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**Spinaker** · May 1, 2024, 01:59 PM

Split and stacked another cord over the weekend. This stack is actually 10 ft wide and the back stack is a little over 4 ft high. This was from the Silver Maple I cut down a few weeks ago. I still have 4 or 5 big round to split up, but I should get another 1/4 cord out of those rounds. This will be good and dry to burn for the 2025 syrup camp. I found some old roof panels from the barn that will work fine to keep most of the rain and snow off the wood.

**And for all of you that are curious........Yes, I have an addition problem. Usually when we drop one, we find another. Thankfully, this one won't kill me. (Watch out for widow makers) It is therapeutic and satisfying to get outside and do some manual work.

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**Spinaker** · May 15, 2024, 10:30 AM

Monthly Update on the Holzhausen. Not much change yet, but at least the sun is out in Minnesota!

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**Spinaker** · May 18, 2024, 02:41 PM

I’ve been slowly chipping away at putting up another wood bunk; this time down at the sauna. I got the four telephone poles in the ground. I am going to let these sit for about a month. It’s all sand down there so the wide, treated poles are perfect. These are about 4 feet down into the sand. The poles are at 9 feet above ground. She is going to be 10 x 6 between the poles. I won’t put a floor in this one. I’m just gonna lay pallets or IBC tote cages under the roof. Then I can move them with the skid if need be. Progress will be slow as I have little extra time these days, but it was nice to get outside and work on something. Thanks for reading.

**Spinaker** · June 10, 2024, 01:23 PM

No updates on the pole barn yet. Not enough time to get to it and the bugs down there are insane. (Lotta rain this year so far)

However, I was able to find some vintage axes this past weekend. I got the heads cleaned up well, now I just need to redo the handles. I love the fawns foot handle on the single bit axe. Both of the double bit axes are really cool. The smaller, Mastercraft Double Bit axe is a 2-lber with a short 23" handle. Man does it feel great in the hands. I think I can salvage that handle with some sand paper and some Lindseed oil. The Other double bit handle will need to be replaced. Both of these are from the 1940's or before.

The shingle axe is a 1930's Keen Kutter. I LOVE these pieces. They are so cool. She is a little beat up, but that show character. I will try to clean up the handle, because I think it is a really cool, but not original, so it is not that big of a deal if I replace it.

I picked up all 4 of these for $25 at an estate sale last weekend. All of these were totally cover in rust when I got them. you could not read the lettering at all on the surface of the axe heads. This was a great haul!

**Spinaker** · August 7, 2024, 02:02 PM

I need to add my picture for August, but here is an update on the Holzhausen!

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**Spinaker** · August 7, 2024, 02:10 PM

Progress has been made on the new wood bunk. The mosquitos are finally subsiding, so I can get some work done down at the sauna.

I cut the notches in the poles and I got the joists (Think that is what you'd call them?) put up on the poles so I can start to cut the birds mouths for the rafters pieces. (That was fun to do by myself) I am going to use 9 Ft-2X6s so I have some over hang on both sides. I will be able to stack about 2 full cords under here when it is all said and done.

I will update as thing progress slowly.

**fzxdoc** · August 8, 2024, 07:42 AM

Nice! I look forward to following along with your project.

How's the Holzhausen holding up?

Kathryn

**Spinaker** · August 18, 2024, 08:11 AM

Things were done. Mistakes were made. For the most part this project has been great when I have the time. I got the rafters up for the roof. Doing things like this teaches you things.

Anyway, I love how this is starting to look. It is about 10 feet to the peak of the roof. I built in a 20 inch over hang on the front to keep the snow off the wood.

Next up is putting in the floor and the storage section on the right side. My plan is to have a spot to hang my axes, hookaroons, wedges and other miscellaneous things. After that, I will tackle the tin for the roof, once I get the striping up. A friend of mine is sourcing some tin from an old barn that I am going to use.

**Spinaker** · September 2, 2024, 11:44 AM

I got the sheet metal up on the roof, yesterday. I need to trim the purlins off the end and take down the makeshift scaffolding. Then I can start stack some wood in this beast. I am going to put in a couple racks on the right side for axes, hookaroons and a few other tools we keep at the sauna.

**Spinaker** · September 11, 2024, 01:57 PM

Now it's time to start splitting and stacking! The interior space came out to be 10 Ft wide X 7 Ft deep. The header in front is about 9 feet. Packed up, I estimate that I have about 560 cubic feet of stackable space. Or a little under 4.5 cords of wood will fit in this beast.

I still need to build a little storage spot on the right side wall for all my splitting axes, maul, wedges, etc.

**Steve B** · September 22, 2024, 12:21 PM

Finally got the wood storage set up.
Added drainage stone, some gutters and some toppers. Also did some waterproofing along the far side of the shed and garage. They are detached from the house. Used to get a small stream running through the garage after some heavy rains.
Much better than tarps over it all. Found a dead possum in there this past spring. 😳

**Spinaker** · September 22, 2024, 04:57 PM

I had the young buck with me today to learn some life lessons. I think it is about time I got him a real splitting axe. He has done well with his little axe, but the time may have come to upgrade.

One possible question......"What is with the tire?" Good question.

The tire is for safety, as it helps to prevent the axe from hitting my nephews shins if he misses. Additionally, It keeps the wood on the splitting round as you progress. You can also pack the tire with multiple logs without having them falling all over the place. It saves your back, your shins and allows you to split much longer in one session.

Anyway, we took down an ash tree that was infected with the beetle. (It is an epidemic here, we are loosing ALL of our ash trees) The splitting and stacking has begun to get this beast filled up. This ash tree was standing dead for about year, and the wood is already at about 19% moisture. By sauna season 2025, it will be already to rip. (We might even tap, pun intended, into this load for syrup season to run the evaporator)

**Spinaker** · October 6, 2024, 03:52 PM

Making some progress with getting this beast filled up! So far I have a good mix of ash and silver maple stacked up. I even got my old double bit axe out after I hung a new handle.

**Spinaker** · October 10, 2024, 11:14 AM

Things are filling up. I got about a cord split up so far. I should be able to fit about 1.5 more cords in here, at least. Plus, I can stack the next few rows even higher in the bunk.

**Spinaker** · October 10, 2024, 11:27 AM

Monthly Holzhausen Pics! Moisture is down to about 15%-18%!! The stack is drying well. It might be a bit tough to tell from the pictures, but the stack has certainly shrank in overall height. It is not nearly as tall as it was when I first stacked it. It looks much more squat in person.

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Skipped