Debarking Pine Logs for the Log Cabin Build (Ep 5)

Peeling bark and cambium layer off of logs for the dovetail log cabin build, showing a few helpful tools during the process.
Music by: Kevin MacLeod, Incompetech.com, Room for Two
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[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Thank you for watching! If you would like to help support this channel, you can do so by shopping through our Amazon Affiliate link, when you make a purchase we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. amzn.to/2xJlojL Thank you again for watching and God bless!

[@RuffCut]

Hey Paul! I have to ask...are you turning the flat side of the logs vertical or horizontal?

[@aporter701]

Beats a draw knife, huh?

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

A Porter Howdy- yes, for getting the bulk of the bark off it works great but still work. God bless y’all

[@sandrabarnhart1434]

I always love going out into the woods and looking at all the trees. Such a peaceful place to be and enjoy nature. The different leaves and smell of the trees. And being around cut lumber for a build and the design in the wood. I guess this is why i love watching these videos. So since i was a kid till now at 72 i love anything to do with wood. I love watching the bearded carpender ❤😊

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Sandra- I have to agree with you wholeheartedly. I have been in the woods and around lumber my whole life. I wouldn’t change it at all. A walk in the woods is very therapeutic. Thank you so much for watching our videos and for the really nice comment. God’s blessings to you

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Sandra- I have to agree with you wholeheartedly. I have been in the woods and around lumber my whole life. I wouldn’t change it at all. A walk in the woods is very therapeutic. Thank you so much for watching our videos and for the really nice comment. God’s blessings to you

[@RuffCut]

the logs look real good Paul...I like the floor scraper....good idea!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Rough Cut Homestead Howdy Mr. Duke- Thank ya for comin by and watchin. That floor scraper works great for a barkin spud. How’s your cabin comin along? Love your videos on it. God bless y’all

[@RuffCut]

@@TheBeardedCarpenter I'm still cutting styrofoam between the logs...got all the chimney pipe for the stove today...been working on some other projects...Lords blessings

[@RuffCut]

@Gyro Jeffro Hey Jeffro!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Rough Cut Homestead Hey, Mr. Duke your question came up but it’s not showing here. I will put the logs in the walls with flat sides in and out with traditional dovetail corner notches. Blessings

[@waynebeaver861]

I'm with you all the way. I noticed after you got warmed up you really started peelin some bark. LOL. Bless you brother.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Wayne Beaver Howdy Wayne- Yeah, I got to drippin sweat there pretty quick. God bless ya brother

[@suemoore1965]

💜❤️ Not everyone sees wood as pretty but you definitely have some pretty pine there 💚💙

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Sue- I enjoy working with pine. It is a pretty wood. We are blessed to be where lots of southern yellow pine grows. God bless you

[@austinpresley6187]

It's satisfying to watch and listen to the bark and cambium be taken off. As you can tell, I've been watching your videos today. I've watched about all up to here.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Austin Presley Howdy Austin- thank you so much for watching our videos. God bless you

[@darlenepreston8836]

FRONT PORCH PONDS- Licking,Mo. thank you for teaching us the proper use of a draw knife🌻

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Darlene- a sharp drawknife sure makes it easier. God bless you

[@stuckmannen3876]

Thanks for sharing, God bless!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy y’all- I sure appreciate you watching the video. God’s blessings to you

[@TheMaineWoods]

Hey! I’m not the only one who has used a floor scraper to peel logs lol

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Cory- yeah, it works pretty good, especially when the logs are fresh cut. The fellow I’m building a cabin for bought two peeling discs that go on a hand held grinder that takes all the work out of peeling. I probably won’t have to use a scraper and drawknife for peeling again. Take care and God bless you

[@tic857]

I didn't search for this video, but this whole video was very satisfying to watch.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy- I’m glad you watched the video. Please check out the other videos on the log building. Hope you enjoy them. God bless you

[@stevenbp101]

Hey Paul, been watching your old videos. (Old guy from Arkansas)🇺🇸 God bless y’all

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Steven- thank you so much for watching our videos. Hope all is well with y’all. God’s blessings to y’all

[@armedresponse2nd823]

thanks for sharing

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy- thank you so much watching the video. Take care and God bless

[@GregReed1962]

My wife and I are new subscribers and found your channel through Jared, at Fluty Lick Homestead. We just finished watching all of your videos and have especially liked the smokehouse build. Thank you for teaching us the skills you have learned through the years. Looking forward to watching the cabin build. God bless, and Merry Christmas to you and your family. Country folks stuck in an apartment in a city.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Greg Reed Howdy and welcome aboard! Thanks for watching the videos and commenting. I really appreciate Jared, they are really good folks- salt of the earth. I’m sure excited about the build. Gettin all the prep work done. God bless y’all great big!

