Besides having a particularly fitting (and frankly awesome) name for a rugged 19th-century trapper, Manly Hardy was a celebrity of sorts. He had gained fame in central Maine and beyond for his knowledge of plant and animal species of the North Woods, and for his almost legendary exploits of wilderness skill and endurance. In an era of lumbermen, river drivers, and hunters, Hardy knew the woods and waters better than anyone. In the fine style of 1800s naturalists (such as John James Audubon, whose taxonomical methodology for studying new or rare species was shoot first, ask questions later), Hardy put together an extraordinary collection of more than three thousand mounted specimens of North American birds. And he knew how to...
In this episode, the guys give an update on the House By Hand project – the granite foundation was constructed, the sill system is in place, the ell is raised and sheathing is underway, and things are getting buttoned up for winter. Joshua and Mike discuss the ins and outs of repairing old timbers with both structural and aesthetic considerations. There’s a fine line between “patina” and crud, and a major element of the art of restoration is knowing and respecting the difference.
Show Notes:
The House by Hand project
Issue Thirteen
The M&T Daily Dispatch
John Watson’s Artifacts in Use: The Paradox of Restoration and the Conservation of Organs
Nasu had a large collection of hand tools, particularly saws and planes. The only power tools we used were a circular saw and electric plane. We did all the final finishing of surfaces with handplanes. Nasu used an axe for rough shaping and for chopping out plugs. Other critical tools are his kasugai (metal staples, or dogs), of which he had several dozen. We used these instead of modern clamps to pull parts together, align planks, and to secure boards tightly while we glued and nailed them. We also weighted the bottom with large stones to hold it in place, and used posts to brace the planks against the ceiling of the workshop. When planking the sides we depended on...
Last week was a whirlwind. Not only did we process our meat birds and construct and assemble our house sill system, but we also raised the ell and sheathed its roof before this week of rain. We started the ell raising on Monday, assembling the bents (walls) and connecting them with the massive 8x8 tie beams. Because of the need to resolve final details and to make minor adjustments, it took us the better part of a day to raise the first floor. My family was assisted by Mike, Nevan, and Nevan’s partner Jessie. No machinery required – just a rope, a few pike poles, and a pair of ladders. And muscle. Lots of muscle. The rafters went up on...
