Number 14

Sprin.g 1990

$3.50

OINERS

UARTERLY

"The Journal Of Timber Framing And Traditional Joinery"

~------J-O-l~NE~R~~~'Q~U-A-R-7E-'-RL-Y------------------------------------------------~NU~M~~6E~R~13~

Full-Scribe Dovetail Joinery

Building a log house with square logs

By Robert W. Chambers

[ :qxcializ.e in unusual log and timber ccnseeeeon sI)'1cs, mel kIQk for jCIbs WI! will I~ me try SQII1&h.tn& diffcrenL Full·SCribe.full-doYCtailjoinery ispcrhaps more rarelhan itsbookl be. ~5:I>em tcbetworcesonsforuds. First., the~ cechnil{.ucs arc nOI:U a.1I well known. St:oond. comparOOlO l'Ound-log notching it is quite a bit morccxpcnsil/c..Bul it is a handsome: anddfo::tivt..nrnching style. and 00set\'CS more allcnLion.

'8cl'orc IIt'GC8fIgoCtinlotbc meator doVCllliljoiMrytht:rt are a few basi<:s of saibc--fil constructiOn to be reviewed. I me ooly haM.peeled logs-this means !hey still have lbeir R3lw"a1 bumps. bows, sweeps, lind taper. Before laying logs. invU1lOry til[: cntireseL. noting Ihe ~l'Iglh of ¢3Ch log and its diameter .al both ends. A.lso make brief oou:s Qn any l,lnd$l,L'l.l ctwectcnsucs=tow, sweep. calraces.scars.ere.

useuc il'l\'eolOr}' to Figure ue average. aswellas LIic extreme range, these ctaracrcnsucs take On a rccenl projlx:l. buns a ... ·crag,ed LoS 112~ diamc.cer (runge; 14 3/4- io 18I(r)andlhctip!;a"'l':m.ge(llr (range: U 1/271013 3/ 4~}. The mean average ~og diameter was 14 1/4". The ~i· menslons used in ~is article. are c;\a.mplcs- (TOm tin:

Erickson pro-jccL-for more on uese blilldlngs see Ei!l2 ~#14.

fundvncnlal of scnbe-fit lo,g ..... ork is iltJLcomer Qrdu is;) repealing p;luctn of fourelcmeills: TrnB, Thi~ makes it nccC&S3l)'lO Ihinl::.'lhocad unhencsuwc rQl)Jlds-;J.nticlpat· ins wh3llog ends are coming; a bun and then <I lip? LWO bul1S~ Enorsaor:umulal~quickJy ifyoll dOJl'tanlicipateil'Sca$,l' LO get inlO aSpol. where no log will !:l'wc)'ou_

ChOQsing DQV~t3iI5

Cornet joint:> come in ilundIcds:o£ sLyltS (sec Herm:Uln Pbleps. The Ctll/{ ()/ J.,cg lJ,u·/dillg. Lee Valley Tools, l.9&2). H:l.lf·om-cLaits, which arc quite common, ha\'C ncich-faces thiit Lilt in out); direction This anicle is O:OOLII

Iutl-doeetait joincry---l.ile lOp and ooUom noldl·:runoccs oil 0.1 compound angles.

BOth dovetail H)'lcs m-cself-dmining.Lhalis, rninw.'ltcrbioM inloihc notch willdrain towards lheoulSi~!': oflhr.: building. Bul the full·oo\'eljil is erso sclr.("Ulr.lil'ling end :relf-Lightening. The (,om~ur'Hl angles of ruu-doeercns s<:cu"'!~)' lock logetli(:r-~h.c only w:Jy a log ccn move ss slJ';;tigi11 up. I'I'C eecn l.\<aU;h_i~g, 001 L haven't scat til s happen yct.

Don't be CQnfused by Ihe way aJ'Iy panicular comer ~laIi:i3L tnc OOIIOnl. Eachcornerm mC"ITL'I[ch"IiOLJ!:(:starlS ala differen! spot 111 this pattern, One corner ~1fu1S at die (j~llip • anomer ,It Ille second l!p.anQLhcr:n the firsr but,,llild the I(J:SI al 1111: seccae bun of Ille pancm Bul aU the comers ll;a"'e!h~ ~p, tip, buu, bU-II,P;I,tlen'l. rlQIjI'\tI.C£ where Ihey nappcn rc ~I..:U"!

Srl'trillg end Hemllg

OovclailjeJ-il'lc,l" requires nal. vcnrcn suerccesar me log ends.so ;"es.'1.wthc lo&Stogi.·c US tllCsi_~c n~HS'\'.rcn«XI~-or nOI'::!lin.g. Theyarc~awnlJ)a ~.hickn(;$!;of8 Ifl~,h«wn'ot:Jl'I tlie oulS~dc willi a brcadaxc, aml ~llnnCd on uic lnstdc. 1.11 this e1::lmpIC,lhc :\I'Ci.1gC IJP ncicn was SP L'"lll nr its \\'id:c.~t spot. sotoallowsomene;O:ibill!),in po:sillollins I'IOIC:n.;'.S en me flats, nnuroaeccmmodmc l:u'g.crlll:trI average notches, the lip Oars ncedec to bc ar lc n st IO~ tall

novetan Stope The slcpecf the dovetail is greally LnflLlcocoo ol' me logs, you usc: lI1!~;f si'P. $ll1t'8ht.-.c.,_;:,s:, ai'l'\ t11r:. ~l!icknc5:S- 10 which LhC}';l[C:;;:}wn,orilcwn If you arc going [0 utItffil)L ru!l·OO~'~I:.iljojn-

Alternatlon

logs QJ,lC( ....... d SO lhe first basic tenet is: oncach w"ll, :ilLaTlaiC 1I1e. tips and buns. Thls I:re]1~ I~IC walla lcvel a~ Ihc:y S~ taller. Lookillg:lI any(H1(: waH, ha]rlile tip:: "rc'Q'"! uu:icrt.and h;:r.lfaru:(lD mo rig.~!. £U~" end ancmarcs: lip. bull. tip. bun. Lip, OOII,.,androQll, v."llcne'o'erlllc·w.111 JI3:S .'1Il e ... en rmm!)crarrQ!l&, n1~urcit5 il(lig.hl JtCJ.(h end, If It isn'tjevel, Iry 10 impfOveil wiiJ, the nC:>:'L Jog-selecling nne with the :mJOIInl or taper needed to even thiJ1&S up.