[@waynedavenport3919]

I’m a sawmill man my self for 25 years. U do beautiful work ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Wayne- thank you for the kind words. I enjoy going to the sawmill where I get logs and timber. Since the price of lumber has gone up we are getting rough sawn lumber and air drying it. Checked the moisture content today and it’s down to a bit over 10% God bless

[@waynedavenport3919]

@@TheBeardedCarpenter Ur very welcome my friend. Need to ask a favor friend. My family in need of prayers. My sister in the hospital. Doctors called the family in. Mom & Dad has done passed. Thxs in advance

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

@@waynedavenport3919 We just prayed for you and your family. May God be with you all and give strength and encouragement and healing. God bless and keep you and your family in His care

[@oldschoolwithamoderntwist6074]

,,,hello,,B,,C,, you got them logs looking good,, like to see how you sharpen that draw knife,, can`t wait to see your next video,,thanks for sharing,,

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

old school with a modern twist Howdy James- peeling logs is a necessary job but it’s good to get em cleaned up. I will be doing a video on tool sharpening soon. God bless y’all

[@LordRocco777]

Amazing

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy- thank you so much. God bless

[@LoftisPartyofSix]

Looking good Paul!!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Loftis Party of Six - weROAM Howdy Michael- Thank you buddy. Hope all is well with y’all. God bless ya’ll

[@gleasonsimpson3310]

Hey. Thanks for the video. I enjoyed watching and listening to your video more than I have any of the other ones. Good job and great info. Thanks again friend

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Gleason- I sure appreciate you watching the video. If you haven’t already please check out the other videos on our channel. Thank you and God bless you

[@movednorthhomestead7244]

I always enjoy watching. Thank you for showing how! That sharpened floor scraper looks great!!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Pomona Ponderosa Howdy ma’am - thanks for watching and commenting. God bless y’all

[@fitzpreacherfarm6826]

Lookin good, I’m finishing up the pool stuff, planning on a trip down as soon as you get all that grunt work done. Lol

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

fitzpreacher Farm Howdy Preacher- I’ll save ya a couple to peel. I need to share some of the fun lol. God bless ya’ll

[@thomasnichols3825]

I always learn something from each videos Paul. Today I need to sharpen my bark spud. I am more like Roy is, I am all hand tools, no saw mill to make my cants. I'm like Roy, I debark and get the whole log clean to see my marks better. I cut me two 12"-16" by 2' long bark free log and cut a slight saddle. Then I set log crown down and us log dogs to keep the log steady with log dogs and a few little nails to use as a second pair of hands for the chalk line for marking out my log at each end. Like I also learned from you is to take a utility knife and make a place to hole on end of my chalk line, works great when you'r working alone. On both sides marked the ends of the log is marked and line s set, I lay the log 45 degrees on my blocks and start cutting "v's" down the log on , knock of the blocks and I make me a cant with no bark. As I live in a temperate rain zone I by the cheapest can of lacquer I can get and spray all my marks so they do not wash off. Thanks for today's new lesson from The Bearded Carpenter! You gerat Paul! Blessings!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Thomas- you’re doing things the old way which is great. We need to keep the old skills alive for tomorrow’s students. I did exactly what you did when I built my first cabin. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. Hopefully, someone will read your comment and decide to give it a try and get a passion to build something from the forest. Take care and God’s blessings to y’all

[@thomasnichols3825]

@@TheBeardedCarpenter Howdy Paul Thanks for responding, got out my file and bark spud, amazing, Thanks , God bless

[@aerialrescuesolutions3277]

Another video filled with knowledge and useful information. Thank you again for showing these details, the work you do does inspire me more indeed. Jim.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Jim- so glad you’re enjoying the videos. When we started the channel our goal was to help and encourage people who wanted to build their own log cabin. God bless you

[@stevengates4437]

Theese things could last a long time...wow....

