Easiest ShopTalk in a long time.
As you probably know, son G2 may be coming back this winter to build a home down here. Despite his role as medical director on a 750-tradesman server farm build, even he knows there’s a lot left to learn about housifying. So I did what any proud dad (with a keyboard addiction) would do — I cooked up a straightforward guide that turns homebuilding into a recipe.
It’s called:
“The DIY House Bible: A Practical Guide for First-Time Builders”
It’s not complete, but you can at least get a sense of where the alligators are. This isn’t some glossy, blue-sky bullshit brochure. It’s measure-cut-join-finish wisdom. If you’ve ever thought about picking up a hammer or saw, this one’s for you, bud.
SX-32: Whether to Weather
With the new Evolution table saw up and running – just the ticket if you want to build a quick 3″ square tube rocket stove en masse – (because you can cut mild steel on it) – the only major projects around here get around to ham radio.
The only change I would make to the saw, by the way, is for them to lighten up on the glossy print on the box – which looks great and I’m so sure there’s a retail point to it, but the shit will not burn worth a damn (high clay content papers are like that) so if you buy and Evolution and IF you have a burn barrel, don’t be in a hurry, yeah?
OK – hot weather and now we’re into the time of the year when full-scale ham radio nonsense lands in the office. All the projects are lined up BUT I still don’t have the kick-ass old school general coverage receiver. (Well, except the Hallicrafters SX-26 Super Defiant). Imagine my surprise when an SX-32 in reasonable shape popped on eBay Saturday for $89-bucks! (OK, over $200 with tax and shipping, but still..)
Roosevelt’s Radio?
Yes, that’s right: I love working on old-time, old school tube type radio gear. When not mashing down the frontiers of domain wall-scaling which is a whole other deal.
If you remember your history> Franklin Roosevelt used to sit in the Oval during WW 2 and listen to reports from all over the world – BBC and American networks. (Like Trump, but without a social account, one imagines.)
His radio of choice was a Hallicrafters SX-28. Which was a dandy radio because it had two (not the usual one) R.F. Amplifier. In a superheterodyne radio, having two RF amplifiers between the mixer tube and the antenna- makes it harder to intercept what the receiver was tuned to. this “RF oscillator leakage idea was a key element in one of the late Clive Cussler’s novels, with Jack Du Brul, too. *(The Sea Wolves…Isaac Bell Adventures #13.)
Understand I have always wanted a perfect SX-28 for my desk. Thing is? They run about a kilobuck (or more – and this is before shipping – for something totally minty). This SX-32 (which is even more rare, ergo a better “investment” in the hobby) is a great $89 wish-filler.
The SX-32 is almost (but not quite) identical to the coveted SX-28-A. Similar push-pull 6v6 audio output and I have the right speaker in the collection already. Except that the SX-28 has a bass boost while the audio curves of the SX-32 are a bit more “vanilla” but “have soldering iron, can fix” is the motto here.
It should be a great deal of fun. And besides, once it is back up to spec and a mains-powered Heathkit Q-multiplier is added, it should be fine as a low band receiver and it might match up with the Globe Scout (and either the HA-5 VFO or the Globe 755).
Only five months from Straight Key Night so times a-wasting! Planning three classic tube rigs for the event this winter: The SX-32 (or Super Defiant) and the Globe, the Gonset GSB-100 with Thunderbolt amp and Drake 2B/BQ, and last but not least, the Hallicrafters SX-117/HT-44/ and Loudenboomer amplifier. I will doubtless burn your eyes out on the electronic trivia behind getting ready…
An Advanced Ham Radio Note
A side of RF engineering with that coffee for you? How about we delve into why some ancient tube type transmitters may have “punched above their weight” on the air due to scalar effects from poor circuit design?
You will love this paper… The Knightmare Loop. All may come back to a quirk in neutralization…but that will have to wait for lab time this fall…
With temps here due north of 100 Wednesday, Mr. Ure is planning some “kick-it” time on 20 CW and time working on the next book…
So for now, shop reorganizing and praying for cooler weather will be occupying most of the coming week. Along with the new crowns being installed by the dentist, which verily, verily, reduced the flow of play money for the month a bit…
Write when you get rich, it cools off, or we get a “false peace” to stall the global war in the fall, It will be a bonus if we all make it to SKN…
George@Ure.net /ac7x
Three Stooges – House Builders clip
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6a0puVEfhhk&pp=ygUbVGhyZWUgU3Rvb2dlcyBidWlsZCBhIGhvdXNl
Another book well done, George.
