Is Building with Un-Peeled Logs a Disaster? (Three Years Later I Have an Answer.)

Several logs were wet inside and ruined but concrete fixed most of my rookie mistakes. My tent deck, which I camp on full-time for most of the year, has needed this rebuild almost since day one!
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Because I’ve gotten so many questions about the gear that I use on the channel, here are some of the most important pieces I use every day:
(I do receive a small commission from sales associated with the following links. Any income from these sales goes directly to supporting me in making new videos for this channel!)
**I will not share links to products that I don't use regularly or that I wouldn't buy again.**
36" Granberg Alaskan mill amzn.to/3IXsYNM
Granberg Small Log mill amzn.to/3cdRXvn
Granberg EZ Rail system amzn.to/3LbMxSl
Big, Black Log-Peeling Knife - Becker BK9 amzn.to/3oZIeOH
Heater I use in the shower amzn.to/3PUzhU6
My favorite piece of gear: chainsaw helmet amzn.to/3uuW5xB
I’ve tried a lot of work gloves and these are my year-round fav’s amzn.to/3TnH3pu
The trailer I use behind my four wheeler Yutrax amzn.to/3fvO8DK
The noise canceling earbuds that fit under my muffs amzn.to/3QwoS0Z
Small WiFi microscope I use for bugs and mushrooms amzn.to/3yQciT9
Thank you all so much for supporting this crazy endeavor! Without you folks donating to Surviving Ringworm, I wouldn't be able to even consider staying out here in the wilderness a THIRD year making videos. You seriously blow my mind!
/ survivingringworm
(As a thank you for donating $5 or more a month through Patreon, I will carve your name into the picnic table and show it in an upcoming episode.)
If you don't want to donate monthly but still want to support the channel: paypal.me/survivingringworm

[@susanj8158]

Finally! Ruby's season debut! I've been waiting months for this. I bet she loves the freedom to explore the forest at Ringworm. Doesn't she have the most precious waddle you've ever seen in your life 😍

[@MartinPaulsen87]

Was that really 42 minutes? It hardly felt like half that much. I love these videos so much. Please never stop recording!

[@jimbottrill3583]

If you put a roof over the deck it will help protect your tent from snow and you could close it in with screen to protect from bugs.

[@navycpo5168]

He has said he would like to put a roof over the deck in the past. Maybe a future summer project??

[@selador11]

Kinda describes the gazebo. Where I have suggested numerous times that he pitch his tent instead of out in the open on this deck. In the winter he could even have hung plastic on the walls for a little more protection.

[@catgynt9148]

@@selador11Several of us have made that same suggestion or variations on the theme yet Ryan will build whatever he wants.

[@selador11]

@@catgynt9148 Exactly as it should be. And why he is out there. But it does feel good to make suggestions. 😁

[@Joe-jz6rc]

Good Idea.. But he has built one... Don't try to understand, just enjoy someone who doesn't follow the beat of our drumb... In our HOUSES with roofs... LET'S GO RYAN

[@jeremypeterson9300]

Ryobi battery string trimmer may help you keep that vegetation down so you won't have ticks.Get the trimmer that uses the same batteries as your power tools.Have a good week and be safe!

[@bmunday]

hahahaha

[@adampease]

In order to proceed with the ceiling I wonder if you could just leave space that you could fill with removable trim boards. Remove the trim boards to remove the walls, without having to remove the ceiling. You might have to add a nailing surface too, depending upon how the studs are configured, but at least that would give you options.

[@danielszemborski]

A+ ending to this one. Looks great--the deck and sleeping in a tent. Thanks!

[@alanbierhoff6831]

The build project I’m really looking forward to is the kitchen 👍🏻😊

[@tomstalzer5928]

Have you ever thought about trying wood sculptures? You’ve probably seen these sculptures of bears and other woodland animals. I really enjoy your videos and your dry sense of humor. You and my Saturday morning breakfast.

[@bmunday]

you mean like the giant dice?

