Our log cabin on the back 40

[pappy]

Ya all might have noticed I've made a bunch of posts this past week cause my Dang back has blown out again.  About the only thing I've been able to do has been Epsom salt baths, TV and the Forestry Forum -- Thank God fer this place.

Anyway I though I'd get a thread  going about our 16' X 34' log cabin "out back"  -- so here goes it's been an on going project for awhile, a good part of the reason in buying a band mill.  

First you need materials,  I'm using northern white cedar logs 8 and 10 feet long sawed two sides at 4,5, and 6 inch thick.




These were sawed last year,stickered and covered. This summer we moved them down to the site.


Two summers ago we did the floor framing 6X6 tamarack sills and 2X6 floor joist.  Last summer we decked it with one inch tamarack.
Just stretching out the back.

Ahhh nice to get off of the knees.

Last summer we also got our black spruce purlins out of the woods and peeled. We got a neighborhood kid to help Jen with that task.


We got the corner framing up, using 2 X 6 and 2 X 8 fir.  The door and window frames are 2 X 6 fir.


The first row of logs, spiked through the corner framing with 6" spikes and vertically using 10" spikes.

They're not that heavy, Josh  


Making the ends fit a little tighter.



Come on boy drive that spike


Getting the window frames into place.



This is as far as we've got so far, 48" up.

[jerry-m]

Looking good Termite,

Thanks for sharing with the pictures... I and my family built a log cabin out of round log back in 1979/80... Didn't have a sawmill then... We used hardware cloth between the cracks with cement filling... The cement has been falling out some now and needs recaulking...

My youngest daughter and her husband have started milling some square 6X8 logs for a small cabin / house of their own...

I was laid up in bed with back trouble way back when the goverment burned Waco... Watched it all  on tv from bed... Only releif I could get was from the Caropractor, and it only lasted for about an hour... Didn't know what I was going to do, had been off work for nearly a month... Doctor wanted to operate but I knew  too many people that went that route and were in worst shape than before... Finlay a Nurse friend told me to take a lot of asprin as they were a muscle relaxer... Worked for me, maybe not for anyone else???

[pappy]

Thanks Jerry,

"The cement has been falling out some now and needs recaulking..."

Ya might want to check out this site to replace your chinking with..  It comes highly recommend around these parts.    http://www.permachink.com/

I've had back problems since '74, the chiropractors have been a blessing for me, just had two adjustments and only cost $60, this Dr. works on me for about 45 minutes at a setting.    where did you ever here a Dr. charging so little.  I got friends who have had back operations and the ones of late have are doing great.  New technology everyday.

Your gonna have to post some pics of your daughter and husbands new log structure  


Will be back out to the mill tomorrow.  

[pappy]

It's been a few weeks but we've been moving along.

we're over the windows, then it's the log floor joist.  





Tim

[Daver]

Hi, The Cabin is looking real nice... I wish it was me making it..  

[pappy]

More updates;

We are almost to the top of the walls and it's time for the cross tie logs. Then place the loft log floor joist into place, there will be a loft at both ends of the cabin.  With Jen and brother John we got out three black spruce logs, peeled them and took two up to the mill to saw the top flat.




With that done Jen made some phone calls Sunday morning to round up some help to get the cross tie logs on top of the walls.  Everybody she called came and brought help, Randy (who lives across the road) brought his tractor, big plus.


That was as close as Randy could get so the help slid the logs down the top of the wall and close to there place.


Over the next week or so with time permitting I got the cross-ties scribed into place.


Now it's time to get the log floor joist into position.
Once again Jen calls in reinforcements, Babe and his Brother Ben are home on vacation and they had seen the camp progress and wanted to help.  

First we had to  go to the purlin pile we readied last summer and picked out our logs.  Loaded em up onto the trailer and back up to the mill to flatten the top.

Back down and it's time to fit em into place, get the logs up on top of the cross-tie logs mark em then back down to tenon the ends. I know where's those chaps!!