Stay safe. 73
it would be a good thing for ‘shop talk Sundays’ to have a new project to follow,,,, building G2s house
but today’s topic of radio is out of my knowledge acquired, but the straight key night does remind me of what little morse code is retained to memory from Boy Scout days
I see Obumma remembers … — …
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/07/team-obama-concocts-silly-scheme-try-rescue-themselves/
did we UNbend the antenna support tube ? yet?
angled emission vs horizontal,,, Earth to Mars,,, Elon can you copy?
I actually think that its important to have the communication potential..I to only seen key coding ..and if the academic studies written by the esteemed researchers has any credibility at all.. IF… the what if nuclear war did happen..all that would be around is about one large city neighborhood.
watch the show.. ALONE.. talk to some old person in a nez rising facility patiently waiting for loved ones to walk down the hall.. communications and human contact..in the diary written by a farmer that was asked to travel to Russia to assist the farmers of the day that didn’t have any contact but the rumors of the Bolshevik taking out the Romanov czar and his family of Marie Antoinette that lacked insight and refused to listen to the needs of the country.. communications…human connection.. the odds are that no one would have theabi?it to send a message.. the ionosphere would be knocked out longer than below that would be disrupted temporarily.. but having the knowledge that there’s someone other than yourself..its like an island.. if you dont have it you won’t get it.. my beleif that everyone is a genius .. a pyramid exists because of the strong base we don’t know everything and brings the us motto united we stand..the Amish and Quakers everyone has their gifts..I’ve read surgical manuals stood through as an observer student and watched surgeries being done.. I van guarantee you you wouldn’t want me there that’s not in my skill set..like the t-shirt saying goes..I’m not a gynecologist but ill take a look ..
we need that..I have a ham receiver.. if or when communication came up again I’d be seeking information.. how bad is it.
Don’t forget the lowly angle grinder! The one power tool not mentioned is not only my favorite, but the one I have many instances of! Mostly I use it with a cutoff wheel, but have used it for virtually everything else too.
The most difficult part of building anything is either dealing with regulations and bureaucracy or finding ways to avoid it. Second is concrete work – relatively permanent but exhausting bull work – especially if working alone.
My suggestion is where possible, never rent tools unless they’re never going to be used by you again. Tools retain value and the only downside of owning them is finding a place to put them. Owning a small tractor with a loader or a skidsteer helps enormously, as does owning a few sections of scaffolding and planks for access as you go up. You can’t place a ladder against a wall until it exists!
I needed a 10-foot standalone ladder for a one-time antenna project. Investigating a ladder rental at the orange box store, I found that for three days rental, I could own the ladder! Yep, bought me a new 10-foot ladder.
I mixed mortar at age 7 for my father’s cinderblock laying for our basement, we had to carry water from a creek in the woods about 1200 ft away.
We made our ladders from 2×4’s. A big step was when he made a table saw from 2×4’s (no adjustments).
I still have the motor and bearings, all from a nearby Sears.
great memories mate . good on you . cheers
(“G2 may be coming back this winter to build a home down here. “)
lol lol it brings back memories of me building my first home.. no money to do it..what to do.. I had read as a boy that during the depression and ww2 that lumber was in short demand..so much so that The returning soldiers could afford to build a home..
https://rexresearch1.com/HouseConstructionLibrary/RammedEarthstructurescodepractice.pdf
then one day I seen one of the building that was built be the college back then..it was amazing already fifty years old and strong as a bunker.. just dirt sand or gravel and a little Portland cement.. I visited with a professor at a local college on this and he gave me the name of a professor at Kansas state .. teaching his kids how this was done… he decided to teach them compressed earth blocks and rammed earth..
https://rexresearch1.com/HouseConstructionLibrary/CompressedEarthBlockDesignConstruction.pdf
it became a dream.. could i.. I tried to get the building permit but they said stick build only.. where in the hell was I going to get the money to buy wood..rammed earth or compressed earth blocks was a way I could actually do it.. anyway rammed earth and ceb blocks became a dream..they found the best mix was 5+3+2 five parts gravel or sand three parts clay two parts portland..
anyway I found an old three story barn..the wood was mine if I took it down..while dismantling it on one of the most beautiful places on earth they had the old ice house..god I could have built a beautiful earth termed home there..
at the lumber yard I seen a video.. beta where a beautiful young blonde built a home in thirty minutes..lol nope even though I said yeah I can do that…I found out all the hard parts was skipped over lol..building the house was a big job..luckily I got some friends that helped and the walls went up quick..( not so on the second house I built)
I still want to build my dream house..At church about fifteen years ago a group of missionaries was giving a talk about their mission.. to build sustainable housing a church school and clinic.. so I got with a company that builds manufacturer that sells CEB blue to presses and had it sent to their mission vilkage.. they eventually sent a nice letter and photos of their progress..it was beautiful and felt good.. I had one of those presses sent to myself to.. but shipping it to me was very expensive ..
https://www.scribd.com/document/463515735/Shot-earth-for-sustainable-constructions-pdf
now I read a book with n earth create and my first home came to mind when digging the footings by hand I didn’t have the money for the proper aggregate I used gravel at fifteen dollars a truckload.. so earthcrete does make sense.. like rammed earth but a little more water in the mix..
https://directives.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files2/1720529713/Chapter%2014%20-%20Shotcrete.pdf
https://shotcrete.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2008Win_Morgan-Totten.pdf
I built a framing table for my second hoome.. the easy way to lay the walls out on walls that has a wall butt up to it I put a nail board..sure takes the work out of it.. I met my friend that gives lectures wit TED because someone at one of his lectures told him he should meet this idiot .. been a long time now..
$15 a truck load? that must have way back before the turn of the century.
you cant aget 15 tons of 5/8 gravel chip for less than $265 and that is just for the rock. it doesnt include the 4 axle, solo Dump Truck cost of $150 an hour round these parts.
both LOB and N___ post are written exactly in the same patterns.
seems to me at first glance, only one person is doing the thinking in that relationship.
ha ha ha.
Rock is a lot higher than that here, Andy. Not sure about East Texas Outback.
LOOB and I write from the perspective of owner-builders.
I live close to a quarry.. if I pick it up ..have my own truck its less than twenty a ton..having a load delivered today its around two hundred..for a dump truck load.. I wished I lived closely Ser to the coal mines..the cost of coal is like forty a ton for rock and twenty for fines..heat you home for under a hundred.. i have a multi fuel stove..I converted the burn box to turn it into an exhaust re-burn .. the problem was transporting it.. we got a semi load for two grand..I wish they’d make a mixed pellet ..three parts saw dust one part coal dust both trash disposable that would produce a good heating fuel cheap..
What’s even better is for the quarry to get to the rock..they shave off the black soil then the clay..pile it up.. if you want a load of clay and you load it into your own truck it is free.. if they have to bring a loader to load it then you pay for the loaders time..my grand kids would ride with me to scoop the clay in the back of the beast .. the sand dam prettiest quartzite sand I’ve ever seen so fine .. nice stuff..
for the grand daughters wedding they just gave me the washed river rock for the table candles..I was only getting a pickup load.. the daughter just used white quartz for her pool landing ..because it wasn’t that much just scoop what you need..the charge comes when they load it and haul it..
(“$15 a truck load? that must have way back before the turn of the century.”)
nope back middle eighties.. when my wife and I got together nurses wages was only 4:50 an hour an area was 3:50.. when wages started to heard up the hill the question was asked during g a meeting why nurses assistants couldn’t make five dollars an hour ..the facility director said if we wanted to pay nursing wages we would put nurses in that position.. that was the year of the attack on the twin towers..
you were just a young man then your the same age as my kids so you would have been in the early twenties or late teens..
you probably was only concerned about the physical alliances between women and men.. even now wages are up but not up to livable.. you have to clear twelve dollars an hour just to pay for low income housing..which means the average hourly wage earner family has to bring in more..what’s kept the noodle moving on the economy is cheap
products and easy credit..
Yo Loobster,
Color me confuzzled..why oh why dont youse make Ure own 3 parts sawdust and 1 part coal fines Pellets ?
Loobs Doobs – 3-part Sawdust and 1 part Coal – The hottest and cheapest Fuel this side the Rockies. Make Ure dollars burn and heat longer with a 50Lb Bag of Loobs Doobs!
hell you gotz cheap farm labor – grand kids to help make the Fuel, keeping Ure cost down. Plus a lil hard work is good for…Ure bottom line!
(“Yo Loobster,
Color me confuzzled..why oh why dont youse make Ure own 3 parts sawdust and 1 part coal fines Pellets ?”)
I do make a mix.. but i don’t have the money or access to the funds for the equipment to produce it commercially.. shipping from the coal mines to the wastelands is expensive .. There isn’t any way I can take advantage of the opportunities that cross each of us by. its the same with cherry pits and walnut shells.. perfect opportunity to convert trash to treasure but I’m …what’s that word…old, ugly and poor lol lol lol couldn’t even get bank funding by offering to give a sloppy toppy to the banker lol lol
after that comment on the mariners game it flashed
LOB (Left on Base)
Mairners 24
Angels 25
since i am now mariner and have been called an Angel many times. i take that as a Win Win.
What kind of… ANGEL… lol
Pickup truck?
Pick up TRUCK? Hell, I can hardly lift a lawnmower any more…
I know farmers that keep an old dump truck around just for things such as picking up rock directly at the quarry etc..
Sure they only use it a few times a year, maybe have to do two or three trips compared to modern trucks, but when you can use one now and then it sure saves a LOT of money vs contracting out the need to transport something that it takes a dump truck to move.
George,
In your spare time (if you have any), go to YouTube and search: Waynesville North Carolina Hamfest and watch the video. You will see quite a few old radios, both Ham and commercial ota. We did have a great turnout for our Hamfest and maybe you can come and join us next year.
Thius video would be great – it’s the cleaning up the drool that would be unfathomable
The latest things in home building is “cool roofs”, “cool paints” and fire-resistant paints. Probably worth looking into all.
I haven’t seen roofing dual rated for hail and “cool” properties, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one out there. The hail resistant shingles can knock hundreds of dollars off the insurance bill. Just don’t put them over existing roofing. The “cool” roofs pay for themselves with the electric bill.
I haven’t seen a fire resistant “cool” paint yet, but I am looking.
If you put in central heat pump, pay attention to the ducting. If if the supply registers aren’t aren’t sealed tight, you suck nasty dust out of the attic. If I were doing it over from scratch, I would use two ductless mini-split heat pumps, one with two zones, with each big enough to get by with if one fails. In G2’s position, a back-up woodstove would be in order, unless he wants to put piers in to support a masonry stove.
If I had it to do over again, I would have but masonry piers in under the slab all over, instead of waiting for the inevitable slab issues on black clay. It’s cheaper up front. That would have worked well with gutters for water collection.
I would suggest a detached solar equipment building, and avoid DC in the house. Put in two electric panels everywhere you would normally use one. The first panel has large 220 VAC loads and grid receptacles. The second would be a sub-panel with a transfer switch to allow swapping between solar and grid. On the second sub-panel, I would put lights, fans, some receptacles, and maybe a 120 VAC washing machine and dishwasher. Big 220VAC loads and grid receptacles stay on the main panel. I would also consider a generator transfer switch for the second panel. Use bigger panels than your design indicates.
Designate a 30 amp two-pole breaker on both panels for a whole-house surge protector. The goods ones run $500 apiece these days, so I would at least budget one for the initial build.
Don’t put light circuits and receptacles on the same breakers. I would suggest putting in both grid and UPS receptacles (clearly marked) for the computer desk, entertainment or comm location, the refrigerator, and the microwave. Maybe the washing appliances as well. I would probably put the remaining receptacles off the solar subpanel. Garage and outdoor receptacles need to be thought through as well. Same for a Ham shack.
Large 220VAC loads like a central heat pump, strip heaters, or an electric water pump aren’t good candidates for solar. 120 VAC mini-splits are a toss-up. Having both a grid and a UPS receptacle for those would allow seasonal load balancing. There are some high end UPS systems which can supply both UPS and bypass power as solar permits, but I am not particularly in favor of getting dependent on manufacturer-specific solutions.
Most of the things I brought up today are things which I would like to have a do-over on. Remodeling is damn expensive, so it is best to get things right up front. “I’ll fix it later” is a tiger trap you want to stay out of. Some things I did do right:
Moisture and fire resistant sheet rock have been around for a while. If you are planning on being out of the house for months at a time, best to use moisture resistant sheet rock, with waterproof wallpaper instead of texture. No regrets.
I would also suggest looking into borate insect treatment. Up front, with bare frame and sheathing, it is cheap to do. I recommend it highly.
‘https://loghomemart.com/products/tim-bor-insecticide-fungicide?variant=31496871313517
Last, I screwed in aluminum angle along the outside plate to keep insects from crawling up from below. I also put a line of boric acid on the bottom plate before closing up the outside walls. I still need to work on pipe entries in a place or two for scorpions. Insects are much worse in the country than in town.
Maybe metal framing? Starting to see some residental construction around here using metal framing vs. wood framing.
Of course metal framing is virtually REQUIRED for all commercial construction around here anymore … insurance … so the bigger builders are all set up to do it just as easily as wood framing, actually it is probably easier for them since they don’t have to do as much cutting since the framing materials come already cut to length.
in G2 case, a wife and kids.
“if you build it, they will come.”
~ Field of dreams. ~
2 boys and a girl is what i spy with my one good eye for G2 future, when he is ready.
i imagin a fella like G2 is similar in nature as me will also synch up with his own, younger very beautiful woman in Universal Grand Ways.
much like I did.
speaking of field of dreams i saw that Mariner Cal Raliegh hit his 40th Home Run last night. and is on the fast track to beating the Home Run Record for MLB this year. Good for Him. of course Barry set the all time home run record pissing dirty.
Cal is constistantly being tested and comes up clean.
his nick name is The Big Dumper. and you see all these people around seattle wearing T-shirts with Cat 797 Mining End Dumps on them that have his name witten upon them.
The Big Dumper won the Home Run Derby and recieved Most Valuable Player in the All Star game. again. Good for him.
funny, and coincidently i went from driving Cat 797 End Dump to back to seattle to become a Sea Fairing Mariner. hmmmmm….i wonder if i will break the spiritual Home record this year most deffinently pissing clean.
since i am from Keen eye Alaska home of the Big Dipper. the great gold pan in the sky.
i do find it interesting that the small town local fella who drives #55 won the 360 Nationals last night against all the High Dollar fellas from California. super good race!
He also Won the Big Dirt Cup Race, $108,900 purse earlier this year against all them big sponsored rich kids.
and when we had the Nascar Circut 200 lap race at Evergreen Speedway another fella driving a #55 won that race.
55 seems to be the Lucky Number this year.
good talking with you again. i need to get busy making breakfast.
GOD is in the WIN!
Que: ~ Heart Like A Truck ~
https://youtu.be/rNReepITjN0?si=9VYaAUbvJpNF2_wo
Lainey Wilson.
Andy, I hope you’re right! I just put a deposit down on an oldie but goodie – I hope. A somewhat ancient Oliver *super 55* diesel tractor from the 1950’s. It’s been worked hard and put away wet, but the engine sounds good, it drives OK, and I have an old gas version sitting around here way past it’s prime for spares. It’s a good fit in my stable, though power steering would be appreciated.
Good luck with your new adventures!
https://jacksonpowersteering.com/about-2/power-steering/
I was one of his betatesters. Otherwise I’d never have been able to justify the kit for my Jubilee. It is double-actuator, but feels like the old Saginaw (recirculating ball) MV power steering from the ’50s and ’60s. I didn’t look, but I’m assuming since there are a half-dozen competitors now, he will have come down in price.
BTW, he offers personalized service, but I could not get him to send Lisa to help with the uh, tool fitment…
Yes George, “if you build it they will come.” was the whisper on the wind the fella heard
in ~ The Field of Dreams ~
i always pay close attention to the whisper on the wind.
because that is direction to the where, Dreams really do Come True.
like i said yesterday Mr Ure.
“The second dream i had i made a grand slam home run.”
Ure Welcome.
you tell G2 Andy said, bases are loaded, play ball, Bring em all home!
good talking with ya again young man. now, i have fun and adventure to attend too.
until we meet again.
Interesting, as I sat yesterday by a lake with some ducks too had a whisper in the wind. It was within minutes of your breakfast post Andy. Shortly after I received a very direct follow up in my feed.
https://pepelivesmatter.substack.com/p/gods-pathway-to-your-promotion
We’ll All Go Together When We Go”:
https://wapo.st/3J6GVeA
Tom Lehrer, a social and political satirist who amassed a devoted following in the 1950s and 1960s for routines featuring blithely subversive musical numbers such as “So Long Mom (A Song for World War III),” “National Brotherhood Week” and “The Vatican Rag,” died on Saturday at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was 97.