Parallel Walls

The soc:ond rule is th::'L within each covrse.or logs, p~mJlcl wall$ have ItlcLr butts at. the same CMS. 11'1 1.lle drawing bejcw.fcr cxenple, ~c Ihe two bOlklm togs have buns 10 t.he;SQ~ttr:mrJ Llp~ lQ!he.non)l:allci Lbo 1)C.;l;IIWO ha~'c tens to lile we;o.[ and ti]J~ to !IDe cast

erl',t.licil do JlOL II£<: Illy dlmcnslcns. lnsnmd, make Lhc ~e.:JIc.·dfawil1gs T cu. describe to dctcrrniac what slope l·-OU C;1JlI.lSC

IqOfl(lC~tr(;mc,;"'Idr;l\'et:~ll wuhnostopc b:! l~lJ)joinc. A lap joint has tcvcl ;~urf:II:e,~ III~it H\1I)nflt! hQ]tl water .promcring rct.anddc rlOll'lill,£; 1(l1"e$U";iil"! Lhe1Q&S Irom sJlifLil~!l.. AI the omcr extreme. a Stet pi}' slopoci dCl"Jc!:lil will ~iJill easily. b~lllIl.ake illOUCh toaVltlg t,~(ill!l]1 WOQ(110 1101<:11, (:S. pcciallyat I.~H~ ups. Ii :nccpl)I.~lop:;:~11!Q,·tMlIi~ requires "i;lf}' ~1Il(1aISW;aV(iltl h;ll,jng lbe cloW::I~lil pil1 C~IWtl iI110w:II\C.

T ... o WllSCS cf smllU flats. Oll;{1{'; lif' is (l l(ig .lnw~ cfJ· l;(JfI(l!r. rlSr.caUy CGuud by sawing l/;rl! MW ojJ. On ,Ill! righc is CI S{1wll d'nmlr/cr tog,

Mo.::a ~Ogsh;:l"C:tOOw. :lHd \I'C s."lW them to~ IllC bow. S~l\\.·inll. me tow Clrf_.rJ~ in Figure 3. produces n.-...s tOO short iorTIQlching. I\v(lid uie.ccuscsot SII\:111 f1~IS: lo,gsllI:u arc &1WI, off-r:cnll:r. nnd tip diameters that lII'C 1.00 smell. The ~liickl!ess to wliictl )'OLI hew i~ dc\urnincd by the di:lrnC:lc:rofl]1C smallest tips in your stlQflo£s.

TrybLlilding )-'OI!Qwn little Iour-sldcd log hcusc QULof I'.'QI)dCII suck-mnencs. Use Figure 1 10 S!:lrl il rishl, and IllcnoonlimlclikcthIS:IIIc;t1lird]1[lirhaslil}sI()!11~:;.oUlh: me fOu.!lll p<lir nos lips to I~IC WC~I: end the fiflh 11.1S lips 10 Itlt~ ronb. Keell going mllil you have se-en rounds. (28 matches), rC:lncmt.ering to oncmnc dircclions 011 cacn wall.

PI:~ 11 i IIg

ll~e omsroe. 11I::wr~, n:H docs not bear on "Ill' notch surracc, :lmj SOdOC$[J'111:i"(: robe carefully surfaced. Bill. Ihe illsiil.c (1;11S :I1C,1l;ll end cnhe log will beason mcvemcal Cm\.&r:lLlt O(EJIC- illlcr:,;cc~ln:t; klg.. s , To ensure Ih~ll they nrc nnt l""i~lCd- (01.1, of win{l) willi J"e511CCt lO c-_,~11 Gltlcr. e:lN~fullypl~ltc tt_~lnlJ;IF.Lllcl JC}c.,~hlJthcr. Withthelo£-Oll h(!r:;cs. i;lsid.c suif;l,ce LII), tISC:.I';NCI EOIl1:U:(l.~llH! !1l3t I~IC nOlci1 :m:."_~ (lI\e I:ISL l~lro;: fo;:l or so of CiK;h C-Ild) arc corrt:uly pl~ncd

11111u:: nbovc dra w i'1& )'011 ~:II1:&C<.: 1'"'odl.l'~li1iI11Qlt:tl':" of ~u::ll sixe (sit.;! or d-O~~,l;1il ncicrcs will be \:x~'I;linccl later)_ n .. : low·$!opc:tldCl\'Ctail'O(ILlircs 'll11cf. ~1Il:~ltc_r n;~I.' Ililrllhclligill>'slO[lcd "olCh, l(th":"lO!'Chcx.lclldsnffI11': (blle~cd ~urf:Ltc:s. tll<::I'C will be W:HlC- in 1]1C HClldl. ilhl~· lr.Jlt:d ill 111e ,~Ir:iI'"Jll& Ixlo"'", 111i~ lool."s .s.lcmry, :lI'Ic! i~:~

Ct;lrn~r Order

Now 1001: al M.hctmitrOf jr)lc;®:tiQQoflv.·o \,;;;:lls, IL i~J1'1 tir, bllll, ~ip, bUll. UP,:IS yOIl mi,gln r,ucs:<:. hlstC:ltI it i~ ILP, lill, bl.J!l. LnJll.; tir, liJ" bllH, bLI~l: alld ~o 0[[. 11lc Ihif(J

NUMBER 13

JOINERS' QUARTERLY

il~\'(,;n fur wasps. WOr$(:.~lcanlJc n ncasyrcuic for cold air :ll1d wind·IJ!own min diroca~ ~nto the hecsc. Olle of jhc most COmmon problilim with fuU-dovccnillllYouC is wane in the 901.l:h, and 1111,1"n of~i:s.an.i'Clcis ~!l"'olCd 10 rncW3yS I03VOIdii.