Wow the joist logs are in place and ready to be mortised into place.



Thanks for tuning in and I'll be posting more later. Gotta go pick hazel nuts.

happy pappy

[etat]

WOW!   LOOKING  GREAT!    thanks for the update, and the pictures!!!!!

[jerry-m]

Hi Termite.  Guess your back got better

Cabin looking good, great pictures...
Are you cutting a groove of some sort to mate the logs to each other or just butting them flat surface to flat surface???
Anyway thanks very much for sharing

Jerry

[pappy]

Thanks   and jerry-m
My back has been doing much better, thanks fer asking.

Daver maybe ya can come on up and sit fer a spell sometime.  

Jerry I'm just spiking the logs one on top of another and will be using a product from Perma Chink called Energy Seal to seal the inside and outside seams between the logs and ends.

Link >>  http://www.permachink.com/EnergySeal.html



Never the less we've made some progress, I got a chance to mortise the log loft joist into place.   Used just a chainsaw and chisel to do the mortising.  Worked great.


Fine tuning the tenon



Closeup of the mortise and tenon joints.



First view from the upper level. Couldn't step back any further.


I had a little visitor and she sure likes that cross-tie log.  I think we might have a swing in the camp for awhile.   Our granddaughter Kate is really starting to like camp "outback"




Will try to get the gable ends started this week.  Went out and got the loft windows yesterday so's I'd have the R.O. sizes.

Raining up here today so that shoots working on the camp outa the water.

stay tuned

[Norm]

Great pics Pappy, I sure have enjoyed this thread. Thanks for the update.  

[jerry-m]

Thanks Termite,

I am planing on cutting my logs square  four sides 6in. wide by 8 in. high... Might decide to just mill 3 sides and leave the out side round... Then I could just Stack, Spike, and Seal and be done with it:)

I sure do like your cabin, and enjoy the pictures

Thanks, Jerry

[DanManofStihl]

That cabin looks great. I wish I had one. It is really coming together, I'm so envious .

[pappy]

Thanks guys!!

We've been working on the gable ends.  

up to the loft window on the west wall --



Just about as high as we need to be


And almost done the east wall-- getting the last spikes in it.



Hopefully we'll get the purlins up in place over the weekend.  Gotta get em washed up first.

[pappy]

Well got more done, last Saturday my brother Dave came over to help out.  We made a jig to trim the gable ends -- just two boards to help guide the saw.



Then trimmed them -- it worked really good  




Then on Monday I made some phone calls and got some buddies to help out.    One of em has a home made ( at least he thinks so) ATV.  It's got a dump bed and a winch.  We used the winch with the parbuckleing method to lift the purlins up onto the gable ends to be scribed into place.

First we had to move the purlins into position.




Then line up the "goat" to utilize the winch.


Up they go  




Now isn't this sooo easy says Wishy.  He just got the machine and was itching to try her out.



Fitting them in.


Scribed in pretty good.  Going to take a little more caulking than planned but that's OK.  Got these three purlin ends scribed into place, the other ends still needs to be done.  Then I got to get the last ones up on top of each outside wall.



Nice to have those heavy pieces up there.

[LogRite]

Awesome work.

By the way, I think I'll be needing a workshop in the backyard pretty soon!

[pappy]

Finally got the purlins all done then on to the roof boards.  


We grabbed a whack o' lumber ( pine) took it to the shop and tongue and grooved it then brought it down to camp on Monday.



Trimming the purlin ends.


Starting the roof boards on Thursday.


Just as I was getting things going Bryant showed up and gave me a hand.  


Jen did the trimming.  Worked great with three.  


The end of the day on Thursday



The end of the day Friday.



At last on Saturday Jen and I finished the boards and tar paper and trimmed the drip edge.


Hopefully by the end of this week we'll have the insulation and steel roofing on.

