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BUILDINGWITHLOGS
ByCLYDEP.FICKES,Engineer,andW.ELLISGROBEN,ChiefArchitect,
ForestService

Contents

Buildingthefoundation
Preparingthelogs
Dimensionsofthebuilding
Framingthecorners
Roundnotchcorner
Otherlogcorners
Doorandwindowjambs
Floorjoists
Layingthewalllogs
Windowanddooropenings
Windowanddoorframes
Roofframing
Shakeroofs
Partitions
Flooring
Interiorwoodfinishing
Calking

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Page
Chinking
27
Chinklesslogcabinconstruction
28
Milledlogconstruction
31
Hewingtimbers
31
Fireplaceframing
31
Oilingandpainting
35
Thefinishedstructure
35
Furniture
39
Chairsandstools
39
Bedandbunk
39
Chestandbuffet
47
Settee
47
Diningtable
49
Table,bench,bookrackand
woodhod
50
Buildingplans
53
AdditionalInformation
56

BUILDINGTHEFOUNDATION
Abuildingshouldhaveagoodfoundation,andalogstructureisnoexceptiontotherule.Forthe
sakeofeconomyinlaborandmaterialitissufficient,insomeinstances,toplacesmallbuildingson
piersofconcreteorroughnativestone,butusuallyitwillbemoresatisfactorytousecontinuouswalls
ofstonemasonryorconcretetoprovideuninterruptedsupportforthelogsandthusavoidtheir
tendencytosag.Thesewalls,however,shouldbeprovidedwithsmallopeningsforthecirculationof
airtopreventthewoodfromdryrotting.Furthermore,thecontinuousfoundationwallhasthe
additionaladvantageofpreventingrodentsfromgettingunderthebuilding.Innocaseshouldthelogs
beplaceddirectlyuponthegroundsincewoodtendstodecaywhenincontactwiththeearth.
Thetwoendwallsoftheexteriorfoundationshouldbehigherthanthesidewallsinordertooffset
thedifferenceinlevelofthelogsonadjacentwalls,theendwalllogsbeinghalftheirthicknesshigher
thanthoseonthesidewalls.
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Inbuildingalogwallthechiefproblemisinclosingtheopeningbetweeneachpairoflogs.There
arevariouswaysofdoingthis,butonlythoseregardedasmostsatisfactorywillbedescribedinthis
publication.Thewidthofsuchopeningsisaffectedbyseveralfactors:(1)Themannerofplacingthe
logsuponeachother(2)thetypeofcornerusedwheretwowallsmeet(3)theopeningsfordoorsand
windowsand(4)thenaturalshrinkageofwoodintheprocessofdrying.

PREPARINGTHELOGS
Theselectionofstraight,smooth,evensizedlogsistheprimeconsideration(fig.1).Topdiameters
shouldbeasuniformaspossible,butasarulenotlessthan10normorethan12inches.(Slightly

Figure1.Startingtobuildthelogcabinlayingthefoundation
smallerorlargerdimensionsmaybeusedifnoothersareavailable.)Thetapershouldbeasslightas
possible.Forlogslongerthan40feet,thetopdiametermaybelessthan10inchesinordertoavoidan
excessivediameteratthelargeorbuttend.
Cedar,pine,fir,andlarch,intheordernamed,aremostdesirableforlogconstruction.Allknots,
limbs,orbumpsshouldbetrimmedoffcarefullywhenthelogispeeled.Itisbesttocutthelogsinlate
fallorwinter,fortwoimportantreasons:(1)Logscutinspringorsummerpeeleasier,butcrackor
checktoanundesirabledegreewhileseasoning.(2)Insectactivityisdormantduringthewinter
monthshence,ifthelogsarecutandseasonedthen,theyarelessliabletodamagebyinsectsorrot
producingfungi.
Logsshouldbecut,peeled,andlaidonskidswellabovethegroundforatleast6monthsbefore
beingplacedinthebuilding:Thismaynotalwaysbepossible,butitisagoodruletofollow.Logs
shouldbestoredinasingledeckwith2or3inchesbetweenthemtopermitcompleteexposuretothe
air.Logshavingasweeporcurveshouldbepiledwiththecurveuppermostsothattheirweightwill
tendtostraightenthemwhiletheyaredrying.Wheretheskiddingspaceislimited,logsmaybe
doubledecked,usingpolesbetweentiers.Unrestrictedaircirculationmateriallyaidsseasoning.
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Sortthelogscarefullybeforestartingconstruction,usingthebetteronesinthefrontorother
conspicuouswallsofthebuilding.Ifthelogsarenotuniforminsize,thelargeronesshouldbeplaced
atthebottomofthewalls.

DIMENSIONSOFTHEBUILDING
Forpracticalreasonsthedimensionsofalogbuildingaretheinsidemeasurementstakenfromone
logtothecorrespondinglogintheoppositewall.Outsidedimensionsvarysomewhatwiththesizeof
thelogs,thusaccountingfortheuseofinsidemeasurements.
Whereprojectingcornersaredesired,logsshouldbeatleast6feetlongerthantheinside
dimensionsofthebuilding.Inerectingthewalls,thelogsshouldbekeptevenorplumbontheinside
facesifitisdesiredtofinishtheinteriorwithwallboardorplaster.

FRAMINGTHECORNERS
Thecornerisoneofthemostimportantaspectsoflogconstruction.Onittheappearanceand
stabilityofthestructuredepend.DifferenttypesofcornerconstructionareinuseintheUnitedStates,
eachvaryinginaccordancewithlocalbuildingcustomsorindividualtaste.

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Figure2.Theroundnotchorsaddlecorner.Thisisanunusually
fineexampleofscribingandfittinglogstogether.Thesquarecut
logshaveyettobedressedandshapedwiththeaxtogivethema
pleasingappearance.

RoundNotchCorner
Theroundnotch,orsaddle,corner(fig.2)isgenerallyconsideredthemostsatisfactoryfromevery
standpoint.Thistypeofcornergivesthemostdistinctiveappearancebecausethelogsprojectsuffi
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Figure3.Rangerstation,GallatinNationalForest,Mont.,illustrating
effectiveuseofroundnotchcorners.A,andB,Dwellingunder
constructionC,barn.

