Reclamation – Cast Iron Railings

As we are doing up our house on a budget, we have to take advantage of opportunities as they turn up. About a year ago the chapel up the road was being demolished. For modest sum we acquired enough of the original Victorian Cast Iron Railings to fit in front of our house. I reclaimed some Oak Panelling for our living room as well. I’m kicking myself for missing out on some of the Stained glass windows that would have been fantastic for the conservatory.

reclamation victorian cast iron railings

Victorian Cast Iron Railings reclaimed and refitted

After a year wrapped up in, hidden from the prying eyes of scrap gatherers, I final got round to fitting the railings. It’s involved a fair bit of learning, discovering how they where originally assembled and fitted. It’s not nearly as simple as fitting wrought iron railings with bolts etc.

Its been worth it, buying direct from the demolition site was a lot cheap than going to a reclamation yard or architecture antique dealers. Fitting it myself has got to have saved a small fortune over using a specialist, I don’t think many regular builders would have had the patience or skills to do a good job.

 The results make an amazing difference to the look of house. The neighbours are impressed and it gives me more of nudge to get cracking on with the rest of front of the house.

Full details of how I’ve fitted these can be seen here – Reclaimed Antique Cast Iron Railings

Please leave me a comment if this info is useful, your reclamation, restoration railings worked out differently or you have any suggestions.

 Thanks, Andy

J9M23WA6FGXT

A Childhood Dream Come True – Woodland

We’ve gone out and bought ourselves a Wood!

The most common reaction to this news is WHAT?

Answer:  Just over 7 acres of woodland.  Close to where we live.

Followed by WHY?

Answer:  Think about it … did you ever what to have your own woods? 

It was only when I realised it is possible to buy a wood, that I remembered it as a fantasy from my childhood. Wendy felt the same way too. As it happened, she had just seen in the local paper,one was up for Auction!

In a bit of a dreamy state, I thought this is possible, we could do it. Then reality kicks in, it’s got to be financed, it’s got to be worth it.  Not just in pure financial terms (although the figures do add up) but we need to get lasting pleasure from it. 

Compared to a Mid-Life crisis kind of purchase, like a flashy sports car, I think it’s a great choice.  So that was it, decision made (After due diligence and all that.)

We love it and so do the kids. I just need to sort my time out so we can be there more often for the pure pleasure of it.

On top of that, I’ll have the logs for the wood burner. Timber for my woodworking and a host of other ideas that keep popping up.

Bee Keeping, Woodland crafts, Low Impact Living (28days per year), coppicing, mushroom growing, etc.  

Drop us a comment if you can add to the list.

I’ll keep posting what we’re up to, anything really informative I’ll put on the website.

In the mean time, this is something of what its all about:

Bluebells in the Wood

Click on the photo for more pictures

Get in touch or comment below if you fancy a print of any of the pictures.

Or if you want to know more about how buying a woodland happens.

Unexpected Results from The Law of Attraction and Visualization

Does this mumbo jumbo stuff; Law of Attraction, Visualisation, Mind Mapping, Nuro-linguistic Programing Stuff actually Work?

I’m a Skeptic when it actually comes down to shelling out my hard earned money for programs, e-books, seminars and like. But! there is something in it, I’m sure of it, I’m going to try and convince you.

I can’t pin down when I started using an unconscious version of these sort of techniques. I think It was probably just the way I was brought up. So I have a lot to thank my parents and the adults in my early life for. If I wasn’t surrounded by people, parents, family, surrogate “uncle and aunties” positive teachers through my formative years, things could have turned out differently. Over the years I just absorbed fairly positive attitudes that became part of my nature.

It wasn’t all sweetness and light, plenty of times I messed up, got thing seriously wrong and I struggled getting through. I guess I had enough programmed in to me to eventually work things out, learn and move on.

For me, there was no “one big thing” no Eureka moment just a gentle drip feed. Bits of knowledge, wisdom and experiences that sort of made sense and stuck in my head somewhere. I’ve not really thought about it in a structured way until recent years. It’s just been a 44 year process that’s got me to where I am.

This brings me back to the title “Unexpected Results from the Law of Attraction and Visualization”. I’ve only just asked myself “Do these kind of techniques Work?”. Now I can look back at my life so far and say Yes! Even though I didn’t know I was using the fundamentals of these techniques.

Unexpected – Well I certainly didn’t expect to find a proof, but in my perception of my life, I’ve got the Results. Thinking back, so many of the twists and turns of my life have ended up going in a direction that have worked out well. I don’t believe in luck or fate. As a child, the course I was set on was a manifestation of the thoughts involved with the nurture I received.

 What if Your Mind Hasn’t been Wired That Way.

