Cabin Tales From The Darkside

You can't be in the remote building business for very long before you have a story or two about how things didn't work out as planned. This particular event occured in 1985 and is an excerpt from my book.
Ken Bunch from Glennallen sent a radio message to me in late July asking me if I would do some assessment work and cabin repairs at his gold claim at Calamity Gulch in the Wrangell Mountains. In order to keep a mining claim active one must do a certain amount of work on it each year and register the work with the claims office. Many people simply send in a phony assessment work claim instead of doing the actual work. But Ken was a very honest man and wanted to make sure he was keeping up with the assessment work as the claim was in the newly formed Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and he wanted to be sure and keep the claim active. We agreed to meet at the May Creek airstrip and he would try and land me with the Super Cub on the mountain above the claim to save me from a day’s hike.
This trip would be another one where everything went wrong from the first few minutes. The first thing to happen was my newly welded tail wheel broke loose from the tubing at May Creek. Then Ken’s pilot, Bernie, who was flying fuel to May Creek with the 206, forgot the staking posts that Ken had left for him.
Ken decided to fly up on the mountain to see if it was safe to land. When he came back he said it was too dangerous so I jumped in the Cub with him and we flew up to the mine and dropped the staking posts that Bernie had gone back to town to get. I could see that the posts had not landed in an easy spot to find and I wasn’t sure if I could find them when I got there on the ground or not.
When we got back to May Creek I strapped on my backpack and headed for Calamity creek, fifteen hard miles away.
I was on top of the ridge above the mine in about three or four hours and decided to take a shortcut down to the mine. Instead of walking down and around the valley I made the decision to slide down a shale slide, thus saving myself at least an hour. It was so steep I lowered my pack in front of me using it as a front brake. Somehow I stumbled and lost my grip on the pack and it started tumbling down the thousand foot shale slide, bouncing and spinning like a boulder dropped on a steep hillside. All I could do was stand and watch.
Not wanting to end up like my backpack, I slowly picked my way down the slide to where my pack was, lying in a small creek. Great, now all my gear was soaking wet, including my sleeping bag. My pack had been bent up a little but was in remarkably good shape considering what it had been through.
I picked my way down the small creek to Calamity creek, which took an hour or so, to find Calamity creek was raging high and I would have to criss cross down the creek because there was no way to walk on the side. It took another hour or so to reach the mining camp and I had fallen in the fast moving creek several times while trying to cross. I was soaking wet, cold, hungry and bone tired. The cabin was a welcome site and I just wanted to rest. When I got into the cabin I found that someone else had been there in the five years since I had been there. The windows were broken and the door had been torn off but it was better than nothing so I hung up my clothes to dry in the breeze blowing through. I was so hungry but too tired to cook. I had been thinking about the food Jim Kohring and I had stashed seven years earlier in the barrel in the attic. I climbed into the attic, reached in the barrel and the first thing I picked up was a can of stewed tomatoes. I opened the can with my pocket knife and ate the tomatoes right there in the attic. Nothing had ever tasted so good!
Being tired and wet I decided to take off all my clothes and hang them on a wire so the air circulating through the broken windows would dry them out at least partially during the night. I then crawled in my wet sleeping bag and immediately went to sleep.
During the night I dreamt that a breeze was blowing gently through the cabin windows causing my wet jeans to slap against the stove pipe they were hanging near. I soon awoke and realized the sound I thought was my wet jeans slapping against the pipe was a more ominous sound. Something was in the other room of the cabin rummaging around. I knew it had to be a bear. My .44 pistol was lying on a table about six feet away so I lunged out of my soggy sleeping bag, grabbed my pistol and climbed the ladder into the attic in one clumsy motion. Here I was, totally naked, sitting in the pitch dark attic with a pistol while a bear was in the other room. I didn’t have a flashlite but I figured the blast of the pistol would light up the room if only for an instant. I crawled as quietly across the attic until I could see down into the other room which had originally been a kitchen. The wild creature was knawing on something and didn’t seem to hear me. I finally shot the pistol out the window and was able to catch a glimpse of a dark furry animal. At first I thought it was a black bear sticking his head up through a hole in the floor but after some time I realized it was a porcupine. With some relief I climbed down out of the attic and chased off the porcupine and went back to sleep.
The next morning I built a fire in the yard to finish drying out my clothes, while walking back into the cabin I accidentally disturbed a nest of hornets near the door and they chased me back into the yard. After while I was able to get back into the cabin and retrieve my gear. While I was looking for the posts that Ken and I had dropped a day before, I had crawled into the underbrush on the hillside behind the cabin. I saw something orange lying in the brush several hundred yards from the camp. There was no reason for anyone to ever come to this place so I couldn’t figure what it could possibly be. When I finally got to the spot of orange I found it was a small orange back pack with the name “Morehouse” on it. It contained some miscellaneous tools in it and appeared to have been there for some years. It dawned on me that Ralph Morehouse, from the F/V Alaska Eagle had mentioned working a gold claim on Calamity creek and that he had air- dropped some stuff that he never recovered. He was going to be surprised when I returned it to him.
I re-staked the claim and did some simple repairs around the cabin and headed for May Creek where I found that Ken had left me some hose clamps and bailing wire to fix my tailwheel so I could fly home. I fixed the tailwheel, spun the prop and headed home, thankful that all projects weren't like this one.



