Replies

1. 
   ProDek | Jan 09, 2004 09:30am | #1

   Pretty cold this morning. We had ice rain the night before and it pretty much put a stop to everything.

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

   
2. 
   ProDek | Jan 09, 2004 09:33am | #2

   Guess I'll have to start putting a cover over my chop saw next time.

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

   
1. 
   ProDek | Jan 09, 2004 09:36am | #3

   Here's some pretty cold Trex........."Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

1. 
   ProDek | Jan 09, 2004 09:38am | #4

   Here's some cold boys laying Trex............."Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

1. 
   ProDek | Jan 09, 2004 09:43am | #5

   Here is how I cut balusters that are frozen together. Just pry the bundle of six from the other bundles,cut and slide to the custom made stop and cut again.

   Yes, the saw still works great, so don't you guys dis DeWalt.......... "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

1. 
   Lateapex911 | Jan 09, 2004 09:58am | #6

   I love your threads!  But i can't believe you left your saw out! tch tch tch! I have the same stand, but my aluminum extrusion is silver....I guess they made some changes.

   (Surprise storm, eh?)

   Did you rent the porta poddy?Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

2. 
   ProDek | Jan 09, 2004 05:57pm | #11

   You've heard the phrase " colder than a cast iron toilet seat on the shady side of an iceberg" Well this porta potty was that cold......

   And , yes I usualy rent one of these things for bigger jobs...............

   jobs that take over two weeks...........

   3 week deck jobs........:-)

   you know what I mean."Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

   
3. 
   IMERC | Jan 09, 2004 10:30am | #7

   How well does or doesn't the TREX perform in the hyper cold?

   In case you haven't heard this before... Fine work and then some.  

   Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....

4. 
   Sphere | Jan 09, 2004 04:43pm | #8

   Wild ..great pics and greater determination to do quality work in less than ideal conditions!!!!  I need a deck in front of my KY house..what say ya come out with the boys this spring?

5. 
   xMikeSmith | Jan 09, 2004 05:20pm | #10

   Bob...almost done with our latest Trex.... just got a couple sections of rail going down the stairs..

   9 deg. this morning.... hoarfrost on the Bay..

    supposed to be 5 deg. for the Patriots / Titans tomorrow niteMike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

   
6. 
   ProDek | Jan 09, 2004 06:19pm | #15

   I've been following your posts over at http://www.Quittintime.com Mike. Nice deck.

   I like the way you pre finished your rail sections before installation.

   Cutting out the tops of your rail cap to fit over the posts must have been fun.:-)

   Nice looking deck .........Now don't forget to cover up your tools..........

   Oh that's right, you have a trailer you lucky dog.............

   Now tell a West coaster what the heck is hoarfrost?"Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

7. 
   Sphere | Jan 09, 2004 07:43pm | #20

   I can answer that for Mike..when low clouds freeze on branches it chrystallizes like a fuzzy coating..absoluty beautiful stuff..looks like feathers on trees..we used to get it real good high up in the Smokies..Apologies to Mike if I'am steppin on his toes.

8. 
   xMikeSmith | Jan 09, 2004 08:36pm | #22

   sphere... yup , that's hoarfrost... i used the wrong word.. i'm talking about that white cloud that forms over salt water when the air is a LOT colder than the water..

   Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

9. 
   Sphere | Jan 09, 2004 08:45pm | #23

   Man with the temps y'all got now I AM sure ya got some kinda NEAT effects..you can have it..lol. wew are up to 23 right now, balmy.

   What do ya Call that floaty frosty stuff? 'future lake effect snow for someone'?

10. 
    BillHartmann | Jan 09, 2004 11:30pm | #24

    Where do you think that we send our cold air after we are done with it in Kansas City.

    Literally that is what happens if you watch the common winter weather patterns.

    But it is suppose to be in the 50's Sunday.

11. 
    Sphere | Jan 09, 2004 11:40pm | #25

    Very funny..when I was just a measly 4.5 hrs. south in the smokies the weather would get tore up by the mountains..rarely was the winter pattern very obnoxious..up here in KY we are wide open from the west and it seems the cold fronts hit the Apps. and kinda stall..add some gulf moisture from our buddy Brown bagg..and poof! winterwonder land.

    Send that 50's out..I got plumbing to thaw and replace..<g>

12. 
    xMikeSmith | Jan 09, 2004 11:54pm | #26

    not cold enough here...i'm going to Maine for the weekendMike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

13. 
    Sphere | Jan 10, 2004 12:05am | #27

    My grand dad worked on an island offa s. jersey..took his boat to work across the delaware bay...got cold enough when I was a tyke..(the mid 1960's) that he walked to work for a week..big news for there. Think Piffin's hoofin it?..lol....have fun in Me.

14. 
    ProDek | Jan 09, 2004 06:03pm | #13

    Always wanted to go to Kentucky. You Pay the airfare and we"ll be there.........:-)"Rather be a hammer than a nail"

    Bob

15. 
    ProDek | Jan 09, 2004 06:00pm | #12

    Trex works great in the cold. It is a little annoying to have the ice and snow go down your neck while packing it to the back of the house.

    We use the same gap as we would in the summer."Rather be a hammer than a nail"

    Bob

16. 
    MojoMan | Jan 09, 2004 05:04pm | #9

    I also noticed the Porta-Potty. Is that SOP for you? My 50 year-old bladder would like that!

