that was easy....

Built the jigs, raised the truss, squeaked in another project I've been meaning to get to (video tomorrow), replaced the glass on the solar oven, celebrated with beer and solar baked crab. Thanks to Chuck for the chain and extra comealong - although he made me divulge the plan sketched out on a napkin. It was signed and dated so look for it on Ebay someday.

Truss Staged

Lots of thinking....some scrounging for parts...and a little bit of action. Managed with little physical effort (and some moral support from Benita) to get the truss into position to be raised. Hmmmm....now what?

9 1/2 hours...

2 cool downs

The Field Lab got a sprinkle just like I hoped for last night....mostly wind out of the north but at least settled the dust with .05" of rain that happened in about 5 minutes. The outside temp dropped like a rock.
Long, hot day today and thought it would be a repeat of hiding from the heat, but another storm blew in late this afternoon....just a mist of rain but another fine temp drop. Took advantage of the cool down by cutting and jigging all the parts for the second half of experimental truss 1. Found some numbers online on rebar weight and how much I need for each truss and cypher'd out that they will weigh only about 250 lbs. (and please don't bother to check my math in the comments section - I've got it covered, thank you very much... ; )

Christmas on Tuesday

Had a sprinkle last night so I rigged up my PVC pipe for the creek catchment system right after dinner - just in case. Alas...just a sprinkle it was. Tuesdays are pretty special because the GrubShack is open again after 2 days off. Chowed and chatted for 2 hours there this morning. Plotted my measurements, set some blocking and started laying out half of the first truss....each truss will have two of these, spaced apart 8" and all welded together. Still have to place all my zigzag parts to keep the thing from buckling. Did a water run down to the Ghost Town then finished the day (with another looming storm that pooped out) trimming and connecting the hose from the pump to the PVC.