"You cannot be mad at somebody
who makes you laugh -
it's as simple as that."
Jay Leno

Spring is Coming!

With all of this warm weather it is easy to get lulled into thinking that spring has sprung. Don't fall for it, it's a trap.
The spring and summer building season will be here shortly but we still have a lot of winter work to finish. The warm weather actually is not a blessing for us if it lasts too long. Trails get slushy and it makes it difficult to transport materials by snowmachine. Lakes get slushy and nasty for landing planes.
If you are considering a building project this season; now is a good time to let us know and start planning. This season is shaping up to be a very busy one but we still have several start dates available for the summer and fall. We are hearing that this season is busy for everyone which is a good sign.




The more a man knows, the more he forgives.
Catherine the Great

Kits at Last! New page Preview

Friesen’s Custom Cabin Kits
Over the past twenty years we have been asked over and over if we produce kits. We always said that we only build on your lot. Well, now we are producing kits for those who want to do the work themselves and save some bucks.
With our kits you can easily and quickly erect your cabin and enjoy it right away. You can use the money you save to finish the inside.
Each kit will come with a complete inventory list, drawings, directions and an instructional video. We also offer support over the phone or through email. If you run into trouble and need assistance with the project we have carpenters available to send out to your site at extra cost to lend a hand for a few hours or a few days if necessary.
Our packages include:
• Pressure treated 6 x6 pilings
• 4 x 12 floor beams
• 2 x 10 floor joist (pre-cut)
• ¾ Tongue and groove osb sub flooring
• 2 x 6 top and bottom plates ( pre-cut and layed out)
• 2 x 6 studs (pre-cut)
• Tyvek Housewrap
• 5/8” T1-11
• 3/1/8 x 12 loft beam
• 2 x 8 second floor joist ( Pre-cut)
• 2 x 8 rafters (pre-cut)
• 7/16” roof sheathing
• 15# felt roofing paper
• 29ga. Painted metal roofing (Pre-cut)
• Metal roof flashing
• Pre-cut ships ladder
• Pre-cut insulated window headers, trimmers , cripple studs and cedar trim
• Vinyl Windows
• Insulated metal door with deadbolt and lockset
• Framing hardware, nails, staples and roofing screws

Pricing:
Plan #1
16 x 20 Plan #1: $10,995.00
16 x 24 Plan #1: $12,995.00
20 x 24 Plan #1: $15,995.00
20 x 28 Plan #1: $18,595.00

Plan #5
16 x 20 Plan #5: $8,995.00
16 x 24 Plan #5: $10,895.00
20 x 24 Plan #5: $11,995.00
20 x 28 Plan #5: $13,995.00

The advantage to choosing us for your kit is our thirty plus years building in Alaska. We have built in every area of the state and can help you with logistics and planning.

Introducing Our First Kit Cabins!

