Summer’s big project begins.
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They say that Louis XIV had the inscription Ultima Ratio Regum cast into all the cannon of the French Army. It means “The Ultimate Argument of Kings,” and that always struck me as one of the most honest and up-front things any ruler or would-be ruler ever said. “We can dress it up prettier than this, but when it comes down to the unvarnished truth this is what it’s about: You’ll do as I say or I’ll send my goons to kill you.”
I thought about that for a long time. If there’s an ultimate argument, it seems only logical that there must be an ultimate answer. For years I thought the ultimate answer must be the bullets in my rifle, but it never seemed quite right. I’ve got bullets – he’s got frigging Cannon Balls. I mean, if there were three hundred million rifles throwing bullets at him, then maybe. But we all know that’s not going to happen. So if there’s an ultimate answer to his ultimate argument, it sure as hell ain’t bullets.
It finally came to me – and that’s when I abandoned the city and most of my stuff, and gave all that was behind me a good stiff Randian Shrug.
The ultimate answer to kings is not a bullet, but a belly laugh.
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Nice, I hope the project goes well.
Where is the gas powered post hole auger? That stuff looks baked & mean to dig through. Here I live on a mound of clay which is a bear to drill or dig wet or dry. I figure you don’t go more than 24″ down to get below the frost line, here it is 48″ (SW MI)
Looking forward to a summer-long string of interesting construction posts.
Take your time on layout. Measure out in two locations to establish right angles, then cross measure on the diagonal to make sure it’s with 1/4 inch of square. You might say “jeez goober, it’s a cabin in the desert ” I’d I’d reply “every building material made by man assumes a straight, square building and you’re gonna find it much easier to spend time on the front end making sure it’s square rather than the back end fighting an out of square building.”
Also, do the same thing when you frame the walls. Measure on the diagonal to ensure square. Sheath then stand.
Source: 20 year commercial construction project manager…
What Goober said. And Edward. A clamshell digger just doesn’t make it. Congratulations, looking forward to posts on the progress and the news that you will be sleeping without having to climb a ladder.
Do not forget the 3’x4’x5′ rule.
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/more/how-to-square-joists-deck
Screw that “square” bullcrap! Be creative! It’ll keep you from getting bored later…
}:-]
Makes ya wonder how ya got the existing structure assembled without all this help.
That said, square IS good.
😉
😀 It was a struggle, as I recall. Nobody on the Internet to give me advice, just half a dozen people who showed up with tools! Looking back on it I wonder how I got by.
That said, I discovered with pleasure two years ago when we (finally) did the siding that the structure had remained remarkably square. The dimensions were a little … random. But the corners were square.
Random dimensions vs square . . . square wins
😉