Figure4.Methodofmarkingsaddlecorners.
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cientlybeyondthecornernottoappeardubbedoff(fig.3).Itisagood,selflocking,mechanicaljoint,
relativelyeasytoconstruct,andholdsthelogsrigidlyinplace.
Incuttingthesaddle,thematerialistakenoutoftheundersideoftheupperlogwithoutdisturbing
thetopsurfaceofthebottomlog.Allthemoisturethusdrainsoutatthecornerand,consequently,the
woodismuchlesssubjecttodecaythanifothertypesofcornerswereused.Theshrinkageintheouter
areaofthelog'scircumferencetendstoopenupthespacebetweenthelogs.Finally,intheroundnotch
corner,onehalfoftheshrinkagebetweenthelogsisallowedtoremaininthecorner.Theseparation,
therefore,isnotasgreatasifeachloghadbeencutdowntotheheartwood,adisadvantagecommonto
mostothertypesofcorners.
Thetoolsrequiredtomakearoundnotchorsaddlecornerare:Apairoflogdogstoholdthelogin
place,10or12inchwingdividerswithpencilholderandlevelbubbleattachment,sharpax,2inch
gougechiselwithoutsidebevel,crosscutsaw,spiritlevel,andplumbboard.Theframingofthis
corner,describedinfigure4,shouldberelativelyeasy.
First,thebottomlogsshouldbesetinplaceonoppositesidesofthefoundation.Hewaflatfaceof2
to3inchesinwidthontheundersideofthelogwhereitrestsonthefoundation,sothatitwilllayin
place.Thenplacethebottomlogoneachendwallandaccuratelycenteritsothattheinsidefaceofall
fourlogsistotheexactinteriordimensionsofthebuilding.Dogthelogsintoplacesotheywillnot
movewhilebeingmarkedforthecornernotch.Thewingdividerisnowsetforonehalfthediameter
ofthesidelog.Withthelowerlegofthedividerrestingonthesideoftheunderlogandtheotherleg,
withthelevelbubbleuppermost,restingagainstthebottomoftheupperloganddirectlyabovethe
lower

Figure5.Choppingthenotchinasaddlecorner.

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log,startmovingthedividerupward,withasidemotion,sothatthelowerlegfollowsthecurvatureof
theunderlog.Thepencilpointoftheupperlegmakesamarkonthesurfaceoftheupperlog,which
willbetheintersectionofthesurfacesofthetwologswhenthenotchhasbeencutfromtheupperone.
Repeatthisoperationfourtimestomarkallfoursidesofthecorner.Alittlepracticewillmakeyou
adeptatkeepingthepointsofthedividerperpendiculartoeachother.
Afterthenotchhasbeenmarkedatbothendsofthelog,turnitoveronitsback.Itisagoodideato
intensifythedividermarkwithanindeliblepencilsothatitwillbeeasilyfollowed.Chopthenotchout
roughly,asillustratedinfigure5,thenchipdownascloselyaspossibletothemark,supplyingthe
finishingtoucheswithagougechisel.Thefinishednotchshouldbecuppedoutjustenoughtoallow
theweightofthelogtocomeontheoutsideedges,thusinsuringatightjoint.
Whenthenextsidelogisrolledintoplace,thedividersshouldbesetapartforthewidthofthe
spacebetweenthetopofthefirstandthebottomofthefollowinglog,andthemarkingrepeatedas
before.Ifyouwishtohavetheupperlog"ride"theloweronealittle,sothatanespeciallytightjointis
obtained,thedividersshouldbesetalittlewiderapartthanthespaceactuallyrequires.

OtherLogCorners
Thedovetail,orbox,corner(figs.6and7)isastrongcorner,andconsiderableexperienceis
requiredinordertomakeaneatlookingjob.Thistypehasseveralundesirablefeatures:(1)Thelogs
areapttodevelopawidecrackbecausethecornerisframedfromthepartoftheloginwhichtheleast
shrinkageoccurs,and(2)sincethelogsareheweddowntoformthecorner,thewoodhasatendency
tocollectandretainmoisturewhichsoonresultsindecay.Also,thiscornerdetractsnoticeablyfrom
the"loggy"appearancesocharacteristicanddesirableinlogstructures.Thedrawingsinfigure6show
themostpracticalmethodsofmarkingandframingthedovetail,orbox,corner.
Theflat,orplain,tenoncorner(fig.8),isalsocommon.Itmaybemadeintwoways.Inone,only
thebearingsurfacesareframed,whileintheother,allfoursidesofthetenonareframedflat.Theplain
tenoncornerdoesnothavethehighlydesirablefeatureofbeingselflocking.However,itissimpleto
makeandeconomical,andthereforeespeciallysuitablefortemporarystructures.Thelogsmustbe
pinnedtogether,asshowninfigure11.Alltheframingcanbedoneontheground,beforethelogsare
putinplace.Carefullyfitted,thismakesaneatlookingjob.
Directionsforconstructingtheflat,orplain,tenoncorner.Squareoneendoflog,asinfigure8,at
pointA,thenmeasurerequiredlengthandsawtheoppositeendsquare,atB.Iftheloghasany
curvature,turnitontheskidsuntilitsbackisup.Determinethethicknessofthetenons,basedupon
theaveragetopandbuttdiametersofthelog.Thentakean18inchlengthofboardthesamewidthas
thethicknessofthetenons,drivinganailthroughitscenterandintothecenterofthelog.Placethe
spiritlevelontopoftheboardandmarklinesonthelogatthetopandbottom

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Figure6.Markingandframingthedovetail,orbox,corner.

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Figure7.RangerStation,LoloNationalForest,Mont.Notethemeticulous
constructionofboxcorners.

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Figure8.Framingtheflat,orplain,tenoncorner.
edges.Thewidthofatenonvarieswiththediameterofthelogs8to10inchdiameterswillproduce
6to7inchwidetenons.
Naila1inchby1inchcleatonthepatternboardtopointsGandDandthenmakesawcutsoneach
end,cutchipoffandsmooththesurface.Turnlogoverandrepeatontheotherside.Afterframingout
thesidesofthetenon,thelogisreadytobeplacedonthewall.Somefittingbetweencornersisusually
necessarybut,ifthelogsarefairlystraightandsmooth,theworkwillbeminimized.
Theupright,orgrooveandtenon,corner(fig.9)isusedtoaconsiderableextentintheWest.Ithas
desirablefeaturesfromamechanicalstandpoint:(1)Theweightofthebuildingiscarriedonthefull
lengthofthelogsanddoesnotrestsolelyonthecorners,asinothertypes,and(2)itmakesatightwall
becausenoopenings

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Figure9.Framingtheupright,orgrooveandtenon,corner.
willdevelopbetweenthelogs.Althoughnotdifficulttoconstruct,theuprightcornerrequires
considerablemechanicalskillandaccuracy.Agoodcarpentercanframetheentirebuildingonthe
groundbeforeanylogsareplacedonthefoundation,afterwhichitcanbeerectedinaveryshorttime.
Nexttotheroundnotchcornertheupright,orgrooveandtenoncorner,probablyhasthebest
appearance.

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DOORANDWINDOWJAMBS
Doorandwindowjambsshouldbeframedjustlikethecornersexceptthatonlythebackshouldbe
grooved.Thedoorside,orface,mayberabbetedorleftsmoothsothataseparatewooddoorstopmay
benailedinplace.Ifthelogsarereasonablydry,from3to4inchesshouldbeleftateachcornerfor
settlementduetoshrinkageotherwise,moreorlessspaceshouldbeallowed,asconditionsrequire.In
about6monthsthecaplogwillcomedownandclosethisgap.Similarprovisionsshouldbemadefor
settlementoverdoorandwindowopenings.

