Monthly Archives: June 2012
Retrospective #10: Further Draft Dodging
Urban Chainsaw
Yes, I am a redneck, and still proud of it. You may recall our solar bacon adventure. According to Jeff Foxworthy, a redneck is someone with a “glorious absence of sophistication.” I take this to mean social sophistication, and not intellectual sophistication, because Foxworthy is “wicked cleva.”
My latest redneck adventure involves demolition debris from our renovation….
… and a Skil saw I bought at Hayward’s Auctions for $10. (Chickens not included.)
I set up a comfortable working platform…
… and plugged in.
After 20 minutes I had filled a coal bag…
… and stored enough for a week or two in an old concrete washtub.
We store the wood indoors in an old drawer in the mudroom…
… and then feed the old Shacklock 501.
A waste product is turned into a valuable resource. And all were happy, especially Billy T.
Peace, Estwing
Retrospective #9: Draft Avoidance
Access Is More Important Than Ownership
This one goes out to my boy, Rick Estes, in the 603! Along with being the world’s best ZZ Top impersonator…
This Hitachi table saw belongs to my friend Peter who lives at the Quaker Settlement on the other side of town.
I had to rip some long pieces of oak on a 45 degree angle for our hearth surround…
… but could not manage to hold the line with my circular saw. So I mounted up…
… where woodworking projects include making coffins. Those crazy Quakers!
In the years since I left my 38 acre farm in New Hampshire, I have often thought about and used Rick’s advice. To those living in a modern Western consumerist culture, Rick’s mantra runs against almost everything we’re told by politicians and the media. But their messages of unregulated consumption often lead to personal debt and planetary debt. The Eco-Thrifty approach to renovation (and life) aims to be lighter on the wallet and lighter on the planet while remaining heavy on purpose, fulfillment, happiness, and surfing.
Chur, Estwing
Retrospective #8: Warm Is Always Beautiful
Floored
I applied construction tape along the wall/floor intersection…
… and then installed the baseboard. (Behind Billy T.)
The timber frame is 25mm thick and cut on a 45 degree bevel to match the height of the tiles.
Here, the frame is removed while I finish the cuts.