tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post6041272148162049169..comments2023-11-24T03:34:39.766-07:00Comments on Building our Harbor Freight 10' x 12' Greenhouse: Part Three: Assembling the Wallsmudhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14797472938550347719noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-79610645802783866512016-02-01T21:48:24.924-07:002016-02-01T21:48:24.924-07:00Thank you Lori! I'll bet your comment will hel...Thank you Lori! I'll bet your comment will help others here. We had a post almost a year ago (Mutte, listed above) specifying that the Part 30 wall braces didn't have any arrow stickers at all. It sounds like Harbor Freight is STILL having problems, marking these Part 30 braces correctly. I'm glad you were able to experiment and figure out the problem.<br /><br />Best of luck with your build, and thank you again for posting about this problem!<br />mudhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14797472938550347719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-18337610031026373272016-02-01T11:47:15.534-07:002016-02-01T11:47:15.534-07:00First, thank you for taking the time to do this! ...First, thank you for taking the time to do this! I have greatly appreciated the guide. I just wanted to let you know that the arrow stickers on our wall braces (part 30) were all on the wrong end. So, after fighting with one side for twenty minutes, we switched them around and they went together perfectly. So, just in case anyone is having trouble lining up the holes on the wall braces, that could be the problem. <br /><br />Thanks again!<br />LoriLorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05124302836690392372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-47198590968327242012015-04-20T14:50:29.738-06:002015-04-20T14:50:29.738-06:00Hi Brittny,
This is so hard to figure out using ty...Hi Brittny,<br />This is so hard to figure out using typed words! I wish I could be more help. If you've already been encouraged to return your kit, it sounds like you're on your way to a resolution. <br /><br />I checked and found a few extra bolts from our kit (eight years old.) Our bolts, if it helps, have a square shaped head (square with rounded corners) and the heads measure 3/8" by 3/8". I'm not sure this will help you, but I'm wondering if Harbor Freight included the wrong bolts with your kit. If they have changed them (which is possible) this is the first mention I've had of it.<br /><br />In any event, I do appreciate your post, as questions like this help give me a valuable "heads up" about problems that others might encounter. If you have the same problem with the exchanged kit, I hope you will post back.<br />Sherimudhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14797472938550347719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-54342728745267042242015-04-20T13:59:58.833-06:002015-04-20T13:59:58.833-06:00Yes the picture on this post clearly states the bo...Yes the picture on this post clearly states the bolts sitting freely in the track. Also if you look at the picture I'm referring to it shows the bolts fitting in with flat side up, ours is way too small to get them in that way it's more narrow going up and down. Ours, on the other hand, the bolts don't fit in either side of 14-17. Sadly it must be a defect because we have tried everything. Nobody else seems to have problems with this that I have heard of. Thank you for responding so quickly, I appreciate it! If you have any other tips feel free to comment back, but we have tried almost everything there is to try. I believe it is indeed a new wrinkle and we were told to return it. Thank you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11320266056553131225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-23099559912102773422015-04-20T11:53:36.512-06:002015-04-20T11:53:36.512-06:00Hi Brittny,
I have not had reports of this proble...Hi Brittny, <br />I have not had reports of this problem so far, and I hope this is not a new wrinkle in the HFGH kits.<br /><br />Just to be sure we're talking about the same thing...the bolts must be slipped into the tracks <b>on the ends</b> of Parts 14-17, ahead of time, before you finalize the frame assembly. The idea is the bolts are sitting (waiting) in the track of the posts and rafters, ready to be attached to braces, etc, later as the instructions dictate.<br /><br />You can't insert a bolt into the middle of the track on these pieces at a later time without a lot of trouble (or some judicious grinding) because the bolt heads are designed to be too large. They have to be slipped into the <b>end</b> of the track. <br /><br />This is so the bolts can't be pulled out of the tracks, once inserted. But this design also means that inserting the right number of bolts into each post or rafter is critical...which is why it was such a pain, when HF had these instructions wrong, in the early manuals!<br /><br />If you mean the bolt heads are too large to be slid into the opening on the ends of Parts 14-17, it is indeed a new wrinkle, for me. <br /><br />I guess it's possible that the Parts 14-17 have been poorly extruded in such a way that there's a burr of metal left of the very end of the track...? Which might prevent you from easily slipping the bolt heads in...? But we have not seem this type of poor manufacturing on any of our own Harbor Freight parts, so I'd be kind of surprised if this was the problem.<br /><br />Please feel free to post back, or email me directly at mudhouse@q.com if I can be of further help! I will be happy to try to help you figure this out.mudhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14797472938550347719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-49892158722823865082015-04-20T11:13:24.519-06:002015-04-20T11:13:24.519-06:00Anyone had problems with sliding the bolt heads in...Anyone had problems with sliding the bolt heads into the slots on the wall studs? (14-17 )Ours do not fit without force, should we return?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11320266056553131225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-53896585108618148952015-03-14T11:06:08.173-06:002015-03-14T11:06:08.173-06:00Hi LisaB,