FLOORJOISTS
Assoonasthefirstroundortieroflogsislaid,thefloorjoistsshouldbesetinplace,notchingthem
intothebottomsidelogs.Ifthebuildinghasacontinuousmasonryfoundation,thejoistsmaybeseton
topofit,asinaframebuilding.
Inorderthattheendsofthejoistsmayhavesufficientbearingonthewall,itisnecessaryeitherto
notchtheendsintothesidelogsorhewthelatteroffontheinside.Asimplemethodistocutthe
notchesinthesidelogsbeforetheyarerolledintoplace.Polejoistsshouldbefrom4to8inchesin
diameterandhewedlevelontheuppersidetoprovideasolidbearingfornailingtheflooring.Several
differentwaysofframingthefloorjoistsareshowninfigure10.

LAYINGTHEWALLLOGS
Inlayingthesuccessiveroundsoflogsinthewalls,severaldetailsmustbeobservedtokeepthem
linedupsothatthetoplogsformalevelseatfortheroofframing.Thecornersshouldbekeptaslevel
aspossibleaseachroundislaid.Thiscanbedonebymeasuringverticallyfromthetopofthefloor
joists,fromtimetotime,asacheck.Avariationof1inchinheightwillnotcauseaseriousdifficulty.
Theheightofthecornersisregulatedintwoways:(1)Byincreasingordecreasingthedepthofthe
notch,and(2)byreversingthetopandbuttendsofthelogswhenlayingtheminthewall.
Thelogsshouldbefittedtogetherastightlyaspossible.Inthecaseofsomewhatirregularly
surfacedlogs,itmaybenecessarytosmoothoffcertainportionsoftheundersideoftheupperlogto
secureatightfit.Onlyinexceptionalinstances,however,shouldthisbedonetothetopofthelower
log.
Thefaceofthelogsontheinsideofthebuildingmustbekeptplumb,thatis,inthesamevertical
plane.Anordinarycarpenter's,orspirit,levelmaybeused,buta6to8footplumbboardis
consideredmostsatisfactorybecauseofitsgreaterlength.
Thelogsshouldbepinnedtogetherwithawoodenpinorlargespike(fig.11).Spikingisdoneby
boringa3/4inchholehalfwaythroughtheupperlogandcontinuingwitha7/16inchholethroughthe
bottomhalf.Thendrivea10or12inchspikeintoplace,oruntilitpenetrateshalfthenextlogbelow.
Thespikesshouldbe

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Figure10.Framingfloorjoists.
staggeredinalternateroundsortiersoflogs.Ifwoodenpinsareused,firoroaklogsarepreferable.
Neitherwoodenpinsnorspikes,however,offerinterferencetothesettlingofthewails.
Thespikemethodiseasierandquicker,andjustassatisfactoryasthewoodenpin.Thelogsshould
bepinnedapproximately2feetfromeachcornerandateachsideofthewindowanddooropenings.
Forsmallstructures,wherethealinementofthewallsisnotsoimportant,pinningmaybeeliminated,
butitisessentialtoaline
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Figure11.Pinninglogstogether.
largerbuildingsaccuratelyinordertopreventindividuallogsfromspringingoutofplace.
Wheretheuseoflogshavingadecidedcurve,orsweep,isunavoidabletheyshouldbesetinthe
wallwiththeboworbackup.Suchlogsmaybestraightenedbymakingenoughsawcutsintheupper
sideofthecurvedsurfacetoallowthemtostraightenout.Thecutsshouldbefromonethirdtoone
halfthedepthofthelog,orslightlymore,ifnecessary(fig.12).

Figure12.Straighteningacurvedlog.

WINDOWANDDOOROPENINGS
EarlyAmericanlogstructureswerecharacterizedbyrelativelydarkinteriorsbecausewindow
openingsdesignedforprotectivepurposes,weresmallandfarapart.Sinceprotectionisnolongera
consideration,windowframesmaybeofstandardsizeandlocatedwheretheyaremostsuitablefor
adequatedaylighting.
Assoonasthefirstroundoflogsandthefloorjoistsarelaidinplace,markthelocationofdoorand
windowopeningsontheinsideface.Nextsawoutthedooropeningsandchopoutthenotchinthe
doorsilllogtowithinaninchofthetrueorfinishedline,asshowninfigure13.Leavefinalcuttingof
theopeningstotheexactdimensionsuntilthewindowanddoorframesaretobeplacedinposition,
thusinsuringagoodfinishedwoodsurface.Also,determinetheheightoftheopeningsabovethefloor
lineandmarktheminfigures

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Figure13.Cuttingwindowanddooropenings.
onthebottomlogforreferencefromtimetotime.Thenecessarycutsshouldbemadeinthelog
directlyovereachopeningbeforeplacingitinposition.Whenthelog,whichcarriesthewindowframe
isreached,anotchmustbemadeforitasforthedoors.
Toprovidethenecessarydoorsandwindows,openingsmustbecutinthewallsafterthelogshave
beenplacedinposition.Assoonasaloginthewalliscutintwo,theproblemarisesofhowtoholdthe
looseendsinplace.Also,thedoorsandwindowsrequiretheproperkindofframestoinsureairtight
closurebetweenthelatterandtheendsofthewalllogs.Themostpracticableandsatisfactorymethod
istoframeaverticalnotchintheendsofthewalllogs,intowhichcanbefittedasplineattachedtothe
backofthejamborsidepiecesofthedoorandwindowframes.Thismethodofframingholdsthewall
logsinplace,allowsthemtoshrinkandsettlewithouthindrance,andmakesaweathertightjoint
betweenthemandthedoorandwindowframes.Theverticalnotchintheendofthewalllogsmaybe
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framedbyboringa2inchaugerholeineachlogasitislaidinplace.Theholeshouldbelocatedso
that,whenthewalllogsaresawedoutfortheopening,thesawcutpassesdownthroughtheedgeof
theholenearesttheopening.Itisthenasimplemattertoframethenotchtotakethespline.Theinside
faceofthenotchcanbeleftroundedandthesplinechamferedtofit.Tokeeptheholesinlinefromlog
tolog,usetheplumbboardillustratedinfigure14.

Figure14.Methodofmarkingopenings.

