U OF C LAB, CONNECTIONS PROJECT
Day 1, Lumber Delivery
Dec 14, 2011
8hrs X 3 = 24hrs.
Kevin, Mike, and I met at Br’er studio this morning at 9am to receive the lumber order. I was told to expect delivery between 9 and noon, but it was 2 o’clock when the driver arrived. I understand the tardiness, it had been raining all day and the studio was most likely the southernmost destination for Evanston Lumber who, by the way, gave us such an amazing deal on the price of the lumber.
I’m grateful for my cousin Kevin Campbell and my studio mate Mike Herwitt. For they unloaded the lumber shipment for me. I am temporarily out of commission. Nine days prior I underwent knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus and as a result I was wearing in a brace that keeps my right leg locked straight. Doc says I have wear it till the 17th of Jan.
I’m also grateful to have my studio in such a workable building. Br’er Studio is in what once was the Spiegel warehouse and distribution center. The place is huge! The delivery truck and the loading dock are about he same height and that made the job of unloading the lumber that much easier.
SNAP!! SNAP!! Like a starter pistol the delivery driver cut the metal banding that secured the lumber to the truck then Kevin and Mike began sliding the lumber onto a couple of materials handling carts. It had been raining all morning, and, this was a older batch of lumber that had been stored outdoors. This made the LVL’s unusually heavy.
A quarter of the way into stacking the carts we found that the lengths weren’t cross-cut in half as Evanston Lumber previously agreed. Many of the LVL’s were 18 to 20 feet long so I cut them down to 8 foot lengths with a circular saw right there beside the freight elevator on which the longer lengths would not fit. While cutting them in half i noticed two things: the majority of the soaking wet lumber had a layer of mold over the top. It is a setback because removing the mold adds to cost of labor in the form of an extra step to the preparation process. But It comes as no surprise. I’ve done lots of dumpster diving and have gotten products at deep discounts. I find it helpful to my peace of mind and the bottom line to factor in unforeseen circumstances.
Once we got the lumber to he cough floor I ripped thin strips of wood using scrap. This was Mikes idea. As we stacked the LVLs We placed a few of the thin wood strips between each layer. Then we setup two fans at circulate air and dry out the lumber.
(Note to self: heavy lumber lengths over 16′ don’t fit in the elevator. More manageable lengths of stock can stand vertical thought the trap door of the elevator ceiling.)
Garland Martin Taylor 