Using the ili\'¢n~ory of lo&:" make ,s:l:31c -drawings of

Fi;;.it6:N.a~hA"4lSwmfjjl~:lIlJfrIlBM5~~ wOMi.lvtdlUlCche"'QJ'ftQW(I'U'

cloYCtails~h notch tile same stze, b~1 each wilh a diITcP::;ot s.lo.J?C. Some SloClpe".S shOl,lld 00 discarded 'because 1racy looktcc milch liJ.tc3bpjQinI.0th~rs.a.roC': SQ,Slooplh<J.L Ih~ notch-raccarun orr tile naLl: CHilo w<lnc.llik:caslopc of 1" in 8~ -csrccp enough 101001; Iilo:c dovcwls end yet nor steep enough 10 give me problems notctung. AI1d siece we !ogsare8~ Ihick. it is easy 10 rcmeml;w wl1en layjngouLme ram drop or rise ancscn number: cxacuy 1 non eac:11 oog_e. The slope yOLI choose fa! dovetail joints could be qchc !=Iiffcrem, and should depend n10~lly On Ihc height or thc.OalSll.ldRS.

wooden Zipp~(s

My gool is not simply to dove!ail thcl CQrners. but to make all me notches the same size, wllh each nOIC~1 centered on its log.

r have. seen dove- 1.:l..lhngb)l' Qlh;:rbl.lildcrs in which the UQLCIi.C$ aL l11c beus .arehllgc:muattheLip;s arc: tiny. AL ue ccrncrs ~c panern looks very untialiU'lce.d iUld

clunky. ®H-center

noebesalsc look bad, and mote lmporI.lJ.nlIY,;"IM I~ rollrestraining, inclui:lc mmesapwood{whicll is-prone to (01), and are more- Iil.::e'.,. LO have wMLc-~ll·notch

problems.

Some sets of-logs

are more difricllllihan others (c:r.:CCSlli ... e taper-is a culprit), bl1l~o.a13lS<:Wi.IOOt;you~(;h~wherolheil"o"'oWl~are rocated on each log, Imagine IWO separate :sc.nOO::fit !.og 'WaUs: no comer ncebes.jcst LWO walls. ol'fe sl.attiJlgtWh.ll.. a half-log: sill. Lfic other wlt.li (I. full-log sill. NQw imqgmc joiniflg 111M\'; wo walls ala right ilJlgle. M,y poilU~: rnc long.-grooves, not tM notches. clCICQTllnc tI1eposiuon of (:.,'ICh log. :rtielong·groow::s: am delcm1.ined by ibeshapcs of Ille togs, which is sonl(:thing we can't chango. But ue doVC1.ails ere locQled by ow cnoces, 3M tticrc arc an ill.finil~ number of -combinations of> notch size and placemenL (tho~h Ihe~ are net aU equ;'lllJl anracrlve or (um.:r.i.ona1)~ Some decisions will prodocc lumpJI.looti:ing CotllCL'S.ol~erSwon'L. Iconsid-c:'dolfelailsloILlefllllybclh~ wooden Ilp~rjoil'lil'g IWQ scribcillt wl\lIs,:md I War1L to muke decisions thaI. will result ill cqua1.siled, eerucrcd noiencs.

Chinked

Inrormauon 01'1 c;:hiIlKOO. h:::df-dol'.clilil conSlrucliOrl is f.o.Lrly easy to find, Drew L;mgsn",'sLog!;uildu' s lIand. b{;ol;: (Redale Press, 1982) orfc:~directlonsb:;lSOO ollPeler Gou's work, Snspacentcnlneon dlc hewn suoaceor each tog and 11100 measure up and down from Ihat reference LO C6lablish notch size. Th~ notChcs.o:re:c.cntcrcd oncach log, and me diamclCI of the log 31 each Cild determines IlQI.l;Il - size. BIJI with chinked bujldings.li'Ie;'unlqu'C suarcsormc

logsarenoCjmQI."c.d-yQu~im'ply iHldchinklng 10 nJlI.h<1t

Scr-ibe-Fit

With Uribe-fiL logwOod;, how~"'er.lhe C);i1CI shape of Ihc logs is aU Lhal mailers: me wi~es.t g<J.p between two logs dct.ermilJcsLhescnbc selling. AlllaYOUiand fittingmlJS~OO adjuslCd 10 accommodate jhc wid0C.'91 WID. SO the g.OallS to make the scrtbe i1S predictable 3S possible, a guess thai LS off by I'; can:suOOI.al'lLiaUJi cnangc!he size aJ1d Ioceucnortbe notches, maKing: it impossible In gel rtn~ wooden-zipw look. The only illfOnn<llion on scribe·fit do ... el3lls I've found i~ i!1 B. Allan Mackie's Nouhts of All 'Killt4 (Los House Publishing. 1983) -----..1~bOOk 1 often refer 10.