We at Friesen's Custom Cabins have been toying with the idea of Kit Cabins for almost 20 years. Somehow we have never taken the step. Perhaps we weren't listening closely enough to our customer base. We have received countless phone calls and emails over the years about kit cabins and we're now offering our first kit cabin starting March 1.
Our first Kit will be a 16 x 20 plan #1 and will include foundation pilings, pre-cut floor joist, headers, plates, studs, rafters and metal roofing. The kit will also include four windows, door, steps etc. A short instructional video will also be included as well as an optional site visit from one of our staff to help with any questions.
The 16 x 20 Plan #1 Kit will be priced at $10,995. The advantage of buying a kit from us is our knowledge of construction and logistics. We will be able to assist in organizing remote transportation and finish products as well.
If the first kit is popular, we will introduce more kits as requests come in and offer custom kits as well.





Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.
- Anonymous

Remote Building II: Construction Phase

Most of the problems in remote building are in the transportation. Construction in remote areas is much the same as on the road system but with a few complications. Below are some considerations for the constructioon phase. None of these situations are serious by themselves but they all add to the cost of construction. All of these things need to be averaged into the cost of doing business over the years or a contractor will never survive. We don't plan for mishaps and emergencies; we do however, plan to be ready for them if they arise.
1. Are there existing quarters for the crew or are we bringing our own tents and cooking gear?
2. Is there good drinking water available? We don't want anyone getting sick. We have seen crew members get sick and require an extra charter to get them out and bring a new crew in.
3. What about restroom facilites? This may seem silly to consider but it can be extremely uncomfortable in certain areas.
4. Are we in bear country? Many times we are working in bear country which calls for special measures. Bears can obviously do a lot of damage to a campsite.
5. What about communications? Do we need a satellite phone?
6. Do we have an emergency plan? Construction involves working with tools that can be dangerous and we need to have an extensive first aid kit and a plan to evacuate a crew member if the need arises. (We have had to implement this evacuation plan on more than one occasion.)
7. We need a back up for every tool, especially generators.
8. What if material arrives damaged? Sometimes materials are damaged in shipment and replacements need to be shipped. (Twice we have had helicopters drop loads in the middle of nowhere)
9. Weather can be a limiting factor in some areas. Some days are too extreme to work in and the crew has to take a down day. Too many down days and the crew will be looking for a job in a better environment.
10. Most crew members want to work overtime when out of town. This adds considerable labor costs to the project and has to be added into the estimate.

These are just a few of the issues to consider when estimating a remote project.






"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."
-Walter Winchell

Remote Building Costs I: Transportation

We have been building in remote areas for over thirty years now but every year we get a surprise or two when estimating off road projects.
Whether you are a mile from a road or four hundred miles from the road system; there are special considerations.
Most projects on the road system are relatively simple. You order your materials and have them delivered to the site, give your crews directions and meet them at the site and start the work. Off road projects are more problematic.
It really isn't so difficult to build off the road system. It is extremely difficult to build off the road system and make a profit.
There are many things to take into consideration when estimating a remote project; I have a couple of stories for every question listed below that I will address in future blogs. These are a few of the questions we ask or confirm before starting on a remote project. After building over 500 projects statewide we have run into many obstacles that can be career ending if you figure wrong.

1. Location of the jumping off spot; ie, the staging area. How far is it from our base? The crew will need to be compensated for their time traveling.
2. Is there adequate space for material storage at staging area? Do we need to provide equipment ie. forklift for loading the plane or boat.
3. Is staging area secure or do we need to have someone watching the material while we are transporting. Can we leave equipment there overnight or do we need to take it with us?
4. Is there lodging available near the staging area?
5. Is there fuel available or do we need to bring our own?
6. How far is the site from the staging area?
7. What method of transportation for materials?
8. What method of transportation for crew. (This might seem obvious but if you are barging your materials to Western Alaska; it is doubtful that you will want your crew travelling on the barge.
9. If you are going overland in Winter; What are the trail conditions? Is there any open water or overflow to be concerned about? Do you have to cross any private property? Is the trail wide enough?
10. Is there room at the site for storage of materials?
11. If you are flying materials you may have to provide crew to load and unload.
12. Is there a good landing spot at the building site? How far from the landing site to the building site. (This is very important) What method of transport from the landing site to the building site? Is there legal access from the landing site?(we have faced this before where there was no legal access to the building site from the airport).
13. If you are flying materials on floats; Is the water deep enough to taxi to the shore? Is there any protection from the wind? We have landed in water so shallow that we had to unload the Otter in the middle of the lake onto a raft; push it to shore and unload, then carry the material 100 yards through the swamp to the building site. On this project the transport was almost as much as the construction.
14. If you are flying materials on Skiis; Do you have a way to pack an airstrip for the plane? Most pilots flying heavy loads will want a packed strip, that means a snowmachine or snowshoes.(Lots of snowshoes)
15. If you are hauling by boat; is there somewhere safe to park your truck and trailer? Are there launch fees? Do you have to wait on tides?

