April 3, 20197 yr I was watching one of the backwoods cabin builders shows and they cut their lumber out of the available trees on their land. That included planks and 6x6" and long timbers. It was interesting, however they did NOT dry the wood. It would take a very long time to dry those timbers. Did I miss the drying part or do they build them with green wood?
April 3, 20197 yr Popular Post I would say green wood. Just thinking of our settlers, they weren't going to wait 3 or 4 winter's for their logs to dry out before building their shacks. They needed shelter, and now. Just an educated guess Ron.
April 3, 20197 yr I agree with John. Go out and look at some old log cabins and see all the cracks. Another thought is that drying will tighten joints, but create more space between logs.
April 3, 20197 yr Popular Post I imagine chinking was a job done, at least every year, for the first several.
April 3, 20197 yr Popular Post 1 hour ago, John Morris said: they weren't going to wait 3 or 4 winter's for their logs to dry out before building their shacks. They needed shelter, and now or as much as 6~10 winters... green.. that's also why chinking had to be replaced/repaired/redone so often and floating board and batten was invented... the logs moved a lot..
April 3, 20197 yr Popular Post and why door and window frames were always cut short -- to allow for the logs to shrink and settle as the dried.
April 3, 20197 yr 11 minutes ago, Stick486 said: and why casing and trim is so large/wide... Always thought that was just because they had the wide lumber and did not want to spend the time to rip it down
April 3, 20197 yr Author Sure sounds like a environment fit for mold and mildew. On the TV show, they seal it and have an extended dry out period. The pioneers moved in ASAP
April 3, 20197 yr 8 minutes ago, Ron Altier said: What did the early pioneers CHINk with? clay and straw or clay and dried moss..
April 3, 20197 yr 5 minutes ago, Stick486 said: clay and straw or clay and dried moss.. What??? No oakum?
April 3, 20197 yr 22 minutes ago, Ron Altier said: Sure sounds like a environment fit for mold and mildew. it is...
April 3, 20197 yr 1 hour ago, kmealy said: and why door and window frames were always cut short -- to allow for the logs to shrink and settle as the dried. and seriously raised thresholds that the bottom of the door butted up against...
April 4, 20197 yr Popular Post 2 hours ago, Gene Howe said: What??? No oakum? That was for the cast-iron drain pipes! John
April 4, 20197 yr 11 hours ago, HARO50 said: That was for the cast-iron drain pipes! John Well then, it's no wonder their sills rotted. Edited April 4, 20197 yr by Gene Howe
April 4, 20197 yr I know the amount of work involved when I take a tree down with a chain saw. The thought of taking down enough trees to build a log cabin "with an axe" is mind blowing.
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