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Steven- yes, they can if a good, proper roof is kept on them. Thank you so much for watching the video. God bless

[@stevengates4437]

@@TheBeardedCarpenter ok ....I'll remember that ....a proper and maintained roof is super important...I had an incredible day ....it we like the Lord was going through the battle ahead of me and making a path for me...a day to remember for sure ....I praise Jesus and the holy spirit.....so incredible what a day ....I have 7 goats 2 horses and we are learning to eat as cheap as possible free food till winter...love in Jesus name....Steve...

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

@@stevengates4437 That’s great, blessings to you

[@gordonmackinnon8838]

its always a joy to watch your vids thank you.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Gordon MacKinnon Howdy Gordon- I sure appreciate you watching the videos! God bless you

[@KentuckyWoodsman]

Lots of prep work for sure. Those logs are looking good!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy brother- yeah, there’s quite a bit of prep work to do. Thank you for watching the video. Take care and God bless y’all

[@CarolinaChrisOutdoors]

Always learn something new when I watch one of your videos!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Carolina Chris Outdoors Howdy Chris- glad ya stopped by. Thanks for your support and encouragement. God bless y’all

[@virginiareid5336]

I had never seen a floor scraper used to debarked before. Removing the. Cambium layer was new to me as well; however, since you mentioned it feeds bugs, I appreciate you information.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Virginia Reid Howdy Virginia- that scraper works really well for debarking the logs. Where we live in the South we can’t leave the bark on very long because of them cotton pickin wood borers. God bless you

[@virginiareid5336]

The Bearded Carpenter, I live in NE Arkansas, and understand about the bugs . God Bless

[@SpringRiverHollar]

Good morning Paul , I find your work fascinating . I'm truly hooked on your channel . Thank you Bobblehead homestead .

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

The Apricate Tiny house Howdy Ma’am- Thank you for the nice comment and watching our videos. I appreciate Jeff so much for sharing us on his channel. God bless you

[@byrongatlin7025]

Making Good progress. Can't wait to see more. I really appreciate you explaining as you go. Very informative. Thanks again. God Bless

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Byron Gatlin Howdy and Thank you. I may leave something out but I’ll try to get it in there. God bless y’all

[@chrisboyce5009]

Great timelapse at the end!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Chris Boyce Howdy, I wish l could really go that fast lol. God bless y’all

[@RyanRoseRev]

You made quick work of those logs!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Ryan Rose Howdy- still got some more to peel...... just sayin lol. God bless

[@preachersdayoff]

Coming right along Paul. I'm already looking forward to the next video.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Preacher's Day Off Howdy Preacher- come on over and get your hands sticky hehe. God bless y’all

[@MichaelGreen-ox4lp]

Man I really enjoy your videos your a man of lots of knowledge. I was also wondering what would be the best 26x 32 cabin build meaning what is the easiest and the most simple. I live in Alabama and my wife and I are looking at property in Blue Ridge Georgia so I will be going back and forth 2.5 drive so I would be carrying enough to work for weekend. I like all the styles and I know people say whatever you want then build it. But I want it to be easy and fast 2 bedroom 2 bath 9 ft ceiling and I know you have the knowledge. I have built my last 2 houses but never a cabin. Thanks for your time. Keep the videos coming

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Micheal, if you’re still leaning towards the d-logs you could probably do it faster than what I do with the dovetail corners and hewed logs. You could keep it pretty simple and by using engineered trusses could save on time. If you go with d-logs be sure and put lots of over hang on your roof to keep moisture off the logs. On d-logs the sapwood is on the outside which is more susceptible to decay. I’ve never built with d-logs but I have done some extensive repair on a house with them. Hope it goes well for you. Blessings to you

[@larryjacobs5713]

Very interesting, thank you!