Stay tuned,
pappy

[beetle]

Termite,

Looking real good!  

My timber frame is still just a pile of sticks.....only the pile is getting bigger.  

[OneWithWood]

Nice job, Termite.  Thanks for the pics!

[Norm]

Looks great Pappy, now if I could only find a way to sneak up there and move it to my place I'd be happier than a muddy pig.

[pappy]

Thanks Norm_F., OWW, and beetle,

Norm ya can't have mine but I know of some mills up this way that'll sell you a truck load of cedar logs sawed 2 or three or even 4  sides.  

We didn't get the roof all done the next week but we did "git er done"

The week before last Pete came over and gave me three big days. We were able to get the sheets of 2" insulation in place then it was the 2 X 6's lag bolted three feet on center to the purlins and the strapping nailed at two foot centers.



pretty in pink



Then last week Bryant gave me two big days to get the steel on 'er.  Bry used to have a company erecting  commercial steel buildings.     No better person then him for the task.

First we had to trim the fascia with pine I also used steel fascia, no painting.  


After carefully measuring, the steel was predrilled 13 at a time.  BIG PLUS when it came time to screw it down. In doing so the screw lines came out real nice,  good to have a pro helping out.


The moment has arrived, the roof is finally going on.  
Line it up and screw 'er down.


Bring em on!!! We were able to get the north side done the first day. Here we are the second day cutting the hole for the chimney on the south side.


And on the third day Bry came back and finished of the ridge cap. The last screw placed and a big holler from Bry saying DONE !!!!!!! I must say he's got to be half squirrel.  



Yesterday Jen and I finished installing the smoke pipe and that makes it official   WE ARE DRIED IN !!!!!!!


Now we're off to ready the wood stove, need heat to install the windows and doors and all the other work which needs to be done.

Stay tuned,
pappy and gram

[Timber_Framer]

Fantastic

[UNCLEBUCK]

Termite your log cabin/home looks fantastic ! Great pictures and looks like its in a beautiful spot . Congratulations , its very nice !

[Keitho]

Good job termite. I am sure you are living a lot of people's dreams of building this log cabin including mine. It looks great. Thanks for the pictures & I am looking forward to the next bunch you upload.       Keitho

[hillbilly]

               Looks good to me , makes me wish the farm was alittle bigger or I had more land to build my own.
             I like the photos of your little mill shed to
                        hillbilly

[customsawyer]

Absolutly beautiful

[pappy]

Thanks for the complements guys, and Keitho the cabin has been a life long dream of ours, like 32 years. See patience and perseverance does pay off.    


Anyway thought I'd let folks know everything has just kinda slowed down for now with the cabin.  After we got the roof on and the chimney up it was time to take a little break, if you want to call it that.  Mostly trying to get stuff done before winter really kicks in. We're unable to drive down back with the pickup as the hill is to steep and there's 5 inches of snow in it.  Will have to wait till we can go down with the sled.


I did manage to get the loft windows in, the small window in the bathroom, and the two doors.  

This is the only picture I could find, ( someone forgot the camera when the windows and doors were installed)

Here I'm readying the opening for the bathroom window.


And Jennie got the staging torn down and put away.

And we got the 2X6 cedar T&G for the loft floors milled out and brought down and the 4X8 OSB for the 1st. floor down there also. Will be installed later.


Oh ya I did get the wood stove in so we do have heat.


Stay tuned,
pappy

[Paschale]

Hey there Termite,

I just went through the entire thread on your cabin building tonight for the first time--very cool to see it move in fast forward!  I'm really impressed!  A great looking cabin, one that's gonna be passed down for a few generations, I imagine.  Good work!  

[pappy]

Thanks Paschale,

A great looking cabin, one that's gonna be passed down for a few generations

We're trying to make it last a long long time.

Well we got some help this past weekend, and the beginning of the week. Ben helped us get the sleeping loft floor down. Then Pete and Bryant came by and gave us a big hand on Monday and Tuesday.

