one more network run - part 1

During the early phase of constructing the barn I tried hard to identify all the opportunities to maximize the utilities of the project, including improving the entire property, especially the cabin that is about 1/8 mile away along the private driveway. Now with the barn in the finishing phase of stage I there is nothing I wish that I had provisioned except one. That is running an Ethernet between the barn and what I call the tractor garage adjacent to it separated by the big concrete pad. It would had been so easy to throw in a conduit between the two buildings before the external concrete was poured.

one more network run - part 2

I used the opportunity to pick up the needed conduits when I bought the last 6 sheet of tongue and grove plywood used as wall panels. As the transition of 1" conduit to 3/4" would be done in a tight confine I decided to use heat to slightly enlarge the 1" pipe so the 3/4" pipe can fit inside. I glued the two pipes together so the transition is watertight. I also reamed the end of the 3/4" pipe to facilitate pulling the cable through it.

wall finish for the barn - part 4

 

When I finished all the main wall sections I used up 46 sheets of plywoods. To also cover the small wall sections flanking the garage doors I needed 6 more sheets, making a total of 52. Off to Home Depot I went and return also with enough PVC conduit to do the remaining network run that I didn't do during the construction of the barn.

full-size on demand water boiler for the barn

 

I ordered this Rinnai on-demand hot water boiler right at the beginning of the barn erection. It is the largest one they make. That was about 1 1/2 years ago. I finally got to install it onto the plywood panel. I am pleasantly surprised it is made in Japan. It is the same brand as the mini on-demand water boiler that I set up as a temporary hot water supply source.

wall finish for the barn - part 3

I had spent a few weeks installing the wall panels. It was a grunt work and required diligence and tenacity  to get it done.

GE refrigerator failure - part 3

 

While waiting for the repair parts to arrive from eBay I looked around for a potential replacement refrigerator in case my attempt to repair fails. I like LG and since I dislike Samsung LG is pretty well the brand that I would consider. Only if it is possible, my dream refrigerator is a high end Japan domestic one, but getting one imported could only be done the the most determined person.

wall finish for the barn - part 2

With thick plywood used as wall panels, it takes patience, skills, and precision to install them to achieve good result. Every cut counts as there is no drywall mud or molding to cover up the transitions or sloppy measurement and cuts. I often measured 2 to 3 times and triple check the markings before committing to powering up the saw.

prototype everything

 

I bought four of these stout hangers from Ikea long ago because of its design and appearance. They are one of those purchases that at the time I had no particular plan for their use, but I knew I would find use for them down the road.

GE refrigerator failure - part 2

I woke up one morning in January to discover the GE refrigerator displaying abnormally high temperature for the freezer and the refrigerator. It failed once before about a year ago which I repaired it. The symptom is different this time.

wall finish for the barn - part 1

 

The structure of the steel building represents a major challenge for a resemblance of wall finish. Unlike stick building with wood where there are regular intervals of vertical members for sheetrock or plywood panels to be fastened to at regular intervals such as 16 inch on center, there is no vertical elements. For most sections of the building the distance between vertical members are just the steel columns and they are 20 feet apart or more.

pork tenderloin served many ways - part 2

Preparing pork tenderloin is one of my more recent gained repertoires. Pork tenderloin is significantly cheaper than the beef counterpart. With each pack of them many meals could be prepared with the least of time and effort. These important for me now as I have more projects than time I have. My cooking of these few years mostly have been adjusted to be most time efficiency and simplicity.

happiness is more hand tools - part 1

 

For someone who does everything himself I have significant collection of tools of all sort. However I generally only buy what I must have to solve a new problem. Up until now I rely on a $12 Harbor Freight 1/2" torque wrench even for most of my track cars. I do have a 3/4" Made in USA torque wrench for the single lug nut center hub race cars as they required torque of 250 lb-ft.