[@richardnusser7023]

Nice work young Man! I can tell your in great shape. I bet that sure comes in handy.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Richard Nusser Howdy Richard- Hey, I really appreciate that “ young man “ comment lol. I guess for my age I do pretty good, thank the Lord. God bless you

[@richardnusser7023]

The Bearded Carpenter, yes you do sir!

[@richardsolomon8076]

Nice job Paul :-)

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Richard Solomon Howdy Richard- thanks for watching and the nice compliment. God bless y’all

[@FlutyLickHomestead]

Great video! Love my log dogs! Learned really fast my first log hewing you have to have a set of ya do some hewing!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Fluty Lick Homestead Howdy Jared- they sure are handy to have to keep logs from rolling over on a leg. If l had a forge setup l’d make some. Maybe one day...... l appreciate ya, buddy. God bless y’all

[@FlutyLickHomestead]

The Bearded Carpenter I made mine on a forge! I’ve got a dandy forge just need to make a chimney for it now that it’s under a shed, don’t know much about them but it’s fun to play with

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Fluty Lick Homestead I’ve wanted a forge for a long time but never got around to building one. James at Old School With A Modern Twist built one that looks real nice. Lookin forward to seeing you show your forge and doing something on it. I always enjoy watching y’all’s videos. Blessings to ya

[@oklahomacrabber]

Nice! Do you think you can work 24 hour shifts until this cabin is finished? Lol. I can hardly wait until the next video comes out! You are doing something really special by sharing this with everyone. I’ve always wanted to build a cabin. I never new enough about the process. I never new how to or were to start. I’m learning a lot from your videos. You are a good man! Thank you very much!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

oklahomacrabber Howdy friend- weellll, I probably would wear out pretty quick. The days are gittin shorter and there ain’t enough daylight. Glad you are able to get something from these videos that can help you build your own cabin. God bless y’all

[@sunnyray7819]

Looks like you are working smarter than harder.... Wish I had me some big logs to play with and make something..... I picked up an old draw knife a while back, I would like to get a few different sizes... And a smaller one like I have heard called a spoke shave... From what I understand so far, there are atleast 3 different types of adz (I would like to have... ) A hand adz(like a hammer sized), Foot adz(Used standing up), and there is another type of foot adz with little tangs or tabs on the edge pointing up, I believe for working sideways after you cut channels in (across)the log... That flooring scraper seems to work pretty well!!! Not sure if I told you before but I used to live near the bootheel.... Mostly real flat.... I used to go to sand creek with my Cherokee all the time..... That is about the only part of that place that I miss except a few friends... So I went from C.N.Y. to N.E.A. to Florida in my lifetime....lol... New York? What are you doing here? I am a (damn) yankee for sure...lol.. But I choose more the Southern way of life..... I love the terrain up north but the weather is for the birds...... Have a great weekend! ✌

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Sunny Ray Howdy Sunny- good to hear from you. I don’t know how many drawknives I have, but l certainly don’t use em all. I have spokeshaves that l enjoy using. They are real handy on curved surfaces like doing an arch or a curved scarf. I’ve never been any further north than Pa but have heard NY is beautiful. I lived in Florida for a whole a long time ago, but got to missing the mountains and came back home. God bless y’all

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Oh, forgot to tell ya- l do have foot adzes that l use occasionally. Made some faux beams last year and hewed em with a foot adze in a way that they looked like they had been hewed with a bread axe. Blessings

[@307j.o.a.t9]

That floor scraper works great!! I was wonderin if the drawknife might have needed a touchup.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

307 J.O.A.T Howdy- you’re right about the drawknife, it was needing a good sharpening. Peeling bark is kinda rough on it. I have a bigger one that I usually use. God bless you

[@jimgagne4484]

The Outsider says hello

[@jackshinkle5464]

Green Logs Peel pretty easy.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Jack- yessir, they do and I don’t let them lay very long before they get peeled. God bless you

[@MidnightMaker]

This is such a great series. I’m going to start my build by forging all the tools you showcase and make videos on my channel. Question, do you have to remove the peelings off the ground so you don’t attract insects to your logs? Thanks!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy- that’s gonna be some great videos. I don’t have a forge but I enjoy watching black smiths at work. The bark usually dries out, but it is a good idea to keep the bark cleaned up. I can use a box blade on the tractor and drag them out. I appreciate you watching the videos. God bless

[@birdnest5814]

My dad had one of those floor scrapers. He gave it to me and I still have it. Now I know why he had it...for his cabin build

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Birdnest58 Howdy- they make a great barking spud. Thanks for watching. God bless you

[@GrizzlyGroundswell]

Great seeing you using the floor scraper for your bark spud. I have one of those so great to find another use for it. Where did you get your log dogs? I searched for some this Fall and almost fell out of my chair when I finally found one the prices were crazy. Any suggestion on where to buy or have them made? I was going to make some out of rebar but my lumber guy said that was not a good idea.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Bonnie Doon Homestead Howdy- mine are made out of square stock. They were made by a blacksmith. A welder could make them pretty quick. Thank you for watching our videos. God bless y’all

[@chrisharrell5945]

What would you say one of those logs weigh green? That makeshift scraper works like a charm. Thanks for sharing

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Chris- I would say they are around 500 lbs. Yeah, the floor scraper works pretty well and the person using it has to work also lol. God bless

[@vernonvest9927]

Looks like and Ice chipper.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Vernon Vest Howdy- it’s a floor scraper I sharpened up for peeling. Thank you for watching. God bless

[@newmercieshomestead]

Looks like fun. What length blade would you recommend for a draw knife, or does it matter?

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

James Aldridge Howdy Jim, l have different lengths of knives. I like the bigger one cause of the heft. Something with about a 12” blade works good. God bless y’all

[@odinson7429]

Hi, Paul, great work! I have a question about the draw knife: I've seen some that are curved, does that help or is it just a matter of choice? Thanks for sharing your knowledge and skills with us all.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy- I have a curved drawknife but don’t use it much. I have used a straight one so much I’m used to it. Some people really like the curved knife. Take care and God bless you

[@odinson7429]

@@TheBeardedCarpenter I'll try both, being I'm just getting started, see which one works better for me. Hopefully I can find some vintage ones, made with good old steel. Blessings back upon you, good sir!

[@jerrysponagle3881]

I wonder if you heatened the blade and round it a bit to cover more area while scraping? Just a thought, I will be starting my cabin this up coming spring. I'm waiting until March or April when the sap starts to run.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Jerry- that’s a good idea, but I really don’t want to push anymore than what it does. This is not my favorite thing to do lol. Not sure where you’re located but we cut some logs this past weekend and the sap was still running big time. I sure wish you the best with your cabin build. God bless y’all

[@akinma]

You just reverse engineered yourself a traditional Finnish debarking tool called "petkele" :) In Finland, due to more modern (motorized) tools, those have long ago fallen out of use in their original work as debarking logs and instead people have started using them as - you might've guessed it - floor scrapers or ice scrapers and they are being sold as ones these days - with some adjustments to the traditional blade geometry. I love it, that you thought of turning it back into it's original use, probably without knowing it's original use. Human brain is so fascinating system :) The long shaft makes debarking that much easier.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

akinma Howdy- I’ve never owned the motorized tools for doing this. Believe me having one when I’m peeling sure does cross my mind. I guess in certain ways I’m kind of a dinosaur. Thank you so much for your comment and explanation. God bless you

[@akinma]

​@@TheBeardedCarpenter Ha, I can relate to how laborious peeling can be with hand tools, utmost respect to our ancestors. Haven't done any log houses, but even on smaller projects like small firewood sheds, log benches, log tables and such it's one of the most laborious part of the work. I'm happy there are still dinosaurs like you (and to some degree me too) roaming around, keeping up the old trades.

