Project: Absinthe's pimped out garden shed.

[CrAnIuM]

So, here is the project, Absinthe wants a super sexy garden shed.

I'm going to build in windows, a glass front door, an outside sink, a brick walkway to her garden area, siding on the shed to match our house .. the whole works ..


Let's get it on ..


Arriving with the load, I don't have a truck any longer and have to shove it in the Nitro. But I managed to fit in 22ea 2x4x8 , 4ea 2x4x12, 2,2x4x10, 4ea 1x4x8 and two sheets of 4x8 plywood.

http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1737



***

Of course ..the rule at my house is ANY new project allows for the purchase of a new tool !!

http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1738


***

Here's the framing kit, we thought we would give it a try and see if it saves any time in a build project. I intend to build a 10' x 22' shed and want to see if its viable to use these kits.

http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1739


***

Making the initial cuts, the kit calls for NO angles to be cut so I'm only chopping.

http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1741


***

7' x 8' floor outline, no need to clear or level.

http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1740


***

Put the floor sections on the concrete pads, smash em down to get em un wobbly.

http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1742


***

Check for plumb.

http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1743


***

Add some cross members and floor joists.


http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1744

[CrAnIuM]

Bam !!

Stage one complete. ( also .. we decided on a 7'x8' instead of an 8' x14')


http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1745

[TopGrey]

Awesome start! I'm a slacker so I won't have nearly the number of step-by-step photos. Only difference so far is that I sank posts 2ft and concreted them in place. Turns out that this is overkill from hell.

[Titty]

My 4-month-old laughed at your framing.

[CrAnIuM]

My 4-month-old laughed at your framing.

Meh ... It doesn't need to support an 1100 pound engine/trans combo.

That is just a start pic, I did not show the rest of the framing, and the final framing is adequate for the application.

Your 4 month old needs to stop mocking me.

[Titty]

Your 4 month old needs to stop mocking me.

Agreed.

His dad does have a better miter saw, though.

Amazon.com: Hitachi C12FDH 15 Amp 12-Inch Dual Bevel Miter Saw with Laser: Home Improvement (http://www.amazon.com/Hitachi-C12FDH-12-Inch-Bevel-Miter/dp/B000E7YQ40/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1248571948&sr=8-18)

[Josie]

Are we supposed to stay on topic? If so... Does Cranium count as a topic?

[Titty]

Does Cranium count as a topic?

He's in a pic and has the personality of pressure treated lumber, so I would say yes.

[CrAnIuM]

Agreed.

His dad does have a better miter saw, though.

Amazon.com: Hitachi C12FDH 15 Amp 12-Inch Dual Bevel Miter Saw with Laser: Home Improvement (http://www.amazon.com/Hitachi-C12FDH-12-Inch-Bevel-Miter/dp/B000E7YQ40/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1248571948&sr=8-18)


yeah, that is pretty sweet.

I'm recently retired ya know .. I never had need for an extensive collection until now, and Absinthe is a professional antique restorer ( she's worked on 300 year old stuff before ) and carpenter as well as a civil engineer .. I get an ear full on my lack of carpentry knowledge on a regular basis.

[CrAnIuM]

Are we supposed to stay on topic? If so... Does Cranium count as a topic?

Its all good in the project area, ya know as long as we can keep it a 1/3 bullshit to 2/3 on topic kinda thing.


He's in a pic and has the personality of pressure treated lumber, so I would say yes.


Meh..

[Titty]

I'm recently retired ya know .. I never had need for an extensive collection until now, and Absinthe is a professional antique restorer ( she's worked on 300 year old stuff before ) and carpenter as well as a civil engineer .. I get an ear full on my lack of carpentry knowledge on a regular basis.

That's cool. Most women wouldn't realize if you built something upside down.

Still, a blind, untrained man with one arm and no legs could build a better shed than a team of female carpenters.

Please don't tell my wife I said that.

[Josie]

So...wobbly.

http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1742




Did you never put your shovel away after digging the drainage ditch?

[Titty]

Did you never put your shovel away after digging the drainage ditch?

Doubtful. He probably eats cereal with it.

[CrAnIuM]

Did you never put your shovel away after digging the drainage ditch?


Yeah I did, but needed it to level the ground a bit .. also I had to make some adjustments to the ditch, that's why its in an unfinished state on the last 20 feet.