I have not built the 6x8 size greenhouse...Hi LisaB,<br />I have not built the 6x8 size greenhouse myself, but here is a link to a good tutorial on that size:<br /><a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Building-and-Improving-the-Harbor-Freight-6x8-Gree/" rel="nofollow">Building and Improving the Harbor Freight 6x8 Greenhouse</a><br /><br />I think you may also find more information, including some YouTube videos, if you Google Harbor Freight 6x8 Greenhouse.<br /><br />There are a lot of similarities, and you will probably be able to use much of the info in this blog, as well, in spite of the size difference (the parts numbers are totally different, though.) <br /><br />Good luck with your build!mudhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14797472938550347719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-83008953957939888272015-03-14T08:26:06.113-06:002015-03-14T08:26:06.113-06:00I'm picking up the 6x8 greenhouse from Harbor ...I'm picking up the 6x8 greenhouse from Harbor Freight today. I hope all goes smoothly. Is there any tips for the 6x8 size? Wish us luck!LisaBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04682727741635935453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-82102093573237778332015-03-08T16:00:20.219-06:002015-03-08T16:00:20.219-06:00Lance, we should thank Mutte, whose timing to post...Lance, we should thank Mutte, whose timing to post about this problem was impeccable! (Thank goodness we can all help each other along.)mudhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14797472938550347719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-9740108331219762052015-03-08T14:55:15.269-06:002015-03-08T14:55:15.269-06:00Mudhouse.... Thank you very much. I completely mi...Mudhouse.... Thank you very much. I completely missed the comment about it prior to making my comment. Again, thank you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10610378110813227210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-1177352712236525672015-03-08T14:49:31.680-06:002015-03-08T14:49:31.680-06:00Lance, Mutte's post from yesterday (just above...Lance, Mutte's post from yesterday (just above) mentioned this new problem also. Maybe this will help (requoting):<br /><br />"None of the Brace's 30 had the arrows designating which end goes against post 7. Measure the distance from the end of the brace 30 to the center of the first bolt hole. The end measuring 23 3/8 inches is the end that goes against post 7 and against Crown Beams 8 & 9. Mark them with a pencil when you unpack them to save time later."<br /><br />My newest version of the manual still refers to the arrows marked on the pieces. Harbor Freight has dropped the ball on this one, I fear, if they've stopped marking the braces with arrows. <br /><br />It's been too many years since we built ours to be conversant on this issue, so I'm hoping Mutte's tip above will help.mudhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14797472938550347719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-67275383809375560442015-03-08T14:36:37.219-06:002015-03-08T14:36:37.219-06:00Hi.... your pics and explanation are great. NONE ...Hi.... your pics and explanation are great. NONE of my cross braces have arrows, any idea on what I should do??Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10610378110813227210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-56551738125667949172015-03-08T10:15:03.684-06:002015-03-08T10:15:03.684-06:00I made an error on my previous post. I said to cut...I made an error on my previous post. I said to cut the aluminum angle iron 114 & 7/16 inches. It should be 117 7/16 inches. I must have been having a senior minute.Muttehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10335973806511114241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-48931527548691573372015-03-07T19:37:40.531-07:002015-03-07T19:37:40.531-07:00Mutte, thank you so much for writing such a compre...Mutte, thank you so much for writing such a comprehensive post, with information to help others. Wow, it sounds like HF has really added some new problems to the kit. I know they have rewritten the manual several times since I wrote this blog, but I was hoping things were getting better.<br /><br />I know it's been confusing to have two different HF model number versions of the 10x12 kit. I've had folks contact me with problems that indicate HF shipped the wrong 10x12 manual with their kit. There are some changes to parts, so it has been confusing, but at least that can be remedied by downloading the other manual from the HF site.