Author Topic: Tools collected, timber prepared, framing begins. Update 1 - Hands on hewing (Read 2698 times)

nebruks · « **on:** July 24, 2011, 05:15:01 am »

I have started to hew the logs that I have harvested in last winter for the walls of our home. I need to hew 60 logs. Each log is 21 feet long. I am hewing a pine at the moment. I am using Gransfors Bruks 1900 broad axe for squaring and joggling and for the finishing I am using very special axe for me - the one that I bought a year ago from one old man. The finishing broad axe is approx. 200 years old (that can be determined from the ornaments on it) and have not been used a lot. It weights about 12 kilos.
I have made all posts, sills and knee braces. After hewing I will be continuing working on the frame.
____________________________

The moment of truth has become. The foundation and the ground works are over. Now the framing has started. All the timber is prepared by myself in my forest at the right phase of moon in deep and cold winter.
I have designed my family house and I will build it till the end only by myself. As much as possible I am doing with human energy. So I don't want to consume the other ones. The house will have a traditional timber frame and the walls will be filled with hand hewn logs in one layer and then insulated with pine wood shavings mixed with clay. The roof will be apsen shingled as traditional here in our country.
At the moment I have made all the sills with floor joists and half of the posts.

Magicman · « **Reply #1 on:** July 24, 2011, 08:42:22 am »

Oh the strength of youth.

I look forward to watching your progress.

scsmith42 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 24, 2011, 02:13:17 pm »

Quote from: Magicman on July 24, 2011, 08:42:22 am

Oh the strength of youth.

I look forward to watching your progress.

Indeed, this should be a great thread! Best of success to you on your project, and thanks in advance for sharing it with us.

Buck · « **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2011, 05:28:38 pm »

Very nice!

sparky1 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2011, 05:56:58 pm »

looks like you have quite the project!! looking forward to seein more photos too!

piller · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2011, 07:01:00 pm »

It looks like you are off to a great start on your timber framing project!
Can you describe in more detail your foundation and the infill system for your walls?
Thanks, looking forward to more pictures.

nebruks · « **Reply #6 on:** July 25, 2011, 05:39:31 am »

Quote from: piller on July 24, 2011, 07:01:00 pm

It looks like you are off to a great start on your timber framing project!
Can you describe in more detail your foundation and the infill system for your walls?
Thanks, looking forward to more pictures.

Hi.

My foundation (under earth layer) has made out of concrete filled with rocks. The upper part has made out of hand splitted rocks that hold together with clay/concrete mortar. The thickness of the foundation is 60 cm. Under the half of the house is basement.

The wall infill system will be:

1st layer - Hand hewn pine logs with tenons on both sides (160 mm thick) that will join in the mortise inside the posts (the long groove) that you can see in the photos that I have posted below.

2nd layer - 250 mm thick pine wood shaving mix with dry clay.

3rd layer - 25mm thick pine boarding (as the rough siding)

4th layer - 25mm thick vertical pine board siding (as the finishing).

So the whole thickness of the wall will be approx 50 cm.

I am the "victim" of the ecological philosophy - so that's why I was looking for possibilities to insulate the house with natural materials.

The realistic design photo is one prototype of my house. I took a picture of it and then in the Photoshop placed it just in the place were my house will come up. So my house will be very similar to the one you can see in the picture.

dukndog · « **Reply #7 on:** July 25, 2011, 07:14:19 am »

Looks great and can't wait to see more!!

On another note, what software did you use on the design pictures? Is it Google Sketchup??

DnD

Magicman · « **Reply #8 on:** July 25, 2011, 08:01:05 am »

It appears that the foundation is wider than the actual structure. Wouldn't this be a problem area with water entrapment?

piller · « **Reply #9 on:** July 25, 2011, 10:25:57 am »

Thanks for the info about the foundation and infill system. I also like using all natural materials if possible. So the wall structure is horizontal hand hewn pine logs on the inside (in between the vertical posts), vertical spruce boards with clay/pine shaving infill, horizontal rough pine siding, and vertical pine finish siding on the outside? Should be very strong, lot's of thermal mass, and good insulation!

Will you be using nails to attach the spruce boards and the layers of pine siding?

nebruks · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2011, 04:17:37 pm »

Quote from: dukndog on July 25, 2011, 07:14:19 am

Looks great and can't wait to see more!!

On another note, what software did you use on the design pictures? Is it Google Sketchup??

DnD

Hey.

Yes I made the simple design sketches in Sketchup. It is easy and very user friendly software.

nebruks · « **Reply #11 on:** July 25, 2011, 04:21:39 pm »

Quote from: Magicman on July 25, 2011, 08:01:05 am

It appears that the foundation is wider than the actual structure. Wouldn't this be a problem area with water entrapment?

The underground foundation is 60 cm wide. The foundation over the earth layer is approx 55 cm. The wall will be 53 and there will come a leveled and board all around the foundation after the finishing siding will be made. No water will be able to damage anything.

nebruks · « **Reply #12 on:** July 25, 2011, 04:24:44 pm »

Quote from: piller on July 25, 2011, 10:25:57 am

Thanks for the info about the foundation and infill system. I also like using all natural materials if possible. So the wall structure is horizontal hand hewn pine logs on the inside (in between the vertical posts), vertical spruce boards with clay/pine shaving infill, horizontal rough pine siding, and vertical pine finish siding on the outside? Should be very strong, lot's of thermal mass, and good insulation!

Will you be using nails to attach the spruce boards and the layers of pine siding?

Yes you understood the wall structure precisely right. I am not yet decided about the nails of the siding placing. The alternative is pegging them on glue. But the whole house will be built 98% without any metal parts.

frwinks · « **Reply #13 on:** July 26, 2011, 10:28:55 am »

sounds and looks like you're having fun and that's what building a homestead is all about IMO. Embrace every moment of it

Tullivor · « **Reply #14 on:** July 26, 2011, 11:05:18 pm »

incredible work man.

LOGDOG · « **Reply #15 on:** July 28, 2011, 10:23:19 pm »

Looking forward to seeing this thread develop. Nebruks ... tell me about how the phase of the moon factors into when you harvest the trees. You're the first I've heard comment on it.

bigshow · « **Reply #16 on:** August 03, 2011, 03:50:20 pm »

Nebruks,

you might consider getting into better physical shape before attempting such a large project

.

clww · « **Reply #17 on:** August 06, 2011, 09:48:41 am »

nebruks- I'm going to really enjoy following this thread, so keep it coming!

tonto · « **Reply #18 on:** August 06, 2011, 09:57:03 am »

WOW, I'm tired just reading this thread. I am jealous of people with such talent. Looking forward to following this one. Tonto.

ljmathias · « **Reply #19 on:** August 06, 2011, 09:40:20 pm »

And it's not just the talent, which there is clearly there aplenty, but the energy: if I had half the energy and the experience (won't call it wisdom ever) that I do now, what couldn't I get done? Oh, well, I've learned to plod where I used to storm ahead: plodding is slow and sure, and gives me more time to see my mistakes coming at me!

Lj

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Author Topic: Tools collected, timber prepared, framing begins. Update 1 - Hands on hewing (Read 2698 times)