The Forestry Forum

I am going to build a cabin out of 8X8 squared logs that I will be sawing myself. I have Red pine, White Pine and Balsam. I plan to cut i log out of each tree to get just the heart wood.
My questions are:
1) Other than looks, is there any problem with mixing species (those listed above)
2) I will be gluing between logs so how dry should they be
3) If I use all one species, is there any concern about using all balsam

Balsam will dry much faster than Red or White Pine.
We have mixed R & W Pine with no problems.
Red pine will check more radically than White Pine.
Glueing the logs together is a no,no.
Most builders use a spline or chink joint between the log courses.
you could look at some of our photos at

www.timberworks.ca/dovetail.htm

I would check with someone who knows more than me but,my understanding is that different species of wood shrink different amounts. So if you are to use two or three species of timber use the same species on a complete course to avoid settling problems.