New Base for Tools?

[Kyle - Utah]

Hello All,

I don't know how much demand for this there really is, so I figure that I'll ask.

Do others think that it would be nice to have a base where people could discuss and provide free links to information about tools specific to log home building?

I am fortunate that I work for a heavy machine shop where I can ask one of my co-workers to make me cant hooks, peaveys, log dogs and Swede hooks. The difficulty comes in knowing where to buy a scorp, a draw knife, an adz, a log scribe, a slick, or a bark spud, without paying through the nose for it. And what about chainsaws, chainsaw chains, chainsaw mills, and the other necessary tools for the would-be log home builder? Do those little 12 Volt trailer hitch mount winches work? Is it better to rent the tools that you will need or to buy them outright? Do those funny little notch cutting blades mounted to angle grinders really work as well as they appear to? Is there really a benefit to installing a large air compressor on site during construction?

I've been through all of this and I know what works for me. I am sure that many others have been thought it too. I believe that many pitfalls and obstacles could be avoided if there were a posting base specifically targeted toward log home building tools.

Would tool vendors be willing to pay for ad space at the top of a forum like this?

I figured that this would be as good a place as any to try out the "Yes! post a poll" option. We'll see how it works.

[list=1]
For "Tools" Posting Base
Against "Tools" Posting Base
[/list=1]

[Greg Steckler]

Those are all good questions, Kyle, and I'm sure warrent some discussion. However, in the 3000+ posts over the last 8 years on this BB, tools were not a big topic. It was there, to be sure, its just that most folks know that Schroeders, the Log Home Store, Baileys, Madsens, and the tool guy in Kelso, Washington supply most of the log home tools around. Chainsaws, chain, wire rope are usually found locally. A year ago, I made a deal on 150 of the best solid steel chisels made....I sold one. Like I told Gary Schroeder who kindly took them off my hands, "there's more to this marketing stuff than meets the eye".
But I digress. I've thought about a forum about stains, preservatives, and sealants which is the number one topic, but I'm game for one about Tool Talk, if its at all popular. Just don't want to fracture the BB up into too many forums. Folks could loose interest or get frustrated going all over the place. So let's watch your poll.

[Kyle - Utah]

Hey All,

I've been watching this base for a while now and I've noticed a rather under-utilized potential. It seems that moderated threads always 'take the head of the class', so to speak. Rather than adding a host of new bases, it might do equally as well to create several moderated threads. These could contain moderated sub-threads and so on. By doing things this way, the powers that be could keep things as they are while expanding the useful nature of the base at the same time. Perhaps something like the following?:

Questions and answers Posting Base:

1- Tools Thread (Moderated)

1A- Hand Tools Sub-Thread (Moderated)
1A1- Individual Post
1A2- Individual Reply
1A3- Individual Rebuttal

1B- Power Tools Sub-Thread (Moderated)
1B1- Individual Post
1B2- Individual Reply
1B3- Individual Rebuttal

2- Caulking & Sealants Thread (Moderated)

2A- Caulking Sub-Thread (Moderated
2A1- Individual Post
2A2- And So on...

(Line numbering is for reference purposes in this post only and would not be used in the actual posting bases - I was too lazy to use the 'List' function for this example.)

In this way the LHOTI site could expand without the need to modify its agreement with or purchase additional licensing from vBulletin. The only real 'tricky part' is the fact that I don't know whether or not vBulletin uses a Boolean higherarchy, so the moderated sub-threads might jump back to the main chanel if it doesn't.

This practice would seem to offer the best of both worlds, while at the same time leaving the decisions of relevance up to the powers that be. It is important to remember that too much information is often as bad as not enough information. This being said, it would still be nice to have 15 or even 10 standard categories to choose from to target specific posts to the people who are looking for specific information. (And yes, the powers that be could still reserve top billing for themselves by simply prefacing their moderated posts with either a number or a special character.)

Best Regards