St;;ribing - Posilio!»llg - the Leg

ifo make the scribe prodicl3ble, we want an evcnlyshaped g,:tp b&woon!he top logonthe walland uicnext log lobescribe-fittcd.hookatlhr.prorlleQflh~lOp!ogandthcn sclecaa log from ihcjlilc11iatmatc:IK:,sahal Sh3pcclOSo':ll'_If Illereis a bumji4' Ircm Lhe bun.or Ihe log below, iL would 00 idea! to have a hollow 4' rrom the, Lip of the log you choose. Orne.r IQgsscw;r'31 ri;:l;l.longertha~,lhe Icngthorlhc 'NiIJI SO that you can jockey the log Ie£! or righ~ 10 march snepcs. Having" bow down ~oUowed by a bow up ,,'CuId

~~W;~L~~~O~~;.1~~~~:~,;;:!f:~?!;

mrcc logs OI'i~Q ~ lVal1100kill8'fQr the besL ma[ch

Place ihc log On me bl1iId.i.ng, planed side f:lCillg in. hewn skle out, ;lIld flS Mds r?Sling on th.c IIp-r;¥;il'lg dOl'cl3llsofLllcLWO intersecting logs below (Se<:P~Q10 1) PdiVl' Ilic logro ahat LIle.plilJiedsunllCCS near the ooH;hcs are plumb. :rile: heWl! surfaces do nomeed 10 00 pillmbecl. since l1K!ydonollj(;ar on [jny C10tcll surface.

