Project the project

Five Douglas Fir brackets need to be built per the intended design. The smallest one will be cut out using only a template. Two of the brackets include a piece with an inside radius shape of 3′ 6″ and an outside radius shape of 3′ 11″. The remaining two brackets include a piece with an inside radius of 9′ 0″ and an outside radius of 9′ 5″. A trammel was built for the router and the first pass resulted in the intended outcome.

The Grainchek app will provide a platform for documenting each of the steps taken and how much time was spent. Each pass with the router is documented so that it can be determined if a band saw cut might have been more productive. With a few router passes documented, the total time needed for the project can be projected.

analytical Building review

A recent opportunity to read through the 99 cent walking guide of the small capital city of Augusta, Maine, began to open the world of analytical or critical review of architectural design. Aside from very poor editing the guide brought to attention the details and history of buildings that are passed regularly otherwise without notice. Descriptions of Norridgewock granite and the original budget for the Lithgow Public Library of $51,850 are combined with details of the lives of Francis Henry Fassett and Sebastian Spering Kresge to spur images of the great effort and persistence behind design, construction and operation of these built spaces that anchor the capital community.

The Grainchek mobile app is intended to be a versatile platform that can be used for documenting a similar personal or professional review of a building or community. A feed is created that documents each corner turned and angle observed. The moments and passing of time are recorded and then shared with those who can appreciate the details and experience.

recoat in 1-4 hours

Sherwin Williams Multi-Purpose latex primer notes that at 77 deg. F and 50% relative humidity my coated panels should dry to the touch in 30 minutes, ready to recoat in 1-4 hours. Now, when did I start painting? In the Grainchek app I will be able to look back through my daily feed of events and check when I started the different phases of work for the day. I’ll also be able to share the progress with the Sherwin Williams team and get project specific tips.

These shaker type stile and rail flat panels will be going in around a jet tub as a skirt surround. They need to be prepped to handle some moisture so I’m priming them on all edges to better seal the wood to minimize absorption and prolong the life of the wood and painted finish.

practice data model

As we build the Grainchek mobile app a key component is the function of the feed. A feed needs to report to the user how many hours were spent on the tasks included. A feed has a time range, list of tasks it adds and possibly a list of sub-feeds to be included with the original. Each event in a stream should be counted in the feed only once if it falls within the time range and list of tasks for the feed. In the model above how many hours should the P1: F1 accumulate? What about P3: F4? Which feed should I look at to see how many hours were spent on break for the first day of P2?

In the Grainchek app we also need to be able to handle a data model similar to the one above. When a sub-feed is included within another feed, only events that are included in all time ranges should be accumulated. When a feed specifies tasks of a sub-feed, only those tasks are accumulated from the sub-feed. How many hours should P1: F3 accumulate? This user is using P2 only to accumulate other feeds.

Before and After

These three windows allow direct morning sunlight into our kitchen over a run of upper cabinets. The post and beam framing of this portion of the house was much rougher, possibly originally for a shed type area? The new trim will need extension jambs to accommodate a variance between 3/4″ and 1 1/2″. I cut these wedge shaped pieces on the table saw using a simple sled: holding the cut lines on the edge of the sled and screwing into the back of the trim piece.

I’m a carpenter more than an app builder but I have a team that has come alongside me to build the Grainchek mobile app. It’s been a lot of fun to see the design come together! I look forward to tracking and sharing projects like this on the Grainchek platform.