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Gulf Island Building.

1M views 8K replies 149 participants last post by  Katie Cabana 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi all:
Since the summer of 1997, I have been building a cabin and house on our 1/2 acre lot here. Before I dive into that part, I am going to show a few photos to set the stage a bit. We are remote here. No services of any kind, except that which we provide for ourselves. So don't expect to see any paved roads with big trucks delivering any materials.
We live at the head of a small bay, which is both a blessing and a curse.
When the tide goes out, we have to clamber over hundreds of yards of rocks to get to our boat. When it is in, I can float logs right up to my little railway to move them onto the log deck. Well, not any more, but more about that later.
This is the bay in front of us.
 

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#1,741 ·
I have my fingers crossed that the 3rd coat on the table top has sealed the wood. There may still be one very tiny area at one end...but otherwise it looks OK.

I'll be able to tell better in the morning.

Also varnished the deck posts and the handrails outside the kitchen door. The handrails have been neglected for at least 3 years.

Got started on the soffit under the deck this afternoon. Bit of a slow, tedious job, but it will make such a difference when it's all done.
 
#1,743 ·
Well, your picture didn't post in the quote. The picture I am talking about is the last picture in post# 1734. Speaking of walking sticks, does Diamond Willow grow in your area or does it just grow in the Alaska area? The Diamond Willow isn't twisted but it does make a beautiful hiking stick.

I hate to rush off but I got an appointment here shortly, I will be back after a while.

Jim
 
#1,745 ·
Jim:

Diamond Willow does grow here, but it is very rare. I believe I have seen either one - or possibly two - trees (small) since I have been here.

There is a fellow who is a woodcarver on the island, and he has made some walking sticks out of Diamond Willow. It definitely is a beautiful wood.
 
#1,747 ·
I guess you must be referring to the curved stairs which go from the tub deck up to the narrow deck in front of the master bedroom.

Or do you mean the round thing at the top of the stairs, which now contains a light to illuminate the stairs at night. I will have something on top of that soon for the wife to put a plant on.
 
#1,750 ·
A baby horse chestnut seedling that the missus is trying to grow. We haven't had much luck with these guys here. I think it's too dry for them in the summer, and our soil here is generally pathetic to say the least.
 

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#1,754 ·
Looks like they are coming out OK. Just finished putting the next varnish on, and I think this has sealed the last of the wood. :thumbsup:

Have to keep out of the house for the next few hours so as not to disturb any dust.
 
#1,755 ·
Buddy, your table top is totally outstanding, who ever the fortunate person is to buy ya'lls paradise will truly be blessed. I don't think I could give it up if it were mine. The deck where you are going to install that table would quickly become my favorite place to be. Where do you and your wife plan to go after you sell your place or have you given it any thought yet?

Here is a picture of the American Chestnut, they do look a lot alike and may be they are the same.
 

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#1,757 ·
We do eat as many of our meals as possible on the front deck, especially if the weather is nice. The table is just to give us a place to put stuff when we have company for dinner, as the dining table itself is quite small.

When we go from here I would like to go over to Vancouver Island, somewhere north of Nanaimo, maybe to the Coombs/Errington area. I would get 5 acres most likely with a small house on it, and then build another one to suit. Or, alternately, if the house was OK, I would build myself a ginormous workshop far enough away from the house that all my racket wouldn't disturb the missus. :laughing:
 
#1,756 ·
I wish I could figure out how to write after a picture is posted instead of starting a new post, or is that possible?

I see what you are talking about with the twisted stick, it isn't quite long enough, but it sure is a pretty one, I just love the looks of that tree. I see where your wife removed the Honey Suckle from the small tree, it is hard to believe a vine can be strong enough to alter the growth of a tree, but they are.

I like your Japanese bridge, weeds and all. Good gravy, you have a new area we haven't seen every time we turn around. Your home place AND you are just amazing, you really should write a book.

Are you living in the main house yet or are ya'll still living in your cabin? I bet you like to go out early in the morning and just sit and drink a nice big hot cup of coffee as you watch the sun come up. Man what a dream!
 
