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- #181
The Meade Hall
- Thread starter Chungas Revenge
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- #183
Friends in high places.
Out in the county yesterday AM. I had to stop by the lumber yard for cedar battens and baseboard. I made a tactical error when I tried to place an order this past Friday. Closed for the holiday. So yesterday, I was the first guy in the door at 0800. The battens are custom width (of course
) and my 30yr old homeowner table saw is not the best so, letting the shop cut down 1x8’s has been my go to COA. Except this time I’d broken the 24 hours notice rule and I hadn’t placed an invoice order. So, I’m going in cold with hat in hand.
The shop supervisor is a friend from my days on the playground. After some good natured ribbing he told me I could pick up my order in half an hour. Thirty five minutes later I’m loaded and headed east.
Baseboard and battens going up on the east wall. West wall is finished.
Out in the county yesterday AM. I had to stop by the lumber yard for cedar battens and baseboard. I made a tactical error when I tried to place an order this past Friday. Closed for the holiday. So yesterday, I was the first guy in the door at 0800. The battens are custom width (of course
) and my 30yr old homeowner table saw is not the best so, letting the shop cut down 1x8’s has been my go to COA. Except this time I’d broken the 24 hours notice rule and I hadn’t placed an invoice order. So, I’m going in cold with hat in hand. The shop supervisor is a friend from my days on the playground. After some good natured ribbing he told me I could pick up my order in half an hour. Thirty five minutes later I’m loaded and headed east.
Baseboard and battens going up on the east wall. West wall is finished.
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- Thread starter
- #184
40yrs of problem solving.
This area was particularly troublesome. It’s where the two ceiling lines meet. Flat in the hallway and about a 64* angle in the main room. The molding meets where the ceiling trim attaches. This created a small problem.
I starred at it like a chicken watching a hat trick. Then, 40yrs of experience tapped me on the shoulder. The solution was to shave the hallway molding down so it wouldn’t protrude. Then we used an oscillating saw (new favorite tool
) to notch the batten into place. The solution masks the difference in width of the two sections of molding. At a glance, your eye doesn’t pick up on the variation. There are eight different pieces to the puzzle.
You can’t create experience and OCB brought a bucket load of solution(s) to this conundrum. All things said and done it turned out well.
Blaming the architect for this one. I think his stick was crooked when he was drawing in the dirt..
May see some color this week.
Oscillating saw pic for ref only:
This area was particularly troublesome. It’s where the two ceiling lines meet. Flat in the hallway and about a 64* angle in the main room. The molding meets where the ceiling trim attaches. This created a small problem.
I starred at it like a chicken watching a hat trick. Then, 40yrs of experience tapped me on the shoulder. The solution was to shave the hallway molding down so it wouldn’t protrude. Then we used an oscillating saw (new favorite tool
) to notch the batten into place. The solution masks the difference in width of the two sections of molding. At a glance, your eye doesn’t pick up on the variation. There are eight different pieces to the puzzle. You can’t create experience and OCB brought a bucket load of solution(s) to this conundrum. All things said and done it turned out well.
Blaming the architect for this one. I think his stick was crooked when he was drawing in the dirt..
May see some color this week.
Oscillating saw pic for ref only:
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- Thread starter
- #185
The “front” is moving.
Sans flooring/fireplace, there’s just a couple of hours worth of Nug work remaining in the main room. Starting on the bathroom. The bath will have three flush mounts, a vanity light and a window for brightness. It’s an 8x8 space so that should be ample illumination. Exhaust/heat is already in place.
Taking a break from the hill today IOT flex the credit credit. Plumbing and bath purchases are inbound. Looking at a simple 48”x 34” shower stall and a HW on demand unit.
Flush mounts going in. I like this new(ish) pancake design vice the old can light system for ease of installation, maintenance and replacement.
Sans flooring/fireplace, there’s just a couple of hours worth of Nug work remaining in the main room. Starting on the bathroom. The bath will have three flush mounts, a vanity light and a window for brightness. It’s an 8x8 space so that should be ample illumination. Exhaust/heat is already in place.
Taking a break from the hill today IOT flex the credit credit. Plumbing and bath purchases are inbound. Looking at a simple 48”x 34” shower stall and a HW on demand unit.
