highland145
Lifer
- Oct 12, 2009
- 43,973
- 6,338
- 136
- May 18, 2001
- 7,882
- 380
- 126
highland145
Lifer
- Oct 12, 2009
- 43,973
- 6,338
- 136
- May 18, 2001
- 7,882
- 380
- 126
highland145
Lifer
- Oct 12, 2009
- 43,973
- 6,338
- 136
lolol Any man man enough to take a bear from behind is a man that I'll just leave at it.
- May 18, 2001
- 7,882
- 380
- 126
Mrs Ned was out of town this weekend, so I got a huge amount done...
1st though, I forgot to list that last weekend I bought about $24 of wall-related stuff at the hardware store. This weekend I bought about $100 more.
So here's what I got done. I cut and installed the floors on the 2 platforms. I also removed most of the 2" screws from the overhang ceiling and replaced them all with heavier 3" screws, each of which now has a washer on its head. This is probably overkill, but I think it will support the ceiling much better. I also had a large number of leftover decking screws, so I used them all to reinforce the wall in various spots. I also caulked some of the edges & voids in the plywood.
I bought primer & paint at the hardware store, along with painting supplies. A buddy of mine recommended I buy oil-based primer & oil-based barn paint... it's cheap and he says it hardens to an enamel finish and reviews online are very good; the only downside is that it only comes in red and white. Well, that kind of sucks so I was convinced that I was going to buy an expensive exterior paint from Sherwin Williams. I stopped at Lowes before going there, and just on a whim checked out the barn paint. It turns out that they now sell it in dark green and black, so dark green it is (barn paint is much cheaper - only $22/gallon vs $60-$80 a gallon at SW). Yesterday I used a brush to paint the cutout, then rolled about 2/3 of the wall before I ran out of paint (400'-450' coverage my ass, I had only ~250' to cover but the wood soaked it up like a sponge).
For what it's worth, I hate painting and I'm bad at it. I'm so OCD about perfection that as soon as one stray drop of paint goes where it isn't supposed to be, I go into "screw it" mode and just slap paint up semi-haphazardly. I'm painting just the edges & front surface of the plywood for now, partly to save money & partly to allow the plywood to continue drying out.
So tonight I'm going to buy another gallon of primer & finish priming. If I have any time left I may start the doing the cutout with the green paint. The goal is to get it completed by the end of the week, then go backpacking for a week. When I get back, I should be ready to put up the holds & start climbing.
1st though, I forgot to list that last weekend I bought about $24 of wall-related stuff at the hardware store. This weekend I bought about $100 more.
So here's what I got done. I cut and installed the floors on the 2 platforms. I also removed most of the 2" screws from the overhang ceiling and replaced them all with heavier 3" screws, each of which now has a washer on its head. This is probably overkill, but I think it will support the ceiling much better. I also had a large number of leftover decking screws, so I used them all to reinforce the wall in various spots. I also caulked some of the edges & voids in the plywood.
I bought primer & paint at the hardware store, along with painting supplies. A buddy of mine recommended I buy oil-based primer & oil-based barn paint... it's cheap and he says it hardens to an enamel finish and reviews online are very good; the only downside is that it only comes in red and white. Well, that kind of sucks so I was convinced that I was going to buy an expensive exterior paint from Sherwin Williams. I stopped at Lowes before going there, and just on a whim checked out the barn paint. It turns out that they now sell it in dark green and black, so dark green it is (barn paint is much cheaper - only $22/gallon vs $60-$80 a gallon at SW). Yesterday I used a brush to paint the cutout, then rolled about 2/3 of the wall before I ran out of paint (400'-450' coverage my ass, I had only ~250' to cover but the wood soaked it up like a sponge).
For what it's worth, I hate painting and I'm bad at it. I'm so OCD about perfection that as soon as one stray drop of paint goes where it isn't supposed to be, I go into "screw it" mode and just slap paint up semi-haphazardly. I'm painting just the edges & front surface of the plywood for now, partly to save money & partly to allow the plywood to continue drying out.
