Wilderness Trapping and Living


No Profanity *** No Flaming *** No Advertising *** No Anti Trappers *** No Politics
No Non-Target Catches *** No Links to Anti-trapping Sites *** No Avoiding Profanity Filter


Home~Trap Talk~ADC Forum~Trap Shed~Wilderness Trapping~International Trappers~Fur Handling

Auction Forum~Trapper Tips~Links~Gallery~Basic Sets~Convention Calendar~Chat~ Trap Collecting Forum

Trapper's Humor~Strictly Trapping~Fur Buyers Directory~Mugshots~Fur Sale Directory~Wildcrafting

Trapper's Tales~Words From The Past~Legends~Archives~Kids Forum~Lure Formulators Forum


~Dobbins' Catalog~

ATS
(Please support Ted's Fur Shed, our sponsor for the Wilderness Page)


Alaska Trappers Association

Print Thread
Hop To
Mini-cabin project #8623952
Yesterday at 08:45 AM
Yesterday at 08:45 AM
Joined: Oct 2024
Wyoming
W
Wynot Offline OP
trapper
Wynot  Offline OP
trapper
W

Joined: Oct 2024
Wyoming
I have three kiddos, my oldest is 4 going on 5 and has asked many times to have her own playhouse on the place..and since the Little
House on the Prairie are her favorite on the shelf she will only settle for a log cabin. Took her out yesterday for her first few hours of cutting wood and spent most of it looking at wild flowers and deer. A few questions for those of you with extensive cabin experience- I am doing butt and pass corners, do you prefer the long 12-14" screws or traditional spikes to connect the logs? It will only be 8'x8' with a little porch off the front so not too big of spans to deal with. Also should I put it up on a treated post foundation or right on the ground as I really only expect it to be played in for the next 5-7 years. [Linked Image]

Re: Mini-cabin project [Re: Wynot] #8624197
Yesterday at 09:19 PM
Yesterday at 09:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
40 years Alaska, now back to O...
A
alaska viking Offline
trapper
alaska viking  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Dec 2007
40 years Alaska, now back to O...
When she out-grows the cabin, if built correctly, you may find other uses for it, so I would build it right. Depending on log size, you could stack the first row on treated 4"x material. I would simply use galvanized spikes throughout, pining the first course to the 4x material, and end-spiking the log end together. Pre-drill for the spike, of course using a slightly smaller bit than the spike. Structural screws are very expensive, also.


Just doing what I want now.

Re: Mini-cabin project [Re: Wynot] #8624276
19 hours ago
19 hours ago
Joined: Jan 2008
Alaska and Washington State
W
waggler Offline
trapper
waggler  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jan 2008
Alaska and Washington State
AK vikings advice about building on PT base is spot on, additionaly, debark the logs if you want longevity.
I know everyone want to see logs on the interior, but if you observe Scandinavian and Russian log construction (the experts and originators of log construction), you will see that most of their interior walls are furred out, often with insulation between the logs and the interior surface. This is something to consider.


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Mini-cabin project [Re: Wynot] #8624384
10 hours ago
10 hours ago
Joined: Mar 2007
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
W

Joined: Mar 2007
McGrath, AK
X3 about doing it right the first time.
I would also consider making it a bit bigger for your own future use as a whatever..
For pinning the logs: I much prefer to use wood for the pins. I like to drill a one inch round hole down through two courses of logs and drive a one inch square peg into that hole. The peg is larger when measured across corners . If you use a hardwood peg those corners cut into the softer wood of the log.
Use a drift pin to get the top of the pin below the surface of the log.

This allows you to cut openings wherever you want without running your saw into a spike or a screw. It also allows the logs to settle without the steel screws or spikes preventing it or pushing up between logs


Mean As Nails
Re: Mini-cabin project [Re: waggler] #8624387
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
Joined: Oct 2011
Idaho
B
bearcat2 Offline
trapper
bearcat2  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Oct 2011
Idaho
Originally Posted by waggler
AK vikings advice about building on PT base is spot on, additionaly, debark the logs if you want longevity.
I know everyone want to see logs on the interior, but if you observe Scandinavian and Russian log construction (the experts and originators of log construction), you will see that most of their interior walls are furred out, often with insulation between the logs and the interior surface. This is something to consider.

Probably not necessary for a play house or storage or whatever after she outgrows it. But I've stayed in log cabins/houses that are just logs, and ones that are furred out and insulated, the difference in both summer and winter is unbelievable. Logs are just not very good insulation. They have a reputation for being good insulation, but I believe that is because back in the old days they were comparing them to board houses with nothing, or at most a simple air space between walls as insulation.

Also, rounded logs on the inside tend to collect dust, spider webs, etc. and are a pain to clean. And not nearly as easy to attach things, from hanging pictures, to cabinets. If you aren't going to cover the logs inside, I would recommend squaring them off on the inside, to facilitate cleaning and interior decorating/modifying. Again, possibly not necessary for a play house, but something to think about if you plan to keep and use it.

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

Moderated by  akntrpr, Ol' Blister, otterman 

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1