9/25/19
(Above: A photogenic picture of the galvalume I used to create pieces of trim today. The glove’s position makes it seem as if an invisible man is presenting the sheet.)
Building Summary: Today I initiated Jacobhouse activities by filling up the DSL ditch and positioning a piece of metal over the place where that line rises to meet the outdoor (phone-line) junction box. This was followed by a little over 1 ½ hours of helping Padre with cattle and then by my setting up and test-cutting a piece of galvalume with circular diamond blade saw. After finding that the saw would work (more in TIL), I fetched the recently acquired full-sheet of galvalume and produced my first stretch of molding: a strip of galvalume a hair over 6″ tall and 36″ long*.
(7:49 PM Update): We had a slightly lighter farm-afternoon today, so I was able to cut more galvalume and test out the new vacuum cleaner I got in the mail today. The galvalume cutting went exceedingly well; I now have 8 pieces of trim almost ready for painting. As for the vacuum, I will need to test it a tad more before I can make a decision on whether or not to send the appliance back. My first impression is that it could use more suction power, but when I tried it out a second time it did very well (even sucked up a metal rivet-end). Here is the model I obtained. Through various promotions, I got it for less than $30.00.
A morning glory I found just outside of the farm’s primary feed barn. 
A DSL ditch fortunately filled before the arrival of the afternoon sun. 
The first piece of galvalume trim I successfully cut this morning. 
Here are the eight pieces of galvalume trim I cut this afternoon. 
An afternoon glory? Either way, I found it just southwest of Jacobhouse, clinging to a fence and growing amidst a mass of hitchhiker plants.
TIL: When cutting galvalume sheet metal with a circular diamond-blade saw, there are a few primary protocols that will allow for a much easier and much more comfortable time:
- Wear ALL the protections. Goggles, earmuffs, and gloves. There are a plenitude of little super-heated shards that like to fly all over the place whilst cutting. Though it makes for a pretty display, those little shards are uncomfortable when they meet the skin (I had one fall down into my boot).
- Work the metal with the face-side down; this creates a flat surface for the saw to pass over.
- Measure from the opposite end to keep trim somewhat even and to prevent the long-term ‘skewing’ that is bound to result of measurements taken from the cut side.
- Place spacers underneath the flat sections (between the grooves) so the metal does not bow down whilst cutting.
Commentary: Yet again, it’s a late night for me, and there’s a kabocha squash cooking in the oven (and a watermelon in the freezer). The kitchen awaits, and I look forward to it. Evening kitchen-time and the feast that follows is perhaps the most relaxing portion of an ordinary day. Chopping vegetables and slicing various fruits is always simple and gratifying work… partly because I get to participate in some snacking as I do so and partly because I just enjoy preparing food.
Speaking of chopping and slicing, it brings to mind today’s highlight: the fact that Padre’s diamond-blade idea worked very well in regard to cutting galvalume trim. Here is a video of one such cut taking place (please mute the video if saw-noise is not desired).
Final Note: Tomorrow, I will see about cutting (if I need more), filing, and painting the galvalume trim. If there is still time afterward, I will cut / paint a side-board for where the bathroom sliding door meets the western jamb.
* I chose the dimension of 6″ for height because it matches the height of the trim already being used in Jacobhouse. Also, with each sheet of galvalume being 8 feet long, that will afford me ~ 16 strips of 6″ trim. The strips are 36″ long, so that is 48′ of trim. The sheet of galvalume cost about $20.00 which ends up bringing the cost per foot to $0.41 per foot. That is right under one-third the cost of the $1.27 per foot wood trim.