WINDOWANDDOORFRAMES
Therearetwowaysofmakingwindowanddoorframesinthreepieces(twosidejambsandone
headjamb),orinfourpieces(twosidejambs,oneheadjamb,andasillpiece).Whenathreepiece
frameisused,thebottomlogoftheopeningiscutorshapedtomakethewindowordoorsillandthe
jambpiecesarethenfittedtothesill.Ifthejambsareframedfrompiecesoflogslabbedontwo
oppositesides,apresentableframeinkeepingwiththelogcharacterofthestructureisobtained.The
windowordoorfaceofthejambpiecesmayberabbetedforthewindowsanddoors,respectively,or
theymayhaveseparatewoodenpieces,knownasstops,nailedon.Thesplineonthebackofthejamb
mayberabbetedout,ora2inchby2inchpieceofstraightgrainedwoodnailedon.Theheadjambcan
beframedinthesamewayitdoesnotrequirea

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Figure15.Windowframes.
splineontheback.Eachsidejambhasadowelframedoneachend.Thebottomdowelfitsintoa
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mortiseinthesillandthetopdowelintoasimilarmortiseintheheadjamb.
Inafourpieceframe,thesilllogiscutwithaslope,inthecustomaryway,andthejambsarefitted
asforathreepieceframe.Figure15illustratestheinstallationofthreeandfourpiecewindowframes.
Whentheheadjambortoplogovertheopeningisreached,theframesarereadyforinstallation.
Theopeningisnowcutout,thesillfashioned,theverticalsplineslotframed,andtheheadjamblog
cutouttofitovertheopening.Atthispoint,theamountofsettlementresultingfromtheshrinkageof
thewalllogs,astheydryout,mustbedeterminedandacorrespondingallowanceprovidedinthe
opening.Thisallowanceismadebetweentheuppersideoftheheadpieceoftheframeandthebottom
ofthelogdirectly:overtheopening,andshouldbefrom21/2to4inchesforadoor6feet8inchesto
7feetinheight,or12/2to3inchesforanordinarydoublehungwindow.Thelogovertheopening
shouldbenotchedoutontheundersidesothatitcanbedroppedinplaceaftertheframehasbeenset
inposition.
Whenthetypeofwindowordoorframeheredescribedisused,neitheroutsidenorinsidecasings,
sometimescalledwoodtrim,arerequired.Thelogsselectedforthejambmaterialshouldbefrom2to
3incheslargerindiameterthanthewalllogs,inordertofitproperly.Also,theywillbemucheasierto
workifwellseasoned(fig.16).

Figure16.Logjambwindowframe.

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Figure17.Typicallogwallsection,takenthroughwindow.
Ifstandardmillworkframesareused,falsesidejambsofsawedmaterial,usually2inchplanks,
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shouldbefittedintheopeningstoholdthelogsinplace.Forawallmadeof10inchlogs,aplank2
inchesby10inchesshouldbeusedforthejambsandthestandardframefittedinplacebetweenthem
afterprovidingthenecessaryallowanceforthewalllogstoshrinkorsettle.Theheadcasingordinarily
willcoverthespaceallowedforshrinkage.
Somekindofinsulatingmaterial,whichwilltakecompression,suchascrumplednewspapers,
asbestoswoolfiber,orrockwool,maybeusedtofillthespaceovertheheadallowedforsettlement.
Insu

Figure18.Variouswaysofframingeaves.Despitethefactthatsawedrafters,asshown
above,areoftenusedforconvenienceinframingtheroof,sawedormilledmaterialis
incongruousinappearanceintheexterioroflogbuildings.Hence,polerafters,hand
madeshakes,andsimilarhandrivenfeaturesarepreferred.
latingmaterialmustbeinstalledloosely,soasnottotakeanyweightastheheadloggraduallysettles.
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Forthelogtypeframe,copperorgalvanizedsteelflashingshouldbefastenedtothebottomofthe
cutinthetoplog,leavingtheloweredgeoftheflashingfreetoslideonthefaceofthelogheadjamb.
Asthewallsettles,thebottomoftheflashingcanbetrimmedoffiftoomuchofthefaceofthehead
jambiscovered.Thismakesaweathertightjointandprotectstheinsulatingmaterialwithwhichthe
shrinkagespacehasbeenfilled.Seefigure17,Headsection.

Figure19.Framinglogpurlinsforshakes.

ROOFFRAMING
Roofsmaybeframedinseveralways,dependinguponthekindofmaterialavailableandthe
appearancedesired.Theframingforashingleroof,whetherofsawedmaterialorroundpoles,isdone
inthesamewayasthatofaframebuilding.Thetoplogonthewallmaybecutwithaflatseatforthe
rafterstorestupon,asatY,infigure18,AornotchedouttoreceivethemasatZinfigure18,B.The
gableendsmayberunupwiththelogs,whichispreferableforarchitecturalappearance,orframed
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likethegablesofaframestructure,andthencoveredwithwoodsiding,shingles,orshakes(fig.19).
Theshinglesmaybelaidoversheathingboardsintheusualmanneroronshinglestripsplaced
acrosstheroofrafters,parallelwiththeridgeandexactlyspacedtoreceivethem,commonlyknownas
"barnfashion."
Theparticularmethodtobefollowedinframingtheeavesdependslargelyupontheirprojection.
"Wheretheeffectofaconsiderableoverhangisdesired,aneavepurlinlogmaybeusedtosupportthe
projectingshakesasshowninfigure19,A.Tosupport30to36inchlongshakeshavinga6inchlap,
thelogpurlinsshouldbespacedatapproximately24inchintervals,asinfigure19.Inregionsofheavy
snows,theeavelogmaybeplacedslightlyforwardtohelpsupporttheoverhang,oranadditionaleave
logmaybeplacedinposition,asshowninfigure19,B.Thegablelogsshouldberunupatthesame
timeastherooflogs,andbothrigidlyframedtogether.

Figure20.Splittingshakeswiththefroe.

ShakeRoofs
Itisoftendesirabletousehandsplitshakesfortheroofcovering.Theseareusuallymadefrom
cedar,butmaybeofanystraightgrainedwood,freefromknots,whichsplitseasily.First,thelogsare
cutinlengthsof30to36inchesandthentheshakesaresplitoffwithatoolcalledafroe(fig.20).
Afterthelogcutsaresetonend,thefroeisheldontheupperendoftheblockandthenstrucka
blowwithawoodenmaulwhichcausesapieceoftheblockorshaketosplitoff.Beinghandsplit,the
thicknessvariessomewhattheminimumis1/2inch.Aroofofthinshingles,lackingsufficientscale,
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isneveraseffectiveasaroughtexturedone,using3/4to11/2inchthickshakes,toharmonizewith
thesturdyappearanceofthelogwalls.Thewidth,normally6to8inches,isgovernedbythesizeof
theblocksofwoodandvariesaccordingly,whilethelengthisgovernedbythespacingoftherooflogs
orpurlins.Shakesarealwayslaidonthepurlinsinsinglecourses,lappingthesides11/2to2inches
andoverlappingtheendsatleast6inches,asillustratedinfigure19.Nailingisusuallydonewithsix
oreightpennygalvanizedboxnails.Coppernailsmaybeusedforgreaterpermanence.Agoodshake
roofwillnotleakalthoughfromtheinsideofthebuildingitmayappeartohavemanyholes.
Theordinary,uninteresting,straightlineeffectatthebuttsmaybebrokenupbystaggeringthem
from1to2inches,asisoftendonewithshingles.Thismethodproducesaneffectmoreinkeeping
withthelogwalls.Althoughinvolvinggreatercareandadditionallaboritispreferable,froman
architecturalpointofview,tothemorecommoncustomoflayingthemtouniformlystraightlines.
Attheridgeoftheroof,wheretheshinglesorshakesintersect,provisionsmustbemadefor
weatherproofing.TheshingledBostonridge,combintersection,orpoleridge,showninfigure21are
practicalandmuchmoresatisfactoryfromthestandpointofarchitecturaleffectthanstockmetal
ridges,ridgeboards,andothermethods.

