Cattle Panel Hoophouse, Part 2

Sounds like you have really been busy Milissa. Sorry you couldn't come along for the ride. It has been real interesting. Lots of new people with great ideas and really good imaginations. That is what makes it so much fun.

Kind of helps thru the winter months too. The seed catalogs are starting to come so that helps the winter blahs too, if there is such a thing between the holidays. Not much time for the net, but I am sure there will be after the first of the year.

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving and looking forward to Christmas??

Jeanette

Hi Jeanette and all,

We're back. Lost about 4 or 5 babies but that was it. Out of the hundreds in there that wasn't bad. This weekend will be a major test of the Hoophouse since we expect to drop into really low temps. I'll be running both the propane and the electric heaters . Propane on low and the electric will be adjusted as needed.
Now having worked in the hoophouse I can definitely say that come spring I will upgrade to a Harbor Frieght GH. I need the square walls and headroom for lights which the hoophouse doesn't offer. Aside from that the hoophouse is very nice. If someone has small trees or tall perennials there is enough room for many plants. With the double walls it certainly has kept the cold out so far. I won't be posting everyday because the holidays mean more chores (lots of baking) and more social events to attend so less time to be online. I'll certainly try to post if I see something noteworthy happening in the GH!
There are currently 4 drums half full of water in the GH and I will be adding one more since they also hold my shelves up. Tomorrow I expect will be my last chance to finish filling them since the weather will turn Friday morning here.

MollyD

Hey Molly!! How was your Thanksgiving??

What made you decide on a Harbor Freight GH? That is funny. My daughter is going to get one of those also. At least she is considering it. It is the only one she has talked about anyway. That, and possibly making her own. She figures on taking the winter to look at plans etc. She has had one of the molded fiberglass ones that I gave her when I moved and couldn't take it with me. It is the same shape as a HH. She wants one from HF for the same reason you said.

Good to hear from you again. Show up when you can.

Jeanette

Okay, Melissa, long time lurker, first time poster! lol
Went & bought me 5 cattle panels, lumber, rebar, & a bag of zipties to build me a GH per your first thread post.
Got a male friend & BF coming over tomorrow to help me get this thing up.
Cost for a 21.6' x 8' gh is less than $150 @ this point.
More to follow.

Not bad Smockette, I hope you bought film, floppies, or whatever for your camera 'cause we do expect pictures. Have fun, you will have a good time with that much help. Keep us posted.

Jeanette

Hello to everyone. My DH just built this GH for me. We used the 5'X20' cattle panels for the height. They cost more but it was worth it to me. Total size is 8'X15'. deb

Front view

Wow! He did a great job Deb. What did he use for the ends? I didn't know the panels came in 20 foot long. So, how tall does that make it? That really looks nice. Now, what are you going to use for shelves, or? AND what plants are you going to put in it? Do you start seeds there?

I see you are a zone 8b. Does that mean you will need to, or try, heating it?

Very nice! Jeanette

Hi all,

Well we had a nasty wind storm pass through here Thursday well into Friday. Wind gust of over 60 MPH and my GH did just fine. Not a single piece of film moved and the temp inside held at 57. I was very pleased with the whole thing.
I'm still debating between the HFGH and making my own. Every time I get almost committed to a HFGH someone mentions the flimsy frame. I received a sample of Solexx in the mail this weekend. Does anyone know how it compares to the twin walls in the HFGH ? I may opt to build my own frame out of wood and cover it with Solexx. Their web page is www.greenhousecatalog.com . Not cheap stuff but installation looks simple enough.

MollyD

Molly, that is wonderful that your gh stood up to such high winds. And, the temp held great. Listen, my daughter is on one of the other threads in this gh forum, and one of the fellas in there tells how to reinforce the HFGH while you are putting it up so it works well. I will try to find out which one it is for you. Maybe you could talk to him about them.

Jeanette

Thanks Jeanete. I'm aware of that person. According to him it would still need shelter on one side and I can't give a GH that. Mine is out in the open. I read the GH forum over on GW and someone there went through the same storm I just did. Their HFGH didn't make it. Blasted apart into pieces. The frame was twisted and not usuable after that. They had re-inforced the frame too.
I'm leaning more and more towards the Solexx over a wood frame.

MollyD

Those look pretty nice Molly. I ordered their catalog. Jeanette

Hi Jeanette, I guess it's probably about 1/2" thick house siding on the ends. The height is around 8' tall. We were able to put all the potted and hanging plants inside. DH built a work surface between 2 2X4 supports and I can walk around that to get to everything. I do have some babies (TX mountain laurel, bouganvillas, etc.) that all seem to be doing well. We put 2 clamp lights in for the cold nights, so far so good. Had winds up to 40 mph and it stood solid.

deb

Sounds like a good success Deb. How cold is your outside temps for just the 2 lights to keep your plants going? I used to live in zone 8 in Seattle and had a greenhouse but didn't use it in the winter. Guess all of my plants were annuals.

