My first hardside build.

[MattR]

Hi Everybody,

  I decided to build a small 4x8 shack a couple of days ago. I should be able to build it really cheap as I have most of the materials already. First step was to saw the lumber needed. Here is a pic of the saw rig I had the pleasure of using.

I used basswood since we had a few trees that we logged out this last summer. Here is the base and a pile of 2x2's.

One wall is put into place.

And fast forward to the point with all 4 walls up.


Anyways, that was my progress for today. I did forget one important thing when building the walls, make it so there is a slanted roof. So tomorrow I will have to build a slight pitched roof section. It will have steel shed siding and a steel roof from the same material. I just have to haul the steel to the shop, if it was there already I probably would still be working on it till completed..lol. I still have to frame a spot for 3 windows and door, install siding, install roof, put hinges on the floor openings for jigging, and then basically go test it out. As far as insulating it, I just plan on doing the roof with the blue foam to keep it from dripping on me and whoever is fishing with me.

To those wondering.... Expenses so far is some gas for the sawmill since I went through a little over a gallon. Lumber came from my woods so that was free, nails I had laying around from previous projects, 3/4 plywood floor was from a concrete form that was being thrown out by somebody, windows are storm windows that were given to me a while back, and the steel siding was also given to me a couple of years ago. Projected expenses are going to be 4 hinges for the ice hole doors, two hinges for the door, and maybe some more nails since I am running low. Best part is I probably have enough steel to make a few more this size.

I welcome any comments/suggestions. Just remember that I am not a carpenter by trade so be a bit nice about it. I plan on building a bigger one for next year so this is basically my test shanty. 

Matt

[laclabiche walleye hunter]

Nice work it get addicting building shacks i have made 3 in the last 5 years and think i got it right this year. Have fun with it.

[Mainedog]

I bet that "little" shack will be solid (ie. heavy) with all that metal.

Ask me how I know?  Been there.  Done that.  It was one nice shack though.

[MattR]

Nice work it get addicting building shacks i have made 3 in the last 5 years and think i got it right this year. Have fun with it.

I decided to drive to town shopping for some more nails and a few needed hinges. Yesterday the majority of the work was done by me alone. Had help for a few minutes from my father with mounting the runners to the base. So lots of bending, and multiple times kneeling and getting back up, has made the back a little bit sore today. Figured I better rest for today and then back at it for a while and hopefully have it finished, or should I say ready to be fished in...lol. We all know they are never finished. Addicting might be an understatement, since I spent 10 hours working on it yesterday and didn't want to stop, yet had to because I needed the siding which was at the property by the house. If the siding was there, it might have been sided and roofed last night too.

I bet that "little" shack will be solid (ie. heavy) with all that metal.

Ask me how I know?  Been there.  Done that.  It was one nice shack though.
(Image removed from quote.)

Nice looking shack Mainedog. I like the tow bar on the front.

So far it doesn't seem too heavy. I can see where the siding will greatly add to it. Tomorrow morning I might see if I can find where I put the aluminum pole barn siding somebody dropped off for me. Hopefully there is enough there to do the whole thing with it. If not, no biggie. I also do not want the shack to tip over too easy or decide to take a tour of the lake on windy days either so if it is on the heavy side that is fine with me. When hauling it, it will be winched onto a car trailer and the UTV will pull it off.


Glad you guys like it.

Matt

[Mainedog]

My earlier comment about it being heavy was based on your first post when you said you were going to use steel shed siding.  If you get the aluminum used on barns, it will be much lighter.  I'd love to find some of that aluminum.  All my friends that have it won't part with it because they're going to use it on their shacks.

Looks good.

MD

[MattR]

MD,

That is the plan to use the steel siding unless I happen to have enough of the aluminum siding (Yep the type used on barns). I am hoping there is enough aluminum stuff. I will know tomorrow when I go out and look through the stacks of siding.

Trying to keep costs to bare minimum. If I would have searched a bit more I am sure I would have found the things I purchased today from the store...lol. One thing that helps alot is having use of the sawmill. When building something I never buy enough lumber the first time and then it is a 20 mile drive to town, 40 round trip. Now if I am short lumber, I just throw a log on the mill and cut me some...

Matt

[MattR]

Spent a bit of time working on it today. Framed and installed the 3 windows and have one 8ft wall covered with steel siding. Would have gotten a lot more finished if I was not building it myself. Makes it tough holding each 8 ft piece of siding up and trying to nail it on straight..lol.

I forgot to bring the camera over to the shop. If I remember it I will take some pics of what I accomplished today and also work progress for tomorrow.

Matt

[laclabiche walleye hunter]

Looking forward to seeing your finished shack.

[Mainedog]

Hey Matt,
I set it up so I could put the hitch on my shack on either end.
Made it easier to reverse direction at times.....
I used clevis pins to attach the hitch.  I welded grab points on each
end of the frame.  The skis were double-ended.
That shack was 6'x8' and 6.5' at center.  It was heavy!
With your 4x8, you probably don't need a double ended option....

MD

[MattR]

Well I did manage to get a little bit more done, not a lot though. Also trying to get the snow removal equipment loaded onto trailers and ready for the snow storm that is coming in tonight. I also forgot the camera once again. I didn't make much progress though so not much missed. Camera is sitting by my coat so when I head over there to work on it, it goes along with me. I will take pics and should have the shack's siding, roof, and door all on.


