Fig. 6. Details of Open Type of Implement Shed
Framing of 6x6 posts, thoroughly braced. Ends may be boarded or left open as desired. Foundation piers act as wheel guards. Width between posts can be varied to suit requirements.
Paint, the great preservative, should be applied to all farm buildings. The initial cost of two coats of good paint is not prohibitive; the durability of the wood may be increased almost indefinitely if the surface is kept covered to prevent the ingress of the spores of decay. The prosperous farmer’s buildings are always kept painted, not only to preserve the wood, but to improve the appearance of the buildings themselves.
On new wood, two coats are usually sufficient. The first coat should contain mainly oil, with a small amount of the base and coloring pigments, so that it will permeate every pore; the second coat should be heavier, containing less oil and more pigment. Surfaces that have been painted can be kept in good condition by the occasional application of a single coat.
The planning of an implement shed will require data as to the number and size of machines and the amount of space that each will occupy. The arrangement of the machines so as to make them easily accessible at times when they are most needed is also important, e. g., a binder being used but once a year may well occupy a far corner, leaving a space near the door for the mower and plow, implements which are used oftener and for longer periods than the binder. The manure spreader, wagons and buggies are used so much throughout the year that they should be especially accessible. [Table I], pages 19 and 20, gives the floor space required for most farm machines; the height of the machine is also given. Of course, it is entirely possible to crowd machines together as they are put into the shed, and so much saving in room can be accomplished in this way that little clearance space need be left. For instance, the outer edge of a binder platform can be easily raised several feet, provided a pair of reel slats with the attached arms are removed, and in this space beneath the platform can be stored such implements as hand drill, walking plows, etc. Similar opportunities for economy in space can very easily be found.
Fig. 7. Exterior of Wide Enclosed Implement Shed
Fig. 8. Perspective of Framing of Wide Enclosed Implement Shed