Building a Hobbit style root cellar with stone Part I
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- Опубликовано: 20 июн 2020
- In this episode we begin our Hobbit root cellar by splitting and laying sandstone blocks for the walls. Following a traditional approach seen in several 100+ year old cellars, we stack most of the stones using the natural clay subsoil as a kind of "mortar". The front wall is laid up using lime mortar as it will see the most weathering.
The round door frame is cut out of 3 1/2" thick heart pine timbers, using a felloes saw. These felloes are joined with a walnut dovetail key, then split white oak saplings, about 2", are steamed and bent to form the door jamb inside the frame. All is burned deeply and oiled with a mixture of Pine tar, citrus solvent and canola oil.
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Am I the only one that watches these and thinks ‘ok 17 weeks to build the round thing, 4 weeks to cut a brick. Should be done by the time I’m 80’. 😬 really love this channel
Whether or not we intend constructing a project we need videos like these to slow us all down and remind us of the virtue of patience , thank you .
I love this man's videos . He never pretends to be an expert at anything ,in fact he tells us he is a newbie at lots of it ,and yet he looks and comes across as a master crsftsman at everything he does .Even his animals look at peace .
Really ! Thankyou for the info ....he's got the scraped hands and hammered thumb nail to prove it too !
For anybody wondering, the reason why he charred the wood is to protect it against rot, weather, and insects. It's an ancient Japanese technique called shou sugi ban.
Impressive skills and excellent work. This root cellar will really be something special.
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Your video leads me to recall working with an old-hand stone mason/brick layer in the 1960's who subcontracted with my father on home building and remodeling projects. I mixed mortar and cement for him, hauled stone, brick, and block, and so forth. I was the muscle; he was the skill. It was fascinating to watch him work, especially with quarry stones and field stones.
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Using quarry stones to build retaining walls and stairways, he used techniques and tools nearly identical to what you used here. I always found that work physically tiring but very satisfying. Stepping back to look at a stone structure that you helped build is a special experience. At least it was for me.
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When we used field stones to build fireplaces, he would pick up a stone about the size of a head of cabbage, turn it in his hands, and then split it in half with one quick tap of his masonry hammer. Sometimes, he used the heel of his mortar trowel to split stones. He would tell me, that "The trick is to pick just the right stone, to hit it just right in just the right place, just not too hard."
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I still think about that advice to this day. He was the best stone and brick man within a hundred miles and was much in demand. It was not hard to see why. Even more amazing to me is that the man was rarely sober, yet I never saw him set hand or foot wrong.
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Thank you for bringing that time back to memory.
And thank you for sharing that memory. I enjoyed reading it.
As stated by another commenter, thank you for sharing that memory with us. It was very neat to mentally visualize and I appreciate you taking time out of your day to give us that image; that little piece of the past.
I've seen people on youtube do that with the trowel, its impressive.
I clicked because of the words ‚hobbit style‘ in the title...but I stayed, because it’s utterly fascinating to watch this type of slow, methodical work, done with only simple hand tools.
If Ears could vote, power tools would be made illegal.
@@not2tees Their speed is an advantage though, including the fact that they are also less physically tiring to get the same job done.
What I really dislike next to the loud sound is the extreme dust they produce, if you do not add a vacuum cleaner.
RUclips recommend this to me and I was like "sure, why not". I can't put my finger on it but I'm enthralled. I think it's the biceps, maybe it's the craftsmanship.
Hittin my land this winter. Next year a very fast stick built 20x20 to work out of and live in. After that it will be this kind of technique I build my fortress with. I'll be 34 yrs old at 7000 feet in Wyoming with nothing to do but build or reclaim/find materials. I got the highest elevation for about 2 or 3 miles and my lives work will loom over the land long after I'm gone. Can't wait.
Lots of good inspiration and info on your channel, Thanks
God bless ya Chickadee
That is simultaneously very unusual behavior and also incredibly badass. Good luck to you.
Be sure to post videos of the progress if you can!
Having binge watched BBC's Time Team over the last few months, I think "highest elevation" and "loom over the land" is excellent stone age thinking! Ditches and ramparts!
you better record it all
I worked as a USPS ranger at Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. In many of the storage areas were stone-working tools like this. I would borrow some of them to shape stone and then return when I was finished. That was 50+ years ago. I bet those old tools are still there. This brought back some wonderful memories! Thanks! Tom
post office ranger?
Park service?
so it was you that made those little faces in the rocks!
..So you are 70+ years old?
Good for you, writing comments on RUclips and connecting with people 😊
May you live to see 100 and longer!