lo~ norse

Nexl.ilwillpro'b;J,bl!,boc:n~LOrniSC,(]l1oCcllt1or the: log orthcomcrin order tocvcn IDC gap between thetwo logs, ~us.eahomcmadcdevjcecallc:d.aloghorseIOta~Se,.lic low oodorlhc rog (t.beend re.3Lingon ihr.1ower Of !he IWO Ilojch shol1lder:s:). As yOIJ tightell ~he nut on IDe iK:.avl' threaded rod, lheopjiOSin,g wedges ared.mwn l.ag;clflerarlCi ~ log is cradled as it is Imoo.

~~~'l(F"_wt~~~

·LM;+'-n.c~ .~(>J:>l;l~~'

=-"" . IIL-'QI)Il<l ,~..."p

'_~""I __

:=~~~- .~",,",

~ ·E..,..".""""

u.....L.h~1"12Iio">i- .l'db'5lO

~~ ..... ~ ....... r ...... ""'~O:W'_

Fred Halletts

In Howland, Maine 04448

Has the Best Selection of

WINDOWS

DOORS

NAILS

Mon.-Sat. 8-5

(207)

732-3141

~ ---:1~2-:JO=I=N=E-R=S'~Q=U-A=R-T=ER=L=Y~----------------------------------------------------N-UM--B-8~--13

TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION WORKSHOPS

INTENSIVE, HANDS-ON INSTRU€l];ION

"Rlvel:bend Timber Rramlng Suppliers or'rtmbers. Stress-Skin Pom:ls, Design and '}lImber frames"

For more lnfonn:)IIQ,n contact

TIMBER FRAMING, lNC,

P,O, Box 26 BLISSFIELD, M I 49228 TELEPHONE 15171 486-4566

I I I I ,

.... ~.~lIIli,"' I

~_~_T~~~:2;~:;;E~ J

UO\j{';J/\lL !:o1lfinUlsllromlItJ8(; 9 Wid-c:iIGaJI

Becau:;c lite logs have nmunll. Lrreg'Jlflr51Iji'i¢..~ thelC i8 ;tlw~I'S OFiC Spal between L!"~111 Ih~t hJS the wj-dcsl gap. U~il1g ,11'1 j;18iiJr,c;lIipr;~, ~lClrJ whh jhctwOpOill1Jl~phlmb loc:b(;holhcras poo.<;iblt,fook ror Ih:Jlspol.lfil is Dlitl-way '\x:'W(:(:11 Ill~ 11Q-lcl-iC:S. ,oolfllil~ more-can l,)c.c1onclO iillProv¢ ~'¢shilJ)Corl-llt! IJ.iIpOOlWOOn ~'C logs, If hls icnorcerllCf. uen youstrculd mise lIu: ri.c:~IIc.nt1 :llli~~rn1 SCCirl~li.s:I'Il~I:C$ \hes[lJ(:crnorcunifOrfI1ly~h~P:OO, hJeally, we w.(illt LO move the Wii.lCSL &liP towards tllecef1~erOrlhelog, lf thc wides~ gap ISoOn the righl,then rJi"<:Clllelcft Thi:s. is [!Ie optimum scribo-ccne thut produces a 10ng·IVOOl'c thill i$ fiiid)' narrow lind C",CII. (WhilcdlCO,Pl!.nwrnxnoo isoor'Roa), il pays co be. ncxible: uwreure rimes when we &ink Qlleel'ld deeper thoo Ihi~, by making its /¢lIg·woo".e wi(/(:[ Ih::m OIJ~mLlm, to scroersclces up ror caste- notching w~lh the n~xr IQg.)

E):perio:~(:(/ !og btJilde~~will be.familinr withpcsiticai r)i or th-c ncx t log to even the &~p-llis fIIOSI of IOn done, by rOLJ,gI r.r IQLChing (removing wood from lhe ~li,g~1 el'lel}. in· sicsd of lai~i[l!! the, l-ow end. Do not Ity r(mil.h.no!chjng do~mil500:.J~jl's Ii}:cly lh~tj'Q~ will moJ(c the log 100 5~ICmIQ fit.s:rm,gl)' beiWI".CI' lhe ~Itllnb f:1ccsoflJ'ir.n{m:.hc._~ below.

The SCFi!)-:-rs MO\'I!

Apatrersetbers is the fOml~iltion of".,;:ri1JoC-ril/"twork rn Llle pest. il was: IlOCC:s...~'11)' 10 mooifl" Q p;li_r of(jividers. Now, scrtbers ere d~ignuJ ariel made for lag ..... ork-lhe)' tmvea bubble-level auacjmcnnhatisuscd la-keep lJI{ll\W) points plumb, o.nd ooLlllo.gs shourrll;Jor,c:1r;able of t1Olllill);. ~I [len or peneil, n,eooll£c;J1 is 10 truce IJICCJlilC~ contour of Itlil. tonom loe onto II,.!, .... a~il1!1 te-rraill of ~JIC 1C)g_ above. .sirloo bolblogs:JI<lv", disUIIC!tiw. bHnlt~" I;,I1OL~, und omer tsome~mcs p¢tvN.s.e} snapcs. ;1~ Sl;:riOO·iilll'.S wanl,ler Almoo.t.min;lllo'U.~Il'.qIlLililySC(ilj¢.,[illa-Sw(ltki:;:SOli~.l1! IMI.Il sl.fip orp~p!:r(:annQI be stippcd between U1e Logsthey l{IOk like Lhey gre. .... logClI~t'.

0nct lilt': WLrJcslg,ap isfouad, dlc~ribtr~ru-eSC:llOth<ll amOIJ~I."IIlS:lboUllfB" .al1i.llhecn~reoolto~1 ~"rf:JCl:.Qflhc log, il\Si(/Cl JJ1.d out is scrlbcd. If )1)U dldn'~ open L1,e seruees n bit, men the IO&SWOlLldjIL~t ~OLtCll 01 ue ~im Or tile w~dcs~S~p. fti. (.Ullg-C~1 rainl is IOUll-h IQ wc.1;h c: rproofilh(].~ eo Wiell~l. 13)' oJlcnillglhe se-tters youcreruc ,I 1011,,groove wi!.!1 Q com.imlOlis OIlISi{!o. cdg('; :lnll :'I ~errLliHe C(LnlirLLlOIJ~ insicl\!el~ge, OjK:Lling I/I~ scrtbcrs even wjder WQn'tcllal'~1J1~qu.)lit)'Qrlhl}fil, It ~impll' lowcrsihefillill elcVl1Lio" oflhL:>IClgliy wi~tllill!l-IILt.lollfl.'i1Joo\<e.. This~n gel you ouror a Ilil\~h (llkc when tip:; win be lIe):llIJ'Ii.llhc 1;IIIYeni log is 100 Lallto let IFi(l.lTI I;rOOS), ljlJl it is bower \0 :rel«t:.sm~lIcrlog,

The llolc:h~COIJIII be oodbcLl. blll.~inoc: IIL!:ir edges:lfC slnliihllill~ I $iLl'lply uanslcr scnbel1cislllS;U [QLLrc:ntie.,11 IXlims:lndihcl'L laterc;.ClI"'cc~ rboscdots. W"c~>:lhelol! rests 0110. MLoOI1 (USiJ-lIll}'(li'11Y'llnecndQr<llC)g.~irlCCIhC":Olhercnd WIIS rniscd oiclhe notCh to cvclllhoscribing Cap),.1 nliilk:

Iffillpoinl. 1\::; W{l will see. ithc:'p.~ io unnsrernune.erouad ee botlom of the l'Ilg. Wilh a level, draw ~Itlml! tlaes up rrom I'.oc:l1orLh~ r{mrCCrnmOfl~le I'IOlChofjllc tcg berow. lJ~ing iheseribers, lroct.eI)¢CllrveorLhclaR\lr~lcinl('J"SOO.L" ing'log tH;lowonlOlhc jnside I'CliicaJsIUf(loCCoflllC/O!! you ilIl:·scribing. ThiswHl hclpbYOOlll"tcUp·r"roorlllC": nQlc:h,

UdON: ~iriing tllc log orr Ihe W.(ill, mrilo:'.e sure Uilll ~II poinLS nn-e been unnsrcrtcd and ;II~ of jhe long.groove GIlge.-: seribeo. Missillg three taches of 1onc"sroo".e is a 11c:u1t!I('.,}kingc:o:.l1Uic:rlcc, Mel it is nc:ull" impossibl~ toput H~,log back eVCIl close to W~Cl.M it was wh~n scribed.

FIGUR£ 8: Scribe 1}I{~fortl'cri/rC.f',llpOitl{S,(ml~ ,Mj'rafs oj I!!t lOt ooove. ,1 IsO' J(ri/i(' Ilu: curve of lire fOp .of {Ire to/,; {g{r;w 61:10 fiu: j·l!~idc.I(U'..c • Ibis wdl be ~uJ to fc.y QIU Ih~ IIp·flu;!ng lfotC/1 .ru"lac~c

OOVETI\_IL U. YOLJT-DOll'rl·f:I(l' and pll_lnlto llues