[@AS-xo3lk]

Dear Bearded Carpenter, looking at the tremendous amount of learning that you enable, may I request you to consider upgrading this project to include a Loft with some living space, and also include a regular Dormer and a Shed Dormer to it? I understand that designing and building Dormers can be tricky. Hence the request. Thanks.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy- there will be a loft in the cabin. In fact, I got the joists this week to use. They will be exposed 7”x9” yellow pine timbers. I try to stay with what was done traditionally on the outside of the log buildings in our area. On the inside I will have a tendency to do something a little bit different. I did a lot of things in our own house that probably would not be considered the pioneer rustic cabin stuff but it was our house and I was having fun doing different things to make it a bit more refined. I ‘m glad I didn’t have to pay someone to do some of the detail work lol. I hadn’t really considered doing a former on this cabin but now you got me to thinking. They are not too difficult to do- it just takes some planning but since the roof isn’t up yet I still could put one on. We’ll see what happens. There will be a wraparound porch on three sides. Thanks for watching and the suggestion. God bless you

[@AS-xo3lk]

@@TheBeardedCarpenter Thank you for the positive reply Sir. Many thanks for being so open to suggestions. I am a total novice. I have heard that Dormers need to be carefully installed or they will leak water and spoil the roof and the house below. I would also like to see a Dormer that is a miniature of the House itself, half dovetail notch, chinking and all (or whatever else that you know is best - pretty and durable). Hoping this idea finds your favour. Regards.

[@deerwoodretreat]

What do you do with the stuff you shave off? Is there a use for the bark, or do you just burn it?

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy y’all- I don’t burn the bark, I let it lay and decompose back into the ground. If someone wanted it they would certainly be welcome to it. Yellow pine is very prevalent here and people who might want it can get it at a sawmill. God bless

[@boxcartwilly]

👍😎

[@jcarney8551]

what is your thoughts on using poplar logs for the walls?

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy y’all- if I had poplar logs l would use them. Unfortunately we don’t have any in our part of the south. Wishing you the very best. God bless

[@bamadave6324]

So I get removing thebark to prevent bugs but are you worried about termites or powder post beetles or wood bees eating the pine once its built? Will you still have to treat the wood on the exterior with linseed oil or anything? Also Ive read the pine is more apt to twist etc as it dries. So does that dictate how fast you have to build so that the logs are locked together before they begin to dry out too much? Enjoy the vids and craftsmanship look fwd to the build

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Bama Dave Howdy Dave- I won’t be worried about termites because the sill logs will be high enough off the ground but I will treat the footings before I pour the concrete. Getting the cambium layer off quickly insures against most bugs. However, I will treat the logs with boiled linseed oil after they are up. Yellow pine does have a tendency to move a little but when they are locked in the notches they can’t do much but stay there. Thanks for watching and commenting. God bless y’all

[@erichjalmarson6429]

I think I still have blisters from peeling logs for dads cabin we built in the 1980’s

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Eric- peeling logs will sure work up some blisters. God bless

[@bao583]

h alot, you saved me

[@OpenAirOutdoors]

Looking good bearded friend. Now those logs still looked green, it that the best time to debark?

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Open Air Outdoors *LeRichebliss* Howdy- yes, l want to get the bark off as soon as I get the logs because it’s easier with the sap still under the bark. God bless y’all

[@MichaelGreen-ox4lp]

I’m build a 24x32 cabin with pine logs. I’m gonna go with the D logs style. Do I need to mill all the logs and then let me dry for a while before build or what would be the right way. Any help greatly appreciate. Love your video man

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Michael- it wouldn’t be a bad idea to let them season for a while. However, you will still need to figure in the setting that will take place. Since the d-logs are what some log kit companies use people feel there won’t be any settling take place but when you start stacking them up there will be a weight factor and you will have fiber crush and there will still be moisture in the logs. You also will have some log shrinkage and that will account for some settling to take place. I wish you the very best with your build. God bless you

[@pinkhead6857890]

Building with green pine logs? How do you stop them from rotting? Old-school log cabins that were built to last were made out of hardwoods, right?

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy- many older cabins were built with pine logs and have lasted for years and years. I restored a log house built in 1845 that was built with pine logs. Keeping a good roof on the cabin and a good overhang is the key to make them last. People built with what they had available to them in the area they settled. Yes, many cabins were built with hardwood but having a good roof was what kept them from rotting. Moisture is what causes logs to deteriorate. The sap wood that is still part of the log is covered with chinking and the heartwood is what is exsposed which is more resistant to weather. Thank you for the comment, it is a question many people have concerns about. God bless you

[@pinkhead6857890]

