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Almighty Log Cabin building thread #5443421
03/03/16 03:41 PM
03/03/16 03:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 86
Minnesota
Scanner Offline OP
trapper
Scanner  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 86
Minnesota
How long should log cabin logs dry before building?

Last edited by Scanner; 03/04/16 12:04 AM.

The day that you tarry, is the day that you lose......
Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5443431
03/03/16 03:47 PM
03/03/16 03:47 PM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,017
Aroostook county, Maine
B
beaver trapper Offline
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beaver trapper  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,017
Aroostook county, Maine
I would say a year. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Alex


Wilderness, in a word, is freedom
Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5443434
03/03/16 03:50 PM
03/03/16 03:50 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 10
MB, Canada
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Gitti Offline
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Posts: 10
MB, Canada
My family made a post frame building and we used the popular trees right away.

Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5443534
03/03/16 05:22 PM
03/03/16 05:22 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,561
Northern MN
Dale Torma Offline
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Dale Torma  Offline
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Posts: 3,561
Northern MN
Either way, you have to make room above the windows and doors for shrinkage. The only disadvantage to green logs is the weight.
Some of the best log builders in Europe climbed the trees and girdled the bark below the crown, the tree then uses up the sugars and starches, drys out a bit, gets a bit more pitch impregnated, and there is less food left in the wood for bugs and fungus. The tree finally starts to die after a year or so, then they cut it and built with the logs. Some of these buildings have been standing for several hundred years.
The oldest log building in Sweden, still in use, the trees were cut in the year 1237, and it was built sometime soon after.

Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5443586
03/03/16 05:52 PM
03/03/16 05:52 PM
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 115
Michigan
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randyt Offline
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Posts: 115
Michigan
I've built several log cabins from green logs. Some of the logs were cut, peeled and laid up all in the same day.

Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5443588
03/03/16 05:54 PM
03/03/16 05:54 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,561
Northern MN
Dale Torma Offline
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Dale Torma  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,561
Northern MN
My friends and I built a cabin out of green logs, it turned out fine.

Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Dale Torma] #5443752
03/03/16 07:42 PM
03/03/16 07:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 86
Minnesota
Scanner Offline OP
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Scanner  Offline OP
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Posts: 86
Minnesota
Dale, what species of tree do you recommend in Minnesota?


The day that you tarry, is the day that you lose......
Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5443998
03/03/16 10:10 PM
03/03/16 10:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 34
saskatchewan
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saskamusher Offline
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 34
saskatchewan
dale on green logs is there a formula to use to calculate the anount of gap to leave for shrinkage above doors and windows depending on the moisture content of the logs


trapping with dogs
Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5444109
03/03/16 10:55 PM
03/03/16 10:55 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,561
Northern MN
Dale Torma Offline
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Dale Torma  Offline
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Northern MN
Originally Posted By: Scanner
Dale, what species of tree do you recommend in Minnesota?


I would say red pine (Norway pine) would be good, it doesn't tend to have extreme taper, its not extremely heavy, easy to work, and strong. If you can find a stand of straight jack pine, that should be good too, but its usually branchy and tapered. I have seen really nice jack pine in places too. White pine sap stains bad, hard to find in the right size too, otherwise its nice to work with. White cedar is light and lasts long, but it usually tapers very fast, making for difficulties in the corners. We built ours out of white cedar, and the big butts and the small tops were very difficult to notch and fit tight.

I'm building my sauna with an old time summer kitchen attached out of red pine, cause that is what I have. I will have to line the sauna room with cedar or poplar, cause pine knots will burn you and drip hot sap in the hot sauna room.

My dad planted a few acres of red pine 50 years ago, and I need to thin the plantation.

I am going to build a hewn log building with Scandinavian scribe fit and corners. I'll get the foundation ready this summer and cut the wood next winter.

I don't remember the formula for shrinkage. I'll have to look it up, its different for different species. It might be 3/4 inch for 4 of vertical wall, but that might be wrong. You have to make telescoping flashing for brick or stone chimneys so the building can slide down the chimney as it shrinks.

Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5444140
03/03/16 11:12 PM
03/03/16 11:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 34
saskatchewan
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saskamusher Offline
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 34
saskatchewan
interesting dale i noticed on timber kings even tho they use seasoned white cedar they still use settleing devices in there vertical supports to allow for the house to settle ,but i have yet to see a close up of there window and door framing to see what there allowing for settling and shrinkage . timber kings is a great tv show there homes are incredible


trapping with dogs
Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5444187
03/03/16 11:42 PM
03/03/16 11:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,046
Homer, Alaska
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Spek Jones Offline
"FATHER"
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Homer, Alaska
If you're just building a log cabin like for a trapping cabin it doesn't matter, use green logs if you want. If you are building a log home and doing the Swedish cope and scribing the logs then they should be seasoned for a year. On "log homes" you do need to allow for shrinkage and settling at the windows and doors. It's not necessary on a "log cabin" to do that, unless you are going to extremes and coping the logs on the cabin.

14X16 built with green logs.


10X12 green logs.


16X18 green logs


12X14 originally built with unpeeled green logs.


These were all built in the early to mid '70's. Then the bark beetles moved in, and after that I had all the seasoned logs I needed to build with. I built 8 or 9 more out of the beetle killed trees and they were much lighter logs to build with.

Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5444195
03/03/16 11:48 PM
03/03/16 11:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Family Trapper Offline
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Homer, Alaska
Almighty Cabin Building anyone?
Scanner you could change the name and a star could be born???
Those are awesome Spek
Would really love to build a cabin some day. If you ever want some help let me know.

Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5444211
03/03/16 11:56 PM
03/03/16 11:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,046
Homer, Alaska
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Spek Jones Offline
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Spek Jones  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,046
Homer, Alaska
I'm thinking I may have one more in me Len, but haven't made a definite decision on it, but if and when I do make up my mind on it I'll let you know. I love cabin building, but sorta detest log home building. Lot of difference between the two.

Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5444224
03/04/16 12:02 AM
03/04/16 12:02 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,561
Northern MN
Dale Torma Offline
trapper
Dale Torma  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,561
Northern MN
Nice cabins , Spek!

I wish I had pictures of the one my friends and I made, we were 14-15 years old and built it on mining company property, they found it after 5 years and were about to burn it down, so it got taken apart and moved about 3 miles, it took them about 8 years to find and burn it then. It was only 12X15.
I have worked on log buildings since then, but have not built one for myself.

I'll check with my friends, maybe someone has a picture. We built the whole thing with axes. Cut the trees and dragged them out with a dirt bike.

Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Dale Torma] #5444235
03/04/16 12:08 AM
03/04/16 12:08 AM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 86
Minnesota
Scanner Offline OP
trapper
Scanner  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 86
Minnesota
Can anyone do a tutorial on log scribing?


The day that you tarry, is the day that you lose......
Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5444244
03/04/16 12:15 AM
03/04/16 12:15 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Family Trapper Offline
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Homer, Alaska
Scanner I like it!

Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Family Trapper] #5444257
03/04/16 12:23 AM
03/04/16 12:23 AM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 86
Minnesota
Scanner Offline OP
trapper
Scanner  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 86
Minnesota
I'm catching on to this.


The day that you tarry, is the day that you lose......
Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5444286
03/04/16 12:40 AM
03/04/16 12:40 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Family Trapper Offline
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Family Trapper  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
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Homer, Alaska
Easier to find. They don't have a tendency to get lost. Maybe they might just make it into an archive some day.

Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5444321
03/04/16 01:17 AM
03/04/16 01:17 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 48
Fairbanks, AK
AK HUNTER Offline
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AK HUNTER  Offline
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Posts: 48
Fairbanks, AK
Spek has great photos! Show us some trapping pictures sometime.

Re: Log cabin logs [Re: Scanner] #5444353
03/04/16 02:37 AM
03/04/16 02:37 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,561
Northern MN
Dale Torma Offline
trapper
Dale Torma  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,561
Northern MN
Spek, I feel the same way, I'm just building a small cabin sized building for my sauna, and then maybe a couple more small ones for rent or sale as hunting cabins. 20x24 max size, maybe smaller.

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