9 September 2012

After the heavy rain last night, decided to spend some time with my radial arm saw this morning while the woods dried out somewhat.  First ripped a 15° bevel into a 4′ 4x6 post that will be the inside corner of the next turn in the walkway.  Then turned five previously used (i.e., junky) 2x10’s into 21 fairly decent 4″x39½″ stringers and a wheelbarrow full of fire kindling wood. If you don’t know how 5 became 21, recommend you study the “new math” some more. During lunch, reconsidered the design for the 15° bend and decided to use one tall post, vice the regular in-ground post and railing post combination, on the outside of the turn.  That meant digging out the in-ground post already planted there, moving the hole over six inches (which, of course, was right where an unmovable-without-a-backhoe rock already resided), then very precisely positioning (including top elevation) and planting the tall post (on top of the rock and therefore not very deep).  Also planted the 4x6 post.  Put stringers and railing posts on the other two sets of previously installed but unadorned in-ground posts. With all that done, eyeballed the layout for the halfway-there bench seat that will be located just beyond the 15° bend. Moved a couple of large rocks that would have been in the way.  Swam across the lake and back, again without stopping to rest on the west side.