MD...
I set my runners up like you did so it can be pulled either way. That was one of the first things I knew I had to do since it would be towed on and off the car trailer. Only using eye bolts for the tow points though. I have a little bit more roof height than you had with your shack. I am 6'3" and did not want to have to worry about bumping my head so the door will be 6.5 inches high and the inside height is 7 feet. I know I will have to anchor it down for safety with it being as tall as this.  Anyways, while my father stopped by to see if I needed help loading the tractor on the trailer, he mentioned that I should have grabbed the couple of rolls of aluminum trim coil to use for siding the shack. He tells me this idea after I am almost 3/4 done with siding it..lol. So I am already planning on building either a 6x8 or a 8x8 and using the trim coil for siding. I will still have a use for the 4x8 on one of the small lakes I like to ice fish. How did you like the 6x8 as far as enough room inside? Or just go up to an 8x8 right away? I would plan on using wood heat with that one and more than like utilizing a bump out type of setup.

Matt

[Mainedog]

MattR -
The answer to your question about preferred shack size depends upon how many people you plan to have in it.
6x8 was plenty big enough for 2-3 folks fishing/cooking/warming next to the wood stove.
But it was heavy and took a lot of work to move around to/from lake, on/off trailer, etc.
I built a 4x8 shack (search on coroplast shack to find that thread).  That was a bit too small for my tastes (too narrow, plenty
long enough).  I had two holes opposite ends/opposite corners.  I think my next shack I build
will either be 6x8 or 5x7.  Regardless of size, I will build as light as possible.  I like the
metal framing stud/polystyrene foam designs.  I will probably try to re-use my metal skis/frame.
I put UHMW plastic on the skis, so once it's on the ice/packed snow, it moves real easy.
I may even consider just using the skis as a sled to move the shack around, and have the
shack sit directly on the ice (when being used).  You'd have to remove it/block it up so it
wouldn't freeze in when not in use, but if it's light enough then it wouldn't be hard to move....
Maybe next year or the year after that I'll build one again.  Seems the older I'm getting
the longer it's taking me to start my projects...

Please post some pics of yours.
MD

[MattR]

Unfinished wall with window installed.

roof rafters

View of the inside.

View of the two walls that are finished so far.



With it snowing outside, I got a late start. Also had to finish early because it is pool league night. The "plan" tomorrow is to hopefully get my snow plowing jobs done and then complete the shanty. Not insulating it right away, will do that before the season is done though.

Also have to wash the dirt/leaves off of the siding too so it looks better.

Matt

[MattR]

Well I managed to get some time to work on it today. Have all the walls and roof finished. Only have the door left as far as construction of the shack goes. I plan on heading there tomorrow to work on it and take some pics.

Matt

[laclabiche walleye hunter]

Looking great

[MattR]

Work progress for today was built a door and installed that, insulated the roof with 1.5 inch foam, installed trim around the windows to cover the sharp edges of the siding, installed the hinges on the fishing hole doors, and installed 4 eye bolts to be used to tow the shack from either direction. I would have taken pictures, yet could not get the heater to warm the shop up enough since my digital camera hates cold weather. Tomorrow's high will be 15 degrees warmer than today so pictures will be coming. Basically tomorrow will consist of installing some wood trim on all four corners to cover the sharp edges, then caulk any gaps, and then go watch the football game on tv at my other uncle's bar.


Matt

[Bout-Time]

Lookin good Matt, keep the pics coming!

[MattR]

Thanks for all the compliments so far on the shack.

Well I finally got some time today to get busy on the shack.




Pic of the inside with foam board installed on the roof.

And a pic of my part-time helper, my father. Even though most of the helping consisted of watching me work..lol


Now it is basically finished. I still have to install a pull knob on the fishing hole doors and a grab handle to pull main door closed and a hook & eye to hold it closed while inside fishing. We even had the Buddy Heater in it and it warmed the inside really nice considering the roof is the only thing insulated so far. The project took longer than anticipated, yet it was lots of fun building it. Especially since it was mainly built with items that were given to me in the past, and all lumber was cut by myself on the sawmill so those 2x2's are actually true 2 inch x 2 inch.

I hope by posting the build progress that maybe I inspired somebody to build their own shack. While it is not huge, it is still very comfortable for two people jigging and still plenty of room for things like a heater and electronics.

Matt

P.S. The next one is already being planned out in my head even though it might not be started till summer...lol.

[Joedirt34]

Matt,
  Looks great ! Dad looks pretty happy to be there ! Got me thinking I may need a small shack like that . With the ice coming so late this year ! Would be nice to have something lighter and more mobil .
   Enjoy it and be safe !
     

[MattR]

I have a few lakes close to home that are small and the access areas would be tough to even get a 6ft wide shack through.

[laclabiche walleye hunter]

Matt,
  Looks great ! Dad looks pretty happy to be there ! Got me thinking I may need a small shack like that . With the ice coming so late this year ! Would be nice to have something lighter and more mobil .
   Enjoy it and be safe !
   

x2 looks good now you just need to get it out on the ice

[Bout-Time]

Dont forget a bungee or spring on the door so the wind doesnt  grab it and try to rip it off the hinges.

Ask me how I know.... LOL

[MattR]

Dont forget a bungee or spring on the door so the wind doesnt  grab it and try to rip it off the hinges.

Ask me how I know.... LOL

I rarely fish with tipups, so that reduces chances of the door being open. Yet I was planning on finding a decent spring to put on anyways just in case. Probably mount one top and bottom of the door to be safe...lol Thanks for that reminder though. Something simple can easily be forgotten to be added on a shanty.

Matt

[MattR]

x2 looks good now you just need to get it out on the ice

Thanks... Hopefully soon. Have to clean off the car trailer, then go over to the shop to load the shack, and then try to decide if the atv or utv will be the tow vehicle and load that on the trailer too. The ice is thick enough to drive on with a truck, yet I prefer to keep that on firm solid ground...lol

Matt