[CrAnIuM]

Still, a blind, untrained man with one arm and no legs could build a better shed than a team of female carpenters.

.


I look forward to your kind words and a complete retraction of the above when you see the finished results.

[SittinGrumpy]

Good start....are you for hire?

[CrAnIuM]

Good start....are you for hire?

Heck no.:tongue:

[CrAnIuM]

That's far too small.
Use it as a dog kennel and build something at least big enough for you to
sleep in, for when Absinthe kicks your hairy ass outside.

Yeah It's only a garden shed, its hard to explain unless you have been to Germany and seen the type of shed I'm building.

Land is at a premium in Germany and most people live in cities, so people have small hobby vegetable patches or flower spots with a well stocked shed where they may stay for a weekend or just for a Saturday.

This shed is actually going to be in that style.

[Absinthe]

That's far too small.
Use it as a dog kennel and build something at least big enough for you to
sleep in, for when Absinthe kicks your hairy ass outside.

We already have two other sheds in the back yard. The yard is big but I don't want it look cluttered. All I need is a small shed to store some tools and plants with enough room for a potting bench. Nothing too fancy. The area around it will be transformed into a vegetable/flower garden with a nice fence around it. All with raised beds. Maybe a little seating area in a corner. I was thinking to go the country/vintage/whimsical route.

The dogs have a huuuge kennel.
The man can stay in one of the other sheds.

[Absinthe]

Still, a blind, untrained man with one arm and no legs could build a better shed than a team of female carpenters.


Whateva...
I would so tell your wife.....

[TopGrey]

Don't you have a Jeep or something to take care of?

[Gravy]

This whole thread is a lie.

First Cranium admits to being a supporter of legalised marijuana. Next thing you know he's building a "garden shed".

The hippies have converted a once decent man into one of their own!

[TopGrey]

This whole thread is a lie.

First Cranium admits to being a supporter of legalised marijuana. Next thing you know he's building a "garden shed".

The hippies have converted a once decent man into one of their own!
mayhap he's preparing a shed in which to grow the icky when it is legalized!

[CrAnIuM]

Don't you have a Jeep or something to take care of?

I do. But since a large portion of previously bolted on components are actually tack welded in place I have yet to devise a plan for removal. I've finally found an original shop manual for the thing and am waiting for it to arrive before I start cutting parts.


This whole thread is a lie.

First Cranium admits to being a supporter of legalised marijuana. Next thing you know he's building a "garden shed".

The hippies have converted a once decent man into one of their own!

I am doing this to please my woman not out of any need to satisfy my artistic energies.


mayhap he's preparing a shed in which to grow the icky when it is legalized!

Nah .. I'm not into that stuff, even if it were legal.

[CrAnIuM]

Stage 2, working on the rafters and wall supports.

http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1749


***

Stage 2 complete, ready for the roof and skinning in the walls.

http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1750


***

And I gots an itty bitty owie ...

http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1751

[SlimSkeeter]

http://swollencranium.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=1751

Ya hit the wrong nail, dummy.

[CrAnIuM]

Ya hit the wrong nail, dummy.

Indeed, twice.

[Scarlet]

Indeed, twice.

I don't get it.

[SlimSkeeter]

I don't get it.

I'll tell you when you are older.

[CrAnIuM]

We are going to the Habitat for Humanity reclamation store today, in case ya don't know the HFH store is a place where, among other things, building materials are resold at a huge discount, sometimes one is able to find perfectly new and unused items such as windows or doors that were never used in the original project or that is mismatched or incomplete.

If you've never gone to an HFH store I urge you to take a look the next time you are in the ' build it' mood.

[Violet]

If you've never gone to an HFH store I urge you to take a look the next time you are in the ' build it' mood.Sweet! I'd never heard of them before, but I looked and we have one nearby. I'm gonna have to go check it out.

[Absinthe]

Was pretty cool. They had a bunch of stuff there. Everything from cabinets to tiles. It is definitely worth checking it out - beside craigslist of course.

[Titty]

Was pretty cool. They had a bunch of stuff there. Everything from cabinets to tiles. It is definitely worth checking it out - beside craigslist of course.

I've never even heard of this resource. I knew of their services, but not the other aspects. Come to find out there are 2 reclamation centers in close proximity. I'll be donating to and browsing them in the future.