    Are you allowing plenty of gap for that cold Trex?

    Is that framing lumber PT? ACQ? Are those Z-Max hangers?

    It's below zero here today, so I'm not as sympathetic about the weather as I might otherwise be.

    The work is as impressive as always!

    Al Mollitor, Sharon MA

17. 
    ProDek | Jan 09, 2004 06:12pm | #14

    Thanks Al- We are still using the good old asenic treated wood till it is depleted from the yard, thus the standard galvanized Simpson hangers.

    The Porta Potty cost me $112 per month and is worth it ............

    Thanks for following along............"Rather be a hammer than a nail"

    Bob

18. 
    dIrishInMe | Jan 09, 2004 06:26pm | #16

    Bob:

    Re the outhouse, I'd think that a house that nice would have indoor plumbing...

    I have the same DW saw, but yours looks a little less loved...

    Looking at the ice on branch pic in your post #2, it looks like your turning into a photographer on us!Matt

19. 
    ProDek | Jan 09, 2004 07:05pm | #18

    Matt, Believe it or not this customer does have bathroom facilities, but they were without heat for five days because of a wind storm just before we started this deck and I didn't want to take a chance on frozen plumbing......Hehehehe

    As for the DW, I usually throw a garbage bag over it and secure it with a hi-tech bungee cord. It really is not less loved, it is just used and abused so I can get another new one. :-) I'm really amazed at how well the table holds up that the saw is fastened to.

    As for the Ice branch, I am amazed at how many beautiful pictures beginners are taking with digital cameras. Just point and click at the right thing at the right time and then share it on the internet and millions of people get to see things from all over the world that we take for granted in the course of a day.

    I like to go to http://www.webshots.com and look at photos from all over the world.

      

    "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

    Bob

20. 
    dIrishInMe | Jan 09, 2004 07:21pm | #19

    It's snowing here (NC) today too.  Cool web site.  My, er, a, nose, lead me right to the swimsuit page.  Then visited some castles.  Then went up to Maine to visit Piff and the Portland Head Light.Matt

21. 
    joewood | Jan 12, 2004 04:49pm | #32

    man! Pics like those make me even happier I live and work in San Diego !

22. 
    ProDek | Jan 14, 2004 09:55am | #33

    Where's the fun and challenge of working in a non-seasonal climate like San Diego?

    Here are some shots close to completion. "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

    Bob

    
23. 
    dIrishInMe | Jan 14, 2004 02:29pm | #34

    Bob:

    What's your thoughts about putting pickets (ballusters) up against the posts?  Do you find the baluster sections easier to construct that way...Matt

24. 
    ProDek | Jan 14, 2004 06:48pm | #35

    Yes Matt. We build the baluster section as a grill then fasten it to the posts on each side through the 2x2, then we staple to the bottom rail and upper rail cap through the 1x2.

    It makes for a very sturdy rail section."Rather be a hammer than a nail"

    Bob

25. 
    dIrishInMe | Jan 15, 2004 04:43am | #36

    sorry to be so presistant - but I never thought of using staples for decks... we talkin' med crown or narrow crwon?Matt

26. 
    ProDek | Jan 15, 2004 05:10am | #37

    Narrow crown 1 1/2""Rather be a hammer than a nail"

    Bob

3. 
   sungod | Jan 09, 2004 06:58pm | #17

   It may be too late now, but for future decks, the deck will last a lot longer if you seal the tops of the joists with paint, sealer or stain, before laying down the decking.

1. 
   ProDek | Jan 09, 2004 07:58pm | #21

   Sungod, all our framing material here is ground contact incised pressure treated doug/fir Guaranteed 50 years buried in the ground so I'm guessing that off of the ground they may last another fifty.

   Your point is well taken for non treated lumber................"Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

4. 
   KGambit | Jan 11, 2004 06:43pm | #28

   Some more fine looking work. That picture of the ice covered branch is pretty cool!

   I don't understand! I cut it twice and it's still too short!

1. 
   ProDek | Jan 11, 2004 08:03pm | #29

   Thanks Manroot. The ice covered branch was in my yard so I took a quick picture before I headed for work. I got about one city block,tree across the road, and they said on the radio the main road to my job was closed due to ice loaded trees falling all over the main roads and stay home if you don't have to go anywhere.

   I decided one more day off would be safer than using my truck for "bumper cars"."Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

1. 
   Lateapex911 | Jan 11, 2004 09:33pm | #30

   What do you do with your guys on days like that? Tell 'em to go fish? Pay 'em anyway? Give 'em soemthing?  What if they were on the way or already at the site?

   So far I haven't had to deal with this situation, but I'm curious as to the standard solution.Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

1. 
   ProDek | Jan 12, 2004 12:23am | #31

   My two guys are my Sons, but I really don't treat them any different than any other employee, other than an ocassional draw.

   If they already left for work I will pay them a minimum of 2 hours of work. They get plenty of "gifts" from their "old Pop". I usually let them test most of  the "Like" hammers I collect and mount on my wall to get there opinion on which one they like best.

   One son likes the 22oz Douglas and the other one likes the Deathstick.

   I like my 10 year old stainless Hart Woody 22oz. "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob