10 hours ago, HandyDan said:

The thought of taking down enough trees to build a log cabin "with an axe" is mind blowing.  

And shaping/notching by hand them..

makes things hurt/ache just thinking about it...

that answers why many cabins were one room, small/tiny and often partially in the ground...

stone was used when it could be to save on the log work..

Edited April 4, 20197 yr by Stick486

6 minutes ago, Stick486 said:

that answers why many cabins were one room, small/tiny and in the ground...

 

I guess watching Bonanza has jaded me

 

The ranch house wasn't only an exterior. It was a completed house inside, too. At least on the first floor. The upstairs was just a facade. Fans of the show will remember upstairs bedrooms, but those scenes were actually filmed at Burbank Studios in Los Angeles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 4, 20197 yr by Stick486

Getting back to our roots.

 

uck...

This whole post is a testament to the pioneers and the extreme way of life they endured and persevered. Some really tough people that adapted as they lived.

16 hours ago, Ron Altier said:

What did the early pioneers CHINk with?

I thought it was horse dung and straw.

Herb

3 minutes ago, Dadio said:

I thought it was horse dung and straw.

Herb

not enough horses..

To fill spaces before the chinking went on they used chips of wood, sticks, corn cobs or any number of small objects to fill the voids and reduce the amount of clay they would have to find and stuff in the spaces.  On some of the older shows of Barn Wood Builders, they found all sorts of objects stuffed between the logs.  

Regarding the photographer in Alaska, I much prefer most of that over our "civilized" culture.  I hate shopping on line, doing doctor and Medicare stuff on line but I also have fear of driving with all those who make a left turn from the right lane or make a right turn from the left turn lane.  This could go on forever, but out in nature, it is peaceful and if you are attentive, you learn much about survival.  Thanks for a wonderful thread.

I spent at week at Drew Langsner's in the winter for a class.   His house (as well as the "guest cabin") were log houses.   I think he described it as a pile of wood that leaked air.

 One of the Barn builders shows, they did a huge barn in PA ( I think)  and I was so impressed at the precision they achieved with hand tools. The builders showed the tools and how they were used. I've seen Amish erect a barn in about 3 days or so and that is also impressive. However some of the Amish use modern air driven tools. 

4 hours ago, FlGatorwood said:

Barn Wood Builders,

We only get DIY channel on occasion as a freebie from Dish.

I really like BWB. The fact they are preserving, reclaiming & recycling as much as they possibly can makes this show worth watching IMO.

In a throw away society their dedication to save old timbers from a blazing fire is a rare trait today.

Edited April 5, 20197 yr by Grandpadave52
typo

23 hours ago, Dadio said:

I thought it was horse dung and straw.

Herb

Nah, they used this stuff! Horse dung and polyethylene.

John

 

 

Here's the reason I'm not on-line much any more. The cement board will be covered with stone, upper level and basement need drywall, steps up to the front door, and railings outside and in. Son's going back for more chemo end of this month, so HE won't be able to do much for the next six months. I'm getting too old for this!

John

6 hours ago, HARO50 said:

Here's the reason I'm not on-line much any more

Good reason!!!  But it looks good so far!

On 4/5/2019 at 3:04 PM, HARO50 said:

Here's the reason I'm not on-line much any more.

 

That is amazing.  I love it.

Beautiful job, John. Hoping all turns out well for your son. Chemo is a biotch. 

I do too,John, One heck of a house. Hope the best for your son.

Herb