Rewards of Sawing

Oregon_Sawyer · October 05, 2003, 11:33:09 PM

Five years after I bought my first mill I am finally getting to see the rewards for my endeavers.

This is a picture of my custom designed Log Home under construction. The logs are Western Red Cedar and the framing lumber is Douglas fir. I have cut all but the treated lumber for the decks.

oakiemac · October 06, 2003, 06:55:36 AM

Nice digs! ;D
What type of mill did you use? You're lucky to live in Oregon, it's a beautiful state.

Paul_H · October 06, 2003, 07:20:59 AM

It's looking good Loren,and you have a head start on winter.Do you have a move in date,or is this project ongoing as you have spare time?

LSUNo1 · October 06, 2003, 11:21:07 AM

Good things come to those who wait...and persist !:) Looks great so far, hope you can keep us updated with progress pics.

Mitch

Tobacco Plug · October 06, 2003, 01:58:18 PM

Good for you! 8) You will have a real sense of accomplishment when you move in and tell people that you sawed the wood for your own home. Good luck with the rest of the project.

Bigdogpc · October 06, 2003, 02:00:39 PM

Looks good! More pixs as it progresses (I hope)! Good luck on the rest of it!

Oregon_Sawyer · October 07, 2003, 10:35:06 PM

OakMac: I had a WM LT40HDG35. I have upgraded to a LT70.

Paul: We have a 12 month time frame to final inspection. That is in next Aug 1st. We hope it doesn't take that long though.

I started out as the General Contractor but just before we signed Bank papers the Bank decided that I couldn't be the general. The Bank had told me to go ahead even though the final papers weren't done. I already had the basement in and the walls framed up to and including the sub-floor.
The carpenter I was using didn't want to be the General but he ended up doing it. Made the Bank happy, but cost me almost $40,000 more.

Oh well, what can you do? You just have to go on.

I try to keep some updates posted.

Loren

Oregon_Sawyer · October 07, 2003, 11:58:18 PM

Here are a couple more pictures:

This is the Deck structure with two of my daughters posing with the peeled Cedar posts. My wife has designed over 1000 sq ft of deck for this house on the top floor.

Here is the wood Furnace that will heat both floors with hot water radient heat. My wife says she is willing to feed the wood if I will put up the wood for the year.

Tobacco Plug · October 08, 2003, 09:03:34 AM

Made the Bank happy, but cost me almost $40,000 more.

Oh well, what can you do? You just have to go on.

Why is it that nothing worthwhile is ever easy?

Oregon_Sawyer · October 10, 2003, 12:49:08 AM

Once you are committed and started It's hard to back up. Right now with it raining I am glad that I am not the one out there trying to get it done.

My wife is really glad I didn't try to build it all myself. The cabin I started for my girls in July of 2001 is still not quite done

Paul_H · October 10, 2003, 08:23:02 PM

We have had the "soak you right through" weather here for a couple of days,and now it has turned raw.The snow is sneaking down the mountains at a good clip,too.

I like the high deck you have on the house.Which direction does it face?

DanG · October 10, 2003, 09:08:50 PM

Up, maybe? :D :D

Paul_H · October 10, 2003, 09:17:51 PM

I've heard of down South,back East,out West.

So.I'm guessing that up, would be North ;D

Oregon_Sawyer · October 10, 2003, 09:56:55 PM

On the west side is 70ft of deck and on the north side is 24 ft of deck. This will all be WRC that I have cut. On the east side we will have a concrete porch behind the fireplace. And on the basement level there is a 10 x 20 patio.

For someplace that rains all the time it probably sounds like overkill ;D

I figure the one I will use is the one off the bedroom. I'll be able to go out and set in my underwear. ;) My wife always keeps the house warmer than I like it. I'll have to make sure I have a internet connection out there.

Today the builder told me I need to cut some more logs for the house. That puts me under the gun. We need almost 400 lineal ft more. 8x8 cedar. We decided to go another layer higher. I think I have the logs but it takes quite awhile to get that many cants.

If I remember I will take the camera with me tomorrow.

Frank_Pender · October 11, 2003, 12:34:30 AM

Hey buddy, When do I get the Fir order. :

I do not want the boss on my neck for getting the lumber to the job site, late. :'(
Did you tell them I donated the matle log? No1. So I will. Ihave donated a mantle log that is 9' long and 27" across on one end and 14" on the other. The larger end is the crotched portion of a very beautiful Western Big Leaf Maple burled log, that I have donated as a house warning gift.

But, I still need to have the cutting list for the Fir. Loren!

shopteacher · October 11, 2003, 04:30:45 AM

That's one great looking place you have there Loren. May it keep you and the family safe, warm and comfee through rain, snow and dark of night.