@@TheBeardedCarpenter ​ @The Bearded Carpenter Ok, so if I understand correctly your saying that pine logs shouldnt rot away like they do in the woods provided that they are protected from moisture, and that the sapwood is stripped off all weather exposed sections, right? Im asking because there are a number of small outdoor structures I want built, but the cost of lumber right now is absolutely insane. Im wondering If I could just cut some trees and use the trunks in place of pressure treated 4x4 / 6x6 posts since I dont need anything in modular dimensions for what im doing. By what your saying, I would have to make some sort of impromptu sawmill to cut away the sapwood down the length of these trunks in order to build anything thats going to last. Stripping the bark alone wont be enough to prevent these pine log posts from rotting, and I will have to cut down all four sides since I plan on leaving the entire post exposed to the elements. I appreciate the info. Im still going to have to use a think oak tree in my case like I figured, but now at least I now know exactly why I cant just throw a pine log into a post hole with some concrete and expect it to last like treated lumber.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

@@pinkhead6857890 I wouldn’t recommend using pine as a post buried in the ground even with the sap wood taken off. Pressure treated lumber is ridiculous in cost right now and people are looking for other alternatives. I don’t know where you’re located but if you have access to cedar that would be better for a post. Where we are in the south we have a tree we call cedar that has a red heart that is used for fence posts and for pole barns. I don’t pour concrete around post because moisture in the ground can’t escape from around the post. I use gravel which lets water go on down. By the way, some people say our red cedar is actually juniper. Let me know where you’re located and if you aren’t too far away I can probably help you get what you need. Or you can email me at the [e-mail] and maybe I can help you. I wish you all the best. Blessings to you

[@bradjones4544]

when is best time to cut pine logs for a cabin? ive been told that if you cut in the spring the bark will peel easy. but if you cut the log in the winter the sap is not running and less water in the log. Im planning to build a cabin after the 1st of the year.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Brad Jones Howdy Brad- from what l know, you’ve heard correctly. I’ve also heard the old saying that the best time is to cut trees in the Yuletide season because the sap is at it’s lowest. However, I’ve worked logs that have been cut at all times of the year and haven’t had any problems. God bless o

[@bradjones4544]

The Bearded Carpenter thank you

[@kimsutton2268]

How long do u let the logs dry before using

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Kim- I like to build with fresh logs and allow for the settling. Thank you for watching the video. God bless you

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

Can you tell me why old log buildings (at least around where I live in North Carolina and apparently where you are, too) were so often built with the two vertical faces hewn but the tops and bottoms left round? Was it all just a style/cosmetic thing or were there practical reasons for not just leaving the whole log round and saving all the work of hewing?

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Patrick- good question. Hewing four faces was a lot more work. The old timers were in a hurry to get a shelter built so they hewed just the two sides. Also, they were able to get more height from each log and didn’t have to use as many logs. For me personally, the natural sharing of the tree is kept in the wall which gives the cabin a more “earthy “ flavor. With the layout system l use l can keep everything level even though the logs have the butt/ tips still on them. After the cabin is chinked each log retains its own personality. God bless you

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

Thanks for your reply! It seems like there are styles of log building -- I think especially of log buildings in the Rocky Mountains, in my mind especially in places like Idaho and Montana... even Alaska, like Dick Proenneke's cabin, or in Scandinavia -- where log buildings are built without hewing the outside or the inside facing portion of the log, although those sorts of log buildings mostly seem to be built with logs pretty tight together, without chinked gaps between them, and getting logs to fit fairly tight seems like potentially more work than chinking. Knowing what very little I know, if I were in a hurry to get a shelter built, I would think to use logs in the round, not spending any time hewing (except just at the corners for joinery, if that even counts as hewing) and then chink in between them, kind of a combination of what I think of the Rocky Mountain and Southeastern styles of log building. But I feel like I must be missing something, that there must be some reason why that wouldn't work well. I don't know if I've ever even seen so much as a photo of such a building. I'm guessing there's a reason that the Rocky Mountain style doesn't work as well in the Southeast, either because of the species of trees that are most available or because of differences in the climates or because of termites or some combination of such things. But maybe the differences have more to do just with local traditions and are more adaptable between regions than I'm assuming. In any case, I don't understand what practical purpose hewing the outside and inside faces of logs achieves, other than creating a flat wall surface. I can see possibly wanting a flatter wall surface on the inside of a log building if the building were used as a home, but especially for a lot of farm/utility buildings it wouldn't seem to be worth the trouble (unless a person wanted to invest extra effort for pure style/cosmetic reasons), and I really can't see any reason to not want logs to be round on the outside surface.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