Flush mounts going in. I like this new(ish) pancake design vice the old can light system for ease of installation, maintenance and replacement.
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That is a contender for my new favorite tool as well! The electrician friend whose wedding I officiated in '24 introduced me to one of those in '21 when I was repairing his future MILs deck. Within a week I had my own.40yrs of problem solving.
This area was particularly troublesome. It’s where the two ceiling lines meet. Flat in the hallway and about a 64* angle in the main room. The molding meets where the ceiling trim attaches. This created a small problem.
I starred at it like a chicken watching a hat trick. Then, 40yrs of experience tapped me on the shoulder. The solution was to shave the hallway molding down so it wouldn’t protrude. Then we used an oscillating saw (new favorite tool
You can’t create experience and OCB brought a bucket load of solution(s) to this conundrum. All things said and done it turned out well.
Blaming the architect for this one. I think his stick was crooked when was drawing in the dirt..
May see some color this week.
Oscillating saw pic for ref only:
View attachment 4062555
View attachment 4062556
View attachment 4062557
Previous to that I just did everything freehand on a table saw.
Pergo flooring butted to the river rock hearth for my wood stove. Dragging materials sideways across a table saw blade is tedious, even after 40 years.
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- #187
- Thread starter
- #188
Ready for paint.
Finished up the last section of the eastern wall yesterday. This is the short wall at 16”. Small victories. We’ve been pretty fortunate with the weather so far. Cold, but not oppressively so. Brought the LNG stove out yesterday. I figure starring at it long enough will produce a mounting solution. Want to make sure I get the hearth/back wall right. The initial idea bubble to float to the surface was to use small 1-1 1/2” river stone. 2nd on the idea fairy list was a natural slate. Lately, I’ve been walking by the ceramic antique brick section with more than passing curiosity.
I realize this is just a side project in the backwaters of Babylon and either of the three choices would probably work. Fact is, there’s still enough reasonable time to let this play out in the debate loop a bit longer before necessity will dictate a choice.
Added a previously posted pic for the panoramic view.
Finished up the last section of the eastern wall yesterday. This is the short wall at 16”. Small victories. We’ve been pretty fortunate with the weather so far. Cold, but not oppressively so. Brought the LNG stove out yesterday. I figure starring at it long enough will produce a mounting solution. Want to make sure I get the hearth/back wall right. The initial idea bubble to float to the surface was to use small 1-1 1/2” river stone. 2nd on the idea fairy list was a natural slate. Lately, I’ve been walking by the ceramic antique brick section with more than passing curiosity.
I realize this is just a side project in the backwaters of Babylon and either of the three choices would probably work. Fact is, there’s still enough reasonable time to let this play out in the debate loop a bit longer before necessity will dictate a choice.
Added a previously posted pic for the panoramic view.
That's really a feng shui call IMO, depending on what period of human history resonates with you the most. Brick to me seems like the choice of colonial America. River rock, frontier America and Anglo Celt european. Slate in someways seems more primal as, with the lights out, the fireglow dances slightly on it, conjuring up visions of fires down by a river, where our ancestors cooked their game and slumbered under the stars.
I gravitate towards river rock because the strata speaks to a time long before man.
In my outdoor shower, I comprimised with a stone pan and slate walls. It didnt hurt that I got the slate for free from @65FJ45
(Pic during construction for reference)
I gravitate towards river rock because the strata speaks to a time long before man.
In my outdoor shower, I comprimised with a stone pan and slate walls. It didnt hurt that I got the slate for free from @65FJ45
(Pic during construction for reference)
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- #190
In the twenty plus years of cabin life, I’ve never had anything resembling a “proper indoor facility”. In fact, it was one of the last things considered when “Charlie” and I shook hands on steps of the lawyers office. It never occurred to me that an indoor flushable was a critical piece of camping kit. Those of you who have made due with an E-tool and toilet articles that came in a C ration or MRE box, understand the beauty and simplicity of a field expedient morning routine. @rkymtnflyfisher
I did however consider early on, the potential pitfalls of maneuvering through a minefield of scattered “cat holes” lurking just inside the wood line. So I splurged. I bought a foldable, heavy duty space saver camp privy. It was phat man rated to 250lbs of external load, portable and came with a supply of plastic liners.