The stone getting pushed apart was the most satisfying thing I’ve seen in a while
"One ring to frame it all .. and it the cellar dry them"
😂😂😂
...in the land of Kentucky where the whisky's rye.
Dude, that's gold! xD
Do you English bro?
Open your mind
Excellent craftsmanship. The bow ties are nice. The stone work highly complimentary. Just WOW. Takes me back to my youth. In 1977 my father & i built a very similar 3 ft prototype round door with keys and dowels for his Asian themed house. For the full 9ft door we changed to glued plywood for added strength. Not as pretty and took a lot of laminate and spoke shaving to make it presentable. 30 years later the a very wet winter freeze and slow driveway creep pushed one of the 12x12 jambs 8 inches. The original design would have broken. The laminated just flexed and sprung right back when the jamb was reset. Sure am glad I lost that argument.
Video game designers could just play the sound from this video when crafting
Having these traditional tools, and the skill and the patience to use them, is an amazing thing to behold.
Patience is a vertu.
Then why are the blocks so small? You'd think that maybe it would come together faster with larger blocks. And just use an "A-frame" to hoist them in place.
@@diannetell6757 A what? ;)
@@ivanivonovich9863 It's the journey that matters, perhaps even more than then the destination.
It's amazing to behold and a delight to listen to.
This one has the makings of another Mr. Chickadee classic project.
WOWW!!! JUST WOW!!! This is the very definition of craftsmanship!!! RUclips observer bows deeply!!!! A moon door, so meaningful AND AWESOME in a place that would NEVER have been expected! New level of amazing!
A "moon door"..? 😒
Girl, have you skipped watching Lord of the Ring in your life? 🤨
I love this and I swear I have so many flashbacks of time spent with my grandfather I remembered the sawdust pot and the collecting then which then reminded me of little piles burned in the greenhouse with drops of old motor oil to smoke the tomato and cucumber plants to kill bugs
your wooden wheel just boggles my mind....I know my skills levels, and I can build things, but I could not reach the depths of patience and precision it takes to joint up that circular entrance....wow
Can't wait to see your other videos on this build. Be careful working with the stones.
Thanks for sharing
You bet!
Me with a Realtor, looking for a farmhouse with a little acreage: "yes, yes 3 bed 2 bath, whatever. But where's the free stone quarry?"
Yes .. a free quarry .. would sleep much better with that ... a nice mix of sand- and lime- stone would be nice .. with a touch of granite for those first piers. I wonder how the drainage will fare behind what is essentially an 8 foot retaining wall ...
Ha, I hear ya.
@@grassabrutta I would be happy for any one of these, and ecstatic for any 2 of them to be readily available, and if I find all 3 in the same spot at a price I could affordable would reach a level of excitement the words cannot properly describe.
Don't forget the hardwood forest
The bowtie dovetails really made you work for it. I've never done one that was thicker than 5/8ths. Going 4 inches or so is an accomplishment.
it was interesting trying to hold that monstrosity to tap then together...
This man, MR . Chickadee, is extremely talented. It always calms and relaxes me to watch him create masterpieces. Just wanted to let you know that it is very much appreciated; the work that goes into these videos, and the many completed projects you have accomplished.
...on a side note; the only thing that'd be cooler than this show, is for mr chickadee to have his own cable TV show. It'd be a smash
Glad you enjoy it!
Just when I think I can't get any more impressed by the things you make. Can't wait for part 2
WOW! what a great project. Thanks!
Thank you too!
I am a female and I, just this weekend, hand carved half lap joints. I was fairly amazed at how easy it really was with the right tools. I tried doing this with the skill saw ( too big for my 115 pound frame ) A plunge saw ( too much kickback ) and a miter saw ( really bad choice ). Wood chisels worked the best.
This is Art at it's finest. We've just been led to believe that art is canvas and colors. Mr. Chickadee is not just fashioning his world around him but also building character. Truly an inspiration.
Great job! I typically find power tools more trouble than they are worth.
Knowing you put stuff in the closed captions at times, I turned them on. While you are working, the auto-generated captions alternate between [laughter], [music], and [applause]. Everyone's a critic.
Here I sit in England watching a silent American stealing stone from the side of the road ... again. Once again it's a pleasure and an education to watch Mr C. He has the patience of Job.
I wasn't talking literally, I know that he owns that which he uses and my comment was made in jest. Watching Mr C working in and around his Appalachian home reminds me of boyhood visits to our family farm in Ulster where my grandfather and uncles used similar tools and used the materials they found around them. All wood was recycled, fenceposts were cut from the hedgerow, nails and staples were bought from a store that sold them by weight in paper bags. The local smith still fixed things, and everyone of those farmers could turn their hand to make or repair what they needed. Interestingly many people from Ulster emigrated to the Appalachian region, and so the course of history moves along the generations.