[@tomstalzer5928]

@@bmunday no I mean large wooden sculptures of bears standing. Have you never seen them. They carve trees with chainsaws.

[@ElfGreatTree]

@@tomstalzer5928 What sort of psycho is giving chainsaws to bears? Thats dangerous! DONT ARM BEARS!

[@joygutierrez-pilare1565]

Another great video. I’ve been watching your journey for the last few years and am amazed at everything you’ve created. While watching this video, I kept thinking you could make a pergola over your platform and place a net around it to protect you from any falling trees and giving you more living space around the tent. How nice would it be to have a patio around the cabin with some chairs to lounge in and enjoy the view. Have you ever thought of planting some herbs to deter the black flies and mosquitoes? Basil, rosemary, lavender, etc? If you don’t like the thought of planting them, you can place pots or hang them around the site. Looking forward to next week! Thanks for making my Saturday!

[@joygutierrez-pilare1565]

A root cellar would be a great idea for Ringworm!

[@bmunday]

@@joygutierrez-pilare1565 what would he put in the root cellar that he dynamited out of the rock? his pancakes?

[@bmunday]

this is a cedar/swamp forest in upper michigan, herbs dont stop anything. thats super not real. but oddly back at the Gazebo, with its massive screen porch, it is bug free. Remember the Gazebo?

[@thomlindgren6253]

Great video. Really nice to see Sarah (for a minute!) and glad you guys got to spend some time together. I would think it was really interesting to see what you did then, think about what you would change if you did it now, and then figure out how to renew/reclaim it will the least outlay of new materials. Tito’s cabin seems to be progressing as well. I love watching your thought processes. Thanks for sharing.

[@corrydolbeer1464]

You've done well, grasshopper! Quite inspirational!

[@muskegonhunterscamp]

So much UP in this video; from Sarah not being able to handle the skeeters and black/deer flies, to the skeeter night serenades. That May-June of 23 span was unseasonably dry but amazingly the skeeters persisted. In Luce county I typically use at least a bug hat/head.cover. Always enjoy the Saturday mornings. You need to start a cheese operation, as a lure to get 'T' to scrape off his Troll Masters down state and do Ringworm serious like.

[@rudyfisher7660]

I got a good idea for you do. The top 2 layers may be 3 layers of wallboards put on back. Do all your saving? Then you can do the bottom set of your wallboards later with the plainer

[@urbanlumberjack]

This is cool. I’m glad you decided to show where you started! An amazing place out there you’ve built

[@rodmeisterful]

Great project, very practical restoration!

[@tombrenes2411]

Great build series Love all the hard work Awesome content

[@charleshutchings9355]

Watching you rework the deck with the saw is a great way to start my day. I'm extremely happy for you being back in the tent.

[@robertscholz4486]

While you were at it you should have created a roof over the tent section ... you could get more life out of the tents ... they would stay drier, and the UV wouldn't break them down as fast. Not to mention you could avoid ever having to take the tent down due to snow load -- tent camping on the mild winter nights is the best!!!

[@richardwhite4277]

now that I am old you have replaced my childhood Saturday morning cartoons / still a kid at heart so i do look forward to Saturday mornings / I should give my Saturday morning watch list because you are not my only one / blow your unconventional mind with Bourbon Moth Woodworking

[@dennisbeaver5958]

Great job rebuilding the tent platform. Had to chuckle at your “Ringworm Archeologist” comment. It was really interesting to see how your building skills have progressed!

[@bmunday]

heh. hes been building for a long time. amongst other things.

[@bmunday]

more like materials and tooling.

[@billyhaddock5540]

Great Job on rebuilding ur Deck. hard work payed-off by doing it right..

[@MrStevo440]

I really like the way you use what you have and make it look as good or better than it works. Sitting here in my cabin in the woods watching your videos every Saturday morning. See you next week at the worm 🐛

[@misty4782]

How clever of you to find ways to use tree stumps: such ingenuity. You, also, have the patience of an angel. Good on you. God bless.