We forgot the camera again Friday (sorry Ben) but you can see the results, the sleeping loft floor was put down, big day.

Here I'm installing the support post on Saturday.  





Here's a view looking from the sleeping loft toward the utility (small) loft. Still need to replace the temporary support post on that end.


Pete and Bry helped get the 2 X 6 T&G cedar in the small loft on Monday, again no camera   but we remembered it Tuesday when the OSB and tar paper got laid.

Here we had to use a come-a-long to lift the wood stove a couple inches off the floor so we could place the paper and OSB. Better than moving it and we even had a fire going.



Home stretch  


Big day and everybody worked like a dog, even BW   he worked real hard as our door man.


A much needed break, and it's sure comfy up here.


Next most likely the windows.

Stay tuned,
termite

[Norm]

Thanks for the update Pappy, I keep checking here for the new posts and really enjoy watching your progress.

May I ask what the outside dimension of the cabin is? We'd like to do the same thing next to our pond some day and the size you built looks just right.

[pappy]

Norm,
The outside dimension at the 6 X 6 sills is 16' 6" wide by 34 feet long.

[Norm]

Thank you.

[Timber_Framer]

Look s great.
Please explain how you did the floor. It looks like T7G, but covered with felt and then OSB, yes?

[pappy]

Timber_Framer,
Ya got it -- except the first layer of boards are just 3 sided tamarack.  The felt makes a good barrier for not only the drafts but little critters, mice and squirrels won't chew through the tar paper and bugs can't penetrate it.  As for the OSB we're going to paint it with an oil base paint.  We went this route in order to keep the taxes down.  I'll be laying down a hardwood floor in a few years -- after the tax man don't need to come a snoopin' no more.    

[beenthere]

I like the pics and the cabin.

What is "3 sided tamarack"?  Which side is not 'sided' ?  

Just curious.

[Timber_Framer]

I got it now
I was looking at the t&g ceiling and the other nice touches and wondering "why an OSB floor?" the tax man answers that question
I built a timber frame guest cabin/sauna this spring and we decked it with 3/4" cdx. With all the building gping on around here and how far it has to be shipped the cdx was only a little more then $3.00 a sheet more then 5/8" OSB Go figure.

[pappy]

beenthere,

"3 sided tamarack"?  means it's only been planed on three sides, in this case no T & G.  Helps when installing, the random widths are all the same width and the thickness is consistent. The rough side goes down.  Makes a great sub-floor.

Timber_Framer,

What you built and you got no pics !!!!  

[Timber_Framer]

 :'(The digital camera went south on us while we were erecting the frame. There are at least fifty pics in there that I cannot retrieve
I've heard a rumor that my in-laws are getting us a big bad new camera for Christmas so I've held off on buying another.
Don't worry there will be plenty of pics of new and old projects around the first of the year

[Jim_Rogers]

Timber_Framer:
There usually is a media card in the camera that you can remove from a broken camera and still get the pictures off of it.
Find some store that has the right reader and you can take your media disk there and they can put them onto a cd for you.
Then you can post them here or email them out to others.
Good luck,
Jim Rogers

[Timber_Framer]

Yea Jim I've been told the same by some friends. My problem is I never remeber to take it along on my infrequent visits to civilization. Thunder bay is an hour away and Duluth is two so I don't leave here much, and when I do the camera is usually sitting in the desk drawer

[pappy]

Haven't been able to do much lately.  Still working on the windows.  Got a pic over Thanksgiving though.

[UNCLEBUCK]

Very well done termite ! What is the building off to the right in your picture . Keep this pace up and you could have a resort .

[pappy]

UNCLEBUCK,

One of my friends says we're getting quite a compound going down there.  

The building to the right is our first camp, we now call it the bunk house, it's 10' X 14' with a sleeping loft for two. When we move to the big camp we'll put a set of double bed bunks in there.  I figure the kids will love it.