Mr Chickadee building a hobbit hole is like a childhood dream I didn't know I had coming true.
Oddly satisfying just watching you split the stones, and the root cellar is definitely shaping up. Look forward to future episodes in the series and have a champion day.
It will be interesting to see what kind of door he comes up with. A friend who worked on The Lord of the Rings set told me it was hard to hang a big heavy door on a single hinge as the round door design demands. Am confident Mr Chickadee has matters well in hand.
I think two hinges might be best...and making it light as possible.
@@MrChickadee Wow yes I like it. Difficult I know when a work of fantasy (the book) meets the real world physics we all have to deal with. I can't believe I got a reply from the man himself. All the best with the build from a longtime respecter of your work in N.Z.
Those ancient techniques are pretty amazing!
Those amazing techniques are pretty ancient. :-)
Your patience and craftsmanship never cease to amaze me!
its an absolute joy seeing someone work with stone, love your videos!
One does not simply make a Hobbit cellar, one crafts it with a ridiculous amount of skill!
And the right tools. That guy is craftsman.
And time!
That is so amazing!!! One of my life goals is to have a round hobbit door! And now you, whom I've been following for so long and admire so much... is showing how to make one in a cellar! Great work and thanks for the content!
In another RUclips posting, a woman built a Hobbit Home and said she got her round door from the local utility company. Their wires come on huge spools and they are glad to get rid of them. Each spool has 2 large round ends.
Honestly the last scene with the door frame on the stone made me think of the installation of a magical portal leading to some fantasy land...
It truly is...
Love the dove tails on the wooden frame 😍
Love the peace and your perfection.
Thank you
Flat out awesome. Who doesn’t love the Hobbit houses. What a great project. Also a welcome Father’s Day gift! Blessings to you and yours!
I hope there are some crazy elaborate blacksmithed hinges/door decorations coming to!
Id love to see that too
this pisses me off, it's never "to", when you say that you did something, its "I did too" never "to", if you ever do, it's, "I went TO target"
@@IdiotWithEducation no reason for you two get mad
@@IdiotWithEducation it's just a mistake dude. Stop being a little bitch.
Would love to take some thermometer readings inside the cellar on a hot day so we can see how much of a difference it makes!
That would be cool!
Mr. Chickadee Indeed.
This is the most relaxing video I have ever watched. I just found myself completely absorbed in watching it. When the first big stone split, I nearly became emotional. I think I need to find the way back to do and enjoy simple things. Not sitting in front of the computer all day, no internet, no youtube... but then I would have not found this...
This is awesome...great start to the root cellar and I know at some point I would love to try a hobbit style hideaway and I will look back on this one and learn. Thanks for another great video. Can't wait for the rest of this series to see how it turns out.
Go for it!
Mr Chickadee is a machine!
Excellent craftsmanship and execution.
My arthritis flares up just watching this video. Lol
Wow, thanks!
My son and I love watching these. Thank you so much for sharing what you know.
Thanks for watching!
Alright, I've stumbled upon your channel a couple of times, and you've now won me over. I subbed. I think what you teach here is the time, effort, and patience of old world craftsmanship in this era of power tools and instant gratification. Well done!
Awesome, thank you!
Great job Josh, awesome work you are doing. Thanks for sharing with us, Fred.
Thanks for watching
I will never complain about working with hand tools again. Thanks for sharing this, sir. I really appreciate your craftsmanship. It's wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
Very welcome
Anxious to see more, beautiful build already ( as always )
Cannot wait to see this complete!
How on Earth can you make perfectly good dovetails on curved surfaces? Your skills are really impressive Mr. C. Thanks for sharing with us!
Thank you! Cheers!
I’m looking forward to watching the rest of this project come together! Well done as always!
Thanks a bunch!
Hell yeah! Big ol' circular doorway. That's what I've been wanting to see someone do. Thanks Josh. You da man!
Hoo Ahh!
You bet!
Can't wait to see how it turns out!
I love his skill, pure therapeutic for me to watch this gentleman work.
I'm worried for you because you arch your back a lot while lifting. Be careful to keep it as much straight as possible. Cheers from France and thanks a lot for all those wonderful vids :)
Yes, this. Believe me, a broken back is terrible, worn-out or fractured, either way can ruin the rest of your life. The back you have now is the only one you'll ever have. Take care of it!