I'm so HAPPY to share my NEW 12' x 16' HOOP GH with yall!
I did raise it up above ground level with 3" of sand and 6" of gray pea gravel.
Have (8" x 8") drainages ditches on the sides and back, and with plenty of pvc water lines. Also electric with a electrical fan vent (recyle house roof vent) in the back. The walls are 48" tall, (1/2" ext. plywood) before the panel wire was added.
This GH can easily be move to another location, if need be.
I have add 2 (14 x 27") small front windows and the 4 mill plastic. On the ends of the panel wire, I cut an old waterhose in half. An place it over the wire so the plastic wouldn't tear an staple the plastic under neath the 6" wire over hang.

The gravel helps keeps it warm and there's a small ceramic heater set on low during the night with 2 heat lamps in the middle. The temp stays about 20 degree's warm than outside temp. Will be installing a timer for the fan, during these warm winter days it does HEAT-UP!
Now whats left is to build a few tables...........

I've very HAPPY with my new HOOP SUN GH, I do have small Tin cover SHADE GH for cuttings & a green panel GH for shade lovers. My new SUN loving salvia's love there HOT house too!

There 's only one problem, it's not big enough!!! lol!!


I want to say THANK YOU to ALL who share picture's of there HOOP GH!
There's just so MANY WAYS, you can build a HOOP! And all those pictures got me thinking on my own speical design, which I wanted more width & taller walls!
I did my research thanks to you guys, and here's what I can up with!

Donna

another picture

Donna,

Fabulous job! I just love your hoop house!

MollyD

Donna, Wow 12 x 16 !! That is very impressive. You are so right. That is the first thing you learn. That no matter how big you make it, it isn't big enough. LOL

When are you going to start your second one? LOL. Don't say I said it. You are going to love it. Keep us posted on what you get growing in it.

Jeanette

I have not been on this thread before but toured it tonite. A year ago, we made a shelter out of cattle panels and although it isn't a hoophouse, maybe I had some ideas y'all can put to use.

We cut these with a cordless saw which worked great. We could let the weight of the blade make the cut. I wrapped the sharp ends in duct tape the first year but when I had to redo it this summer I covered the ends and edges with pipe insulation. Our heat eats this plastic quickly. DH suggested using plexi but I am holding out for a "real" GH. I think I will get shade cloth to see if I can make it last two summers with protection!
Check it out....
http://davesgarden.com/journal/edit/viewentry.php?rid=115015

Podster, this is so interesting. You lost me in a couple of places. First, I was wondering what the framework was in the first picture. Then in the last one I believe you called it a "bacon rack"? What is that? Is that framework made of wood or metal?

Then you said the plant area was 5 feet deep. Yet the whole thing looks pretty good size. Are you talking about t feet from the doorway wall to the opposite wall? Or, the plant space on each side of the door?

I never thought about making straight walls up a ways and then arching the roof. That is really something to think about. Do you think the winter heat from your heater is what weakened the plastic? Did you use 6 mil plastic the first time?

That is really interesting. I am so glad you posted. I especially liked your journal. Thanks so much. Please keep us up on your findings and what you continue doing.

BTW, What a wonderful Christmas flower that white Brug makes. It is beautiful!!

Jeanette

Hi Jnette ~ Thanks for touring it. The Brug isn't really a Christmas flower but was a wonderful surprise and fragrant too.

I did use 6 mil but the winter heat didn't damage it. Our summers are h&#$ish and they did it in. I couldn't find a 6 mil that had UV protection but just got a catalogue that had some listed. I am going to order shade cloth for this summer and keep my fingers X'd.

This wasn't a good example because the bacon racks are recycled metal racks that came from a closed meat processing plant. I was using them to hang plants on and in winter would drape plastic over them. I thought why couldn't I incorporate them into a sort of semipermanent structure. This was the result. The 5 feet was from front door to back wall. This is a side view so you can see how awkward it looks....

BTW, DH says is was a reciprocating saw or sawzall that cut the panels so easily.

Looks pretty darn ingenious to me

That's a 25 cent word! I been in east Texas too long. Thanks for the compliment ( I think ).
The shelter is usable and was trying to make do with what I had... plus a little. You have all posted some great ideas on this thread too. I haven't taken the time to tour the previous linked forum but I will ~ I've enjoyed reading this one so I know the last one will help too. Thanks, pod

pod,
you give me another idea!!!
A neat coop house for my peafowls!
Way cool!
Donna

This type of shelter would be excellent for fowl of any sort, especially in our milder climates.
Using the bacon racks worked well for plants as they had the cross braces to hang plants on or to put cut pieces of cattle panels for shelving to hold pots.

Pod, I know the brugs aren't Christmas flowers. Just my weird sense of humor 'cause I can just barely get any to bloom in the summer. Yes, that is another use for these cattle panels. I even thought of using one of those igloo dog houses for the night time pen for chix. Inside the cattle panel pen of course. Just some more imagination going crazy.

I see the 5 foot now Pod. Ask your husband if it takes a special blade for the Sawzall to cut the wire. Many years ago I used one of those to cut a hole in the roof of my house for a triple walled chimney for a fireplace I installed. A real bugger working with one overhead. That was for the ceiling of course. He must think I am crazy.