[CrAnIuM]

I've never even heard of this resource. I knew of their services, but not the other aspects. Come to find out there are 2 reclamation centers in close proximity. I'll be donating to and browsing them in the future.


Yeah, ours is a 10,000 sq ft warehouse, it was filled with reclaimed stuff, if ya have a small project such as doing some tile work in the bathroom, or a back splash for the kitchen then HFH is the way to go.

I just browsed the area and found enough tile to do a normal sized bathroom for 1/10th the cost of going to Home Depot, and this was all new tile in small lots sizes that contractors donated.

Hell, they even had 12" x 12" x 20' cedar pillars .. not that I had a need for that, but it was odd to see just laying there.

The hard thing is finding any thing that comes in sets, such as cabinets and windows, if you are buying in multiple you are most likely not gonna find it there.

[Guess Who]

looking good so far looking foward to seeing the finished product.

[CrAnIuM]

looking good so far looking foward to seeing the finished product.

Rain, and my regular job has delayed this thing, hope to get it mostly done this weekend if the weather cooperates.

[TopGrey]

Any of you folks subscribe/use Freecycle? It's a pretty cool deal. You sign up, people post things they have to give away/sell cheap/trade/barter. We got a 4500 gpm pond pump never used for free, a Peg Perego electric jeep free, ceiling tiles, wood, mulch, just about anything you can think of. Plus, instead of tossing that old dishwasher in the dump we put it on freecycle and it was spoken for in less than an hour.

The HFH stores are pretty good as long as you have a fairly large group of suppliers. Ours is nice, but doesn't have as much as the ones we have visited in Atlanta and Charlotte.

BTW, freecycle is located at www.freecycle.org

[Josie]

Any of you folks subscribe/use Freecycle? It's a pretty cool deal. You sign up, people post things they have to give away/sell cheap/trade/barter. We got a 4500 gpm pond pump never used for free, a Peg Perego electric jeep free, ceiling tiles, wood, mulch, just about anything you can think of. Plus, instead of tossing that old dishwasher in the dump we put it on freecycle and it was spoken for in less than an hour.

The HFH stores are pretty good as long as you have a fairly large group of suppliers. Ours is nice, but doesn't have as much as the ones we have visited in Atlanta and Charlotte.

BTW, freecycle is located at www.freecycle.org (\"http://www.freecycle.org\")

Freecycle is pretty cool, but strangely enough... when I was in Austin (hippie central), the list was DEAD. I tried to do something with it for months and there were only two new posts for stuff akin to toenail clippings. I gave up on it after that.

I need to check out the list in my area here in anchorage though.

I hate throwing stuff away. Even smidgens of fabric scrap and pieces of thread leftover from my sewing get shredded and mixed with other stuff to make stuffings for blankets/pillows/loveys/etc.

Hopefully the freecycle here is much more alive! :biggrin:

[Absinthe]

I tried to join a few of the freecycle Yahoo groups here in the area. It was a pain. The first rejected me because I used my yahoo.de email (why create a new account?). Their reasoning was that they only accept local group members and not from other countries. I wrote them that this is the dumbest thing ever when considering how close Fort Bragg is. The next rejected me because I don't live in the "right county". We live right across the county line and using their group would have been much easier - less drive time should I find something etc. So I signed up for my county's group. But not much is going on there either. I prefer Craigslist. Much easier - most of the time.

[Kill_em_All]

Absinthe is a professional antique restorer ( she's worked on 300 year old stuff before )

So is that how you explain the recent functionality of your wang?

[CrAnIuM]

So is that how you explain the recent functionality of your wang?


Yes. Exactly.

[TopGrey]

I tried to join a few of the freecycle Yahoo groups here in the area. It was a pain. The first rejected me because I used my yahoo.de email (why create a new account?). Their reasoning was that they only accept local group members and not from other countries. I wrote them that this is the dumbest thing ever when considering how close Fort Bragg is. The next rejected me because I don't live in the "right county". We live right across the county line and using their group would have been much easier - less drive time should I find something etc. So I signed up for my county's group. But not much is going on there either. I prefer Craigslist. Much easier - most of the time.

That's really strange, we belong to around 6 groups, including 2 in GA. Of course this could be due to having relatives in those areas......just a suggestion, sorry it doesn't work for everyone:baffled:

[Mamba]

Wow, nice so far!

