Building the Chook House

AKA - The Big House

The first week in October 2016 we started building the chook shed. 

Anyone who has milled their own timber knows it takes a lot longer than just going to the timber yard and coming home will all you need for your job.

Workshop part 2

Today i am posting from our local library in Bombala, free limited internet. It is only open 3 days a week and i usually miss the times as they are all random, its crazy.

 That's small town life for ya.

Here is what we were up to last week when the sun was shining unlike the last few days where we have had snow, sleet, fog, wind, a little sun and buckets of rain.

Part 2 of the workshop

This is another branch from the tree in the front paddock.

First Andrew has to cut off all of the side branches before he can cut the log from the trunk of the tree.

The above cut is the limb Andrew and Joshua milled last time.

This little guy was hanging out on the other side of the tree and stayed there all afternoon, i think his mum must have left him behind.

The final end cut before chain sawing the log from the tree. 

There are no pictures of us moving the log as it was just the two of us this time.

Before cutting the log from the tree we put smaller limbs under it so we could roll it with the log dogs to where we wanted it.

Having is sit on the limbs makes it easier and you can cut more from the log.

We had people popping in and out most of the day so the mill wasn't set up till the afternoon.

Andrew milled the top so we had a flat surface, then we covered it for the night and went back up to the cabin.

We started early the next morning and here are the first bearers for the work shop. 

There was a bit of rot at one end but these can easily be trimmed up when we use them.

Next came the joists and as you can see the log is getting pretty small.

This is all that is left, the last joist came away before Andrew could finish the cut.

The mill was packed up and all the timber stacked and all before lunch.

We got 9 Bearers, and 9 Joists plus numerous off cuts.

It may not look like a lot but its enough to build our shed.

And as you can see from above the stack of framing Andrew and Joshua cut last time.

After lunch we put in 4 more stumps these are put in at 1500mm apart from centre to centre.

Closer than normal because it will be full of tools.

We will be adding another 4 stumps as we are going to have a veranda on it.

As you can see from the picture the stumps are getting shorter at the front, it is following the slop.

By the time we do the last 4 stumps the ramp to it will be pretty low.

Happy Adventures Nicole, Andrew & Sally Girl


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Timber

All of our buildings will be made from the timber we have here at Early Bird Farm.

We are very lucky to have so many trees to choose from, Yellow Box, Cyprus Pine, Eucalyptus, Black Butt and hundreds of other varieties of hard wood that i dont know the names of.  At the moment we are only cutting trees that are already down. 

All the smaller stuff for the fire and the big timber for the mill.

This tree is in the front paddock, this is one half of it, it's split down the middle.

A very good specimen for the Lucas Mill, the boys should get a few lengths from this one branch.

While Joshua was down for a visit he wanted to have a go at the mill.

The first step is docking the log.

Second step is using the Log Dogs to roll the log to the best spot so the mill could be erected over it.

It is a pretty big log and it was only a branch not even the main trunk of the tree.

Learning how to set up the mill is a lot easier than you might think.

This is great father son time and i am happy they were able to spend it learning a new skill while also having fun.

Once the frame is up you put the motor and blade in place. Then its time to measure and make sure the frame is in the right place so the log is in the middle. 

Adjust the blade for the first cut and your away.

No tree is perfectly straight so you need a few cuts to till it is all level.

Never forget your ear protection, cause it is very loud in deed.

This is the end result from that one branch, a small stack to get us started, that hopefully will get a lot bigger as i have plenty of plans that will keep us busy for years.

Happy Adventures Nicole, Andrew & Sally Girl

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