We always had a plan that someday we'd build a larger camp. The immediate family is growing, two daughters w/hubby's and two grand children. Soooo it was time for the bigger camp.  I was trying real hard to be buttoned up for winter but the shop got real busy,the weather got a little colder, needed to put some time into the cross country ski trail to the camp, I also just ran outta steam.  Oh well I'll get after it after the holidays.

Here's a winter pic of the bunk house.




Here's another shot we took today 12/12/04 (I like that modify feature) when we took a ride on the Bearcat to see what the camp looked like after the big snow we got. In this shot you can see the privy and the bunk house.




While setting in the same place I just paned right and click this building I call the cook shack.  It's got a griddle and a franklin fire place.

A nice place for six for dinner.

[Hugh Darty]

Awsom cabin termite!
You have answered several questions I had in mind. I built an 18x30' very similar to yours back in 2002, but had to sell it when a mining company offered me more money than I could refuse for the property just as I was finishing it.
The insulation on the roof is similar to what I did to mine, but I only used 3/4 inch stryofoam. I am located in the south and cold weather isn't much of a problem. I also screwed my tin directly on top of the foam.
I notched my logs and used the butt and pass method on the corners. I allowed 3 inchs over the doors and windows for settling, slotting the frames to allow the logs to slide down around them to prevent binding.
I kiln-dried the logs to help with the settling, but the logs had already settled over an inch when it was torn down.
I didn't notice any allowance for settling in your pictures. Have you had any problems with settling?
I am starting a new cabin on the river this month and appreciate any comments or pointers anyone can pass my way!

Thanks!
Saw

[pappy]

Thanks Hugh,

We've been getting to enjoy the cabin more and more as we progress.  We got the doors and all the windows in. I'd have some pics but my camera quit. Just got a new one and I need to learn it's ways 

The roof system we used works really good up in these parts.. you need ventilation between the steel and insulation so the snow doesn't stick and with a 12/9 pitch it'll slide right off.

With a vented air space in your roof the building also stays cooler during hot summer months   heat rises and escapes with soffit and ridge ventilation.

I used dry (sawed..stickered..and covered for one year) northern white cedar logs and I wasn't to worried about settling... Some of my windows have only 1/2" clearance over them and no sign of settling .  The cracks between the logs never changed we still had to chink them with insulation.

[jpad_mi]

What an absolutely beautiful cabin! Great work. 

[pappy]

Thanks JeffP,

We spent our first night at camp last weekend and the outside overnight temps went down to -15F.  A might chilly outside but really comfy inside. 

Here's a few shots of the cedar half log steps I'm working on.





 

The frost on the front door (single pane) as I headed out.


Took a shot of the cabin to show the windows in place.


Then I needed to head for the "little house behind the house with crescent or the door" and found another frosty window.


Thankfully the week before I replaced the heater with the new and improved "vented" propane heater.  I had the setting way down so it wasn't warm enough to melt the ice off of the window but warm enough for me to do me binness.  I turned it up so the misses would be all set.   The mist is from the warmth within hitting the cold.

[Norm]

Thanks for the update Pappy.

That's got to be the nicest one holer I've ever seen. Kind of makes the fallen log on our back forty look primitive.

[Buzz-sawyer]

Pappy
I know what ya mean concentration on doin  binness is severely limited at -15
Super nice job all around my friend!
I can only hope a renegade bear doesnt take up residence in your loft if you are away for a week or two

[Stump Jumper]

I sure like your cabin thanks the great pics.

[pappy]

The big camp has a steel roof and the snow doesn't stay for very long... wish I had done the same for the cook shack... oh well live and learn...  The cook shack drip edge is six and a half feet off of terrafirma.. when we got grass 

[jerry-m]

Thanks Termite

Always like hearing about your log cabin doings...