So tonight I'm going to buy another gallon of primer & finish priming. If I have any time left I may start the doing the cutout with the green paint. The goal is to get it completed by the end of the week, then go backpacking for a week. When I get back, I should be ready to put up the holds & start climbing.
- May 18, 2001
- 7,882
- 380
- 126
update: A buddy of mine has a friend at one of the local utility companies. He texted this morning that they have a 16"diameter pole that they are going to cut to 8'-9' for me for the belay station. I'm going to go pick it up later this afternoon when I go for the paint.
- May 18, 2001
- 7,882
- 380
- 126
So the guy who works for the utility company marked a pole and told his coworkers it was for me; they gave it away anyway before I got there yesterday. Boo.
I bought another $50 of paint & paint supplies. I needed another gallon of primer, and reasoned that I would probably need another gallon of barn paint as well. If I don't use the 2nd gallon of paint, I can always return it.
So when I got home last night, I finished rolling the rest of the wall with primer, then took a brush around the entire wall and touched up places that needed it. There were a lot of spots, so I brushed maybe a good third of the wall. I am *extremely* happy with the primer job - it soaked into the wood just great and now the wood seems like it is hard as a rock.
Tonight I'm going to start the cutout of the paint. Hopefully it goes fast and I can roll at least part of the wall.
I bought another $50 of paint & paint supplies. I needed another gallon of primer, and reasoned that I would probably need another gallon of barn paint as well. If I don't use the 2nd gallon of paint, I can always return it.
So when I got home last night, I finished rolling the rest of the wall with primer, then took a brush around the entire wall and touched up places that needed it. There were a lot of spots, so I brushed maybe a good third of the wall. I am *extremely* happy with the primer job - it soaked into the wood just great and now the wood seems like it is hard as a rock.
Tonight I'm going to start the cutout of the paint. Hopefully it goes fast and I can roll at least part of the wall.
We had a blast! This entire time share thing is really working out well for all of us. You get more work done on your wall, Mrs Ned gets her needs attended to and the nookie is great for both of us!
You are getting close to the finish line now, I bet you can almost taste it! I would have given up a long time ago on that so damn fine work my friend.
- May 18, 2001
- 7,882
- 380
- 126
Glad you enjoyed her! Your rash will probably clear up in a few days.
I never guessed that this project would stretch out this long. I am so ready to finish... I really haven't gotten to enjoy much Summer because every spare moment has been sacrificed on the altar of the wall. I think there is a whole lot of alcohol in my near future when this thing finally gets done...
Pulsar
Diamond Member
- Mar 3, 2003
- 5,224
- 306
- 126
Ned, I want to thank you. I don't climb and never will. But reading your stuff and the way you write is entertaining as hell.
- May 18, 2001
- 7,882
- 380
- 126
A new pic showing early progress last night:
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=ZGs4b1l6MlZoREZlRWNYOUtoLTNxSzllTzlOelBB
It looks way different now - it's white with green polka-dots & streaks all over. I got the cutout finished last night & touched up rough spots, knot holes, etc. The wall is ready to roll tonight and/or tomorrow. I'm backpacking for a few days starting this weekend, so my goal is to get a coat on before I leave. Then hopefully I'll just have to touch it up when I get back, then put on the holds & start climbing.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=ZGs4b1l6MlZoREZlRWNYOUtoLTNxSzllTzlOelBB
It looks way different now - it's white with green polka-dots & streaks all over. I got the cutout finished last night & touched up rough spots, knot holes, etc. The wall is ready to roll tonight and/or tomorrow. I'm backpacking for a few days starting this weekend, so my goal is to get a coat on before I leave. Then hopefully I'll just have to touch it up when I get back, then put on the holds & start climbing.
The rash isn't so bad and well worth it!
And yeah, a definite on the copious amounts of alcohol in the near future. Hell after all the work you put into that wall I'd break a bottle of champagne over the darn thing when it's finally 100% before your first real climb. Just think of the years of fun you and your buds will have on your very own climbing wall, it'll all be worth it in the end.
Edit: Holy crap, just saw the pics. Looking great bud! What is the green stuff?
