Category: Projects (Page 10 of 10)

Winter is coming

The ongoing battle of wits with Sparky doesn’t take all of my time.  I am occasionally productive.

A friend had a maple tree taken down, so we diced it up.  Now is a good time of year for putting up firewood because the weather has been mild.  Even with a good system, it can be strenuous work.

I’ve got a good system, so can handle 24″ diameter logs without busting a nut.  Big rounds like that take some muscling, but yield a better wood to bark ratio.  My best trick is to elevate the trailer ramp so it’s at about the same height as the splitter rails.  The trailer, towed by the quad, is positioned on the other side of the splitter.

If the logs are close to round, I can roll them up the ramp, muscle them onto the splitter, chunk them up and toss the firewood into the trailer.  If it works right, I never have to lift a round, and only touch the firewood to put it in or take it out of the trailer.

That trailer-load yielded a half-cord of firewood.  Next summer, I will move that into the wood shed, and burn it the following winter.  That half-cord will heat my house for about a month.

Camper seating version 2 project

Sparky isn’t being exploited, he is part of the reason the camper seats needed to be updated to version 2.

Last year, I re-imagined the seats in the camper and posted about it.  Camper seating version 1.

The design was flawed.  Seats are more comfortable when they slope down a bit.  These were horizontal.  The seat backs tilted back, but weren’t very sturdy.  In bed mode, the sleeping area was bigger than it needed to be, but there were too many steps to get to bed mode. 

I could have lived with it, but Sparky wasn’t satisfied.

Continue reading

Sparky as Inspector Gadget

Sparky has a Carhartt jacket for Winter.

I’ve had to use a Martingale collar for him because his head is so small, he slips out of a regular collar.  He’s a good pup, so a little tug is enough to get him back on track.  The big problem was when he is up against his instincts.  When he sees a new dog, he’s excited to go investigate. 

Continue reading

A Good Shed

My nephew just called about the shed he intends to build.  After my own shed experience, I am well-acquainted with shed design and build.

Prior to getting the retaining wall and garage built, I knew the shed would be in the way.  This shed has been in this spot since about 1971, when the solarium was built and the driveway was moved to this side of the house.   Rather than tear it down, I decided to move it.

Continue reading

Newer posts »

© 2026 Big Stick Physics

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