These are just a few considerations to make before estimating costs on a remote project. Once you know the conditions, you use experience to figure the costs. More to come in Part II



"I don't like that man. I must get to know him better"Abraham Lincoln

2010 Construction Season

The 2010 construction season is shaping up to be a busy one. Perhaps the banks and lending institutions are lightening up a little or it may be that we are getting accustom to the new economy.
We still have some start dates available this coming summer but they are going fast. There are plenty of spots in the fall and winter however, and we still have one opening for this spring.
Financing procedures usually take several months so if you need financing for summer and fall work, it is best to start now. The paperwork for a construction loan can be very intimidating; don't let it scare you, we can help!
Our pricing hasn't changed since 2007 but we are anticipating an increase this year, we just don't know when.



I am not young enough to know everything
by Oscar Wilde.

Bush Cabin Design

If you google 'Cabin Designs'you will see there are 3,730,000 results. That is the reason it is so difficult to make a selection. In bush Alaska the designs are narrowed down somewhat due to utility.
We specialize in fairly simple, efficient designs that have been proven for hundreds if not thousands of years. As you can see on our website we try to keep dimensions to 2' increments and we don't encourage multiple valleys, flat roofs, round work or dead valleys.
In snow country it is important to make sure the snow has a place to go when it comes off the metal roof to minimize damage and injury. Since many of our structures are not lived in full time; we try to make them as maintenance friendly as possible.
Most people come to us with a plan in their mind. It might be something they saw online or in a plan book. It could be a plan from their past; perhaps their grandparent's cabin from their childhood. One lady wanted a replica of the cabin she grew up in in the Fairbanks area; even the screened in porch with an old fashioned screen door with a spring on it so it would make the same slamming sound as she remembered from her childhood in the 1930's. When we were finished and the door slammed shut; she was very happy as it brought back memories of her past.
Our job is to make your plans fit your dreams within your budget which isn't always easy. The most important component is communication between the client and the designer/builder. The more information we have about your needs, the easier it is to deliver a design to fit those needs. Most designs are a compromise between needs, wishes and budget.
The first step is to have us prepare a proposal for you on a basic plan. If your budget allows; you can add options to it or subtract from it as you wish. Budget is always a factor. I have never built for anyone who didn't have a limited budget for their project.
Most projects take several planning meetings before settling on a plan; however, some folks have been planning for many years and know exactly what they want it to look like.
If you have a custom plan in mind or even a 'bar napkin drawing', that is enough to get started.



Always do right - this will gratify some and astonish the rest.
- Mark Twain

Cabin Financing Part II

The first step is finding a suitable lot. The second step is to view our website for ideas or give us your ideas so we can put together a proposal and some drawings.
Once the drawings are done and the proposal is withing your budget; we will do a quick calculation of the finish costs you can expect and you can go to the bank for a consultation with a loan officer. We have had good success with Alaska USA, Mat Valley Credit Union and First National of Anchorage.
Once you have your loan packet we can schedule an appointment and go over it with you. Then we get bids from our sub contractors for whatever portion of the work you cannot do yourself, do the worksheet, put together the schedule and submit it to the bank for approval.
Some banks will require an asbuilt survey, appraisal and ICBO inspections, so these have to be figured into the final cost. The process can take as little as two weeks and as long as six months depending on how busy everyone is and your schedule. The average time for construction of a residential home by an owner/builder is six months.
Owner/builder projects aren't for everyone but there are a lot of savings to be had if you have the time to keep an eye on the work and the schedule. If you have questions about the process feel free to send and email or give us a call and we can steer you in the right direction.