IronWing
No Lifer
- Jul 20, 2001
- 72,904
- 34,023
- 136
- May 18, 2001
- 7,882
- 380
- 126
Ok - so it's dark green. I got the whole thing rolled last night, then did some touch-up afterwards with the brush. Green wasn't my preferred color, but I'm real happy with how it has turned out. It looks a little thin in spots, so when I get back from backpacking next week I'll put on another light coat.
One of my climbing partners is going to give me a rope, but I still need to buy a carabineer & belay device; neither is real expensive. I already have 2 harnesses. I'm ready to climb this thing!!!
Things that remain, but can be done after everything else is done...
1. I still have some dirt piled up where I dug the pole holes. Need to do something with it.
2. I need to set the belay pole when I finally get it
3. I need to paint the tops of the platforms & other touchup paint
My 79-year-old Dad has been helping me paint, and it's really awesome to see how excited he is about this project. He's definitely going to climb it... but he also has big ideas about the wall. He's pushing me to finish off the top 6' when I get the money, and wants me to put in more poles to make more surfaces (lol, like I'm going to willingly screw around with poles of death again)
One of my climbing partners is going to give me a rope, but I still need to buy a carabineer & belay device; neither is real expensive. I already have 2 harnesses. I'm ready to climb this thing!!!
Things that remain, but can be done after everything else is done...
1. I still have some dirt piled up where I dug the pole holes. Need to do something with it.
2. I need to set the belay pole when I finally get it
3. I need to paint the tops of the platforms & other touchup paint
My 79-year-old Dad has been helping me paint, and it's really awesome to see how excited he is about this project. He's definitely going to climb it... but he also has big ideas about the wall. He's pushing me to finish off the top 6' when I get the money, and wants me to put in more poles to make more surfaces (lol, like I'm going to willingly screw around with poles of death again)
- May 18, 2001
- 7,882
- 380
- 126
Last night Mrs Ned & I put the 2nd coat of paint on the wall. Weather permitting, I'll install the holds Saturday. I'll be climbing this thing this weekend!!!
Scarpozzi
Lifer
- Jun 13, 2000
- 26,392
- 1,780
- 126
At least you probably won't need to worry about warming up too much or taking a few weeks to get used to it... I imagine you've been climbing that wall constantly just to build it. In my building projects the past few years, I had to do a lot of hoisting myself up on 6x6 posts and climbing up on structures....positioning materials, etc... It's a chore.
I hope you get a lot of use out of it. Just remember that when wood stays damp and warm, it decomposes pretty fast. Make sure you seal the edges of the plywood really well to keep water from getting in...maybe even spray it with some kind of water repellent or rub wax over the painted surface to seal water out.
- May 18, 2001
- 7,882
- 380
- 126
yup - good advice. I started by caulking visible voids in the plywood, both on edges and surfaces. Then I hand brushed an oil-based primer on rough patches, edges, voids, etc. Then I rolled primer on the whole thing. Afterwards, I hand-brushed primer on thin spots, voids, etc... I ended up hand-brushing about a third of the wall. Then I brushed the cutout (voids, edges, etc) with oil-based barn paint, rolled it, re-brushed problem spots, then rolled it again. I think it's about as sealed as it can get.
Scarpozzi
Lifer
- Jun 13, 2000
- 26,392
- 1,780
- 126
- May 18, 2001
- 7,882
- 380
- 126
So...I'm just curious.,..who's the scrawny dude in most of your pictures? Couldn't you have gotten a MAN to help you with this project? Was your neighbor (Earl?) too busy...or were you afraid he'd just leave you buried in one of the holes?
"Carl" moved away a few weeks ago. Our new neighbors are really nice, but from a practical "getting things done" standpoint are pretty much useless/worthless/helpless. In other words, I've managed to graduate into the neighborhood "Carl" position.
