jdbower Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 I haven't even decided what to order yet but I've got a home for when it's delivered! Now that I think I've ticked over two days old I can post this with an image - so this post actually is appropriate in the off-topic images forum (I hope!) I'm in the process of trying to get a house built (and have been for the past 21 months, but that's another story) so I have no level surfaces to put a cooker. I had initially thought of leaving the cooker on the packing pallet for a few months, but Sanny pointed out that the cheap disposable wood used in most shipping material would likely not be fire resistant enough to be safe. Couple that with the weather taking its toll on the wood and you're just begging for an accident whether it manifests as a fire or a tipped cooker. After hearing a few suggestions for quick and dirty solutions it occurred to me that building a small real patio isn't all that tough. So two trips to Lowes, about $100 (including a one-time expense for a decent tamper), and roughly three working hours later I've got a home built. In phase one I built a 3'x3' frame out of 6" wide decking material, used some metal braces for the corners to add rigidity and attach some stakes. Phase two was to till up the area where the patio was to go - this helped kill off the grass, level out the rough ground, and allow me to dig out the middle of the area much easier. Phase three - many whacks of a sledgehammer later the frame is sunk into the ground. Phase four (the picture was actually in the middle of this phase) involved 100lbs of gravel topped with 375lbs of sand - I made myself a Sanny box! Finally I got the slate-look pavers into the frame before the cats mistook it for a luxury litterbox and filled the gaps with more sand. Each tile measures level in both directions and are fairly even at the seams so hopefully it was a success. I even kept a bit of a lip around the border in case things start to slide around for some reason. I did learn a few things: 1) Always measure the bottom of the tile - 17.5" at the top meant about 17.75" on the bottom after I trimmed off some slop from the formed concrete paver. Luckily I built the frame a little larger but the rubber mallet got a workout. 2) If you're not sure if the paver has a scratch or a hairline crack, it's a hairline crack even if you rub it and it goes away. 3) It's really hard to concentrate on image composition when you're busy trying not to get dirt all over your expensive camera! Good practice for a real patio once the house is built and when I'm done with it I only have to dispose of 12 linear feet of treated lumber and (after some fun with a sledgehammer) a small pile of rubble that should be great for drainage fill. With the green toy in the second shot moving a KK around and disposing of a little patio should be a cinch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanny Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 YAY!! You're safe and sound, and your new treasure has a home. Not to mention, you got a few hours of play with the tractor and a sledgehammer. Worth the price already!! Good for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curly Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Dude, I covet your tractor in the worst way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanny Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Dude' date=' I covet your tractor in the worst way [/quote']Curlydeer, I think that's one of the Commandments. Thou shalt not covet thy fellow cooker's tractor. Tsk Tsk... But isn't it pretty? I was thinkin how useful it would be at my yard. Of course, it is bigger than my yard, but that's hardly the point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curly Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Dude' date=' I covet your tractor in the worst way [/quote']Curlydeer, I think that's one of the Commandments. Thou shalt not covet thy fellow cooker's tractor. Tsk Tsk... But isn't it pretty? I was thinkin how useful it would be at my yard. Of course, it is bigger than my yard, but that's hardly the point. I'm trying not to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdbower Posted June 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Thanks, it's a John Deere 2520 and has proven very useful here (pulling out fenceposts is fun!). The tiller is nice for leveling out some of the rough ground, plus I've got a chipper, loader and backhoe. I think I'll have to get some pallet forks to help move the cooker around, it's more fun than a bunch of guys with 2x4s. It was actually an innocent post on a tractor forum that brought me ultimately to you guys, I hadn't had an excuse to look at ceramic cookers until some kind folks there enlightened me to their benefits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanny Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Sheesh, Jeff... Curly's tryin NOT to covet yer tractor, and there you go prancin it around, pointing out its sexy parts, parading it in front of him... It's obvious, you are pimping your tractor. For shame! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdbower Posted June 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 "Pimp My Tractor", now that would be an interesting show! Are we talking about a Pat's EZ-Hitch, a hydraulic toplink and other useful toys or is this lowering the tractor with some neon underlights and some chrome spinners? Either way, amusement galore! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanny Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Well, I meant "pimp" in the more traditional sense - you're parading it around, lookin for "johns" to express an interest in an hourly ride. In this case, lookin for Curlys... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdbower Posted June 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Yes, but the thought of pimping out my big green baby was disturbing enough my brain wanted to change the subject Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanny Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 E-Z Hitch, indeed.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdbower Posted June 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Now I'm even more glad I built it, after some much needed rain the "Sanny-box" is as stable as ever but the ground around it is all mush! I don't think there will be a problem with supporting a cooker on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanny Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Excellent. I'm cookin suppers and lunches for the week. And some roasty potatoes for Mommy - she special ordered a few, each time I fire up the cooker. It's raining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdbower Posted June 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 It's raining. Thanks for the heads up, it had stopped over here but chances are what you're getting will head East to me shortly... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 It's raining. Can you please keep the rain on your continent (although..... we're in a drought)...lucky you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curly Posted August 15, 2007 Report Share Posted August 15, 2007 No meat for a year Well prolly not, but I was finally able to get that tractor. Well, it ain't here yet, it'll be a few more weeks, but the commitment was made and they are adding a front valve for the grapple. Dude, I could open the grapple up and pick up a KK with it . It's a Montana 4540 45hp with front end loader and root grapple. Boy that root grapple is gonna save me some time. Of course a 6ft bush hog for the wife to keep the fields in shape with , box blade and soon have to get the post hole digger. That should make some of these chores doable now Finally have something decent enough that the wife won't mind being seen on at the drive-in...wooo-woooo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdbower Posted August 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2007 Congrats! Now you need to start collecting toys for it. It may not be the right brand, but at least it's the right color Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curly Posted August 15, 2007 Report Share Posted August 15, 2007 Congrats! Now you need to start collecting toys for it. It may not be the right brand' date=' but at least it's the right color [/quote'] If I wouldn't a told ya, you'da thunk it was a JD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanny Posted August 15, 2007 Report Share Posted August 15, 2007 Re: No meat for a year Finally have something decent enough that the wife won't mind being seen on at the drive-in...wooo-woooo. You, Curly, are a thoughtful fella. One of the things I've always appreciated about you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curly Posted August 15, 2007 Report Share Posted August 15, 2007 Re: No meat for a year You, Curly, are a thoughtful fella. One of the things I've always appreciated about you. Thank you Miss Sanny. Now, the wifes birthday is next month. Think I can get away with just giving her the tractor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