[@JohnnyIDive37]

your not alone on the heat , great channel!

[@booboo7750able]

"Love", "waste not want not"!, really enjoy watching you, enjoying and building your land.

[@harrygreen6935]

You have a gift. Talking to the camera like there’s a live conversation going on. It’s so fun to watch & just listen to you yammer. KISS rule is your motto for sure. Thanks for sharing.

[@markholmes1346]

Another great video of life on the Worm! ✌🏼❤️🙏🏼

[@brianpuckett3862]

I love watching you videos, especially this one since it was from when you started out and now you get to see your mistakes to improve on thanks keep going many more years

[@ExpediteTravels]

Once again great video very enjoyable.

[@M.L.Knotts]

More building! Love it!

[@robertinnj7902]

Your shows keep getting better and better. To learn how to build, tear something apart and put it back together, making improvements.

[@douggibson9084]

Great job Ryan 👍👍👍

[@pauldanielczyk3398]

I totally understand your feelings about the tent. I'm 75 and have been tent camping ever since I was maybe 7ish. We bought a beautiful camper 3 years ago and it is not the same. We are now looking for another tent so we can have all those feelings once again. It may be a tad larger than usual but still it is a tent. There is nothing like sleeping in a good tent during a thunderstorm in early Spring with a small heater going to keep things warm and dry.

[@ebony5766]

Always a blast at the worm! Hi Sarah!!

[@simonfanning4512]

Hi mate, long time watcher, from Australia, love what you do. So jealous, keep doing it!!!!

[@daviddarlingauthor]

Your tent platform would support more walls, and a ceiling... you could have another cabin within minutes! Or an outdoor kitchen.

[@sufficientlyrandom8184]

Good morning Worm!

[@jamestaylor8860]

You didn’t take the bark off your wet wood, and then you built with it. Now you have to take everything apart to mill it again and then put it back together. What a piece of work! Great entertainment I must say. Are all yoopers like you?

[@bmunday]

you havent been watching very long have you?

[@danl455]

dont ever stop! also, I see them angles.

[@scottmorton5379]

I guess the part of the videos I’ve always enjoyed is how he acts like he doesn’t know what he’s doing and always”accidentally “ makes some really neat stuff. Look forward to it every week.

[@kennethewertz9313]

I love your humor, and positive outlook, well maybe. See I did your humor. It's rubbing off. What am I becoming. Where is my chain saw.

[@bill4852]

Great job Ryan love to watch you on Saturday mornings wish we could have Seen more of Sarah and ruby ✌🏻❤️

[@lynettescott682]

Hey Ryan that's a beautiful pieces of wood I love that

[@lanejohnson1245]

Remove the top wall course then build the ceiling as you wish, when you wish. Fit and trim the joint later. Fun and games. Cheers.

[@floridabowhunter6785]

Someone else commented to build a roof over your deck and i agree ,i know you like being in the open, maybe a pergola style with a 1/2 solid roof if you needed more coverage during any season cover with a tarp and remove when you want

[@bmunday]

who does that? its a tent platform, where you go to sleep outside?

[@janinewelle4429]

Thanks !👍🥰❤️🙏🇺🇸

[@polidactDIY]

Time to get Ryobi weed wacker :D Tito needs to make a progress video!

[@FunfindersX]

Banged another job out. 🎉Cheers

[@johnwrinkle3443]

good air flow in a tent you have to have or the heat will get you. The number of shirts I saw you in told me how long it took you to finish the deck. Really liked thid one,

[@TorchFpv]

I would dows a well first to see where and how deep the water vanes are then 100% drive one would love to see you do it! I'm doing one in our lot next door..

[@LifeontheMoose]

I’m pretty sure that if you look up ‘stress’ in the dictionary, it says, ‘NOT ringworm.’ What a life! 👍🏻

[@robertlemoine3500]

Thankyou

[@SouthpawDavey]

You should have a look at a thing called micro blaster for breaking the rocks for your well. There are a few things for small scale rock blasting and splitting. Also Wedge and Feathers that you do by had with a hammer.