#1,758 ·
Once you have a picture posted - as in submitted and it's up on the thread, about the only thing you can do is to hit the edit button, and then you can add more to it.

Or if you have written something, then attached the pic, and you want to write more, just go back to the box where you write and carry on. You can edit any post you have ever made at any time.

Not in the main house yet, but I spend pretty much all my waking hours in here. This is where I have the computer set up.

I'm an early riser for sure, but on our side of the island we don't get much of a sunrise. It has to get over the trees before we see it. Sunsets on the other hand are terrific from this side.

Didn't I have a bunch of stuff posted before about the J. garden? There is still a ton of work to do there, including building a much longer single span bridge over the pond...the one with the leaky liner!!!!
 
#1,759 ·
The soffit did actually get started yesterday, but it seems that for whatever reason the tapers are not quite right.

I believe it is in part due to the fact that these boards are wider than the top bunch. Which would mean the outside of the circle wouldn't "grow" fast enough to keep up with the inside.

Back to the drawing board...re-cut all the tapers, re-do the dadoes, and re-stain the freshly cut edges.

The wood work is done...I'll get to the staining in the morning.
 

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#1,760 ·
Thanks Keith for the information on how to post after a picture, I didn't think about that.

My stars, you are planning to build another home if the house isn't the way ya'll want it? Unreal, where do you find all that energy to keep going? I built our kitchen cabinets about three years ago and it took me 6 months. Had I still been able to work it wouldn't have taken but about three weeks. I still have several things to do to our very small house and I am beginning to wonder if I ever will get them done and I am younger than you are by one year. You are truly an amazing young spirited man.

I noticed you said your tapers weren't just right. Does the table top just sit on top with the tapers slid into slots?

Buddy, you probably did post on your Japanese garden earlier my memory is just not very good anymore.

You have shown us several beautiful Sunsets but a picture won't come close to seeing them first hand, I am sure.

Thanks again Keith.

Jim
 
#1,761 ·
Sorry Jim, I think I messed up again.

The tapers I was referring to are on the soffit boards. The table top has 10 boards screwed on to the back side, and the top of the legs have tenons cut into them. Each tenon fits between a pair of boards.

The soffit -as I expect you can tell - is going under the deck in front of the master bed room. Because it is a long curve, the soffit boards must be tapered to accommodate that curve. I didn't quite have enough taper on each of the boards, but that has now been done.

I'm just now going to move the boards outside and get the edges re-stained.
 
#1,762 ·
Buddy, you didn't mess up it was just me not understanding. I did remember you showing how the bottom of your table was, I just got confused and thought maybe I missed something there. Did you make a jig to cut the tapers for the soffit boards?
 
#1,763 ·
OK Jim, thanks for that...it is usually me that gets it all mixed up! :eek:

Yes, I made a simple jig, but I couldn't find the one I originally used for the soffit on the roof, so I made another one. It turned out to be something like 3/8" too little taper.
 
#1,767 ·
That is a stack of boards you had to rework. I hate it when I don't get things right the first time. That is a simple jig that works well. Thanks for sharing with us.
 
#1,771 ·
I think they might be a tad too skinny...but I am in the process of ripping up 500 lineal feet plus of 1 x 2 red cedar for the long top railing outside the master bed room. There might be some bits and pieces left over from that.

And since when did I ever have enough projects!! :laughing:
 
#1,773 ·
I'm baaaaack!!!

Holytoleedo! I'm gone a few days and this thread grew! Whatchya feedin' it these days Keith? 10-10-10? :laughing:

As always I love stopping by and reading about new folks droppin' (HEY JIM!)in to see your wonderful work! I loved reading about putting in the butterflies. That's cool! And the table top is fantastic! :thumbup:

But, I must say that I LOVE the rock wall the Missus put up. It's beautiful! I do so love rock! I have pics of my rockbed around here somewhere...:huh:

Anyway, just thought I'd drop in for a jiff. Yes, I do have a question.....no, actually a favor......when you get the time (yes, even I am laughing) how about posting pics of the whole ship and kaboodle Keith? You know....front of the house, side of the house, back of the house....etc. Wide lens. I'd like to see the whole picture.