The next thing to saying a good thing yourself, is to quote one."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Cabin Financing Part I

Financing a second home is much like financing anything else. You need collateral, credit, ability to pay and a down payment in most cases. If your cabin is not your primary residence you may face slightly more scrutiny.
If you are building off the road system with no utilities, it is unlikely that you are going to get a 30 year conventional mortgage. You can, however, get a signature loan or a home equity loan on your primary residence or build the shell with cash and finish it as you have funds. With a dried-in shell you can at least start using it on a limited basis until you have the funds to finish. The danger here is that you can get mighty comfortable partially finished and never get it done but that is another story.
For a conventional construction loan, most lending institutions will want title to the building lot and a down payment. If you're an owner/builder, the bank will want a realistic schedule and a worksheet of the project with bids from sub-contractors for each phase of the work. Or a complete proposal from a General Contractor. You can save at least 25% by acting as your own General Contractor. We have guided many homeowners through the process.
We at FCC specialize in working with owner/builders. We do the design work, help you do your construction schedule worksheet and give you names of our sub contractors for the portion of the work you wish to sub out. Banks are more likely to loan to an owner/builder if they know they are working with a General Contractor for the first phase of the work. At least the bank will have a dried-in shell for collateral before anything can go too far wrong.
Next: Cabin Financing Part II




I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something.
Jackie Mason (1934 - )

OUT with the OLD!

I don't know about you but I am glad to see 2009 go. Most of us saw things in the economy that we had never seen. My dad saw the depression of the late twenties and early thirties and it was far worse.
2009 was bad enough for most of us and we'll eventually be telling our grandkids all about how tough it was. Of course, it may not be over.
2010 holds much hope and we welcome it like we would a rescue helicopter to a sinking ship.
We at FCC were fortunate in that we had new work to keep us going mainly because we've been building here for over thirty years. Newer contractors had a much tougher time and sadly some even had to go out of business.
There are painful lessons to be learned from a recession. We learn to be more frugal and live within our means as a country and in our own families. I am confident we will come out on the other side stronger and perhaps humbled.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM FRIESEN'S CUSTOM CABINS!



"When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all up hill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about, When he might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow--You may succeed with another blow, Success is failure turned inside out--The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--It's when things seem worst that you must not quit."
(UNKNOWN AUTHOR)

Cold Weather Building

There are a lot of myths about building in winter. I have heard for years that lumber splits and shatters when you try and nail it when it is frozen the work takes three times as long etc. etc. etc. It is true that lumber with a high moisture content is more prone to splitting than dry wood, it is generally not a problem with good quality graded lumber. Plywood, OSB and metal roofing is not affected by cold at all.
Cold weather has a negative affect on tools which lowers efficiency and profitablility. Saws, nailers, compressors and generators are much harder to keep running in cold weather unless careful measures are taken.
Wearing bulky cold weather gear also slows down progress, but if the work is carefully planned it can be done efficiently. Keeping a large crew motivated is very difficult in cold conditions so a small crew is ideal.
Anyone can work in below zero temperatures but it takes care and planning to work profitably in those conditions. Once you start getting 10 below and colder it becomes more and more problematic depending what you are doing.
I've heard people say that after it gets below zero it all feels the same. These people have never worked at extreme temperatures. There is a big difference from -10 to -30 and even more at -40 and -50.
We have done metal roofing at -50 but it was very slow. The batteries in our drills would only last a few minutes and it was hard to keep our finger warm. It was doable as long as there was no wind but it wasn't profitable at those extreme temperatures.
At zero and above it is very comfortable as long as the wind isn't blowing. Once the wind starts blowing it is very difficult to stay warm even if you can keep the equipment working.
Most winter temperatures in south central Alaska are only extreme for short periods of time so it is fairly easy to keep working throughout the winter.



Reflect upon your present blessings,
of which every man has plenty;
not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some."
Charles Dickens

Metal Roofs

Metal roofs have become the standard in rural Alaska. Durable, attractive, low maintenance, easily installed, good in wind, fire resistant and great for sliding snow, metal roofs come in several different profiles and many colors. We primarily use the 29 gauge Norclad profile with #14 screws and 15# felt underlayment. We always sheath our roofs with plywood or OSB instead of using purlins.
The roofs are called lifetime roofs and will indeed outlast most of us. There are many of the old tin roofs put on in the thirty's and forties that are still functional.
From a remote builder's standpoint, a properly installed metal roof rarely prompts a warranty call. I have even seen improperly installed roofs perform well.