[@juliad1768]

Another good catch up with you, happy camping again and oooh happy tearing apart the cabin, how cool it will look once done and love the idea of a table on a pulley system xxx

[@robmetcalfe8902]

Awesome I just smile cause your living the dream

[@dellal5930]

Paul Harvey Mosquito spray recipe is 1 large bottle of cheap mouth wash, 3 cans of stale beer and 3 cups of Epson salt. Mix until salt is completely dissolved and spray wherever you hang out outside. Lasts a few months.

[@stephaniedeegan853]

Maybe install a sail cloth above your tent to keep the extra sun off

[@carolsnyder9134]

Rest well friend.

[@tanyajenkins919]

I say you just finish your roof and go on with getting your house ready for winter. Then when you have no more projects going worry about taking your cabin apart. Good luck to Tedo on his new cabin build .

[@noyopacific]

Thanks for the video Ryan ! 70.2K

[@timothyweiss619]

Ryan you have it made up there in the great wood's of the U.P.. Take Care Brother

[@eugenesiedl5065]

I've never seen the tool like that that you're using to pull them nails what is it and where can you get one

[@mossymaple]

Any chance you could share the name of that hydraulic jack lift kit? or a link to purchase it?

[@faithrada]

I know like nothing about preserving wood.. but ... would putting some linseed oil on the old deck wood serve any purpose??? Anyway... you look sooo happy in the tent! Great to have OPTIONS. 👍

[@bmunday]

lumber is free: brushes, oils, drytimes are not.

[@rexhavoc2982]

I like the idea of a roof over the tent, but put it on top of a deck over the tent. Build the hanging coffee table in Titos shack, Have Tito rent a mini excavator and dig 2 pits for your water storage totes so they wont freeze, and 2, 5x10 root cellars with cedar log walls and roof ,or make it big enough for the water tote inside also. You may find that owning it makes since.,

[@billhanley5878]

A roof over that platform would be very useful.

[@danielszemborski]

I'm watching this for a second time and I'm not sure if anyone told you, Ryan, but if you run your wall boards through that Dewalt planer, you will have 3 to 3 1/2" of snipe on each side of each of the boards. It may not be obvious before putting your finish on, but it will stand out like a sore thumb after that clearcoat is on. To remedy that you'll need to use either a card scraper or non-powered hand plane to blend the snipe in.

[@bmunday]

is snipe what happens at the ends of boards run through the planer?

[@stromgewehr]

Does anyone know what those orange spikes he uses (Timestamp 26:18) for logs are called? I've been watching for a while now and he's never mentioned them and they aren't in his equipment list.

[@jameshall3482]

Hey mix deisel fuel and used motor oil half and half spray it on with a garden sprayer bugs will leave it alone and helps prevent rot . i use it when ground contact works pretty good. take care and stay cool .

[@bmunday]

a more commonly used mix is linseed and diesel. theres no reason to make everything LOOK like shithole motorshop.

[@proehm]

Mosquitos in the cabin. - Have you ever considered getting a Thermacell?

[@bruceduncan1684]

Love me some worm

[@marianfrances4959]

😂 "You know, nature is a bit much." LOL! Truly funny people make my world go around. 👍😎🇨🇦🌏🌲💫😅😅 And yes, it's age...what one can do in the noon-hour sun diminishes with time! 😢

[@kevinmckinzie]

I'm surprised you haven't built a log roll bar for that tent deck.

[@M.L.Knotts]

Ringworm archaeologist! That's definitely a term to remember!

[@edemup44]

Alll man! I thought you were gunna plain those boards! 🥺

[@njkay0033]

Assume that the smokiness was from the Canada fires. The news of that fell of the radar for us in the Southern US. Sure would be nice to know what date(s) you shot the clip to put it in perspective

[@glenchoitz9497]

Brand of nail puller you use? Haven't seen one like that and I could use one...if you list it I will buy it thru your channel to help spread the wealth! 😁

[@selador11]

@ 26:30. What is that saw? Looks like my 039. But there are no numbers on yours.