The level of modesty displayed by men at hunting camp ranges from the profound to the nonexistent. So, I provided a house of sorts in the form of a 3x3x6 soft wall tent. It provides sufficient concealment for the uninitiated, but does little in the way of sound proofing. This has been the accepted standard into the 2025 season.
And, I can attest to the invigorating experience of making contact with the seat when the temperature is hovering at 0* F. That full on adrenaline rush stays with you for the better part of the morning.
Most of the women, to include Ms Revenge, display keen interest in experiencing the full pomp and regalia of the hunting camp until such time as I explain the lack of “niceties” and the procedures associated with the outdoor protocol. Most of their reactions run the gamut of mystified disbelief to outright revulsion.
The gentrification of the Camp was inevitable. When the initial draw with a stick plans were scratched out in the dirt, room for an indoor flushable was forthcoming. This is a quantum leap in the evolution of the hall. HW on demand, a shower and basin, electricity and most importantly sound proofing. Pretty tall cotton for a kid from Nod.
Roughing in the shower frame yesterday. Prefab unit selected IOT save time/$$$ in a bid for function over form. Going to carry the T/G 1x pine into the bathroom ceiling. Thinking about repurposed tin roofing aka rusted with a coat of urethane on the walls. Need to relocated the overhead exhaust/heater. I went with a smaller shower contrary to the original design IOT accommodate a section of shelving. 48x34.
I did however consider early on, the potential pitfalls of maneuvering through a minefield of scattered “cat holes” lurking just inside the wood line. So I splurged. I bought a foldable, heavy duty space saver camp privy. It was phat man rated to 250lbs of external load, portable and came with a supply of plastic liners.
The level of modesty displayed by men at hunting camp ranges from the profound to the nonexistent. So, I provided a house of sorts in the form of a 3x3x6 soft wall tent. It provides sufficient concealment for the uninitiated, but does little in the way of sound proofing. This has been the accepted standard into the 2025 season.
And, I can attest to the invigorating experience of making contact with the seat when the temperature is hovering at 0* F. That full on adrenaline rush stays with you for the better part of the morning.
Most of the women, to include Ms Revenge, display keen interest in experiencing the full pomp and regalia of the hunting camp until such time as I explain the lack of “niceties” and the procedures associated with the outdoor protocol. Most of their reactions run the gamut of mystified disbelief to outright revulsion.
The gentrification of the Camp was inevitable. When the initial draw with a stick plans were scratched out in the dirt, room for an indoor flushable was forthcoming. This is a quantum leap in the evolution of the hall. HW on demand, a shower and basin, electricity and most importantly sound proofing. Pretty tall cotton for a kid from Nod.
Roughing in the shower frame yesterday. Prefab unit selected IOT save time/$$$ in a bid for function over form. Going to carry the T/G 1x pine into the bathroom ceiling. Thinking about repurposed tin roofing aka rusted with a coat of urethane on the walls. Need to relocated the overhead exhaust/heater. I went with a smaller shower contrary to the original design IOT accommodate a section of shelving. 48x34.
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- #191
I like free. It tends to take the angst out of the decision making process.
The slate is nice. Earthy. There’s a ton of color you can pull out of those squares. I used it in the Lil cabin. I’m still in the transcendent stage of the selection process. I figure the longer I stare at it the sooner it will come into focus. So far it’s avoided my gaze.
Jeff, since you’re still in the framing phase of the bathroom…
I’ve always been a fan of pocket storage, dating all the way back to 1985, when I carefully sawed open the door on my K5 to make a handy storage spot for my nylon tow strap. When I remodeled the office 9 years ago, I put a pocket into the interior wall directly across from the commode to hold…an extra role of TP! It has literally saved my ash on more than one occasion.
I’ve always been a fan of pocket storage, dating all the way back to 1985, when I carefully sawed open the door on my K5 to make a handy storage spot for my nylon tow strap. When I remodeled the office 9 years ago, I put a pocket into the interior wall directly across from the commode to hold…an extra role of TP! It has literally saved my ash on more than one occasion.