Oregon_Sawyer · October 12, 2003, 11:11:24 PM

What a weekend. On Friday the builder told me his helper was going to be gone for two weeks to Ohio where his son is getting married. As I said in a earlier post, he told me we were going to need more logs. We are about one tier short. He gave me a number that wasn't enough and the ones I had cut had a little more defect than he had allowed for.

Then Sun afternoon Frank Pender called and told me his best friend and neighbor had died. Oh by the way he is my plumber and he is the only one that knew exactly how my radient heat system was going to be put in. He was going to do some special things as he has this system in his house and knew what he would have done different.

So, I am under the gun again

The rain doesn't help either :P :P

Pray for Frank that makes two dear friends and his mother-in-law all in less than two weeks.

Thanks shopteacher!

Oregon_Sawyer · October 17, 2003, 11:37:47 PM

Updated pictures. Taken Oct 17, 2003. Today the weather was wonderful after a week of wind and rain it is 70 degrees and dry.

The first one is my builder Wayne Deaton doing some hand saw work.

Number two is Cliff and his son using a LARGE SKILLSAW.

This is a closeup of the corner detail.

This is a photo taken from where the kitchen will be thru the Great Room into the Master Bedroom and Bath. For a size comparison Wayne is about 6ft 4in tall.

The last for this week. On top of the wall installing a window header. No that is not me.

Stephen_Wiley · October 18, 2003, 12:28:21 AM

I too enjoyed the sun, spent the day up an 80 year old Holly and 30 year old Magnolia.

Your home is looking good.

When I took the tour at Frank's ......saw the mantle (beautiful piece of wood) are you going to have a 'rock' face ?

Would like to see your place sometime.......do I need to bring a chainsaw(s) ? or carpentry tools ?

Oregon_Sawyer · October 19, 2003, 09:50:21 AM

Stephen:

Just bring your gloves. There always seems to be lumber to move.

As for the mantle we will have to trim it down some. But we won't do that until the fireplace is done. The fireplace is going to stone. It's a quarry stone called Camas.

Frank_Pender · October 19, 2003, 09:17:06 PM

Do not let him kid you. If you arrive at the right time all the work willhave been done by his two younger girls. That is what I did on Saturday. the girls were just unloading the last of some additional 8 x 8's and the heavy stuff was complete. We all had a great visit for about an hour, after that. Then Loren and I went to see the new site he is going to use for his mill set up, in the nearby town of Sheridan. I then took him to the gaming house to have lunch with his family and mother. I went home munching on store bought chocolate chip cookies. :'(

Oregon_Sawyer · October 19, 2003, 09:55:18 PM

Frank: You visit ended up being the highlight of the day as in went downhill fast after you left me at the casino.

Julia said to think you for the nice comments and story. She says your story makes her out to be more of a hero than she remembers. She thinks your mind is going in your old age ;D :D

You made a hit with my Mom she said we need you around to settle her estate when she dies. Maybe this is you new
purpose in life. ;)

When we tried to leave the casino the valet could not start the car. I went out and ended up in a arguement with a security guard. He wanted to haul me in. The supervisors intervined as they knew us. They ended up taking us back to the ranch with the valet van. It usually is never taken off site. It was really a kick as it turned out.

The tire men ended up being out there from 2:00 till 7:00 only to find out there was no hole in the skidder tube.

Needless to say we didn't get much cutting done.

Stephen_Wiley · October 19, 2003, 10:46:31 PM

Well Loren I will bring gloves just in case.

Frank thought of calling you to see if you wanted to go out to Loren's and lend a hand on Saturday, but Friday's work load bled over to Saturday.

Had the unfortunate task of watching a friends inexpeirenced work crew that he left at the worksite on Saturday.

My observation of their handling of the saw equipment told me that someone would be hurt before day's end. I was right. One fellow laid the saw into his leg above the knee ridding himself of several layers of skin, muscle and blood.

Was not my place to give advance warning..........but sure is sickening knowing it was coming.

On a lighter note passed what appears to be a mobile dimension mill sitting idle, powerhead is covered with plastic but it did not appear to have been used in a number of years. Will check back on Monday to see what the status of this mill is.

BTW, Loren sorry to hear that the rest of your day was downhill.....the natives must have been restless. Ha, Ha,.......

Frank_Pender · October 20, 2003, 08:24:28 AM

I reckon I tought those two fellas well, as they sure must have needed some overtime. 8) 8) 8) I hope it was not at your expense, Loren. :-/ Let me know of the mill Stephen, as I am looking for a mill for my son who is a missionary in Haiti and could use a good mill.

Loren, thankyour mother mor me about the comment.

As to your wife, she made the statement in that classrom but I recieved the message and hold it very dear to my heart, to this day.

Stephen_Wiley · October 20, 2003, 10:08:24 PM

Frank,

Went by the mill in question today. Talked with the wife of the owner said he is not interested in selling. That he intends to use it - although he has not had any logs to cut in couple of years.

Will keep my eyes and ears open for others.