[@tanyajenkins919]

Ruby is so cute. Hey i hear for the bugs mosquitoes if you burn coffe in a smudge it helps keep them away u could try some real cheap coffee in the gazebo cant hurt to try . Have a good day.

[@davidhimeback9087]

Yes I have a lab that does that sun laying too, An that is on a wood deck an they give off more heat..

[@jessicad83]

Morning Ringers ❤

[@daveRiccardi]

Jessica beat me to it this morning 😅

[@richardwhite4277]

when did you get the hydraulic lifter / must have missed that Saturday morning episode LOL

[@aldohar6175]

“Complexicated”, now that’s a word that should be in Webster’s

[@crosisofborg5524]

The floor joists in my 107 year old farm house are unpeeled logs and still perfectly fine.

[@nickolas1386]

What sleeping bags do you recommend?

[@ncprospectors]

Great job on the tent deck. 👍👍👍🫣

[@randymiller1604]

I’m surprised that those work covered logs were still good who says you can’t build with green lumber? Hi so you can I see you do it and it works can’t wait to see Tito’s cabin Finished up a little small but he’s not living in it. Good for a weekend. See you next Saturday.

[@bwcok7947]

A magnetic zipper door screen for your cabin will help keep the bugs out better for you. They are only about $10-$13.

[@brianpuckett3862]

You should get a wall tent. Lol I know you have probably heard that a million times

[@brianshields7137]

Hi mate, just a thought instead of stripping the walls to plane them why not just sand them in position saving time and potable damage while removing and reinstalling , I'd use a 4in rotary orbital sander for speed and finish with Velcro pads easy grit swap over

[@alpharius2098]

Just curious do you have any fire breaks for your property?

[@bmunday]

no roads. just quad tracks.

[@et5222]

Just plane to top board of the wall then do the ceiling... easy peezy

[@kennethdarlingjr9957]

think you should just leave the cabin the way it is ...the rough look is better ....love the idea of the hanging coffee table too

[@shephusted2714]

you should mill logs into timberframe beams - wait for things to cool off and you will get busy and be more productive than you thought possible but just be safe - make a japanese low table and a butcher block - make top out of a hardwood that is replaceable - use wide concrete pads and then prime big blocks and the new structure should last for a long time - think about getting a metal brake and coil stock for easy flashing #fnord

[@bmunday]

what the fuck ? are talking about buying wood from another property? hahahah, bring in a metal brake on the quad? to bend foundation flashing? hahaha

[@bradsonnicksen6907]

You mention the bugs being so bad....do you still use that stuff that you sprayed on all your clothes (and it lasts thru washing)?

[@bishopkinlyside8477]

Wow, What a problem you have in your life LOL too many decisions to make anyway love your videos. Keep up the good work clip from Logan city Queensland Australia 🇦🇺 from the big island 🏝️

[@heathbecker420]

In 5 years you can plan ahead to build another deck from scratch, making sure to peel all the logs, and either use all cedar or if not cedar then burn them in the Japanese shou sugi ban style.

[@B-leafer]

Worm day! Feeling so wormy!

[@timgoodliffe]

do you still have that small 4x4 tractor?

[@oldthudman]

My understanding is that the logs were peeled to deter bugs, living under the bark, from coming out in the heated cabin and summer heat in to your living space.....

[@maddawgnoll]

The bugs go after the cambrian layer just under the bark. Then they start boring into the wood eventually destroying the structural strength.

[@chriscmoor]

Ryan, have you considered getting a bark peeler attachment for the small chainsaw. I used one years ago and it was worth its weight in gold.

[@bmunday]

ive thought the same thing, but it marks the logs doesnt it?

[@chriscmoor]

@@bmunday A little. Like everything else, it comes down to operator skill. Plus, it doesn't really matter on logs that are going to be milled into boards.