Replies

1. 
   calvin | Jan 05, 2006 10:16pm | #1

   Well, I guess so!

   You have any more pics?

   thanks.

   A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   Quittin' Time

    

1. 
   theslateman | Jan 05, 2006 10:24pm | #2

   Calvin,

   I read your interview a while back and was struck by how similar our paths were.

   I always enjoy your posts,and especially your pictures.I was just able to post pic's for the first time today-tried that one again just to see if it worked.

   I'm going to try to post another in "on the way" which I've tried several times unsuccessfully.I thought you mighyt enjoy it particularly.

   Thanks for the response.Best wishes,   Walter

1. 
   calvin | Jan 05, 2006 11:44pm | #4

   Hey thanks Walter.  I can honestly say that was me, minus the thorny personality I often exhibit.  We've got to tip a couple some time and BS.  Give some thought to motoring south next august to the Fest on Long Island.  Should be a blast.

   And keep posting those birds eye view shots, I'm always interested in daredevil photography.  Be careful you don't become addicted to taking them.  And of course, don't back up.

   I see you're in the mid 50's, probably very similar paths, different location I guess.

   That turret looks pretty cool, got anything from the ground to see how it fits in with the house?

    A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   Quittin' Time

    

1. 
   theslateman | Jan 05, 2006 11:52pm | #5

   Thanks Calvin,

   It's actually an old Theater that was part of the Church behind it.

   Purchased by a local independent bank and being restored-as well as connected by a three level walkway to the adjacent bank building.

   I'll post some before and afters later.It's exciting to finally be able to put some pictures on here.

2. 
   theslateman | Jan 05, 2006 10:49pm | #3

   I think I've finally got the swing of this.Irfanview was saving to default something other than jpeg files.

   Here's the before shot-worn out asbestos over worn out cedar

2. 
   JohnT8 | Jan 05, 2006 11:56pm | #6

   Pretty neat project.  Looks good, but you sure you're done with that one?  Looks like paper at the top. :)

   I'm sure the roofers will be along any time now requesting close-ups, but I'd rather have a pic from further back so that we can see how it looks on the house.

   Was that real slate or the rubber imitation?   

    

   jt8

   "The test is to recognize the mistake, admit it and correct it. To have tried to do something and failed is vastly better than to have tried to do nothing and succeeded."
   -- Dr. Dale Turner

1. 
   theslateman | Jan 06, 2006 12:01am | #7

   You're entirely correct-the cap is not on,just the last of the slatework is done.Yes I'll post some shots of the whole place.

   It's an old Theater for plays but being converted as I said to Calvin.

1. 
   theslateman | Jan 06, 2006 12:12am | #8

   Here's some of the work in progress.

   Roof in process of being slated-Turret being shorn of it's two old layers,waiting for 20 oz. copper aprons at base.

1. 
   seeyou | Jan 06, 2006 12:19am | #9

   Nice work. Keep those pics coming. We love to see good work. John beat me to it, but I was gonna ask how to make one of those fancy felt finials.Birth, school, work, death.....................

   http://grantlogan.net/

1. 
   theslateman | Jan 06, 2006 12:32am | #10

   Thank you Grant-only today have I been able to post pics here,due to my less than superb computer skills.

   I appreciate the kind words.I'll post some later of a job at author Stephen King's Library we did this past year too.

   Best regards,

    

    

   Walter

2. 
   razzman | Jan 06, 2006 03:24am | #11

   Walter-

   Can I ask you how you went about learning how to post the pics here on the forum and what were the difficult things involved.

   Reason I ask is many posters find it difficult to learn the steps needed and perhaps something can be done  to help remedy the problem.

   Cheers

    

   'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity

3. 
   theslateman | Jan 06, 2006 04:09am | #13

   I read a lot of posts from you and Piffin about resizing with Irfanview-but when I went to save them it wasn't as jpeg files,which I failed to detect the first times I tried to upload pictures.

   After several failed attempts I resigned myself it wasn't possible with my slow dial up connection.

   I e-mailed forumhelp and we went over it but until I changed the file box in Irfanview just today I couldn't get it to work.

   Now I think I'm all set cause I've posted 4 or 5 pics today without one error message.

4. 
   razzman | Jan 06, 2006 05:42am | #15

   By changing the file box you mean the 'set file associations' tab under 'options'?

   Did you find that information in the Irfanview thread or from somewhere else?

   Thanks

    

   'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity

5. 
   Sphere | Jan 07, 2006 03:53am | #21

   That is one cool tower...great job.  You in a bucket lift or what?

   edit...oops, I just read that.

   Edited 1/6/2006 7:59 pm ET by Sphere

6. 
   theslateman | Jan 07, 2006 05:27am | #22

   Thank you Sphere.Yes, no 60' ladder on this one ,just bucket truck all around.

   Wished I had had some pipe up to at least the eaves to simplify the slate storage .We brought up an hour or two's worth at a time so as not to overload the lift plus having room to manuver.

   We were sharing the real estate with the carpenters below so staging set up for us would have impeded their progress.

3. 
   gzajac | Jan 06, 2006 03:53am | #12

   I am fascinated with these old turrets. I can appreciate the workmanship involved reworking them. What did you use to keep your coursing level and what kind of staging did you use?