PARTITIONS
Ifthelogbuildingistobedividedintoseveralrooms,atleasttwodifferentmethodsmaybeusedto
constructthepartitionwalls.Ifthelogconstructionplanistobecarriedthroughoutthestructure

Figure21.Ridgetreatments.
byusinginteriorlogwallpartitions,theseshouldbelaidoutandframedin,andthedooropeningscut
inthesamemanneraspreviouslydescribedforexteriorwalls.Ifalogpartitioncomesataplaceina
crosswallwhereitisnotconsidereddesirabletohavethelogendsprojectintotheroombeyondthe
oppositefaceofthewall,theymaybesawedoffflushwiththefaceofthecrosswall,asshownatJT,
figure22,PlanA.Thiswillnotweakenthejointsincethelogsarebothpinnedandlockedinplace.

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Figure22.Interiorpartitions.
Whereframepartitionsareused,theyshouldbeconstructedasinaframebuilding.Againora3to
4inchdeepgrooveshouldbecutinthelogwallintowhichtheendstuddingoftheframepartitionis
tobeset(fig.22,PlanB).Thecutshouldbemadeineachlogbeforeitisplacedinthewall.Innocase
shouldthestuddingattheendsofthepartitionsbenailedtothelogwallswhichtheyintersectinorder
nottointerferewithorbeaffectedbytheirshrinkageandsettlement.

FLOORING
Asubfloorshouldbelaidfirstusingshiplaporsheathing.Overthisafinishedfloorofsuch
hardwoodsasmapleoroak,orthehardersoftwoodspeciessuchasDouglasfir,westernlarch,or
southernpine,maybelaid.Verticalgrainandflatgrainmaybehadinboth^softwoodandhardwood,
buttheverticalgrainshrinksandswellslessthantheflat,ismoreuniformintexture,wearsmore
evenly,andthejointsopenmuchless.Finishedflooringconsistsoftongueandgroovematerialof
variousthicknessesandwidths.
Despiteaslighttendencytosplinterandwearirregularlyoveraperiodofyears,plainwideplanking
ofrandomwidthboardsmakesanappropriatefloorforalogbuilding.Anattractiveeffectmaybehad
byusingscrewsinsteadofnails,countersunktoadepthof1/2inchandconcealedbyinsertingfalse
woodendowelsgluedinplaceasshowninfigure23,B.Keyingtheboardstogetherwithwoodkeys,at
randomalongtheedges,addstotheattractivenessoftheflooring.

INTERIORWOODFINISHING
Hangingdoorsandwindows,andmanyothercustomarydetailsofbuildingconstructionshouldbe
doneintheusualmannerinbuildingwithlogs.Whenevercupboardsorotherbuiltinunitsare
constructed,theymustbeframedtobeindependentorentirelyfreeofthelogwalls,likethefurniture.
However,suchfixturesaslavatoriesmaybeattachedtotwoadjacentlogswithoutanysubsequent
structuralcomplications.

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Figure23.Flooring.A,PlaintongueandgrooveB,randomwidthplanking.

CALKING
Whenroundlogsarelaidupinawallthereisalwaysanopeningbetweenthemunlesstheyare
groovedontheundersidetosaddletheonebelow,asdescribedlaterunderchinklesslogcabin
construction.Inexteriorwalls,thisopening,orcrack,mustbeclosedinordertomakethestructure
weathertight.Thereareseveralmethodsofdoingthis.Ifthelogsarereasonablystraightanduniformin
sizeandthecornerscarefullymade,theopeningbetweenthemwillbesmall,oftenbarelyperceptible.
Whenthisisthecase,theopeningsshouldbefilledwithsomesortofcalkingcompoundappliedwith
eitherapressuregunoratrowel(fig.24).
Inrecentyearsseveralkindsofcalkingmaterialhavebeenputonthemarket.Theyareappliedbest
withagunhavingapressure

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Figure24.Examplesoftightjointswellcalked.A,InteriorcalkingB,exteriorcalking.
releasetriggerwherebythecalkingcompoundisforcedthroughanozzlemadeinvariousshapesand
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sizestomeetdifferentrequirements.Thesecalkingcompoundsarenotadverselyaffectedbyheator
cold,retaintheirnaturalflexibility,andhaveanadhesivepropertywhichcausesthemtoadheretothe
surfacetowhichtheyareapplied.
Agoodplasticcompoundwilladheretothelogsunderallconditionsandcanbepatchedeasilyby
simplyapplyingmorematerial.Ablackfibersealisnotobjectionableand,atthesametime,givesa
practicalfinish.Thesealshouldbeappliedtobothsidesoftheexteriorandinteriorlogwalls,
producinganalmosthermeticallysealedbuilding.Whenappliedwithapressuregunhavinga3/8inch
nozzle,1gallonwillfillabout300linearfeetofopening.Ifappliedincoldweather,thematerial
shouldbeheatedtoatemperatureof60degreesF.

CHINKING
Whenusinglogsthataresomewhatroughandirregularinshape,theresultingspacebetweenthem
maybesolargethatthecalkingmaterialcannotbeusedsatisfactorilytofilltheopening.Insuchcases,
itwillbenecessarytoinsert"chinking,"whichusuallyisappliedtotheinteriorandexteriorwallsin
oneoftwoways:
1.Splitchinking.Segmentsofalogaresplitoutinsizes,whichfittheopeningand,afterbeing
carefullyshapedwiththeaxtomakeatightfit,aresecurelynailedinposition.Thiskindofchinking
requiresconsiderableworkandpatiencetosecureagoodappearance..
2.Polechinking.Smallroundpolesmaybeusedtofilltheopenings(fig.25).Usuallytheyarecut
insizesandlengthstofill

Figure25.Polechinking.
theopeningfromwalltowall.Thissortofchinkingmaybeappliedrapidlytoeitherinsideoroutside
wallsandmakesaneaterjobthantheprecedingmethod.Unlessthelogsarethoroughlyseasoned
these'smallpolessometimeshaveatendencytopullawayfromthenails.Whenthechinkinghasbeen
completed,theopeningswillhavebeenreducedsufficientlyinwidthtoallowthecalkingmaterialto
beappliedsuccessfully.
Itisalwaysaseriousprobleminlogconstructiontodeviseapracticalmethodforpermanently
fasteningtheplasterdaubinginplaceonbothinsideandoutsidewalls.Insomeinstances,shinglenails
maybedrivenintothelogs2to3inchesapartforthefulllengthoftheopeningor2inchwidestrips
ofmetallathmaybeusedandtheplasterappliedtofillit.Cattlehairmaybeaddedtotheplasterto
increaseitsadhesiveconsistencyandtherebyholditmorerigidlyinplace.Sometimes,woodstripsare
nailedonthelowerlogtoholdtheplasterinposition,asshowninfigure26,buttheyarcunsightly.