Never knew you could split stone with an axe or is there another name for it
Great video
Looks like a nice little hangout on a hot day as well
Happy Father's Day
That was a “spalling hammer” made and shaped for splitting stone. Great tool!
I love hard work so much, I could watch this channel all day...
@@azz2 Yes, hard work fascinates me, I could sit here and watch it all day.
Amazing results. Thank you for making the video. Stay well.
6:35 Dude's totally rocking that magenta. Props.
Real men wear what ever color the wife got on sale at the fabric store. When she makes your work clothes, you wear them to keep her happy.
When you can do what he does with stone, wood, and steel, your man card doesn't get revoked... ever. He could do a video in a feather boa, at this point, and I wouldn't bat an eyelid.
@@argentorangeok6224 I wouldn't bat an eyelid, but I might tip my bowler!. lol
It's just red
That round door makes me smile. I just look at it and it makes me happy. Looking forward to seeing it with its round door.
I think the precision for making that round door frame goes mostly un noted. There is some serious attention to precise angles there. I guess the barrel making stuff you got is helping?
How in the world has my youtube been filled with LOTR and Mr. Chickadee content for months and hasn't shown me this video yet?
o man im excited for this. i love the diversity in your projects. you never know what the next upload will be. like maybe we are hewing a log or maybe building a floor for a blacksmith shop. very impressive work sir.
More to come!
Would be interesting if you added a time frame in the description. Not that your work is any kind of race but rather to show the viewers the actual time these kind of projects really take. Great video as usual. Love your channel.
Fantastic techniques. A joy to watch. Thank you for sharing with us🙏
Glad you enjoyed it!
So much patience and dedication. Great to watch to unstress. Honest, yet not always the simple, way I guess doing things. Knowledge from years past. Always love to watch your uploads.
New series... So cool. Thank you mr c
Me after moving the first stone: “well, there goes my back.”
I'm always impressed with your work. Beautiful.
Thank you so much 😀
That's just a really awesome project, looking forward to see more
During this time of trial your videos have been a comfort and an inspiration. I have been a long-time follower but have neglected to tell you that your work and videos bring a great understanding of the arts and sciences involved in all that you do. Thank you for sharing with us a magnificent beauty of hand tools and the things that one man can do with them.
great project, super window. cant wait for a next episode.
I have watched all four of these little gems - Mr. Stevens is a practical genius, and this is rivetting watching.
I have never seen a rock axe like that before or seen one used. Now the pickaxe makes sense. Also all of the world's stone blocks make sense. Including the millions of cobble stones. I thought people hade to chisel them into shape.
I have also never seen a frame saw like the one you used.
Genius level achieved!
That is some seriously awesome work! That door frame is killer. I can't wait to see how it comes out.
I like your video style. No nonsense, just right to the point.
Can't wait for part 2. :)
Of all the cool stuff you have built and done this is the coolest.
The old Egyptians only had access to bronzen tools to cut out stones for their pyramids. They applied a neat trick which can help you in chiseling out the first grooves in the large stone to plug in the breaking chisels: apply a little water. It will soften up the stone allowing easier chiseling, and will prevent unwanted cracks. Greatings from Belgium.
Excellent build, Mr. Dee!
Excellent!
Stunning traditional way to build. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! Cheers!
The way, you left that doorframe standing at the end, makes it look, like a portal into another dimension 😄
Amazing work as always. Your patience and attention to detail are inspiring. Thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you! Cheers!
This is exactly the type of video i love to watch, very satisfying and inspiring!
I've got tired just by watching. You have an insane patience.
You sir are what makes RUclips worth watching.
I am 45 seconds in and I know this dude knows his shit. Homemade tool box. What looks like hand made tools. I need some popcorn.
Gorgeous! Looking forward to seeing MORE.
Well this is just a tease! Having to wait for the next one. Looking great so far though.
Just watching this video makes me feel productive. Honestly, I have never felt this productive on the toilet before.
it appears power tools are something that happens to other people. i deeply respect that
Great job Man!
This will be a fun build to follow.
You're certainly not afraid of hard work. Excellent results.
Outstanding! Love the idea/design!
Glad you like it
The most intensely satisfying construction vid I’ve seen. Chopping rock with an axe!
Thank you! But it is a stone hammer in fact.
You must have enough food for the dwarves ... dear Baggins
I love the meticulous workmanship! Can't wait to see more of this series...oh and btw, "100% Colombian coffee" good man! Can't beat good rich Colombian coffee.
Very satisfying to watch. Looking forward to more.
Glad you enjoyed it!