My shed needs a new roof.
I noted a few weeks ago that the roof leaks -- a lot! I've kept a tarp over the riding mower so I don't get a wet butt from the seat, it's that bad. I mentioned that to Her Responsibility recently, so now it has become a matter of some freakin' urgency. I suppose that's why I mentioned it. I'd have put it off for oh, maybe a decade or two, but I knew that if I mentioned it then Her Responsibility would persistently prod my lazy arse until it got done, or otherwise get it done one way or another. Phone call, checkbook, OW! Small teams can work well. We're a small team formed in '81 and honed since. I purely hate roofing, ladders, lugging heavy stuff up ladders and working while kneeling for more than 10 minutes -- not being a senator from Idaho or anything doncha know. I'm a candyass when it comes to hard work. Been there, done that, ah'm reetahred now.
Neighbor Conally called Thu evening, wondering if I had time for and might be interested in a little welding job. Does the Pope poop in the woods ...no, wait, is a bear Catholic... oh nevermind. Sure!
A guy he's doing some remodelling work for needs a gate welded up -- and he needs it by Monday. Code requires it, he'd forgotten about it, and the inspector is coming on Monday. Hm. I asked how big, thinking I didn't want to tackle a 20-foot x 6 foot road gate over a weekend. He said about 28" x 40". Oh heck yes. I said to get or make a sketch, because he or we would need to buy materials yesterday. Con is a craftsman with an eye for design, he'd know what to do.
He showed up late afternoon today, Saturday, with some steel in his van. Awright, let's do it! He said, "by the way, this is a paying job." I said, "ho golly, Con, I'm just glad to help out a friend when I can ... but if a guy were to wanna help me re-roof my shed or anything...."
Done and done. We got the steel all cut to measure and I welded up the rectangular frame today. Material was 1x2x16-gage rectangular steel tube. It came out dead flat and nearly blackout square, with nice mitered corners. Doesn't always work that way because metal "moves" while being welded, but I've done this before. There are tricks. Tomorrow I'll weld in the bars in the middle and weld on the substantial hinges, then we can doll up the welds with anglegrinders. Decent welds don't really need any prettifying, but it's a commercial job so we'll make the outside welds so they'll disappear under a coat of paint. The inside fillet welds are pretty enough as made because they don't show as much as outside welds do. Flat fillets, neither convex nor concave, no boogers, slight ripple. They'll do.
I told Con he should tell the guy he hadda pay time-and-a-half on Saturday and doubletime on Sunday to get this crash job done. He grinned. I hope he makes out like a bandit and gets a hero badge to boot. Rots o' ruck finding a welding shop that would have accepted this job on Friday for delivery first thing on Monday morning, nevermind negotiating a price. Con got 'er done. He da MAN!
Meanwhile, I get my leaky roof fixed by playing with my MIG welder. No ladders, only brief work on my knees and none of that Idaho-style at the MSP airport. How sweet is that?