CHINKLESSLOGCABINCONSTRUCTION
Chinklessconstruction,associatedwiththebuildingoflogstructuresinScandinaviancountries,
eliminatesthechinkingandmuddingsoprevalentinmanylogbuildings.Itconsistsofgrooving
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Figure26.Wooddaubingstrips.
theundersideofeverylogineachtiersothatitsaddlesthelogbeneath,makingaclosejointforits
entirelength.Thegrooveismarkedbyatool,whichforconvenience,maybecalledacabinscribeora
drag(fig.27).
Directionsforchinklesslogcabinconstruction.Markandcutoutthenotchjustasisdonefora
roundnotchcorner.Next,dogtheloginplaceandscribe,makingtheadditionalmarkshownbydash
line(X,fig.27).Then,cuttolineand,finally,droploginposition.
Thescribeis12incheslong,madepreferablyof3/8inchsquaresteelorironbentinmuchthe
samemannerasthespringinasteeltrapthetwoendsareturneddownabout11/2inchesliketwo
fingers,divergingtoabout3/4ofaninchatthepoints,andthensharpenedwithaflatsurfaceonthe
insideofthepointtowardtheloop.Theloopshouldbehammeredoutthintoprovidesufficient
flexibilitytoallowthepointstospreadorcloseeasily.Aringisweldedaroundthetwohalvesofthe
toolwhich,whenslippedupordown,makesitpossibletoadjustthepointsandtherebypreventany
furtherspreadingwhilethetoolisinuse.Alinkfromasmallchain,placedoverthelegsbeforethe
pointsareturned,willservethesamepurposeand,topreventthepointsfromspringingtogether,a
smallpieceofwoodmaybeforcedbetweenthem.
Tofitalog,firstframeitattheendsandthenfititdowntowithinabout2inchesofthelowerlog
wheretheopeningisthewidest.Itisdifficulttodoagoodjobofscribingwhenthelogsaretooclose
together.Thescribemustthenbeadjustedatthepointwhere

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Figure27.Chinklesslogcabinconstruction
theopeningisthewidestsothat,whenholdingthetoolparalleltotheopening,thelowerpointofthe
scribewillrideonthesurfaceofthebottomlog.Byexertingsufficientpressure,theupperpointwill
scorethetoplog.Repeatthisoperationtoscoretheupperlogontheotherside.Thecornertenonsmust
bemarkedlikewise.Next,turnthelogover,workthetenonsdownandthencutaVshapedgrooveto
themarkedlinesintheremainingportionofthelog,usingadoublebittedax.Thisgrooveshouldbe
cutdeepenoughalongitscentertopermittheouteredgeofthegroovetorestcontinuouslyonthe
lowerlog.Byremovingtheleastamountofwoodtomakethesmallestpossiblegroove,theclosestfit
isobtainedwiththeleasteffort.
Theprincipleofthescribeisbasedonparallellines,anditcanreadilybeseenthatifthereisa
humponthelowerlogtherewillhavetobeagougeintheupperone."Whentheworkisdone
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carefully,thespaceremainingisnegligible.Whereanairtightwall

Figure28.Fineexampleofmilledlogconstructionranger'sdwelling,Whitman
NationalForest,Oreg.
isdesired,astripofplumber'soakumshouldbelaidonthebottomlogbeforetheupperlogisdropped
intoplace.Ifthismaterialisnotavailable,drymossisa.fairlypracticalsubstitute.

MilledLogConstruction
Sometimesitisfeasibletotakeadvantageofaportablemilltofacethelogsonthreesidesrather
thantohewthembyhand.Thelevelbedsseatthelogssowellthatcalkingisminimized,thesmooth
interiorsurfacespermitofeasyfinishing,particularlywherewoodwainscotingorplasterisused,while
theroundlogexterioreffectisundisturbed,exceptwherethelogsprojectatthecorners.Figure28
illustratesastructurebuiltinthisway.
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HEWINGTIMBERS
Thefacingorhewingofroundtimberstoobtainoneortwosidessurfacedflatforframing
purposes,asshowninfigure29,requiresconsiderableskillintheuseoftheaxandbroadax.Thereare,
however,anumberofmechanicalaids(fig.30),whichshouldbeusedbyanyoneundertakinglog
constructioninordertosimplifytheworkasmuchaspossible.Thecarpenter'sspiritlevel,thesteel
square,andchalklineandchalkarenecessaryforlayingoffthelinestobefollowedinhewingtimbers.
Inframinglogstheyshouldbelaiduponskids,orsawhorses,doggedfastinplacewithirondogs,and
thedimensionslaidoffoneachendofthelogwiththelevelandsquaretoinsurethatthelinesare
paralleltoeachother.Then,withthechalkline,carefullysnaplinesonthesideofthelogconnecting
correspondingpointsateachend.Forsquaringtheendsofalogandcuttingpolerafters,usethemiter
boxtoguidethesaw.Tomeasurelengthsaccuratelythesteeltape,oraboardpatterncuttotheexact
length,maybeused.

FIREPLACEFRAMING
Thelivingroomfireplace,invariablythemostprominentinteriorfeature,harmonizesbestwitha
loginteriorifbuiltofstoneandprovidedwithacrudelogshelf.Thefireplaceitselfmaybeeitherthe
traditionalmasonrytypeorthemoremodernmetallinedoneequippedwithaheatilator.
Themasonryofthefireplaceanditschimneyshouldalwaysstartonsolidearth,belowthefrost
line,likethefoundationsofthebuildingitself.Masonrydoesnotsettle,unlikethesurroundinglog
construction.Consequently,itisrecommendedthataselfsupportinglogframingbebuiltaroundand
entirelyfreeofthemasonryofthefireplaceandchimney,asillustratedinfigure31.Theopening
shouldbeframedinthesamewayaswindowanddooropenings.Thefireplaceandchimneymasonry
shouldnotbeerecteduntiltheopeninghasbeenframedforit.Uponcompletion,theintersection
betweenthestoneandwoodshouldbethoroughlycalkedtomakeanairtight,weatherproofjob.This
methodallowsthewalllogstosettle,becauseoftheunavoidableshrinkage,withoutstructuralfailure.

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Figure29.Framinghewedtimbers.