The I'\";St er the I;):,'O\)L is OOfl1plclcd on the grOl~mll1lC: known ~illls:'lre COllltOClt':d by SlIai,glllcdgc (~( )'011 did-n>t :i(:r100 tile. aorches, QIJI jU~1 U1l~sfcrr(:d TK'in1.~ as d-CI:I.iLctl '..loo\"C). TOlrall&rtr5Ir~ishLlincs over Ih~ ~LLniOO surraccs olthctoperulbcnom ofthr.IOij, r usca rtexiore rule, Dn Lhe OOllom. lOll lIl'ilJ,hl nisc lIa,'c a nud-pofru m.atkcd to 111!1~ YOLl-lllis is where tile log reslCc~ OIL I.he IWldllx:low. Ifml)-rcaCC:LlrJcl' is I'crI'Jirc.d, ~I'-=P,; ls lIllO[r,e""vlllQ(1 rQr IrdilSrerrins: Slr1\iglll1il'le!; Ol'~r ~m":gLllar!y cu ..... ·ct! surfaces Ilol~1 slrnigtllcdgcs on U,c inside ;1_11{! ej-IIISllLe IJPpo~ing plLLIIlblillcs.

fIGURE!}: 1"rnnsf~'in8(1s{ra;8JLlI{1reiJl'erlJn im:.gll!atly cruw:d .wrfur:e. Uiy(lljl of Ihl! da'Wu'f"ct ts l,;.()mpl':I~"

Slowly nxJ: a IIIi,d, riJJ.~eI sOi!l.f.i~tloogc on top of tIl[: I(,1S> l:ecJIIII,& I~ erLelsLou~"iIl8HLephn~brulC5. I\s )'Ourock (i1C ~lrDig~llcdgc, m(lll: \.I'lill o pCI1Cit wherevcrthc [lIlclO1iCIIIl$ Ihelos. It'lllo'lkC:I ljlllc.llllLC: lQc:oon.lilL~lmLhis,ml":'I!:C(;ond

NUMBER 13

l3

IOrNERS' QUARTE&L Y

DOVErAIl..caminucdj,,,nlnoCt' J2

ChClCk the disl.lln~e be IWCilJllhe ShOLJldrn of U1c nQl,I;hes lIle lines you've jest dro,wn), IL $h-Qll_ld e:tactly equal. Ulc. ins~c length of me building.

Notch E:dtll.~ions

I l.i).:;eLOexltlldlhc.notchcs ooy-ondthoWillls,ItIlinkLll31 ha",il1g:LI1c (l'ovct.ai.l pins £li~koUlhighJightS the joioor.ylhccomcrlook,:;: I~vere.. !ilJJ.ani:l boxy, Tladd::> iI'IICrt:.$I. ingsl1:1d'owsanda(ht<:e-dimcnsiooalloolnil:1I is Q!.he"""',ise lackjng. Most old log buil-di~s..<; th~1 are I<lI' notohed or d.ovel-il.ilcd don' h~vc nOICilexLell$t0I15, <rnd I'm nOI sore why. 1li<: e:uanslons LTtiSin cnch a Sit more rqinw:u.::r, whi_c.r. w(ll,1hj. 00 ll.dl:l!imcm. 'l:ulI I Clk-c: :.dd1lionaJ !:rt.{r!: LO kecpwa.l.ClrQIl! crue «etch. 3.S [wlu dCi.ail ~00f'I.

To Lll'-QuLlhenoleh:C}lt~ns;ons, draw fines 12~ Iromand parallel to the no~ch·st\QLLld~ .llltlmb-Iil'lcs. iIllc log e(cds win be Cut off bere. Willi 8" LhicJ: wsns, Illis make.": Ihr.:

T1Q.H:h<':lItcnsion~4R. Ag:ti~,transrerlh-ccutorrllncst"lro"fld lhe I9P and oollom rouads ..... lthlJ. flcxible n.J.1e.(no need for the eJtril OLCCUmcy of<lhl:>oilic~ mel))od here). SooroaRlhe culOfEllines wilh a razor kcife. W1d eut the, log to Icn,glh ar tomends, TrytQm:<kconcsmoolhOClJlb0c3u.w.itwiRmak¢ cooLimling!he: layout lines scross jhe eno.:gr31n easier,

At IIIIs pooil11)'<lU&hIJUld Have !he roUowjng liL'tCSon each end of the, log: four _illumb lines (1J1r.. inSldc P:;'Ii,r are I~e ~ul(i.(lroilhe ~ovctai1, !I1eOUlSidcp.o:jrarcabOLl13~ rrOln the. iiJlooldcr lines); Linl'.S rrnnsrenoo around the top end bouomroenes at the sl-Lou1.dcfIllumb lines; and IWQSIQpcI:I lines (1I1r.. t.d&~ of-tile. dOwn-face or !I1edovctail nOlcl1). Now. using a Slmigtitcdgc. CQl'II1CC[ Ilu: IWQ slQjX.'!:Ilincs :I(:~'OSS the end ,grain. The laN1J1 of jhc downsaee of me dcvctail is complCl&. but (lQ!i'~ cU(1it OLiI ye(. wen be needing Illose lines 101(i,youLlhc;up-ra<:c, whi-cll,we canu do UI\LiI we est;lIjUsh tIie size of lbc 110LClI-w1d thtlL is where,Pm 2 of this ariiclc w.ill begin.

Awu( l~eQUlliOr:RrJb.c", WaadChambe;rs'i.vuin:Ri~cr F(JIi~. il'iscon.rillwlluebt.,bw!riI",illl<iwTJIUllwUr,l()galld (~(,homt~. He i:. Pr.c:!iiklll <;/1"11: (Ja1T.ildilJ{1 &g Dr.t.ilders A~st'ci1UiQII.lille"Jllliit;'ltll-o. WQrldwid.cl QF8Mh(lIio{1 of pt.fJpic inrCFc:rlm·ill fog. c:on~-rruclum.

§

New Products

SLICKS (Center, rlghtl I

24" x 21h;"t 26" x 2,'h'"

These slicks will tal'!:-s On vcur toughesl ja-us IVJlh ease. Haluj· lorgw or tough high carbon steel HH~y can 1;;110;(1 ;;Il'ld hold an I e-ilge wilhout beJng britU!l'. The: rnodi~ied sllck (cen~ei) is ernauer and more maneuverable than rho tn.J:diliOnal tear ~uil~er'sslyJo (rcghll. 80th stlces, h,wing hmg .. lhlOugh ecnsnucnon. may be struck with a deaourDW cr mall-el

FRAMING €HISEL (Far left) 2" x 14'~'

A must tor mortice and lennon work! Hand-forget! .<Ind raacr sharp. IMis chisel cen lake on the toughesl chol~s 01 limber framing Has tang-through handle constlllcHon for superior strength.

HAND-F0RGED vs, MACHINE MADE

There is no comparison. In a day and age where most toots arc drop fOfgcd, stamped or cut OUl then ~impt!' heet treated III OVQns, a majoril\, of people have never hac the pleasure 01 uSitl9 a ""'etimade tool

Forging wi~h hammers compresses 11'1(: sieet, irilroauc~n9 mere carbon into 3. smanor ;)113";;1 B,arbon is whal cuts. tnerelore vcu g..-I a superior edgE,]. Alter annealing. tile toots are indilli(ll,l<llJy torc,h-lamp$llO'd to the Rropar hardness. The tool ts then liUed with a maple handle 10.<lt seats on WQldvd sts-e! sbcmcets. lhe lang runs through the handle with the butt plaje threaded on, giving Sle-al to steel consnueuon, When struck wilh mallet or dead blow the energy is then positivel\, tr;;Jnsferroc:i to the cUlling edge.

My lools all come shavJng sharp -lind may be shipped back to rna 101 re$trorpenir'l9 and rep;;!ir

wOlk at an!" ume for a nominal ref! .

BARR S:PECIALTY TOOLS p.o. 80< 2211, Hall.y, ID .3333, (208) 7118·2529

FULL-SCRIBE DOVETAIL JOINERY

Part 2

By RobertW. Chambers

Part 1 of this article reviewed the fundamentals of scribe-fit log construction: the tips and buus of logs are aiiernatedto keep walls level; thisproduees a corner order of tip, tip, butt, buu: logs are positioned to even the gap between them before they are scribed. Part I also introduced hewn logs (left naturally round on top and bouorn), and (he full-dovetail notch, with its up- and down-faces (hallut at compound angles. Preventing harmful wane in the notch depends upon hewing the logs to avoid small flats. choosing a dovetail slope Lhat does not unduly waste <hehejgh~onhehewn DaIS, and keeping <he dovetail pin centered on each log. Esthetically. the goal is equal-sized. centered notches. Part 1 ended with completing the layout of half a notch, <he down-face, which is scribed-fit from the notch surface below.