Scarpozzi
Lifer
- Jun 13, 2000
- 26,392
- 1,780
- 126
Do you know anything about insulation and/or hanging drywall? =D
I wish I had helpful neighbors, but actually don't wish my workload on others. I think I ran out of friends to volunteer for free/beer-paid labor jobs a few years ago. I can see myself in the future moving out of the can-do/will-do type to just paying people to work for me....it's just going to be a matter of time before I have the disposable income available to pay someone else $15-30/hour for a week.
- May 18, 2001
- 7,882
- 380
- 126
New pics here:
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=ZGs4b1l6MlZoREZlRWNYOUtoLTNxSzllTzlOelBB
The holds are all installed. So the wall is pretty much climbable now, which means that at some level it is finished. There are still a few things left to wrap up on it, at least two of which are pretty important:
1. I need to reinforce all the bolt-on holds - this is very important. I think I mentioned earlier in this thread about the fact that after I had installed about a third of the 1/2" plywood, I checked the hold manufacturer's specs; they highly recommend 3/4" plywood. I read online that on big moves a hold can be pulled completely out of a piece of 1/2" plywood. My plan is to back each bolt-on with a piece of wood or metal with a large washer and another nut. My panel of experts (who I've consulted throughout this project) agree that this should fix the issue. Until I get it fixed (which I'm going to do ASAP), the wall is still climbable, but I have a standing "don't go big" climbing rule to minimize stress on the holds. The screw-on holds are already fine since they are all screwed through plywood and into studs.
2. Minor painting. The plywood on the platforms needs to be primed & painted. It's already caulked, so this should be quick & easy.
3. Cleanup. I still have the dirt that came out of the pole holes that needs to be moved and/or spread around. I'll probably want to plant some grass seed.
4. Belay station. If I can ever get the utility co. to get me another pole, I'll want to create my belay station. This will be a lot of digging & work, but will be a nice convenience for when a lightweight like Mrs Ned needs to belay someone considerably heavier like me.
5. More cleanup. Since February my shop has looked like a tornado raped it.
6. More painting. The backside of the wall is intentionally not painted at the moment. My panel of experts suggested to leave it unpainted until Spring to allow the wood to sufficiently dry out.
It's kind of funny; I haven't actually climbed the wall yet even though it's done. Mrs Ned & I got the last of the holds installed last night, and at the end we were too cooked to drag out the rope & gear to do the initial climb.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=ZGs4b1l6MlZoREZlRWNYOUtoLTNxSzllTzlOelBB
The holds are all installed. So the wall is pretty much climbable now, which means that at some level it is finished. There are still a few things left to wrap up on it, at least two of which are pretty important:
1. I need to reinforce all the bolt-on holds - this is very important. I think I mentioned earlier in this thread about the fact that after I had installed about a third of the 1/2" plywood, I checked the hold manufacturer's specs; they highly recommend 3/4" plywood. I read online that on big moves a hold can be pulled completely out of a piece of 1/2" plywood. My plan is to back each bolt-on with a piece of wood or metal with a large washer and another nut. My panel of experts (who I've consulted throughout this project) agree that this should fix the issue. Until I get it fixed (which I'm going to do ASAP), the wall is still climbable, but I have a standing "don't go big" climbing rule to minimize stress on the holds. The screw-on holds are already fine since they are all screwed through plywood and into studs.
2. Minor painting. The plywood on the platforms needs to be primed & painted. It's already caulked, so this should be quick & easy.
3. Cleanup. I still have the dirt that came out of the pole holes that needs to be moved and/or spread around. I'll probably want to plant some grass seed.
4. Belay station. If I can ever get the utility co. to get me another pole, I'll want to create my belay station. This will be a lot of digging & work, but will be a nice convenience for when a lightweight like Mrs Ned needs to belay someone considerably heavier like me.
5. More cleanup. Since February my shop has looked like a tornado raped it.
6. More painting. The backside of the wall is intentionally not painted at the moment. My panel of experts suggested to leave it unpainted until Spring to allow the wood to sufficiently dry out.
It's kind of funny; I haven't actually climbed the wall yet even though it's done. Mrs Ned & I got the last of the holds installed last night, and at the end we were too cooked to drag out the rope & gear to do the initial climb.
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