   How long did it take to reslate the turret? Are there still a lot of mechanics capable of doing this kind of work, or are you the last of thre breed? I enjoy admiring old time craftsmanship.

    

   Greg in Connecticut

1. 
   theslateman | Jan 06, 2006 04:23am | #14

   The coursing isn't perfect,but from the ground it looks good.Measurement from the top down to get tops of courses.

   Did complete job from 60' boom truck.Didn't keep track of actual hours so I wouldn't be depressed.It probably took longer to cut all the slate than it did to install it.

   Each piece had to be cut at a bevel on each side-and we used 15 different widths-plus cutting the top back at an angle so that the overlying slates would lay as flat as possible.

   This picture is actually of recycled ones going back on Stephen King's Library,but the same process we used in cutting our new ones

   
1. 
   seeyou | Jan 06, 2006 05:44am | #16

   Next week, we're starting an octagonal slate roof. 3 kinds of slate, stagered butts. I might need to get some advise, if you don't mind.

    

   edit: I'm planning on mitering the hips. I know how I plan to do it, you got any advise?

   Birth, school, work, death.....................

   http://grantlogan.net/

   Edited 1/5/2006 9:46 pm ET by seeyou

1. 
   theslateman | Jan 06, 2006 01:23pm | #17

   Wow! Sounds like a real nice project-love to see pics from you guys.

   What have you got for cutters?So are you using longer slates for the staggered butts-or increasing the headlap on the shorter exposed ones.

   Are you using Vermont colors? Random width as well?

   It's helpful to have some wider stock to use at mitered bays and octagons.Another section on this building had a bayed area which we mitered and used cut caps most everywhere else.

   Let me know if I can help in any way with questions.

1. 
   seeyou | Jan 06, 2006 02:08pm | #18

   >>>>>>>>>>>>>Are you using Vermont colors? Random width as well?Yup to both questions. Thanks.Birth, school, work, death.....................

   http://grantlogan.net/

2. 
   theslateman | Jan 06, 2006 07:14pm | #19

   That makes it easier to get wide enough ones to miter.

   Who's your supplier?The stuff I used on the Theater came from the Glendyne quarry in Vermont-supplied thru New England Slate Co.

   Are you using hand mechanical cutters?How about hammers?

3. 
   seeyou | Jan 07, 2006 01:21am | #20

   That's where I got 'em. I got out of the slate business about 6 years ago. Was able to stay out about 2 years, but we end up doing a couple a year, mostly repair. This will be the first time we've done any new construction slate work. It's a pool house and has to match the house roof. I've got a slate "guillotine" and I need to buy some slate hammers. Got any you wanna sell?Birth, school, work, death.....................

   http://grantlogan.net/

4. 
   theslateman | Jan 07, 2006 05:32am | #23

   I don't have any to sell-but I would loan you a couple for a month or so if you want.

   I've been able to collect a number of them over the years,mostly nice older Belden's or my favorites-Pexto.

   How soon do you need them?Send me an e-mail if you'd like the loan with an address to ship to.

   Best regards,

    

   Walter

5. 
   seeyou | Jan 07, 2006 05:42am | #24

   Hey Walter - thank's for the offer, but I'll buy a couple of Malco hammers for Dale & Sphere to get the job done. I'm a Pexto collector. I'm missing a couple of Pexto stake tools to complete my collection. I don't need them, I just want 'em.  I buy and trade on ebay regularly. I've bought several lots to get one tool and resold the excess for twice what I paid for the whole lot. There's some fascinating old tools out there.Birth, school, work, death.....................

   http://grantlogan.net/

6. 
   theslateman | Jan 07, 2006 02:11pm | #25

   Pexto made some really great tools for us humans to use!

   I looked for hammers yesterday on E Bay and all they had was crap.

   If you can't find what you need Stortz in Philly sells new ones.

   How steep is the pitch?

7. 
   seeyou | Jan 07, 2006 03:07pm | #26

   It's a 12/12, but small. I think the rafter length is about 9'. 13 sq total. I've dealt with Stortz - they're high.Birth, school, work, death.....................

   http://grantlogan.net/

8. 
   donpapenburg | Jan 08, 2006 06:57am | #28

   Do you have any pictures of the slate hammers you need/want?      I have an old slate hammer  that the handle broke at the cutter.  It has a small square head tapering to a point  and the shank is flat with a cutting bevel on the bottom .  Then it had a laminated leather handle that someone broke off. 

4. 
   Jencar | Jan 08, 2006 05:45am | #27

   WOW! This is kind of random, but my daughter and I just saw the New Harry Potter movie, and during the scene where the dragon was chasing him all over the castle turrets and it was tearing off huge chunks of slate roofing, all I could think of was "who's gonna fix that?"
   Jen

   All it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing
1. 
   razzman | Jan 08, 2006 08:00am | #29

   Girl, you've got it in yer blood!

    

    

   be bleeding red

    

   'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity

2. 
   theslateman | Jan 08, 2006 02:18pm | #30

   They have already called to get an estimate for the fix up.

1. 
   Jencar | Jan 08, 2006 06:40pm | #31

   The castle turrets were about 500 feet in the air....think your bucket would reach?
   (I think you'd like that scene from the movie...gives you a new definition for vertigo!)Jen