CntryBoy777 - The Lazy A** Acres Adventures

[CntryBoy777]

@norseofcourse everything I've found says it is fine, but I looked it up to make sure...they are common around here, but wanted the verification...
There can be a problem if the wrong finish is used...because of the finish not the wood. Most butcher blocks with bars of light and dark woods, use black walnut as the dark...tho, other woods are used too.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Black walnut is also listed as a "Toxic" for goats, but our goats avoid it. Since it will be inside the big fenced area, and it is an extremely messy tree...I'm just taking it out and be done with it. The goats won't even eat the grass under it either.

 

[CntryBoy777]

We got our first egg from the 11th duck hen today.... ...she gave us a "Fart Egg", but that means they all are laying...
When the weather levels out....if ever, we'll be getting 20eggs a day. Joyce gave some out this morning to some women in town. So, we'll see how it all pans out....was about 7dz she gave them.
Gonna go to town in the morning to get some more poles, and get some holes dug. After yesterday, I took it easy today just to make sure there wasn't a relapse. We have some hit and miss showers this wknd...mainly Sat nite/Sun morning time frame, so may can get them all dug with posts this wknd. There will be only the 2 left that were previously mentioned. I'm also thinking about picking up a couple of gates to make sure the spacing is good on the gate posts. Before I set them, so adjustments can be made incase I need to trim the hole some. Since I haven't ever dealt with a purchased gate, I want the extra assurrance that it is right.
We got our 1st inside wasp today....it is the Earliest we've ever had since we have been here in '06. They winter in the walls, and crawl thru on wiring....we greet them with our Shark vacuum........best wasp "Trap" ever...

 

[Mike CHS]

You may already know about these but we don't even bring home the threaded bolts that come with the gates. I can't remember if your place is level or not but they can be a pain. We use the threaded bolts that give you a lot of leeway adjusting the gates. Our farm center gives us a discount for us not taking the OEM bolts and we buy the through the post hardware.

http://www.greysongates.co.nz/hardware.aspx

 

[CntryBoy777]

I believe you and Bruce both told me....but, the way my mind works....or lack of....I appreciate the reminder, and ya posting the link saves me from digging thru the pages looking for the name of them tonite. I'm gonna see if the Co-Op will do the same...if they don't have these bolts, I can get them at the Hardware store in town. I certainly see and realize the benefit.....thanks again @Mike CHS .

 

[Bruce]

There can be a problem if the wrong finish is used...because of the finish not the wood.

The finish I am using is specifically food grade so it "shouldn't" matter if the wood were possibly toxic
... but! I'm glad you checked because it is very slightly possible that someone might wear the finish off, not refinish it and then they would be cutting on bare wood. It wasn't something I thought about prior to @norseofcourse mentioning the possibility. Thanks for looking out for us!

I'm also thinking about picking up a couple of gates to make sure the spacing is good on the gate posts. Before I set them, so adjustments can be made incase I need to trim the hole some. Since I haven't ever dealt with a purchased gate, I want the extra assurance that it is right.

ME TOO!!! Double, triple quadruple checked!!! But if you get those 12" bolt hooks you have 4" of leeway if the strike post is too far. None of course if it is too close. I don't know if a general hardware store sells bolt hooks. Oh, and they come with different diameter pins so check the hole size in the part attached to the gate.

What sort of latches are you planning to use? I really like the two way gate latch, no chain to screw with and you can just push the gate closed as you walk through. They aren't cheap though. They also make a one way version of your gate isn't supposed to swing through both ways.

We got our first egg from the 11th duck hen today

 

[CntryBoy777]

I haven't really looked at latches yet, but will. I probably drive ya crazy with my lack of planning, but I have to "Do" out of my check, so I have to focus on a step at a time. After these last 7posts I have to get 20+ bags of sakrete delivered, then start getting brace poles, wire, and Tposts. So, it will either come out of my next one, or the one after that. If I had $3-4,000 the fence would be on hold until after I got a vehicle, but I'm saving for that each time and spending as needed. After that there is fencing to get, so latches won't be of importance until the Wire goes up.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Bruce, the only thing I found on the finishes, was a warning about using Tung Oil, because it is toxic.

 

[Bruce]

If you use the kind of latches I'm using you DO have to plan ahead because there is a specific distance the strike post must be from the gate (with a little tolerance). And, of course, until you have the gate, hinges, bolt hooks in hand, you don't really know what the absolute minimum "gap" between the hinge post and the gate itself actually is! Well you do if you are @greybeard because you've hung hundreds of gates There is the giant nut and washer on the bolt hook, then the curve and plate for the pin. Then the hinge part sticks out from the gate some so a 12' gate may be 12' wide outside edge to outside edge but there is a several inch gap to the hinge post.

This might sound stupid but I actually hung and leveled my first gate before the strike post was put in. I had the pin side of the latch attached as well so I could measure FOR REAL how far the end of the pin was to the strike post real time. I understand math and measurements just fine but I understand physical things in front of my face better.

And I didn't plan ahead nearly as much as you probably think I did.

 

[CntryBoy777]

I got a couple of more holes dug today, went to town and got 5 more poles....so, there are just 2 more to dig tomorrow. I didn't get the gates today, but will get them first part of next week. I did check while I was there and they sell the bolt hooks for the gates....around $7-8 for a 3/4x10" bolt...they were out of the 5/8" ones. Also saw some Muck boots too, they were $100 so at least I'll know where to go to get some a really nice looking boot, but didn't slip my foot in em for a feel.
I will start getting the brace poles next week...20 of them, but I have a few laying around, so I'll have to get them together for a true count. Will start picking them up and ordering the sakrete probably Tues/Wed depending on the weather...suppose to have rain on Tues.
The hi today was 81...and saw Wasps flying outside...
The temps are suppose to be dropping thru the day tomorrow with a low tomorrow nite of 35. The wind we've been having is starting to take its toll on the sinuses here. There is so much in bloom right now, some could be allergies kicking in too.
I really did try to get all 4 holes dug today, but I was sweating too much and there were lots of roots in the last one I dug. Yes @Bruce ya can call me a "Wuss" if ya wish, but the side effects of some of my meds is profuse sweating....so, I have to tone it down some....
....and as my Mom would say....God gave me enough Sense to know better than to be out in super Cold with howling winds doing Anything.
Anyway, I can't compete with many that worked outside today from @dejavoodoo114 , @Devonviolet and her DH, @Mike CHS , and @Latestarter ...just to name a few that I'm aware of at this time...but, I'm just 2 holes away from being done...except for the other 2....and I feel dang Glad and Proud to have made it this Far....