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Figure30.Mechanicalaidsincuttingtimbers.Method:Cutbothmiterboxesatangle
Xfor1/3pitch.Fastenthemsecurelytothefloorortoalog,usedasasawhorse,and
spaceexactlytherequireddistanceaparttoinsurethatallraftersarecutalike.Then
placeeachrafterintheboxes,backdownifanycurvatureexists,dogrigidlyinplace
andsawtothepattern.
LineArepresentstheexteriorwallfaceand,ifsawedoffonlineB,parallelwiththe
wallface,overhangofeavewillbe1foot,6inches.Anydesiredoverhangmaybehad
andsawingeliminatedbyfixingthedistanceC.Theirregularlyhewedrafterendis
preferabletotheuniformellipticalsawcutends.Finally,hewtheuppersurfaceofthe
rafterstoasmoothevenbearingtoreceivetheroofsheathingboards.

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Figure31.Framingaroundthefireplace.Framinglogsaroundfireplaceandchimney
varieswiththeeffectdesired:(1)Byusinganexposedverticalslabbedlogandspline,
asatA,withspaceX,toallowfortheshrinkagesettlingofthelogsabovethemantel,
or(2)byusingaconcealedverticalslabbedlogandspline,asatB,wherethemasonry
isexposedabovethemantel.

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Figure32.Ausefultypeofmodernlogdwellingrangerstation,GallatinNational
Forest,Mont.
Inbuildinganordinaryfireplace,thefireboxandinnerhearthshouldbemadeoffirebrickto
withstandintenseheatandthevariouspartsproportionedinaccordancewithstandardpracticeto
insureefficientoperation.1
Theheatilatorisabuiltinrecirculatingsteelunitconsistingofmetalsidesandbacktoforma
heatingchamber,adjacenttothefirepit,whichdrawscoldairthrougharegisterateachsidenearthe
floorandaftertheairisheatedejectsitthroughsimilarregistersabove.Itshouldbeinstalledin
conformitywiththemanufacturer'sdirections,takingcaretoselectastocksizeunitsuitableforthe
dimensionsofthefireplaceopeningandtoerectthesurroundingmasonryaccordingly.

OILINGANDPAINTING
Afteralltheopeningshavebeenproperlycalkedandthelogsbrushedclean,itisoftendesirable,
althoughnotabsolutelynecessary,totreatthelogsurfaceswithsomesortofpreservativematerial.
Logwoodoilisexcellentfortheexterior.Thecolorlessvarietyispreferableinmostcasesbut,ifsome
colorisdesired,addjustenoughburntumber,orrawsiennapaste,togivethepropershade.For
interiorfinish,applyacoatofclearshellacandthenoneortwocoatsofdullvarnish.Thetrimcanbe
treatedinasimilarmannertopreservethepleasingeffectproducedbythenaturalsurfaceandcolorof
thewood.

THEFINISHEDSTRUCTURE
Examplesofmodernlogconstructionareshowninfigures32,33,and34.Earlytypesoflog
structuresareillustratedinfigure35.
1Forthispurposethefollowingpublicationwillbefounduseful:Farmer'sBulletin1889,
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FireplacesandChimneys.

Figure33.Modernstructuresshowingeffectiveuseoflogconstructioninrecreation
buildingsonnationalforestsinMontana.A,DuderanchBandC,recreationand
messhall,SeelyLake.
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Figure34.OrganizationcampatSeelyLakeshowinglogworkingreaterdetail.A,
EntrancewingB,cabingroup.Notethewedgesunderporchposttoprovidefor
settlingofwalls.Wedgesaregraduallydrivenoutasnecessary.

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Figure35.EarlytypesoflogstructuresbuiltbytheU.S.ForestServiceintheWest.A,
Uaugerstation,GallatinNationalForest,Mont.B,ranger'sdwelling,Nezperce
NationalForest,IdahoC,logcabininArizona.

FURNITURE
Thematterofinteriorfurnishingsisalwaysofgreatconcerntothosewhobuildlogcabins.Odds
andendsortoomany"whatnots"mayprovetobemisfits.PiecesofEarlyAmericandesignare
perhapsthemostappropriatereadymadefurniture,butsturdy,rusticpiecesyieldthegreatest
satisfaction.
Manycabinownershavefoundagreatdealofpleasureinmakingessentialfurniture,suchas
bunks,beds,tables,chairs,settees,andsimilaritems.IntheEast,birchispreferredasamaterial,and
intheWest,lodgepolepineismostsatisfactory.Othernativespecies,however,willdojustaswell.In
makingfurnitureitisadvisabletoremovethebarkfromthelogsbecausebarkcollectsinsects,causes
thewoodtodeteriorateandeventuallyfallsoff,leavingimperfect,unsightlysurfacesFigures36and
37showtypesoffurnituresuitableforlogresidences.
Forrusticeffects,theuseofastainofthefollowingproportionsgivesasatisfactoryappearance:2
quartsturpentine,2quartsrawlinseedoil,and1pintliquiddrier,towhichadd1/2pintofrawsienna,
1/2pintofburntumber,andatouchofburntsienna.Thetopsurfacesoftables,buffets,chests,and
rawhideseatsshouldhavetwocoatsofsparvarnish.Wherecountersunkscrews.areusedin
connectionwithastainfinish,insertfalsewood,dowellikeplugsinpreferencetoplasticwoodto
concealthescrewheads.
Simplicity,bothinconstructionandappearance,isthekeynoteforproducingthemostharmonious
effectsinfurniture,inkeepingwithloginteriors.

ChairsandStools
Armchairscanbebuiltwithwellseasonedlodgepoleoreasternpine,orbirch(fig.38).The
cornerpiecesshouldbemortisedandtenonedtotheframeandrailandanchoredinplacewith3/8by
6inchlagscrews.Thearmsshouldbefastenedtothecornerpieceswith3/8by5inchcarriagebolts
andtotheslabsupportwith3/8by4inchlagscrews.Theverticalslabsupportshouldberigidly
securedtotheframewith3/8by3inchcarriagebolts.Cushionsmaybeofthefillertype,without
springs,andcoveredwithhomespunfabric.Use2inchwideheavycanvasstrips,securelyfastened
withfurnituretacks,tosupportthecushions.
Uprightchairsandstools(fig.39)canbemadefromthesamematerialasthearmchair.Crossthe
polestoimpalethelegsrigidly.Thecrosspiecesofthechairbackshouldbecurvedtofitthehuman
back.Thejointsmustbetightlyglued,mortised,andtenoned.

BedandBunk
Birchorwellseasonedlodgepoleoreasternpineissuitableformakingabedorbunk.Inmakinga
bed(fig.40)thecrosspieces

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Figure36.Furnituresuitableforlogcabinsconvenient,sturdy,andeasytomake.A,
BedB,bedandarmchair.

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Figure37.A,DiningtableappropriateforlogcabinB,bookrackandhod.

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Figure38.Planformakinganarmchairsuitableforlogresidence.

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Figure39.Planformakinganuprightchairandstool.