Wouldn't everyone else? Come on! Wouldn't you all like to see the whole set up? I think I hear everyone Keith......

"YES KEITH!"

"Oh that would be wonderful!"

"Yeah, I want to see how many clamps he has on each view of the house!"

"Yes, and I'd love seeing the house from the water. Maybe a sunset or sunrise shinning on it."

See what I mean Keith? We all would! When you get....the time........:whistling2:
 
#1,776 ·
Holytoleedo! I'm gone a few days and this thread grew! Whatchya feedin' it these days Keith? 10-10-10? :laughing:

As always I love stopping by and reading about new folks droppin' (HEY JIM!)in to see your wonderful work! I loved reading about putting in the butterflies. That's cool! And the table top is fantastic! :thumbup:

But, I must say that I LOVE the rock wall the Missus put up. It's beautiful! I do so love rock! I have pics of my rockbed around here somewhere...:huh:

Anyway, just thought I'd drop in for a jiff. Yes, I do have a question.....no, actually a favor......when you get the time (yes, even I am laughing) how about posting pics of the whole ship and kaboodle Keith? You know....front of the house, side of the house, back of the house....etc. Wide lens. I'd like to see the whole picture.

Wouldn't everyone else? Come on! Wouldn't you all like to see the whole set up? I think I hear everyone Keith......

"YES KEITH!"

"Oh that would be wonderful!"

"Yeah, I want to see how many clamps he has on each view of the house!"

"Yes, and I'd love seeing the house from the water. Maybe a sunset or sunrise shinning on it."

See what I mean Keith? We all would! When you get....the time........:whistling2:
Tell you what Tracy...when you get a minute, why don't you just pop on over and take the pix for me. :wink:

In the mean time, I'll find all the clamps I have and start attaching them to stuff everywhere...:huh:

Then I'll need to cut a few trees down so the sunrise will hit the house...:eek:

oh yes, and would you mind sending me up a nice wide angle lens to fit a Canon...thanks much! :thumbup:

We should be all set then, right? :yes:
 
#1,774 ·
:laughing:.... Very well put. Do you teach a Creative Writing class at your school Tracy?

I'll have to agree with her Keith. I'd like to see that too. Unless you have to wait until there aren't leaves on the trees blocking the view.

Or maybe... you're waiting until it's all done to do a big reveal?
 
#1,777 ·
Arbutus menziesii is known as Pacific Madrone as soon as you cross into the U.S. Why we don't refer to it as Madrone, or Madrona sometimes up in Canada I don't know.

And where you were in western Oregon is smack dab in the middle of its' range. Which means that you got to see the tree at its' very finest. Also probably the biggest.

Does anyone know the name of the town which has an ancient woodworking shop which you can walk all the way through and see everything in action? All the tools, lathes etc., are powered by overhead shafts and big drive belts. Really interesting place...if you like wood.

Pretty sure it is in Oregon, probably somewhere just off I 5, and all they do is work Madrone.
 
#1,778 ·
It seemed to be one of those days where I worked all day and got nothing done. But this morning, a junk rigged sailboat came past and I got his pic. Unfortunately, the sails are almost edge on to where we are, so it's difficult to actually see the rig.
 

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#1,779 ·
...and while I'm at it, we have a few boats in the bay tonight from such places as Vancouver and Victoria, Seattle, Washington and the closest powerboat in the pic is from Alaska.
 

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#1,780 ·
Now I have a question for you glass cutting experts please.

I have several pieces of this glass which we found a few days ago in a big salvage yard over at Coombs.

The glass is 1/4" thick, and the design on it appears to have been sandblasted into the glass. Which means that one side of the glass is rough.

I need to cut it down so that it will fit into the small window frames in the living room.

What clever tricks can you tell me about to cut this glass cleanly? Thanks.
 

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