Isn't it funny how we can put things to use? Thinking of your bacon racks. My daughter works in a pharmacutical store and they often get rid of display racks so that is what she has in her gh. Nothing matches but they all work.

Jeanette

Jnette, I truely believe in recycling and I have seen so many cool ideas on DG. Those display racks are versatile and handy. And most businesses will throw them out or give them away. We had a 2nd hand store for awhile and gathered many of them from businesses.
The "tool guy" says no special blades to cut the cattle panels. It did help to have a new one LOL. We tried the bolt cutters and that was tough. Probably would still be working on it. With the sawzall, you could prop the panel against the trailer we hauled them on and let the weight of the saw make the cut. It was easy enough even I could do it. Can't imagine trying to work overhead with a sawzall... not to mention the mess in your eyes. BTW, if you do this, please wear eye protection and I used leather gloves. Still have scars from some of the sharp ends...
I have found the white Brug absolutely does not want to bloom in our heat of summer. When the days turn cool though it takes off. I have a yellow that will bloom thru the summer and a pink that blooms sporadically. I think different ones react differently to the weather. Don't know enough about them but I like them!

DH is getting nervous. I asked him what kind of saw we had used. Then the man from the feed store was in the shop and I asked him how much cattlepanels sold for now. $ 16.95 but probably going up with the next order because of metal prices and fuel costs. Then I asked if it took a special saw blade (metal cutting blade). He said what do you have in mind? Had to explain it was y'alls fault! He thinks a good set of bolt cutters would be easier than the sawzall because it vibrated alot. I probably couldn't use the bolt cutters tho.

Bolt cutters are really pretty easy to use..esp on something thinner..they are designed so that the cutters do most of the work for you.. Hey.. you could buy the bolt cutters for your DH for Christmas..he's be thrilled!! lol

Bolt cutters are way easier to use than a sawzall. I love tools but am intimidated by a sawzall. Bolt cutters, if sharp, are quite easy to operate. I use them all the time to cut large sprues off jewelry. I just put one handle on the concrete floor with the item in the jaws to be cut, then push down on the other handle, and kaping! It is done. You would need a large pair for that project.

Jazz, you beat me on posting, but getting them for her DH is a great idea!

Bolt cutters hmmm. We got four pair, three different sizes. Thanks for the thought but I'll let the "tool guy" pick out his own toys. He can buy me tools for Christmas and I'll just buy him a few new plants. : )) pod

Hey Mulcher, what are sprues on jewelry? Bolt cutters yet!! That must be awfully big jewelry.

Yeah, I think I will stick to the bolt cutters on the panels. Don't have a sawzall anyway. Thank Heavens! I forgot to say that that ceiling I was cutting was 1x6 knotty pine and had been in that house since the beginning of time so it was really tough.

Too old for that any more. You all have a good weekend.

Jeanette

In lost wax casting, sprues are the pathways through which the molten metal travels to fill the cavity which is the hollow form of the ring or whatever. These sometimes are fairly large, even when the finished piece may not be particularly large. They have to be big enough to carry the molten metal everywhere it needs to go before it freezes up.

The more time I have spent on the original wax, the more heavily I am inclined to sprue it, particularly large flat items like this belt buckle. I figure I can saw them off, but it is a major pain if the piece miscasts due to a shortage of sprues. I rarely have a miscast.

That is really cool. Do you do this for a hobby or a business? I can see what you mean now. What is the metal?

Let me guess. You started as a hobby that worked into a business? It is beautiful.

Jeanette

I was a full time jeweler for many years, now it is part of my business rather than all of it. My husband and I own an art gallery and we make jewelry for it, we both also paint, and we represent 15 or 16 other artists.

That one is a 14k gold belt buckle we custom made for a good client of ours. It has turquoise inlay and also some elk ivories from the client.

Very nice. It shows your experience.

Jeanette

I haven't posted in quite a while. It's 4:30pm and the temp outside is down to 13.5 We had a little sun today for the first time in about 5 or 6 days. In the greenhouse it's 62 degrees. That will drop to around 55 during the night. My little greenhouse is holding up nicely so far.
The only problem I've had is trying to find a propane vent free heater that will work for me. I need one with a thermostat which my current Big Buddy doesn't have. It doesn't shut itself off when it gets hot in there. I tried a 20,000 btu but it would shut off after a hour or two in spite of the numerous air gaps around the door. I know my greenhouse isn't airtight cause when the wind blows hard the pool cover inside moves. I thought maybe I should downgrade to a 10k btu heater but when I spoke with a dealer today he felt the other one had been faulty and that the 20K was what I needed. So tonight I'm heading out to see if I can find anything locally. I looked online and in addition to shipping charges they all want to charge separately for the stand! Locally the stand is included.
My plants are growing nicely. I have about 40 seeds that haven't sprouted but about 600+ seedlings growing in there. I'm pressed for space! I've already decided to build a larger greenhouse this year with about twice the space. I'm going to make a wood frame and use Solexx panels with the solar pool cover on the inside.

MollyD