What about those people who didn’t get set on a positive path? Or those who have been “re-programmed” in adult life. Those who’s negative subconscious is preventing them from moving towards any form of solid contentment.

Advertising, TV, Politics, Marketing, Society, Herd Mentality are working on the subconscious from an early age. If you haven’t been given or built up your defenses, the subconscious will have a powerful negative bias to desire what you don’t have.

If your subconscious mind is programed for desire “I want, I want” then there’s no space for appreciating what you have. If you can’t appreciate what you have, then “I want MORE” kicks in. This spiral of desire leads to constant frustration. The frustration is projected externally “It’s some one else’s fault”. As it’s someone else’s fault, the real causes (lack of appreciation), is never cured.

When you believe that someone else has do something to make you feel better, give you satisfaction, you’re stuck! Stuck in a deep rut .

The programs available to buy in to and sign up for, should be able to help you re-program your subconscious but there is a dichotomy. You sign up because you expect someone else to provide the answers. They are often sold as a way for you to get what you want. They are marketed to your negative “I want” brain. Can you see the conflict?

Of course, if they don’t work, It’s not your fault! It’s someone else’s fault. Never mind you can always buy another book, course, set of DVD’s, seminar because you still want what you don’t have. At the moment this is a highly profitable industry based on desire.

I can envisage the Gurus peddling these systems will realise the dichotomy. The psychological processes that underpin the systems do work verses the exploitation of this reality being self defeating for majority customers. 

A New Way To Make a Massive Difference to the World We Live In

If the Gurus truly believe in what they say they should promote their systems totally for FREE. A radical proposition but it should work. The systems are based around a psychology I believe in, “My Unexpected Results”. When I appreciate what I have, I end up doing well. I’m Grateful for that.

If the skills were given to me by a stranger, I would feel grateful to the point of Generosity towards them. I would also be inclined to evangelize their system of thinking. Financial or otherwise the giver would be richer. The world would have many more positive, generous people in it.

If the knowledge, insights and techniques are freely given, then received in the right spirit, they will work. We will all reap the benefits for generation to come.

PS. I sat down to write about the woodland we now enjoy. Somehow the thoughts went elsewhere. I don’t quite know how or why but it seemed worth allowing the change of direction. Here’s the picture that was going to accompany it.

tree canopy with copper beech

A strange change of thoughts starting with a Image

Sliding Sash Window Design (Double Hung) History

The Sliding Sash Window, or Double Hung Window as its called in America, is showing a massive upsurge in popularity. 

It’s an fantastically successful design. A 100 or 200 year  lifespan is proven.  Compared to around 20 years for uPVC windows, the timber sliding sash window is a winner. 

In these days of energy conservation the traditional Double Hung Sliding Sash is unsuitable as a replacement window.  Unfortunately the tradition design is unsuitable for fitting the double glazing units that regulations stipulate. 

Many companies now manufacture alternative designs, some good, some in my opinion, very bad.  It’s obviously a highly profitable market, with strong demand and high margins. 

A couple of years ago, I embarked on project to build my own double glazed sliding sash windows.  No suitable plans where available so (as a trained designer) I set about  researching the subject in great detail. 

This post relates to the my Synopsis of  sliding sash window history.  Read the article over on my website.  

Various window designs including Double Hung, Sliding Sash

An understanding of historical window designs to inform 21st century developments

 

I’ve analysed the construction details of the Box Sliding Sash. (Available soon.) This has allowed me to fully understand the tried and tested construction. It highlights where, in the light of modern developments, the design can be evolved.  I’ll be publishing construction details and plans for an evolved, traditional sash window shortly. 

The final part of project will be available as a set of plans, details and explanations for a 21st century fully evolved sliding sash windows.  Combining technology with craftsmanship, these windows can be built in a shed with a minimal investment in tooling. 

Any comments or thoughts or INTEREST ? Please give me you feedback below. 

Historial Influences on the Design of Sliding Sash Windows 

Prototype  Window Build Blog

Wooden Motorbike, A Fantasy brought to Reality

What would you do to win a £20?

A Friend from Ireland has spent about 700 hr’s of hard labour to win a £20 bet from me.  He had to build his fantasy wooden bike before I finished my trike.

An amazing amount of fantastic craftmanship and inginuity has gone in to the build. The result is stunning. 

You’ve seen it here first. Expect to see it featured elsewhere very soon!  

Kieran's woody Wooden motorcycle

A proud but insane man

If only the engine was running, I’d have handed over the winnings.

Have a look here for more details  and pictures

If you want to know more about this wooden motorcycle project , just drop me a comment / response and I’ll see what I can do.

How to make a DOOR

Making a Door isn’t the average DIY job but with the right woodworking tools  and the right information its not too difficult. I’ve made my own timber front door and recorded how I’ve done it.