He who knows all the answers has not yet been asked all the questions. - Author unknown

Cement Based Siding

Over the years, having rebuilt more than a few homes destroyed by fire, a product has become more and more popular. The product is Cement based siding. It is very resistant to fire and looks similar to any other lap siding. The cost is slightly less than Cedar and much more fire proof. It needs to be painted but is pre-primed and takes paint very well.
With Cement based siding and a metal roof your chances of catching on fire are greatly reduced.
If your lot is heavily wooded with spruce and you want a little extra peace of mind, cement based siding might be a good option.
We don't have pricing for it on our site yet but we can easily figure it for you on an individual basis.







Where you end up isn't the most important thing.
It's the road you take to get there.
The road you take is what you'll look back on and call your life.
Tim Wiley

Thanksgiving

Everyone has heard all of the Thanksgiving cliches so there is no need to repeat them in this blog.
On Thanksgiving day take one minute (use a timer) and count all of the things you have to be thankful for. If you are an American, you can start with being thankful for our troops overseas who leave their families to fight and even die on our behalf. Then continue on to hands, feet, eyes, senses, air and the ability to breathe it. By the time a minute is up you will probably think of many more but if you can't that's OK, at least you made a start. In the worst of times there are always many things to be thankful for.
Many people have so many extreme problems that they really can't see their way to be thankful. It's not that they are unthankful, they just can't see through the fog of their misery. Remember, there are always people that are more miserable than you. Reach out to them with a kind word or a smile. It may do you more good than it does them.



The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." Oscar Wilde

Alternative Heat

There are many ways to heat your home or cabin depending on the availability of electrical power. In this article we are going to address heaters that don't require electricity.
We really have three choices in rural Alaska. Oil, Propane or Wood. I am going to talk about Oil and Propane. Natural gas will not be part of this conversation as it is not available where there is no electricity.
Propane is simple because it has pressure so you don't have to worry about placing your tank higher than your heater. There are a number of propane heaters that can vent through the wall and are fairly efficient. You can also use the same propane tank to power lights, stove, refrigerators, and water heaters which can really simplify things. The disadvantages are that propane doesn't produce as many BTU's per gallon as heating oil, it is a little cumbersome to haul around and it doesn't flow well at minus 40 and 50 unless you have a very large tank.
Heating oil will yeild approximately 35% more BTU's than propane but you have to weigh the cost of each fuel to make a good decision. Most efficient oil heaters that vent through the wall require electricity. This is because the efficient heaters have electronics and heat exchangers. There are many oil heaters that work without electricity but they require a chimney on your roof. The advantages are more BTU's, fuel oil is a little easier to find and transport and #1 fuel oil will flow in any temperature.



Luck is what you have left over after you give 100 percent. - Unknown

Contractor Licenses

I have never been one to berate anyone for not having a licensed contractor do work for them, after all they are usually cheaper than legal contractors. There are risks however, and the longer I am in business the more stories I hear and the more calls we get about finishing work for unhappy homeowners.

Story #1. Homeowner hires an unlicensed contractor to help with some carpentry work. Nail bounces into contractor's eye, gets bill for $13,000.00. (ouch!)

Story#2. Homeowner hires unlicensed contractor to haul materials to jobsite. Contractor gets seriously injured on ATV. Requires medivac, surgery, re-hab etc. etc. etc. Homeowner's insurance has to pay over one million, cancels policy. Very difficult to obtain insurance with a million dollar claim on record.



There are many stories like this, most include a bankruptcy filing for the homeowner. It is a good idea to request license and insurance paperwork from your contractor. Odds are that everything will be fine but the longer you live the more you have to live by the law of averages. It is like the law of gravity, you can't ignore it.

"You can't learn everything the hard way" (Anonymous Contractor)

Honda

Over the past 30 years or so I have experimented with many different generators. Then, about ten years ago or so I bought our first Honda EU2000. The search is over! The EU2000 is the most powerful small generator I have ever used. You can actually run two Skill 77 worm drive saws at the same time. Best of all, it uses very little gas. Need more power? Buy two EU2000's and hook them together with the optional connecting cord and you have 4000 watts of quiet power. The inverter on the 2000 is a Tru Sine inverter and you can run computers, charge batteries and sensitive equipment without damaging.

Under 50 pounds, it is easy to carry and stow in an airplane, sled or 4 x 4 trailer. At around a thousand bucks, that's only 50 cents per watt!

There are plenty of small generators out there but for dependable power the Honda can't be beat.