NOTCH SIZE

The up-face is not scribed-we choose where to put it. and our choice determines notch size. But how IaUIO make it? When 1 first attempted scribe-fit dovetails, I made a . series of scaled drawings of dovetail corners using netcbcsof all.one size. Butno matter what notch size I tried. I COuld not .keep me notches centered-and th~ error accumulated as the walls got higher. This off-center error came from the taper of the lags and the tip, lip, butt, cuu order at the corners. The notches cannot all be exactly the some size awl also centered.mere must be a compromise.

Fundamentals Lead toRuleofThumb I tried another idea. tus a fundamental principle of log building that mere is twice as much wood at a corncr'as there is in each wall. Per example. when two g' tall scribe-fit watts iruerscct, there is 16' ofwocdanhc comer. \Vhen all the notching is done. there must be S' of wood at the comer. "This

means that, on the average, each notch must remove half the height of each log.

1 knew from an inventory of the logs for the Erickson buildings that the average mean diameter was 14l/4", The process of scribe-fiumg "uses up" some of each log's height-s-each log must be lowered to the point where the largest gap is closed In this example scribing used up about 1114" per log. This meant that each additional log added, on the average, 13" to the lieight of a wall (14 1/4" - 1 1/4";' 13").

Losing \ 1/4" to the scribe-fit is a bit more than usual. lnround-logconstrucuon, the log can be rotated so that the bow is Out or in. making the gap between the tops and bottoms of the logs-the scrtbing surfaces-more even. But hewn logs, because they arc sawn to preserve bOW, are placed with their maximum bow up Of down, and this causes a wider range in the

gaps between logs. The less optimum the gap. that is the more crooked the logs, the more height will be "used up" per log.

Because.on the.average, half the heigh I of the log must be removed at the comers, myaverageno,"nh.dtobe6 1/2"(halrof 13 It). The tjp and buunotches were going to havero be slightlydiffercnt sizes in order 10 keep them centered, so 1 tried a scale drawing with 6" tipnruches and 7" bunnotches (6+7= 13). It worked on paper, now to lay them out on wood.

LayingOutthe Up-Face

An easy way to visualize the shape of a full-dovetail pln ts toremcmtcnhnt thcupfa~ tilts the opposite way of its down-face. Because the down-face is already drawn, USe it to find your way around me up-face. Here's how I do this. Starring with rhc inside slope (A to B): the.down-face slopes ~ towards the log end, so the up-face

26

Joiners' Quarterly/Spring 1990

\

will siopellll· Acrosstheend grain (B toC): the down-race slopes up, so the up-face slopes down. And trem C to D (the hewn surface), the down-face slopes up. so.the up-face slopes down, Just keep in mind'th"' (~e up-face and' the dow~.race are always either both converging or both dlvergtng.

If this were a tip notcb, the height at A ' would be 6". The log is 8" thick and the dovetail slope is 1:8,503t B the height is 8" (1" up on the up-face plus [" down on the down-face). At C'it is again 6" (1" down plus 1" up from B);·andatDitmeasures4" (I "+ I" smaller than at C). We are always either adding or sulitrac~ng2". In practice, I measure q" abA, S" alB, 6" at C,and4" at D and then connectithe dots.

Now you can see, wh~ I recommend the slope be a whole·~titnlier (like ]" in 8")there is much less .chance of error. If the slope were r l1l6" in ~", ruid We had a tip notchof6Si'16";thentheheightatDwould be ........ well you see what I mean.

There.are only,1'!!:Q places' where notch height can be measured correctly. This is because the amounts 6" and 7" refer to the = thlckriess of, 'the do.vct;1iL pin, a fairly complex idea to visualize considering that me ~wo.dovetail faces are sloping at . compound angles. ·The 'average thickness of this pin is 6" ·(A+B+C .... D = 6+8+6+4= 24, divided by 4, equals 6), and so notch height can ~ directly measured ateither A or C. and nov:.liere else.

A ~9mmrin layoui error is to lerthe a" notch extensionsfoolyou: the slopes are I" in 8", so besure youdon'\lay them out to

1" in no> (8" notch + 4" extensions). That> s one reason why I draw plumb lines at Band C (see Pnrt 1 of this' article)-thcy remind me to measure height at the end of the notch, and not at

· )lte end of the dovetail-pin.

Adjusting lay-.' out-thinking ahead to the next

rule-of-

thumb for notch

· height (6''. tips; T' butts) should be re-

· evaluated at each notch. Always be thinking ahead. Visualize the next log scribed and in place, its longgroove resting on tile log below. Imagine i't projectinglll.rm!gh (not over) the notchyou ale currently laying.out. If point D is too low you may not be able to keep wane out of the next notch.

It is-simple to check for .wane in lIle notch of the next log. (No~ that this is can be done even before you choose that next log.) Look at the elevation of the up-facing , notch at D: where is D in relation to the top

of the intersecting log below? This is why I scribe the curve of the top of intersecting log below onto the inside face of the current notch (part 1, Figure 8). You' want the elevation ofD to bean inch and a half, prcf-

erabty ",'ore, above th2peak of that scribed curve. With a 1:8 slope this means at lea>! 3" of wood between the scribed curve and the u~faee' of the notch. ' .•