Take Care, Spring coming soon            Jerry

[Jim Haslip]

Great Job On The Cabin

When can we move in?

[Weekend_Sawyer]

 Having spent the night in the little cabin and had wonderful steaks out of that cook shak I can testify that Tim and Jen are to be envied. The cabin was not under roof when I was there. I sure am looking forward to seeing it done

Great Job Tim, I love half log stairs! Can you give us some details on how you built them?

Jon

[Doc]

That is fantastic! The work is great, and the setting is very pretty....even if there is snow....

Doc

[thecfarm]

What a project.Looks great!!!!!!I have to get some breakfast into me and get outside to cut some wood.I will be back tonight.What kind of mill do you have?

[pappy]

Thanks cfarm,

The mill I've got is a Hudson Little Oscar... It's got a 20 foot track and a 13 hp Honda engine... Been a good saw for our needs... simple and basic and I can saw up to 17'4"L X  28" diam log... big enough for this ole man... 



Jon,
Sorry it took so long to get back to ya about the half log stairs...

I used northern white cedar for the stringers and steps... sawed em very carefully in half, scraped and sanded all the left over bark chafe off... I used a piece of low grade 1 X 10 and laid out the rise and run I needed and transfered it to the stringers... Brought it all down to the camp and assembled it with 10" log cabin screws... Jen put three coats Zip Guard oil base gloss finish on it... After a few weeks I scribed the outline of the steps where they butt the stringer, removed the log cabin screws from one stringer at a time brought it back up to the shop and mortised in 3/4" for the step, brought it back down put it back in place then did the same on the other side...

Was quite an undertaking but worth it... I've had a couple big guys use them and it held up really well... 

[iain]

Hey Normski

 one of my favorite books is this by Molly Harris its about her search for a three holer (which she finds ) a really nice whimsical book


iain

[pappy]

Hey Normski

 one of my favorite books is this by Molly Harris its about her search for a three holer (which she finds ) a really nice whimsical book


iain

iain, I have a love of privy's where can I get copy       

[Norm]

A three holer! Around here the neighbors would snub you if we put in such a luxury.

[iain]

Here you go Pappy

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/203-5959211-7078343

also try searching Lucinda Lampton she did a couple of tv progs on privies and they were a hoot


 iain

[iain]

Bummer try this one

Cotswold Privies 
Mollie Harris

[iain]

Ok before i get aggrervated copy and paste the info in the above reply
into Amazon

iain

[timcosby]

soooo cool. any updated pics???

[moosehunter]

 Tim,
 I finally read this whole thread! Pretty cool stuff. It is kinda neat that I have been there and know what is "around the corner" and how much better the cabin looks in person. ( looks good in pics also, just better in person.

 One thing that can't be put into the pictures is the sound of the river in the background as you sit by the fire, no way to describe it, ya gotta be there

 mh

Next read; your web site

[SwampDonkey]

Yup, this thread has been another one of them Gems of the forum. Brings back all the memories of growing up and staying at grandpa's camps all over God's creation. Best years of my life. Them grand kids of yours won't forget the good times.

[dundee]

Hi Pappy, Gosh, I really enjoyed reading this thread and the comments from other members, FANTASTIC!

Richard

[Snag]

Man, that cabin turned out great.  Kinda makes me want to go home tonight and get started on one.  I'll add that to my never ending wish list .  Seriously- nice job.

[moosehunter]

 This picture was taken at sunset behind camp Outback on July 12 2006.




Words can't describe.

mh

[IL Bull]

Hey Normski

 one of my favorite books is this by Molly Harris its about her search for a three holer (which she finds ) a really nice whimsical book


iain

There is a "three holer" at the Lincoln home in Springfield Il.  One of them is child size.

[iain]

Family sized then

iain

[pappy]

still in use today 

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php3?tip_AttractionNo==631


a three familly unit 

http://www.nsinns.com/FairviewInnBridgewaterThreeStoryOuthouse.htm