I wish I had a garden and a house that was actually mine, of course.

[CrAnIuM]

Wow, nice so far!

I wish I had a garden and a house that was actually mine, of course.

Yeah ... it's mostly done.

Absinthe needs to get off her lazy ass and post a few pics of it.

( We never got around to the landscaping ... that's for late winter/early spring )

[Gzus]

So its been 2 weeks.
We need to get on with the shed.
Aslo.
What made you buy that shitty SKIL saw?
Bought one of their products once.


Once.

[Absinthe]

So... yeah... we had many other things to do last year. Finishing the shed was not the most important thing at times. However, we did finish the exterior except for a few small details. We still need to install gutters and I have to find a fancy rain barrel.

I have plans for the inside but that's a different story. Also, we had a looooot of rain and the shed is dry on the inside. Not one leak!

Speaking of rain... you will notice the pipe in the pictures... our drainage system needs some "additional adjustment". Again, that's a different story...

As for the Skil saw. It is true that there are better products but it was the best deal I could find with the money we could spend at the time. However, sometimes it is not the tool that sucks but the user. I had no problems cutting the angles as I needed them. So far, I am happy with the saw. It does what it is suppose to do. I will build raised flower/vegetable beds sometime this spring. Can't wait to see if they turn out like I want them too.

The shed was done end of last October:

http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1679

http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1678

[CrAnIuM]

1683.

[SittinGrumpy]

It's cute so far!

[KommieKat]

Looks good. Noticed you've got a light outside over the door to the right. Electric hooked up?

Also, for extra fun and income, you can grow hydroponics, in secret. Shhhhhhhh!

[Absinthe]

Looks good. Noticed you've got a light outside over the door to the right. Electric hooked up?

Also, for extra fun and income, you can grow hydroponics, in secret. Shhhhhhhh!

Nah, that's solar. There is another solar powered light that will go on the inside.

Electric = building permit = extra costs and such. We want to sell the place in a few years and doing this kind of work without a permit could cause some issues.

[Absinthe]

I started a compost pile behind the shed. Just some straw and pumpkins. There is not much left of the pumpkins... our new dog ate some of them and I am sure the raccoons got some too....

[4nik8]

That turned out super looking.

Good job you two.

[CrAnIuM]

That turned out super looking.

Good job you two.


Life fact # 11:

Want to REALLY test out a relationship between you and your girl?

Build something that is semi-complicated.



>..


Yep.

We had words during the build process.....many.

And yet I never went through with any of my threats of killing her in her sleep.

She and I are soooo meant for each other.

[Absinthe]

I know you all have been waiting for an update... :wink:
Floor:

http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1867 (http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1867)

My pretty pretty potting bench (I built it)

http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1868 (http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1868)

http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1869 (http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1869)

Flower box (I built it)

http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1871

http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1870 (http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1870)

And yesterday's project. Raised veggie bed (I built that too :biggrin:)
Tomatoes, basil and lettuce:

http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1873 (http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1873)

Potatoes (no building necessary - thanks for cutting the tires!!):

http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1872

[CrAnIuM]

You is a goddamn talented wench ! ^^^

[Blood]

That's just beautiful Absinthe!
I'm super jealous right now...i've been dying to do some gardening.

And YAY, i finally get to see this potato tire contraption that i've been hearing so much about.:laugh:

[Wenis]

Flower box (I built it)

http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1871



That's one kick-ass shed/flower box combo.

[SlimSkeeter]

Looking good! I'm hella impressed. And the tire will work. Don't listen to the nay-sayers

[Josie]

Wow, Absinthe! Great job. I bet you is one sexy chica gettin down in the dirty with the building stuffs :P

[Absinthe]

Wow, Absinthe! Great job. I bet you is one sexy chica gettin down in the dirty with the building stuffs :P

I loooooove power tools...

[CrAnIuM]

I loooooove power tools...


That's nasty.

[Josie]

That's nasty.

Jealous you don't come with a vibrate feature?

[CrAnIuM]

Jealous you don't come with a vibrate feature?

Bah ..

If I ever fail to satisfy her with my original junk I 'll just go get me another poontang ... 20 years younger and a helluva lot dumber.

[SlimSkeeter]

Bah ..

If I ever fail to satisfy her with my original junk I 'll just go get me another poontang ... 20 years younger and a helluva lot dumber.