<br /><br />Now it sounds like they are mixing up the parts, between the two versions of the kit...? That's terrible.<br /><br />I appreciate the heads up, and if folks contact me with the same problems you mention, I'll be able to send them the solutions you posted here. <br /><br />I hope the rest of your greenhouse experience goes smoothly for you, now that you've survived the build.mudhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14797472938550347719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-32070844032372854932015-03-07T09:39:21.068-07:002015-03-07T09:39:21.068-07:00Great information. Your instructions are far bette...Great information. Your instructions are far better than the instructions that come with the kit. I do have some solutions of problems I encountered that you do not cover.<br /><br />My kit appears to be a combination of two different versions of this model. It drove me nuts until I finally got out the tape measure and found corner post 7 have the brace holes drilled in different spots on two of the post. Brace 30 touch each other when installed on one side of the green house, as shown in your picture, but on my kit, the other side has the braces parallel with an inch gap between braces 30 due to the holes being drilled in different locations on that side.<br /><br />None of the Brace's 30 had the arrows designating which end goes against post 7. Measure the distance from the end of the brace 30 to the center of the first bolt hole. The end measuring 23 3/8 inches is the end that goes against post 7 and against Crown Beams 8 & 9. Mark them with a pencil when you unpack them to save time later.<br /><br />Diagonal corner brace 80 does not have a center hole for the SDS bolt shown on your diagram. Leave the SDS bolt out if your kit does not have the center bolt hole in brace 80. The bolt has no purpose without a hole to bolt it through.<br /><br />And finally, the dreaded rear wall braces 31 simply could not be installed without pulling the side walls in 1/2 inch. Every way I attempted to attach the braces 31, they pulled the walls out of square. I finally purchased a 16 ft. 1/8 inch thick piece of aluminum angle iron ($12) and cut it 114 & 7/16 inches long, clamped it into position resting on top of side braces 80. Then I drill 1/4 inch holes in the appropriate places using the bolt holes in post 7 and the slots in post 14 as guides.<br />Everyone should plan on this remedy if your kit will not stay square when attaching braces 31.<br /><br />The remaining 6 ft. of aluminum angle iron was clamped over the inside of the door arch and drilled and bolted to the door arch to make it rigid.<br /><br />And as other people reported, I was short a dozen bolts. I found 10 mm. stainless steel hex head bolts will slide down the groves in the side post 14 and rafters 15 and lock in place when the nuts are tightened. I bought the SS bolts locally because I did not want to wait for a delivery of more bolts from HF.Muttehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10335973806511114241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-49010358338182708832014-10-04T14:21:28.286-06:002014-10-04T14:21:28.286-06:00Hello Mark, sorry to hear about the missing part 4...Hello Mark, sorry to hear about the missing part 48s. We measured ours for you.<br /><br />Part 48 is 4 3/8" long, and 1 1/8" wide; u-shaped, with small side flanges that hug the sides of the vertical posts. The side flanges are only about 1/4" long.<br /><br />There are four holes. The top and bottom holes are positioned so the center of the hole is 3/8" from the edge. The distance center to center between the holes is 1 3/16".<br /><br />I haven't graphed this out on paper, but we think it's very close.<br /><br />If it's not easy for you to fabricate these, you could try calling HF to see if this is a part they stock for immediate shipment. (If they say yes, ask them to send you a tracking number, so you will have proof they are on the way, and you're not left hanging and wondering.)<br /><br />On occasion, some folks have had success going to their local HF store. Some managers will rob missing parts from other kits they have in inventory (but not always.)<br /><br />I can send you a photo of Part 48 installed, if you will drop me an email at mudhouse@q.com, if that helps.<br />Sherimudhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14797472938550347719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-31823025382566192092014-10-04T13:35:34.315-06:002014-10-04T13:35:34.315-06:00Great, I'm missing both rear post connectors #...Great, I'm missing both rear post connectors #48 - the two bottom holes attach to post #14. If someone, anyone can post the length and width along with the four hole placements, I would dearly appreciate it! I can fabricate them and now I'm in a holding pattern before I can move on to the roof. Thanks - M. C. Ackerson, AlbuquerqueMark Ackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13946008842209966255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-76772836592697348152014-04-29T16:03:56.634-06:002014-04-29T16:03:56.634-06:00God Bless you for creating this blog. The pictures...God Bless you for creating this blog. The pictures are immensely helpful! The back wall connector for the studs particularly had us stumped- just doesnt look right doing it the way the manual says. Glad to see it wasn't just us. Also, none of our #30 braces had any arrows on any of