The only disadvantage I have found is that it doesn't want to start in cold weather. You must keep it from getting too cold, by that I mean below 20 degrees. Fortunately, it is small enough to fit into a car, truck or even a tent to warm it up.

“Whatever you are be a good one.”~Abraham Lincoln

Firm Foundations

The subject of foundations will bring up heated discussion whenever you get a group of builders together. Block stemwall, styrofoam block, Helical pier, Triodetic, All Weather wood, Steel piling, post and pad, sono tube, wood piling, slab on grade, mono slab and ""just do it right" with poured walls. Of course there are many other types but these are the most common for residential construction in Alaska, we have used each one of them at one time or another.

The truth is, all of these foundations have their place. Not one is right in all applications. Location, conditions, application, availability of materials, time life and cost all go into the equation. Post and pad is a staple in Rural Alaska but you wouldn't use it in Anchorage or hardly anywhere else on the road system. Block and Poured walls are common on the road system but you won't see it in a rural village as the cost for transport is too high.

If you're building a small vacation cabin you are not likely to use poured walls or block as it will bust your budget. You're not going to pour walls, lay block or pour a slab on perma frost either.

There are many foundation systems to choose from based on your location, soil conditions and budget. Whenever I hear someone say they're going to do it the 'right way', I must ask myself, "according to whom".







Never answer an anonymous letter~Yogi Berra

ICE TRAVEL

Ice travel is taken for granted here in the Greatland. We at Friesen's Custom Cabins make our living by hauling materials and transporting crew and supplies over the ice.

Traveling on the ice can be deadly if precautions aren't taken. More than one unlucky soul has lost his life and many more have lost vehicles and equipment by falling through the ice. Most of us judge ice conditions by past experience or by watching what others are doing. You don't really want to be the first person of the year to drive on the ice nor do you want to be the last. I have attached a link that will help you in determining whether it is safe to travel or not. Give yourself plenty of margin for error and you should be fairly safe.
TIP: For testing ice depth, you can use a chain saw. Just run the bar down until water starts coming through the hole. Measure your bar and you have a very quick way of checking your ice.
In March and April your bar is not going to be long enough but by then you'll know you have plenty of ice for most activities.

http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/ierd/ice_safety/safety.html


"There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day." ~ Alexander Woollcott

On Burning Wood

Ah, the smell of burning wood. It is the aroma of winter in most of our state. With new technology in the past few decades, woodstoves have become more decorative and more efficient.
The days of the old barrel or sheetmetal stove has given way to the modern internal damper and catalytic converter with external make up air and little tiny fireboxes.
I have to smile when I see a finely stacked woodpile with very finely split dried wood. Most wood in these wood piles are what I would use for kindling. Why do so many people split their wood so small?
For almost forty years, I have been burning wood. I rarely split wood any smaller than what will fit in the firebox. The bigger the firebox the better. Unless you are using a wood cookstove, which is extremely rare these days, you don't need to split the wood so small. Try to resist splitting small round logs at all. They will hold a fire much longer if not split
Also, try mixing in a little green wood. If you fire up your stove for fifteen or twenty minutes each day to get the stove pipe nice and hot you won't need to worry about creosote.
If you get worried about creosote, drop a tow chain down the chimney and swirl it around for a minute or so, this will knock any loose creosote off the inside of the chimney.
Also, take the chimney cap off at the beginning of winter, this will allow better flow for the smoke and keep creosote from gathering on the cap itself.
More about burning wood on future blogs.







To rejoice in another's prosperity, is to give content to your own lot: to mitigate another's grief, is to alleviate or dispel your own. Thomas Edwards

First Blog Jitters

Oddly enough, I have never read a blog, let alone posted one, but here goes. It looks like we are into a normal winter, even if we got off to a slow start.
We are hoping for plenty of ice on the lakes and rivers and enough snow to make travel smooth. I guess that's like asking for a perfect winter. Not too cold but cold enough for thick ice. Plenty of snow but not too much to keep the ice from getting thick. Cold first so the ice has a chance to get thick, but that makes the frost in the ground go too deep and freeze water and sewer lines.
Oh well, we'll have to settle with whatever we get.




"An optimist will tell you the glass is half-full; the pessimist, half-empty; and the engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be"
Short and funny quote by, Anonymous.