. I had asked her to put aside anything she might come across that looked like it could be in that book she gave me, and said I mostly wanted axes, drawknives, chisels, slicks and most of all a boring machine.

  She asked her dad about the machine and he said he had the chassis for one, but no handle assembly. Luckily for me, he was mistaken. Mary found the complete machine, and it works awesome. It’s missing auger bits, but I might have a few I can use. I really wish I had something to make right now so I could use it, or even a scrap timber so I could practice with it.

  

  Mary also found me some other highly useful antique tools, including: a hollow shave, a chamfer knife, and a drawknife. All of them need some work before I can use them, but I look forward to sharpening and oiling them and seeing how well of a job I do, and then how well of a job they do.

  I wish I lived in the woods. I’d go chop a tree right now and start building. Maybe instead I’ll go steal something already chopped at the Gorge later.

• Log building, Photos, Timber framing

  Cool tools, wise words

  05.04.10 | Permalink | Comment?

  

  The other day my friend Mary came by and brought me a book she found. Her parents own an antique store and she helps them sell stuff on ebay. Sometimes she finds things she knows I’ll love, so she brings them to me. I have been carrying this book with me ever since she brought it over, spending any spare moments looking at the images and reading it over and over.

  It’s not a very long book (110 pages), but there is tons of great information on historical tools, their uses, and their creators. It also talks a lot about the connection between a craftsman and his tools (and more specifically their handles), and how these days most tools and their handles are made from plastic and cheap metals, designed to get jobs done quickly – not well.

  

  It also talks about how timber and log building styles are superior methods to modern stick framing (balloon or platform), not only because of the lasting craftsmanship but also because of the pride and effort that went into them.

  Here’s one of my favourite quotes from the text regarding the difference between framing methods:

  “A building pinned together with hand whittled wooden pegs? We don’t have to do that sort of thing today! But if we built for lastingness and for handing down to future generations we would do so, for wooden pins work much better than nails: they hold tighter, they don’t rust or rot the beams.”

  

  The book also illustrates some different methods of making log notches, some of which I have never seen but would like to try.

  The main focus of the book seems to be attempting to convince craftsmen to revert back to the ways of their forefathers, blaming modern society and mass production (as well as the laziness of man) for shifting the goal of most trades from creating beautiful, long lasting things, to making money as easy as possible.

  “How poor and dishonest and ugly and temporary are the results of so many modern workers whose constant aim is more to make the most money from their profession instead of producing the most honest and beautiful and lasting things.”

  I couldn’t agree more.

  I find it weird that I share a lot of the same opinions at 29 – in 2010, as this 70 year old man had in 1963. I guess no one listened to him, because I feel everything has gotten worse than what he describes in the text, and craftsmen are getting further and further removed from their creations.

  I wonder what episodes of Antique Roadshow will be like in the year 3000.

  The book is titled A Museum of Early American Tools by Eric Sloane. There is a sample of it here on google books.

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• Cobra appendix take two (get it?)
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