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- #193
“We're gonna see a brave new world where they run everybody a wire and hook us all up to a grid”
Ulysses Everett McGill
Ran heavier wire for the HW on demand and dryer. Seems surreal to use those words in conjunction with the cabin. Gets even stranger when I say adding the”plumbing for the shower”, but here we are. I like the shower head up just a bit higher for the cascade effect as opposed to a blast in the face. H2O will enter “The Hall” via a cistern (yet to be placed).
I may have taken the cheaper road using a prefab shower as opposed to a scratch built
. In the end it’s functional and I saved some time and $$$. BLUF: A prefab is better than no shower and I doubt I’ll see any citations from the bathroom police.
Ulysses Everett McGill
Ran heavier wire for the HW on demand and dryer. Seems surreal to use those words in conjunction with the cabin. Gets even stranger when I say adding the”plumbing for the shower”, but here we are. I like the shower head up just a bit higher for the cascade effect as opposed to a blast in the face. H2O will enter “The Hall” via a cistern (yet to be placed).
I may have taken the cheaper road using a prefab shower as opposed to a scratch built
. In the end it’s functional and I saved some time and $$$. BLUF: A prefab is better than no shower and I doubt I’ll see any citations from the bathroom police.
- Thread starter
- #194
Drain/vent lines going in.
Yes we went through the 2x4”. This wall is essentially a false wall. Theres no load on it. It was added to square the bathroom against the main cabin. Ceiling joist run parallel to the false wall forming the BR/hallway ceilings and are braced at the 8’ point by the BR entrance wall.
I don’t mind plumbing on a new structure. Working on “old plumbing/sewer lines/waste traps/old leech fields/old septic systems” etc, is not my idea of a fun filled weekend. I remember being on ship when the sinks/toilets would back up in the Head. There would be 10 inches of “brown water”
percolating in the water tight compartment and two or three sailors in gum boots sloshing their way through a good time. I think it was at that moment I crossed “plumber” off of my list of perspective career interests.
Yes we went through the 2x4”. This wall is essentially a false wall. Theres no load on it. It was added to square the bathroom against the main cabin. Ceiling joist run parallel to the false wall forming the BR/hallway ceilings and are braced at the 8’ point by the BR entrance wall.
I don’t mind plumbing on a new structure. Working on “old plumbing/sewer lines/waste traps/old leech fields/old septic systems” etc, is not my idea of a fun filled weekend. I remember being on ship when the sinks/toilets would back up in the Head. There would be 10 inches of “brown water”
percolating in the water tight compartment and two or three sailors in gum boots sloshing their way through a good time. I think it was at that moment I crossed “plumber” off of my list of perspective career interests.
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- #195
Deer are just one of the pitfalls in keeping free range fruit trees.
I intended to up-armor the trees I planted earlier this fall IOT keep the deer from destroying them. Well, I let that slip by. I may loose one possibly two. So, I spent some time yesterday adding black corrugated pipe to my small herd of fruit trees.
I’m certain the offending animal is doing it out of spite. Judging by the tell tale tracks, it’s a small late blooming buck. He’s riding the testosterone wave and using my fruit trees for cologne. You’d think the little guy would have given up the notion of romance by now and taken up a different hobby. If nothing else he’s persistent.
Once the trees were in the ground I sort of lost track of them. Totally my fault. If need be I’ll replace them come spring.
I intended to up-armor the trees I planted earlier this fall IOT keep the deer from destroying them. Well, I let that slip by. I may loose one possibly two. So, I spent some time yesterday adding black corrugated pipe to my small herd of fruit trees.
I’m certain the offending animal is doing it out of spite. Judging by the tell tale tracks, it’s a small late blooming buck. He’s riding the testosterone wave and using my fruit trees for cologne. You’d think the little guy would have given up the notion of romance by now and taken up a different hobby. If nothing else he’s persistent.
Once the trees were in the ground I sort of lost track of them. Totally my fault. If need be I’ll replace them come spring.
