January 8, 2019

Carport Repair Logistics

One of the best homestead investments we've made has been our small portable sawmill. I first showed it to you in this post. We found it on Craigslist and got it for building the barn. If we'd had to buy all the lumber for that barn, we'd probably still be working on it, because that's how it is with pay-as-you-go. That lumber mill helped us get the job done and has more than paid for itself.

Originally the mill was set up in the driveway. That meant dragging pine logs up from the woods to mill them there. Eventually, we moved the sawmill down into the woods. It made more sense to haul cut lumber rather than uncut logs, not to mention leaving all the waste slabs and sawdust in the woods and out of sight. The downside was that our outbuildings, fences, and gates made it more round-about to take the tractor down into the woods and back. Even before Dan decided what to do about the carport, he was thinking about an easier way to transport the lumber to the project site. After running through several ideas, we decided to change the chicken yard fencing and install a tractor gate like this...

The chicken yard used to extend all the way to the workshop.

New gate and tractor path.

Now that he's ready to start on the carport, we've been discussing whether to make changes. We had talked about adding an outdoor cooking area and also thought it would be useful to store Dan's log splitter there since that's where the firewood is stored. He proposed extending the roof a bit on the left side.


With all that in mind, he began to mill the posts and beams.

Milling one of our plentiful pines.

As he mills, he brings it up from the woods and stores it in the workshop until needed.


To be continued . . . . .

Carport Repair Logistics © January 2019

17 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

That's the way it goes, change one thing and other things need changed. - lol

wyomingheart said...

A work in progress, I always say. Awesome that you have the sawmill. That saves both money and time. Also allows you the luxury of plan changes!

Leigh said...

Gorges, so true! LOL

Wyomingheart, that sawmill has more than paid for itself! And happily, we have the trees. :)

Ed said...

I still drool whenever reading about your sawmill.

J.L. Murphey said...

That's the way it is. Plan, revise, plan and implement. Nothing s set in stone til it's done. But then again you'll be revising that too. Cockeyed Jo

Leigh said...

Ed, I imagine that anyone who enjoys working with wood would love one. :)

Jo, so true.

tpals said...

Fascinating. Will be watching with interest.

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

The gentleman that runs cattle on my parents' place has one of these as well. It has turned out to be a very handy thing.

Leigh said...

Tpals, we'll see!

TB, indeed! For anyone who likes to build and has access to timber, it's a wonderful tool.

The Wykeham Observer said...

Some nice pine there. At this rate he will be done with the carport in no time at all.

Leigh said...

Phil, I hope so! It certainly seems pretty straightforward as long as the weather will cooperate.

Sandy Livesay said...

Leigh,

I can see how putting the gate up will provide a more direct route which in turn is more beneficial. In the end, we know the final results of your project will be amazing. Love the wood Dan cut from your tree's. I'm not sharing this post with Bulldog Man.....because he would be drooling over Dan's sawmill!!! He's been wanting a sawmill for sometime.

Chris said...

Getting the goats into their new barn, has freed up the space in the new workshop, to move on such lumber projects, as the carport. Do you imagine any more large lumber building projects, after the carport is done? I like the new tractor run. Access, is all important!

Leigh said...

Sandy, before we did that Dan had to drive along the edge of the property, out into the street, and then up the driveway again. This is so much quicker! If you have trees and need to do some building, I would definitely recommend looking into a sawmill. It quickly pays for itself.

Chris, the barn was it! We knew the carport needed repair and I guess the only other thing I'd like would be a greenhouse, but that wouldn't be large timber. There will be more repairs on the house too, at some point in the future.

Powell River Books said...

For a while our friend John had a similar mill. Unfortunately he had to sell it before we were able to benefit from its use. Looks like yours is doing a good job of providing the wood needed for your building project. - Margy

Leigh said...

Margy, it's an excellent piece of equipment for anyone who builds. It's a shame John had to sell his!

Susan said...

It's nice to be able to create whatever you need, isn't it? You and Dan are such good examples of being self-sufficient!