@@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558 I feel a lot of what people did had to do with the logs they had to work with and the skills they had. And it could have been personal preference also. The problem, if you could even call it that, is building with round logs the sap wood is exsposed to the elements not as resistant to the weather, whereas hewing the logs has the more resistant heartwood exsposed to the weather. I like the look of the round logs and I like the way they look with a full scribe

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

I appreciate your interest and your comments. Blessings to you

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

As for looks, I'm partial to the looks of a log building like yours. Thanks again!

[@ConnWilliams]

how long did it take you get all the logs milled and debarked?

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Conn Willliams Howdy Conn- getting the logs sawed was less than half a day. When l was peeling the logs l was dealing with rain which held me up some but it took about three or four days. God bless you

[@ConnWilliams]

@@TheBeardedCarpenter yeah nice! Cheers for replying and for making some really good and detailed videos of the whole build. I will reference these when I get around to building my own cabin up in Maine.

[@robertd6925]

Are these grern logs or have they laying for awhile?

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Robert- I build with fresh logs and allow for setting. The bark and cambium layer comes off easier and I eliminate the chance for wood borers. Thank you for watching the video and for commenting. God bless

[@robertd6925]

@@TheBeardedCarpenter cool thanks

[@vernonvest9927]

Would a rounded Draw knife work on your logs 🪵 .

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Vernon- yes, it certainly would and I have a curved drawknife for that purpose. It’s somewhat difficult for me to use because of how the handles are fixed to the blade. Hope all is well with y’all. God bless you

[@vernonvest9927]

Can the handles be repositioned to make it better with the handles up not straight out.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

I’m sure it could be done but I’ve just gotten used to using a straight drawknife. As of now we are using peeling discs on a grinder that is so much faster and less fatiguing.

[@farmerbobsgarden5554]

what is the thickness of the wall logs? if you don't mind me asking

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

farmerbobsgarden Howdy Farmer- don’t mind you asking at all - these logs are 6” thick. Thanks for coming by and God bless you

[@LAMBNATION98]

Why didn’t you get them to cut it with the saw?

[@LAMBNATION98]

Debark it I mean

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy y’all- the sawmill where I get logs does not have a debarker so I did it myself. God bless

[@linzierogers7479]

Who sells this debarking tools?

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Linzie- I bought the floor scraper from the local hardware store and just sharpened it up. You can still buy drawknives at a lot of hardware stores. The drawknives I was using are some I’ve had for years. Thank you for watching the video. God bless you

[@jamesrusso8907]

Hey great video. I have a question for you, will your logs last as long being sawn? I have always heard that by hewing a log it would last longer because the axe seals the grain more and a saw rips the grain open. Also is it best to cut logs in spring or fall? I know the bark would peel easier in spring.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

James Russo Howdy- I haven’t had trouble with the logs being sawn. I will remove the saw marks either by planing or hewing the saw marks off with a broad axe. I get the logs sawed because there is the least amount of waste. I will hew out of the round to show how it’s done but l try to keep the waste to a minimum as much as possible. I don’t know that leaving the saw marks has a major bearing on how long a log will last as long as the logs have a good roof and overhang to protect them. Hope this helps you. You can email me at The Bearded Carpenter 8@ gmail. com. God bless

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Missed your question about when to cut timber. Bark does peel easier when cut in spring. I have heard and read that timber cut in the middle of the winter when the sap is lowest is better but I’ve worked with logs cut at different times of the year and haven’t had any problems. Blessings

[@jamesrusso8907]

@@TheBeardedCarpenter thanks for the info, sounds like a good idea to get a board or two off each side. Thank yoou and God bless.

[@joesmith-fi1sx]

will be checking out this chanel ! check out mine. i need to debark many logs and preserve and use to build

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Joe- thank you so much for coming by and watching the video. God bless you