The Zen Garden HT - Page 7

Yes, I am now one with the fact that there is no end...only a beginning. I spent some time framing today.




The monitor is awesome, 1920x1200 goodness. Coming from a 20" widescreen this thing is HUGE! It also is very elegant in appearance compared to your average computer LCD.



One of the best parts is that it takes component, HDMI x2, DVI, etc. so I can hook it up to various HD sources besides the workstation. I had planned to use it as a dual monitor setup with my 20". But now I think I'm going to have to get a second one and let my son run the 20" as a secondary with his 22"!

Just under $675 (shipping was $75 of that).

Hanes?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Decisions:

1. I'm not going with a platform in the second row/rear area. Instead I'll just use counter height bar stools that are extra comfy.
   
2. Going with a single 36" door instead of a double door solid/french door type of entry.
   
3. I'm going to extend the studio into the theater space, making it a hybrid.

Actions:

I'm off Monday and Tuesday. The hope is to finish the framing (ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha....)

Others may prefer an official update regarding the demo disc ...which I'm working on right now. Gotta love a dual setup of 26" and 20" widescreen monitors! Especially when flanking the main display are your desktop speakers resting on DIY (ahem, custom) stands!

This little side project has distracted me...I've been trying to replicate these stands. I could only find them in Japan, and the only distributor won't ship to the US (go figure).



So I bought a router, drew it out in Visio, printed the template, rough cut it with a jigsaw, "planed" it with a straight edge router bit, hit the 45 router cut, and BAM! I am now at one with my new ear level desktop tweeters.

At some point Monday or Tuesday I'll be focusing on finishing these off. But, the main priority is getting to the point where I can say the basement framing is done. (and also that the demo disc beta is ready for download)

For those who follow the link, consider this Zen wisdom: "It is like swallowing a red-hot iron ball. You try to vomit it out, but you can't."

Hanes - does your offspring know about all these pics of them you're posting online? I mean, in their jammies - borderline. But featherless and naked!? Definitely FBI material.

I dunno, the guy in that pic looks awfully young to be Hanes.

A couple of questions.

1) Main Cleanout on the rear wall
I'm trying to determine the correct way to frame around the house's main waste cleanout. Is my idea ok?



Proposed Framing


2) A/C Junction Box
So I'm now getting concerned about the ability to really isolate this room. I have a junction box between the joists - directly above the leftmost front row seat. I had intended the main soffit to extend all the way to the wall, enclosing this space. But once I noticed the box I realized a big problem. From what I understand code requires this box to be accessible, with no permanent structure preventing access.

A/C Junction Box inside main soffit




I'm sure I can build some sort of plug similar to windows, but I don't know where to start. Plug the soffit and be done with it? End the enclosed soffit before the junction box, seal it up, plug the ceiling access to the junction box, and then build a false soffit with another plug? How much of a problem will isolation be with this box in the mix?

Thanks!

Builders

I thought about that, but this entire area will be behind the rear bar/sink/rear columns. I should have mentioned that in my initial post. I had already framed the base plate, bottom plate, and top plate (remember, floating walls here) flush with the clean out opening so that when drywalled there will just be the "access panel" slightly raised. This will all be hidden by the interior room finishes.

Anyway, after measuring out my 16" on center vertical members, the plan has to change. Really, my mock up was just to gauge if that general method is wacky.

Got some progress made today. It took a good hour to clean up the mess I left the last time I was working down there. Then came the thinking, the meditation, the drinking, the medication, and finally some work.

This whole framing by yourself thing wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to do floating walls. Black Banshee shared a great method - works perfectly for a one man operation. It's just when using DC04 clips to attach top plates to joists, and then having to float your walls, there is a precise process.

1) Measure/drill/screw DC04 clips to top plate, them hold up and drill/screw to joist (sometimes the other way around) - this is a two man operation.
2) Plumb down from hung top plates to get bottom plate lines (chaulk)
3) Shoot base plates into concrete
4) Stack two 2x4s on the base plate in a couple places (to get a 3" float) and lay the bottom plate across
5) Maintaining plumb and square, drill holes for the 6" nails (nail them in)
6) Measure/cut/nail each vertical member into place (after establishing 16" OC marks)

Whew....anyway, I did all the easy ones today. Tomorrow I'm framing in the windows, door, and that cleanout stack. I hope Mike (from Holmes on Homes) would fall down laughing after seeing my work.

There will be columns, base cabinets, tiling, OC703 panels, etc. I'll upload pics later that show more of the wall for reference.


Yeah, I'm going to have the electrician do this when he installs the subpanel.

And I'm definitely going to need luck getting through this whole build!



Good ideas - I checked out what was directly above and unfortunately it won't work out. I think having someone run a full length is fine in my book. Plus, it's one less thing "the amateur" has to worry about.



Now you tell me!

My floors just aren't level/consistent enough to ensure I'd end up with something square. My neighbor Black Banshee had the same problem with his concrete (same builder). After trying to build walls on the ground with limited success he switched to the method I described and clued me in.



I picked up a Harbor Freight model since it would only be needed for this project. I'll check when I get home, but I'm pretty sure it is the one below.


10 Gauge 6-in-1 Air Framing Nailer

It works just fine. After about six to eight nails the compressor runs for a minute. For my current workflow that is just fine.



Updates with pics AND QUESTIONS will be posted later tonight!