them. We had to assemble by trial and error. <br />Kaz65https://www.blogger.com/profile/08667552268090587869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-17530123801125545002014-04-02T11:52:34.485-06:002014-04-02T11:52:34.485-06:00I am nearly finished with the frame. The instruct...I am nearly finished with the frame. The instructions are now excellent. Instructions are in real English with great diagrams. The only problems so far are that the foundation bolts and the two brackets to join the rear wall studs were missing. The bolts were easy to replace and the brackets were easy to make. The side diagonal support struts were missing the holes for attaching them to the wall studs, so I had to drill them. The braces, parts 30, 31 did not have directional arrows. The distance between the studs is about 1/2" longer than the distance between the corner post attachment point and the stud next to it. If you get it wrong, the holes will not line up with the stud. Just line up the brace with the attachment points on the floor for the studs if the arrows are not present. this will give you the correct orientationAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06071602315853615811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-15133408950217365472013-07-04T23:46:08.511-06:002013-07-04T23:46:08.511-06:00I've installed all the floor plates correctly,...I've installed all the floor plates correctly, with all specified hold-down connectors. However when I tried screwing a corner post in place, the floor plate tips forward and comes off. The hold-down connectors are tight, but there's nothing to fasten the outer end of the floor plates, so they tip forward and come off. Could bolt the floor plate down with a filed-down bolt head?<br />I am in a high wind area and need max strength.<br />Thanks much for help.<br />FranAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04654933813860014899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-5967575862744825142013-05-24T13:24:14.603-06:002013-05-24T13:24:14.603-06:00Hi Pam,
Another kind Harbor Freight greenhouse own...Hi Pam,<br />Another kind Harbor Freight greenhouse owner has just alerted me that they've made changes to some of the door parts, and my (older) manual actually doesn't even list the part 81 that you mention. She's sending me a copy of the new manual, because her version is even newer than the PDF file version that Harbor Freight has on their website.<br /><br />I should have the new manual (the one you have) any day now. I'm sorry to not have an immediate answer, but without the same manual and parts, I'm at a big disadvantage. I will review your questions and post back as quickly as I can (maybe even later today, if the manual arrives.)<br />Sherimudhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14797472938550347719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-8389375743340989212013-05-24T13:15:14.110-06:002013-05-24T13:15:14.110-06:00Door assembly parts 23-27
There is an overhang on ...Door assembly parts 23-27<br />There is an overhang on the left side where 26 and 27 slide in. also there are not enough bolt holes to connect to the #81 4 hole pieces. Any suggestions? PamAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00870606748624438734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-85673554453490757902009-11-05T04:55:28.791-07:002009-11-05T04:55:28.791-07:00Just a quick comment-rather than mucking around wi...Just a quick comment-rather than mucking around with bolt counts, I found it easier to just take a drill and cut holes in the channels of the studs approx 1/3 and 2/3's up. Used a bit just a little larger than the T head, which allows the insertion of bolts into the studs AFTER they're up-also good for adding carriage bolts later for shelving etc. Since you're only nipping the face of the stud, it doesn't affect strength at all.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13367830665559595738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-1679974730052372442009-08-08T12:57:14.119-06:002009-08-08T12:57:14.119-06:00Hi again Ted, you're absolutely right! I did l...Hi again Ted, you're absolutely right! I did leave out a long bolt in my list for the vertical back wall studs #16 and #17. In verifying this, I found I'd also made errors in the bolt list for the two center back #14 wall studs. Good grief.<br /><br />The corrected bolt lists for the <b>back wall</b> studs should read: <br />Back Wall Stud 16 SH,L,L,L,L<br />Back Wall Stud 14 SH,L,L,L,L,L,L,SH<br />Back Wall Stud 14 SH,L,L,L,L,L,L,SH<br />Back Wall Stud 17 SH,L,L,L,L<br /><br />I'll redo the illustration ASAP. Thanks so much for alerting me. I really appreciate it when folks take the time to help me correct or improve info in the blog. <br />Sherimudhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14797472938550347719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563487586017212080.post-65847615008854104742009-08-08T08:26:42.241-06:002009-08-08T08:26:42.241-06:00My previous post on the bolts required for studs 1...My previous post on the bolts required for studs 16 and 17 was a little un-clear. What I should have said is from the bottom up there should be 4 long bolts and one short bolt at the top. Your drawing only shows three long bolts. Sorry for the confusion.<br /><br />TedUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17220111231062335459noreply@blogger.com