Cabin from square logs

Den-Den · December 07, 2023, 05:48:27 PM

I am building a cabin with material that I milled on my home-made sawmill. The location is about 80 miles away from home, I have been going there one day a week to work on the cabin (this will take quite a while). I will post some progress pictures as progress occurs. The walls are 8" square pine "logs" with half dovetail corner joints. I am aiming for a 1" average gap between the logs (some have shrunk / warped). The cabin is 16 ft by 24 ft and will have a 8 ft by 24 ft covered porch.
The foundation is not traditional, it consists of 2-7/8" OD oilfield tubing set about 3 feet in the ground (concrete around the pipe and inside the pipe). Those pipes were cut off to the same height and a 6" square plate welded on top of each. Lag bolts go up through the plate into the bottom log.
Foundation

Current status

Magicman · December 07, 2023, 08:18:12 PM

Wow Sir, this will be a wonderful build.

I always wanted to build a log something but time and birthdays have eliminated that notion.

firefighter ontheside · December 20, 2023, 09:13:06 PM

Looking good. Can't wait to see more.

Den-Den · December 21, 2023, 09:17:37 AM

Picture from a couple days ago, this is 10 logs high, my target is 13. It is pretty rustic with some warped logs and warts in the workmanship. I am keeping the structure sound but not too concerned with perfect appearance. Soon we will be adding a beam (8" x 14") to support a loft on the right end. Once we get to 13 logs high, will add short posts to support a ridge beam, then the roof will be stick framed. Planning to cover the gable ends with board and batten siding.

Don P · December 21, 2023, 10:59:50 AM

I do believe those are the stoutest wall brackets I've ever seen

firefighter ontheside · December 21, 2023, 04:08:15 PM

Rustic is what will make it all the more fun.

Stephen1 · December 22, 2023, 05:29:14 PM

Looks great, I love log buildings and watching people build.

Den-Den · January 12, 2024, 10:13:43 AM

A little more progress, this picture is from the Southwest. Eventually there will be a covered porch on the South

side with the door and windows.

Den-Den · February 20, 2024, 09:16:10 AM

Update: 2/20/2024
Walls stacked and ridge beam installed. A temporary staging is located just above wall height, it was helpful while setting the ridge beam and will be helpful while installing rafters. There is a 5/8" diameter vertical steel rod near each corner ran through holes drilled as the logs were stacked. The rods are threaded on the bottom end and nuts are snugged up. I expect to tighten them more as the logs shrink / settle. There is no floor installed yet, that will be done after the roof is finished.

Magicman · February 20, 2024, 09:47:55 AM

It's good to see your progress.

Andries · February 20, 2024, 10:09:14 AM

That's a good looking cabin.
What kind of chinking material are you going to use?

Den-Den · February 20, 2024, 10:58:20 AM

I plan to use mortar reinforced with metal lath for chinking. I will probably get the roof on before summer and let it dry / shrink under the roof for the summer before chinking.