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Figure40.Planformakingadoublebedforlogresidence.
shouldimpalethecornerpoststightlythejointsshouldbegluedandtoenailedfrombelow.Donot
cutthesideorendpiecesuntilthebedspringhasbeenmeasuredandthenallowforaslightplayin
bothdirectionsinsettingtheangleirons,inordertofacilitatetheinsertionandremovalofthemattress.
Use14by3inchcarriageboltstofastentheangleironstothewoodframe.Figure40isaplanfor
makingadoublebedforasinglebed,reducethewidthaccordingly.
Adoubledeckbunkismadeinmuchthesamewayasabed(fig.41).

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Figure41.Planforbuildingadoubledeckbunk.
Adoubledeckbunkismadeinmuchthesamewayasabed(fig.41).

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Figure42.Planformakingacombinationchestandbuffet.

ChestandBuffet
Nologresidenceiscompletewithoutfurnitureforstoringclothes.Acombinationchestandbuffet
suitableforlogcabinscanbemadefromwellseasonedlodgepoleoreasternpine,tamarack,orbirch
(fig.42).Theends,doors,shelves,anddrawerfrontsshouldbecutfromNo.2tongueandgroove
commercialpinelumber.

Settee
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Asetteecanbemadefromwellseasonedpineorbirch(fig.43).Jointhecornerpolestotheslab
frameandrailwithmortiseandtenonjointsthenanchorthejointsbymeansof3/8by6inchlag
screws.Fastenthearmstothecornerpoleswith3/8by5inchcarriageboltsandtotheslabsupport
with3/8by4inchlagscrews.

Figure43.Planformakingalivingroomsettee.

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Figure44.Diningtableplan.
Use3/8by3inchcarriageboltstofastentheslabsupporttotheframe.The1by2inchhardwood
crosspiecesshouldbesecurelyfastenedatthetopendsandnotchedintothelegsatthebottomends,
heldby2inchwoodscrews,drivenintoplaceatanangle.Backslatsshouldbemortisedandtenoned
totherailandframe.Thecushionsshouldbethefillertype,withoutspringsifsodesired,andcovered
withhomespunfabric.

DiningTable
Peeledpineorbirchisidealmaterialforbuildingadiningtable(fig.44).Makeatightsaddlejoint
betweenBandthelegs.Crosspolestoimpalethelegstightly.NotchEforthecrosspoles.Upper
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Figure45.Planformakingbenches.
surfaceofCshouldbeslabfacedandfittedbetweenDandcrosspoles,allrigidlybracedtogether.Top
piecesoftablesshouldbedoweledatplacesindicatedinthedrawingwith1/2by4inchwooddowels,
gluedandclampedtoinsuretightjoints.NotchtoppiecesA1inchdeeptoreceiveBandD.Top
outsideedgesofA,C,andKshouldbehewed.

Table,Bench,BookRack,andWoodHod
Wellseasonedlodgepoleoreasternpine,tamarack,cedar,orbircharesuitableforbenches(fig.
45).Thejointsshouldbeglued.

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Figure46.Planforabookrack.
Countersinkanyscrews,thenconcealtheheadswithfalsewoodendowellikeplugs.Ifthefurnitureis
tobepainted,useplasticwood.Abookrackmaybemadeofthesamematerialusedforthebench,
exceptcedar,whichisunsuitable(fig.46).Thesidesandbottomshelfshouldberabbetedand
thoroughlyglued.Thetwointermediateshelvescanbemadeadjustablebyboring3holesineach
sidepiece2inchesapart,aboveandbelowthepositionshownfor

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Figure47.Planforafireplacewoodhod
theshelvesinfigure46,intowhichloosewoodenpinsmaybeinsertedfortheirsupport.Screwthetop
inplace,countersinkscrewheadsandinsertwoodcoverplugsorfalsedowelsforconcealmentwhere
stainedfinishisused.Ifpainted,plasticwoodmaybeused.
Afireplacewoodhod(fig.47)maybemadeofwoodandmetal.Usewellseasonedlodgepoleor
easternpine,tamarack,orbirch.Makeatightcradlejointbetweenhorizontalandverticalsidepieces,
using14by2inchcarriageboltsexceptthat14by3inchlagscrews

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Figure48.Floorplanforafourroomlogresidence.
shouldbeusedforfasteningthelowersidepiecesandbottom.Securethewroughtironhandletoeach
sidetoppiecewith3byl1/2inchcarriagebolts.Thewoodsidesshouldhavehewededgesof3/4
inchminimumthickness.

BUILDINGPLANS
Selectionofthesiteandpreparationofbuildingplansvarieswithindividualtaste.Inchoosinga
locationonemustconsideravail

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Figure49.Floorplanforafourroomlogresidencewithsomewhatdifferent
orientationthanthatshowninfigure48.
abilityoftransportation,shoppingcenters,watersupply,sewagedisposal,electricfacilities,and
kindredfactors.
Beforeundertakingconstructionitmaybedesirabletoconsultanarchitectorcompetentbuilderto
makesurethat(1)yourdesiresaresatisfiedwithrespecttothenecessaryaccommodations(2)rules
andregulationsenforcedbylocalauthoritieswillbeobservedand(3)provisionsaremadefor
installingtelephone,electricity,water,andplumbingfacilities.Failuretotaketheseprecautionsmay
necessitatecostlychangesafterconstructionhasbegun.
Plansforsuitablefourroomlogresidencesaregiveninfigures48and40,andforaliveroom
structureinfigure50.Figure51
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Figure50.Floorplanforafiveroomlogresidence,includingthreebedrooms,living
room,kitchen,andtwoporches.

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Figure51.U.S.ForestServicetworoomfireguardcabinadaptableforsummer
residenceuse.
showsthelayoutofaUnitedStatesForestServicetworoomguardcabinadaptableforsummer
residenceuse.

ADDITIONALINFORMATION
Additionalusefulinformationonbuildinglogcabinsmaybeobtainedfromthefollowingpublications:

UNITEDSTATESDEPARTMENTOFAGRICULTURE
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FIREPLACESANDCHIMNEYS.Farmers'Bul.1889,52pp.,illus.1941.
PROTECTIONOFLOGCABINS,RUSTICWORK,ANDUNSEASONEDWOODFROM
INJURIOUSINSECTS.Farmers'Bui.1582,20pp.,illus.1929.
USEOFLOGSANDPOLESINFARMCONSTRUCTION.Farmers'Bul.1660,
26pp.,illus.1931.

OTHERSOURCES
LOGBUILDINGS.Wis.Agr.Col.Ext.StencilCir.158,39pp.,illus.
1940.
LOGCABINCONSTRUCTION.A.B.BOWMAN.Mich.StateCol.Ext.
Bui.222,54pp.,illus.1941.
LOGCABINSANDCOTTAGESHOWTOBUILDANDFURNISHTHEM.W.A.
BRUETTE,ed.96pp.,illus.NewYork.
THEREALLOGCABIN.C.D.ALDRiCH.278pp.,illus.1934.New
York.
SHELTERS,SHACKSANDSHANTIES.D.C.BEARD.243pp.,illllS.
1932.NewYork.

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