Mr. Ure, Thanks as always. Hmm,, building structures, something in my chops repertoire. Started in 1966.. Evolved to building boxes for people with too much stuff and money. I helped them spend it wisely and tastefully. I got a General Contractors License (Cal) in 1989. ((4 hour test on 7 trades, 4 hour test on the underlying law)) I know how to build stuff. (also taught construction at CC,, and was an Arbitrator for Cal. State Lic. Board (loved ruling against unscrupulous contractors for abused homeowners)
Anyway, here are a couple of sites (I like ((and I’m sure there are more)) that can help you (both design and build) a solid, long lasting structure. I’m guessing you’re thinking of something between 2 car-garage size (600 sq ft) and 1000 sq ft.
first is “the Build show”: Matt Risinger
https://www.youtube.com/@buildshow
This site has exploded over the last couple of years and has stuff as wonky as you wanna get. (from framing to HVAC and everything in between). Matt is a contractor from Austin. He is honest and has expert guests,, and is aways hunting for the latest and greatest products. In brief, he has evolved to what he calls “Monopoly Framing”. Think of the little green houses in the board game. 2″ x 6″ framing, covered with zip system (here is the Zip site (start here)):
https://www.huberwood.com/zip-system/wall-sheathing
((forget OSB with tyvek — Fred and Barney were the last to use it)).. Zip is some more $$,, but not much,, and you make it back in installation time saving and having a superior envelope.
You frame the whole thing, right up to the peak and cover it all with Zip and their special tape. ((tape has special adhesive that makes a ‘molecular’ bond with the finish on the sheet goods, and, you push it on with a roller– guaranteed for 30! years). You insulate the entire structure,, right up to the peak.. and put the mechanicals in the attic (in the conditioned space)(inside the envelope). All the wonky explanations are on the site. It turns out to be easier to do, and is more energy efficient. Then, you make ‘eaves’ as an add-on, to push away the rain. I don’t want to make this TL;DR.. but start @ the Zip site, and then look for monopoly framing on the Build Show. ((Lowes carries Zip))
Next is Home Renovision DYI:
https://www.youtube.com/@HomeRenoVisionDIY
This guy is from Canada,,(not Mike Holmes), and knows how to do everything (wow).. Personable, funny, honest, (tells you when he screws up), helps you spend $ wisely.
And he works by himself (mostly), which is applicable in your situation. (his subscriber base has tripled in the last year)
Those 2 sites will bury you with great information.
(When you get to cabinets in 6 months, I’ll be back with some straight info on those.)(over 700 kitchens built, in my career, everyone different–all sparkling)
(((but that was mostly in California, before illegal immigrants pushed me to Kansas)(just another sad story))) (ha ha)
In an alternate vane,, CapRadio.org (from Sacramento) is back up with their 24/7 jazz stream (no commercials):
https://player.capradio.org/streams
Monday – Friday 7PM – 12AM (pacific time) is ‘Excellence in Jazz’ ‘live’ with Gary Vercelli as DJ… the best
Jazz– background music for life enjoy
Interesting. Can you get the Cali GC license from written tests alone, or do you have to have someone verify X years doing stuff? Can a non-resident get one? It might be useful to have one, then again, a license essentially elevates a right into a privilege.
4 years in the trades,, with verifiable written recommendations… Was complicated (at the time)– probably knowing spanish is required now (ha ha)
I think You may have to be a resident now– that was a long time ago– (NTB,, but,, got 100% on both).. love yer comments, Mike
When we built 2020 had already driveway and bridge 1997 well established onto lot 232′ road frontage; called it step one then severed lot. Been here 25 years this month.
8 inch double stud walls on 3 sides. 2 by 4 with windows on the south. . fiber glass scrim commercial gypsum sheathing , Roxul mineral wool insulation. 6 or 7 /12 pitch if any kind of shingle roofing Lower if standing seam metal. At least one 14 by 16 or better bedroom and a 18 by 20 living room. 10 by 12 laundry room or basement.
Generally great ideas – but 2X4 wins on south only with big-ass overhang to keep summer sun off, otherwise 2×6 with 7-1/2 insul – but let’s make sure the big laundry is mudroom for coming in from outside and now Ure talking bubba!
Too big for a part-timer. 5 in 12 pitch for wind; snow load doesn’t happen in Palestine, TX. Texas is not a basement state; you would be lucky to find a foundation contractor who knows how to build one.
Rammed earth or making earth blocks..
three loads of gravel one load of clay and a pallet of portland..you still can build a house for under four grand..
the most expensive part is the water wall..
https://youtu.be/mJI378ac0OI?si=carzOvsd5eNpSBHR
I’ve visited with that young lady the press when I inquired was a little over a hundred dollars..
https://youtu.be/aS6VxC0hIlk?si=iHFEjBtxec6GlO1F
https://leehite.org/biomass/documents/How%20To%20Build%20A%20Micro%20Compound%20Lever%20Briquette%20Press%20from%20North%20American%20Lumber%20Size.pdf
I bought the one I have for two hundred the shipping to the USA was huge..you can build one easy enough..