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- Thread starter
- #196
Small muscle movements…
Finished up the outdoor electrical. Outside light posted up just above the front porch. On/off switch mounted inside by the door. There are outdoor receptacles on the porch also. One down low and one up near the top of the porch. Specifically want that for additional plug in lighting.
Decided to unbox the stove to get a better look at it. I think we’re going to mount it up next week. First glance impression is very good. Seems well built and has different mounting options. If I don’t flush mount the unit, I’ll build a small platform, same size as the base and raise it up 8” or so. That would center it up nicely in the fireplace.
Lastly, the flange base for the kings throne is strategically placed (it’s important). Indoor plumbing
. I know my Grandparents are looking down proudly. I thought about mounting a 10k LNG wall mounted stove in the BR. I think with the overhead unit and the room fully insulated, it will be just fine. If it looks to be an issue I could always use a small IR unit to preheat it. Regardless, it’s a far stretch from a foldable unit in the outside tent. 
In this instance, if comfort is an addiction, I’m looking forward to the “fix”.
Finished up the outdoor electrical. Outside light posted up just above the front porch. On/off switch mounted inside by the door. There are outdoor receptacles on the porch also. One down low and one up near the top of the porch. Specifically want that for additional plug in lighting.
Decided to unbox the stove to get a better look at it. I think we’re going to mount it up next week. First glance impression is very good. Seems well built and has different mounting options. If I don’t flush mount the unit, I’ll build a small platform, same size as the base and raise it up 8” or so. That would center it up nicely in the fireplace.
Lastly, the flange base for the kings throne is strategically placed (it’s important). Indoor plumbing
. I know my Grandparents are looking down proudly. I thought about mounting a 10k LNG wall mounted stove in the BR. I think with the overhead unit and the room fully insulated, it will be just fine. If it looks to be an issue I could always use a small IR unit to preheat it. Regardless, it’s a far stretch from a foldable unit in the outside tent. In this instance, if comfort is an addiction, I’m looking forward to the “fix”.
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- #197
Both my hired gun and his trusty sidekick are out today. So I’m taking the time to catch up on some research Ref: Mini Splits.
I originally earmarked a Bosch unit for eventual purchase and installation. Yesterday, when I logged on to the big ticket home store, I found the “no longer carry this brand” banner starring back at me. Switched over to the big ticket sister store and found the same banner.
Our Bosch unit in the mountains is a very capable unit. The cabin is only 744sqf and the unit is on the smaller side. However, it is more than adequate, performs extremely well and had very good reviews. Which is the primary reason I was leaning in the saddle toward a Bosch unit.
Commenced research ops last PM.
Late night noodling found the following brand. Nexya, Italian made. Excellent reviews. Very reasonably priced. Carried by the Mini Split warehouse. Parts availability and customer service seems adequate in the age of AI and outsourcing.
Going bigger vice big enough with the intent of bridging the two sections of the cabin/hall. I have three heat sources to carry the heating load and a back up window unit for the annual mid August broil off. The Hall will see occasional four season use with the bulk occurring in the fall/early winter months. Semi sporadic weekend use during spring and summer.
I’m not a Mini Splitologist by trade and my decision criteria is “performance range, ease of installation, cost and sustainability”.
I may run down to a local HVAC, kick the tires on a local model and see what info I can glean in the interim.
Temp range on the hill (outskirts of Babylon) can see -F to 100+.
I originally earmarked a Bosch unit for eventual purchase and installation. Yesterday, when I logged on to the big ticket home store, I found the “no longer carry this brand” banner starring back at me. Switched over to the big ticket sister store and found the same banner.
Our Bosch unit in the mountains is a very capable unit. The cabin is only 744sqf and the unit is on the smaller side. However, it is more than adequate, performs extremely well and had very good reviews. Which is the primary reason I was leaning in the saddle toward a Bosch unit.
Commenced research ops last PM.
Late night noodling found the following brand. Nexya, Italian made. Excellent reviews. Very reasonably priced. Carried by the Mini Split warehouse. Parts availability and customer service seems adequate in the age of AI and outsourcing.
