Monday night we walked down to Downtown Lumber and picked up a 2×6 to start out our deck/fence project. Starting with the fence. Monday night we ripped out the old fence. It was an old chain link that apparently the old lady that owned the place before the dude that flipped it to us paid $700 for. Way too much. We ripped out 4 posts by hand. One that was “cemented”. The last post posed a problem as it was cemented to the foundation of our deck. So I cut it off using the saws-all and covered it with dirt.

Tuesday morning we picked up and laminated the 2×6 to the existing 4×4 deck post added a 4×4 to act as a fence post and lag bolted them all together. 10 inch 1/2 inch bolts are fun. Big hardware big fun. Then we bolted an other 4×4 to the garage as the final post and strung a string between the two end posts so we could line up the 3 middle posts with them so the fence didn’t turn out wonky.

We used fence post spikes instead of digging post holes and cementing the posts in place. They’re within code and as long as you keep an eye on them over the years they don’t move much. Sinking the fence spikes was fun. Push it down as far as you can using body weight then slam those mothers in using a sledge. Once the spike is sunk use the convenient leveling system to level the spike and install your 4×4 post. Easy!

After all the posts are installed it’s quite simple to fence a… fence. We chose a 1×2, 1×2, 1×6, 1×6 pattern. When we got to eye level we left some 1 inch spaces between the boards so that we didn’t close off the yard to the neighbours. It had started to look a little like a wooden wall not a fence.

We fenced by butting the boards right to each other as we wanted a little privacy and as boards sit on a fence or deck they shrink so even when butted up against each other now there will be a space between them within a year or two.

After fencing one section I set my circular saw to the correct depth, made a chalk line using a chalk snap and cut up the fence post. This saved us having to measure every board to the perfect size. We then covered all the ends with decorative face boards so that the screws and ends of the boards don’t show.

We screwed in the last board just as the light was going away. Just in time for a sogie and a beer or 3.

It’s not quite done yet. We have to decide with our neighbours what we want to do with the top. We were thinking copper toppers at first but now after seeing the fence done we’re thinking of just cutting off the posts flush with the fence its self.

(as you can see my camera still hasn’t recovered from the sawdust of the work bench and as far as plans are looking for this honeymoon it won’t be recovering any time soon. Tomorrow we PAINT!)

Not telling! But this is one thing I did tonight after taking my first ride on my motorcycle and it’s something that will be getting some attention soon!

K has been off with her mother printing wedding things using Tanya at Snap and Tumble’s letterpress set up. We’ve rented her home studio twice now with amazing results. Once for our save the dates and once for this big miscellaneous wedding stuff print. So….

Today I got to finally build my workbench in the garage!

I started off the morning by finishing off my air filter rebuild project. I don’t know just how well it’s going to work as the filter component is just a little too small for the airbox. We’ll see. I might have to get another new filter of a larger size and cut it down to fit better if they don’t work well enough.
I don’t want a bunch of road dust and crap in my carbs.
I used hot glue to secure the filter so it should be easy to replace.

After they were done I headed out to the garage. Started up the stereo and got to work. I had drafted a blueprint using Solid Edge CAD software but found out that K had used all the ink in the computer on a One Red Balloon job so I couldn’t print it. So I worked off a better more precise plan.

As you can see it’s very accurate! Especially because the bench is actually 7ft 2in finished AND in the original plan.

I started by building the top frame and securing it to the wall using concrete anchor screws. They worked great and were very simple to use. Just drill a pilot using the supplied bit and then screw it in! I used a wood bit with a countersink on it on the wood of the frame first so that the screws fit nicely against the wood then switched to the concrete bit. Piloting and screwing in the middle of the frame first at my desired height allowed the frame to pivot so that I could level it after getting the first screw securely in to the wall.

I then built and secured the lower frame of the table and secured it in place. So far you may have noticed no mention of legs. I left the legs off so that I could level and balance the table however I wanted to after the major frame elements were build.

I added a leg on either side and some braces in the middle. This leveled out the top and bottom of the bench.

I cut the first layer of the top to size and trimmed off the corner on a 45 so that it won’t be a hazard when walking around the bench. I tested it out to fit and then used the sized piece to cut the hardboard top to size. To secure the tops to the bench I used a pilot bit with a counter sink so that the screws would sink right down in to the top and not get in the way or interfere with day to day use. As a stroke of luck I actually cut the masonite a tiny bit short on the 45. This worked out as not being a bad thing because this way the masonite won’t get chipped from bumps with the corner.

When she got home today K and her mother set to work finishing their headboard project. I’ll make a post about that soon. They also brought some much needed beer.

For dinner we went to Tacos El Asadore on Bloor and Clinton. It’s one of my favorite restaurants. I’m full and happy now.

Moved in!

Winter conditions. My bike and Ben’s bike. The camera lens got a little sawdust on it so the last pictures are a little messed up. The calendars are courtesy of Chris (his working in a metal shop has advantages for me).

Only 7 days till we go to WHISTLER! YEAH!

Last year some friends and I went to the Steam Whistle party and had a blast so there was no doubt on where we’d be going this year. This year they threw two parties one Friday and one Saturday. We secured our tickets within minutes of them going on sale and we were happy to hear that we did because the sold out in less than 18 hours!

I had decided long enough ago that I wanted to be Alan from the movie The Hangover so I was able to grow quite a substantial beard! I searched high and low for an affordable Baby Bjorn even thinking about trying to borrow one from some couples that I know that have recently given birth (Hi baby Oliver and baby Lucas!) But then I found a Snugly brand one at walmart on sale for just $20! Much better than the $150 that Baby Bjorns are! Then all I had to do was go to Urban Outfitters to buy the T-shirt worn by Alan and a baby in a blue onesie and I was set to go. White pants and all!

The party was awesome with some really great costumes. I didn’t have much trouble with people being idiots with the baby except one jerk dressed like Captain Jack Sparrow who kept trying to break it’s neck whenever he saw me. But I put a stop to that after the 2nd time pretty quickly. Who the hell dresses like Jack Sparrow anymore anyway! It’s so overdone! The Joker too. Just lame! Anyway we danced and laughed and I got pulled up on stage by the DJ to show off my costume and I got told I had a great costume a lot so the night was pretty awesome.

My girlfriend dressed as a Flapper Girl and I must say she looked very sexy and was definitely the best flapper there. Jenn was Alphabet Soup (red dress with letters all over and a spoon), Chris and some friends of his were a synchronized swimming team and looked quite ridiculous in their swimming caps and gold one piece suits, Matt was a doctor and Gillian was a Greek goddess.

I was pretty pumped to see that I made it in to the Steam Whistle Halloween party gallery and someone pointed out to me that I also got on to the Pink Mafia Blog.

Here’s some pics from the night and a few from my work party (click to super-size!):