Have a look to see if it’s something you fancy tackling. I’ve included all the design and dimensions for making the door. Written and videoed the processes for a step by step, how to make a door guide.

Follow these plans for victorian style door and the ‘how to make a door guide’ to end up with a door like this.  

Victorian Style Door DIY how to

 

If it’s been a lack a available traditional style door plans that has put you off in the past, my appologies, now you have no excuse not to make you own door.  

Timber Exterior Door Design

DIY External Door Design and Proportions

Door Tenon Theory and cutting

Door Mortise Marking and Cutting

Timber Door Fox Wedging mortise and tenon joints

How to make the raised panels with basic router cutters

Router cutting custom timber mouldings, again with basic router bits

Please let me know in the comments if you know of better/easier ways of making a similar door. Or if I’ve not included enough detail.

Head Cam Video DIY

Something that’s been brewing in the back of mind for while. Videoing the Stuff I Do as I’m doing it.

An old motor bike helmet with the head of a tripod bolted on and hey presto, my DIY Headcam. And it works, here’s the first test –  

DIY Head Cam Test

And the first How To video

I’ll need to get a bit slicker but it’s something to work on.

Making a Front Door heads the to do list

(All the Door design, build, details, videos etc.  are POSTED HERE)

A  new year and fresh resolve to get some jobs finished.  I’ve bought the timber for making my sliding sash windows and got pressed in to another job. 

Whilst I was getting a big order for timber together, the wife asked me about the front door I said I was going to make. So I added a few extra length to order and now I’ve got another job on the list.

Never mind, I’ll enjoy it when I’ve started.   The trouble is starting, I’ve spent hours trying to get my head around Sketchup and only managed a visual representation.

Victorian style front door half glazed

Sketchup of Front Door

After spending ages creating this I literally went back to the drawing board. Within half an hour I had got all the proportions right and all the dimensions for the timber sections.  Paper and pencil, a fantastic combination.

Link to the full details Timber Front Door design details. Includes- using the Golden Ratio to get the proportions right.

Buy to Let Mortgage Update

I detailed my search for a mortgage a few months back.  At the time I applied for NatWest mortgage.

NatWest ended up refusing me. Not sure what the real reason was as they gave me conflicting answers when I asked. I think it just boiled down to them not wanting to lend.

Next I tried the Bank of China mortgage option. This would have been good, it was only after I had applied that they told me they don’t do interest only. So another dead end.

After another few hours searching I found that the Post Office mortgage offering looked attractive. The information on their website is quite exceptional. All the criteria is laid out so you can asses your chances before applying. The Post office mortgages are arranged through Bank of Ireland, another source I had investigated. The only problem was an exclusion for re-mortgaging within 12 months of purchase.

The 12 months are now up so I’ll need to do another search to see if the market has opened up with any better deals. If I can’t find a better deal then I’ll be going with the Post Office.

Extreme DIY – Double glazed Sliding Sash Windows

* Extreme DIY Warning * This is project not for the faint of heart.

I have already built one sliding sash window as a working prototype. It’s been installed now for for over a year and I’m happy with the basic design. For more details of the prototype build please visit my Sliding Sash Blog.

The next step is to have a bit of re-think on some of the details and make five more for the rest of the house. At the same time I’ll be recording, photographing and possibly videoing how to make them.

The intention is to provide the resource I was looking for when I started out on designing and building sliding sash windows a couple of years ago.  I would have been quite happy to buy the plans at the time but could find any.  Details are available of traditional single glazed windows but double glazing means quite a re-think.

The cost of purchasing modern sliding sash windows from a manufacturer or skilled joiner is way out of my budget. I’m also not convinced that all the design details they incorporate are appropriate.  It seems to be a booming market at the moment and I think there are some poor designs being manufactured and sold for a lot of money.  I want  design that will work for many years, that looks right and doesn’t cost the earth.

This leaves me with the only alternative to design and make my own sash windows.  

I have spent hours and hours researching and testing various ideas to come up with a near perfect design.  I’m hoping it’s going to be worth it. For a start instead of paying around £1000+ per window I should be able to build my own for less than £300 each. On Six windows thats saving me more than £4200. Certainly more than enough to pay for the extra woodworking tools I’ve had to buy.

On top of this I intend to sell the plans as a e-book to those who appreciate the effort I’ve put in and fancy benefiting from the time I’ve spent. 

When I’ve finished this batch I will have the plans, construction details and methods completed.  These will be formatted as a step by step guide to building your own Double Glazed Sliding Sash Windows. 

I’ll also but some articles together that covers the subject of sliding sash windows, double glazing in timber and the rational behind the design that I’ve put together.