Nexya 36K-Btu 17.5 SEER2 Mini Split H-Heat Pump AC (-22°F) 8.5 EER/8.7 HSPF (R410a)
Going bigger vice big enough with the intent of bridging the two sections of the cabin/hall. I have three heat sources to carry the heating load and a back up window unit for the annual mid August broil off. The Hall will see occasional four season use with the bulk occurring in the fall/early winter months. Semi sporadic weekend use during spring and summer.
I’m not a Mini Splitologist by trade and my decision criteria is “performance range, ease of installation, cost and sustainability”.
I may run down to a local HVAC, kick the tires on a local model and see what info I can glean in the interim.
Temp range on the hill (outskirts of Babylon) can see -F to 100+.
I went through the same exercise a year or two ago, and I ended up with these ACiQ units, based on reviews, and their longer warranty than anything else. Been very happy with them so far, they are silent, and heat or cool their spaces really quickly. Easy to install. As far as I can tell, these are re-branded Carrier equipment. I would buy them again if I needed more.
18,000 BTU ACIQ Essentials 22.0 SEER2 Dual Zone Wall Mount Mini Split Heat Pump System - R32 | 230V - 9 + 12 - https://hvacdirect.com/18-000-btu-aciq-essentials-22-seer2-multi-zone-wall-mount-mini-split-heat-pump-system-r32-230v-9-12-218110.html
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- #199
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- #200
How big is big enough.
Hit the interwebs again yesterday for some leisure time surfing. Turns out the Mini Split industry is saturated with options. A large % of the offerings are produced compliments of the PRC. In my search criteria I looked for models that either had a stand alone reputation or were conjoined at the hip with a known player in the HVAC arena. IE Carrier, Bryant, Trane etc etc.
Fun facts and an interesting read. Mitsubishi/Toshiba, as it turns out, are the progenitors of the ductless Mini Split. In my tiny little infantry cortex that seemed like a good place to start exploring. The most compelling combination I found was the partnership between Trane and Mitsubishi.
Trane and Mitsubishi Electric Heating & Air Conditioning have an established partnership in the manufacture of mini-split and multi-split systems. US market: Mitsubishi mini-splits are made by Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS). On the surface that sounds like a dynamic duo. Going through their catalog of offerings, I started with models in the 18kBTU as a baseline.
An 18,000 BTU is generally good 700 and 1,000 square feet depending on insulation, ceiling height, sun exposure etc Add 10% BTU for ceilings over 8 feet, which I have two ceilings over 8’. Then factor 10% for sun-exposed rooms. Main cabin is oriented E/W with two banks of larger windows. If my cyphering is correct, 18k could potentially carry the weight, but would be stretched to the limit of the design output.
So, I’m scratching the 18k unit as a contender.
Exploring the BTU per $$$ cost to benefit ratio. I’ll beaver my way through the 24k single zone models as a baseline this PM.
Hit the interwebs again yesterday for some leisure time surfing. Turns out the Mini Split industry is saturated with options. A large % of the offerings are produced compliments of the PRC. In my search criteria I looked for models that either had a stand alone reputation or were conjoined at the hip with a known player in the HVAC arena. IE Carrier, Bryant, Trane etc etc.
Fun facts and an interesting read. Mitsubishi/Toshiba, as it turns out, are the progenitors of the ductless Mini Split. In my tiny little infantry cortex that seemed like a good place to start exploring. The most compelling combination I found was the partnership between Trane and Mitsubishi.
Trane and Mitsubishi Electric Heating & Air Conditioning have an established partnership in the manufacture of mini-split and multi-split systems. US market: Mitsubishi mini-splits are made by Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS). On the surface that sounds like a dynamic duo. Going through their catalog of offerings, I started with models in the 18kBTU as a baseline.
An 18,000 BTU is generally good 700 and 1,000 square feet depending on insulation, ceiling height, sun exposure etc Add 10% BTU for ceilings over 8 feet, which I have two ceilings over 8’. Then factor 10% for sun-exposed rooms. Main cabin is oriented E/W with two banks of larger windows. If my cyphering is correct, 18k could potentially carry the weight, but would be stretched to the limit of the design output.
So, I’m scratching the 18k unit as a contender.
Exploring the BTU per $$$ cost to benefit ratio. I’ll beaver my way through the 24k single zone models as a baseline this PM.
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