The older you get, the more you have to pay for those.

[Wenis]

The older you get, the more you have to pay for those.

I haven't really been one to use hookers, but I wasn't aware they discriminated.

[SlimSkeeter]

I haven't really been one to use hookers, but I wasn't aware they discriminated.

more of a sliding scale.

[Negativecool]

My tool box:
http://www.zrecommends.com/images/uploads/zrecommends/cache/zrecs40915-480x321.jpg


Your ability to make shit that I cannot, that looks professional, and that serves a functional purpose impresses me.
Well done, both of yooz.

[Absinthe]

My tool box:
http://www.zrecommends.com/images/uploads/zrecommends/cache/zrecs40915-480x321.jpg


Your ability to make shit that I cannot, that looks professional, and that serves a functional purpose impresses me.
Well done, both of yooz.

And don't forget it looks cool too...

Nice tool box though...

[Blood]

My tool box:
1876

Yup, that sounds about right.:cute:

[KommieKat]

Why have you people turned building a shed into sex?

[Josie]

Sex shed. Mmm..

[SlimSkeeter]

Sex shed. Mmm..

New summer project...

[Absinthe]

Why have you people turned building a shed into sex?

... says the one who has http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a126/buddhaboyjp/16ADULT.gif as a signature....

Odd...

[Absinthe]

My potatoes started out nicely so far. This was last week:

http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1907

I added another tire and filled it with soil. A week later:

http://swollencranium.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1906

[SlimSkeeter]

Told ya it would work ^^

Still can't figure out why people think that would fail.

[Blood]

Told ya it would work ^^

Still can't figure out why people think that would fail.

"Food safety information about growing food in tires suggest that it's not safe to plant anything you're planning on eating in a tire planter because it is possible the food can absorb harmful chemicals."

So yeah, basically It's not that it can't work, it's just that most people frown on using potentially toxic containers to grow edible plants. :err:

[CrAnIuM]

"Food safety information about growing food in tires suggest that it's not safe to plant anything you're planning on eating in a tire planter because it is possible the food can absorb harmful chemicals."

So yeah, basically It's not that it can't work, it's just that most people frown on using potentially toxic containers to grow edible plants. :err:


Yes.

No.


If the tire is degraded to the point that it is rotting then I can see that 'maybe' you have a point.

But the tires we used were radials, in good used condition, they are not submerged in water etc .. etc ...

There is no danger to use them in the manner we show.

[SlimSkeeter]

"Food safety information about growing food in tires suggest that it's not safe to plant anything you're planning on eating in a tire planter because it is possible the food can absorb harmful chemicals."

So yeah, basically It's not that it can't work, it's just that most people frown on using potentially toxic containers to grow edible plants. :err:

What? Like pesticides, fertilizer, weed killer, etc, all of which leach into the groundwater and contaminate the water cycle as a whole?

[Absinthe]

"Food safety information about growing food in tires suggest that it's not safe to plant anything you're planning on eating in a tire planter because it is possible the food can absorb harmful chemicals."

So yeah, basically It's not that it can't work, it's just that most people frown on using potentially toxic containers to grow edible plants. :err:

I don't think it would be an issue. It could cause some concern if the tires were starting to break down. Considering how long tires last in the landfill, I guess this will take a while.

However, when you look at a lot of the vegetable farms that use soaker hoses to water the plants, you need to keep in mind that most of these are made from recycled tires.

Also, a lot of veggies and fruits come in plastic bags and/or containers these days. They have been sprayed with pesticides, fungicides and other cides. Your food has been exposed to plenty of chemicals BEFORE it reaches your fridge.

Most planters (incl. prefabricated raised beds) are made of some type of plastic.

Bottom line, it depends on who you are asking. There is no "official word" on food safety regarding using tires as planters. So everybody has an opinion.

[CrAnIuM]

^^ haha @ "other cides".

[Absinthe]

Just an FYI... we added the third tire yesterday.

The potatoes will be flowering soon. So from now on all I have to do is to water on regular basis, wait and keep my fingers crossed.

[Scarlet]

Great looking shed.
How did the potatoes work out?
I must try that idea of using the tyres.

[Absinthe]

Yeah... they are done with the blooming part and are slowly dying down now. But it could be the heat that is getting to them. Not sure. It's still wait and see...