It is now easy to see why steeply-sloped dovetails requjre taller lI.aI$ .. A 6" notch with a 1:8 slope is 8" t;<11 at its widest (at point B), but a 6" n~lch with a 2:8 slope is to:' tall and would-need taller nat, to keep from extending into the wane. (The average thickness of tliese two notches is identical: 6+8+6+4 = &!i1~2. Note that the Steeply-sloped notch isnarrowerat point D,

. ,2" OOIT1P~¥ to 4" ~ and sci is also more difficult to keep'D high enough to prevent wane 'in the next ",itch.)

'., Ifyouusedth~rul;'_of-rhumbnotchSi,e

FIGURE 10 Full-dovetail notch surJaces are a/ways eirner converging towards e~ch other, or diverging away.

Joiners' Quarter;ly / $PrtnB 1990

27

Attention:

Contractor &: Homeowner

ScandiaHaus Designs'

Saunas & Cabanas ready for Assembly

•

Pre-Cut Sauna Rooms

I· •

Heaters & accessories

•

Solid - Wood-Wall Constructed.

# Indoor Saunas

• pool

• tennis court

• spa

• Garden

@

<, ",\

Body Health Systems

P.O. Box 1372' Riverhead, NY 11901 516-727-9107

28

and point D is too 10\\1, there are several remedies. You con raise the whole upfacing dovetail surface a bit-perhaps using 7" for a lip notch instead of 6". Or you can resort 10 changing the slope of the C 10 b portion of the dovetail. Instead of dropping I" from C to D, perhaps drop only 1/ 2"-the effect is to raise 0 1/2" relative to the top of the intersecting log below. You don't have to worry 'about the next notch notfiulng because its down-face is scribed and will automatically adjust 10 these 'changes. The up-facing notch is laid out by measurement (and occasional, fudging), while the next down-facing notch face is

always scribed to fit il. '.

Kecp in mind that the position or Ibe next log depends on its: long-greove, and not on its notch. This means thit you can 'raise or lower the layout of the current upface and it wiU not alter the position of the next log. Our goal is 10 have the up-face high enough that it will intersect the vertical nat of the next log, instead of its wane. But.avoid making the up-face too high, Or it may throw the next notch off-center,

Instead of adjusting the current notch, you can remedy the wane-in-notch proble\ll with the next log. This may be one of the Limes you' won't use the optimum scribe-you could plan on sinking thenexr log lower at this end. Or, choosea log that sweeps down past the nOlch-one that gets low enough to provide a nat for notchingat poim D. Knots can be useful: the hewn flat tlaresdown around a knot, soyou canrnove the next log left or right to put. knot directly above the point D. Or, you could

use a log that was sawn off-center, and has an unusuaDy tall inside flat. In practice, 1 raise point D by combining these strateSics-for example, I'll raise the tip-notch 10 6 1/2" plus use a next log that has a knot J can put 0¥eC pOint D.

Most 0( the time, using the rule-ofthumb DOlCh size (caves point D at a good elevation for the next log. Think ahead 10 the tip. tip, butt, buu order. Getting the point D higb enough to touch the nat (instead of'the wane) of the next log is usually a conce.rn onJy when a tip comes next. You will want pointD higher than this minimum amount when a butt is next, In general, leave point D low when tips come next.and make it higher to prepare for butts,

As for centering, strive to keep the lip notches very nearly centered on their Oats because or the wane-in-notch problem Butt notcbes do not need 10 be centered so critically because their flats arc so tall ihcy easily accommodate even large notch sizes. Bmtnotehesare only I" taller than tip notches, while butt 0a1S arc commonly 4" IX more taUer than tip flats. On the Erickson 'project; tip notcbes ranged from 5 1/4" 10 6

1/2", and buttnotches ranged from 6 1/2" 10 8". Despite this range in notch sizes the com,ex:s ofuhe buildings really do lock like wooden zipPers.

Thinking even further ahead Thinking, even further ahead is milch less exact, but still, necessary. Here arc a few things to watch for. The mOSI common trouble spot is when a· tip must cross over a butt The up-face of butt-notches tend to

. rise high above lI!e intersecting log below. simply because Ibere is alot of wood. 1 f you frequently find yourself looking through the log pile for the largest tip you have, then youarenoianticipaling well enough. Eventually you won't have the log you need

Looking atthebun, butt, tip, tip cycle til a general way, it is best for the first bun [0 leave a tall shoulder. The second but: Will use up most of that height and will [hen leave a minimum shoulder forthe fir" tip [0 cross. The first. tip will then leave a modest shoulder that the second tip will have an easy tim,e crossing, Leave as large a shoulder with the second tip as you can, because the first butt (of the second cycle) needs it to!.<!'eP its notch centered. 'Think two logs altcadandsolvethe tip-aver-bullcrisis WIll! the ftrSt butt, not the second one.

Spring 1990

Once the layout lines are penciled I sCore them wIth .a razor knife to prevent splinters when rough Butting. Place Ille Illade into llie wood and then move the SlUlightedge over to restagainst it-tty this if you currently move-the sJraightedge into position and then place the blade.d think . you'll nnd' my method faster and more 'accurate, The first.score is~ light (espedally gain_g witfi the grain, so it won't wander); and the second is deeper, Ifyou score a third time, Iike I do.you won't even ,

. need the straightedge.

"I like the Makita S012B electric chainsaw for wasting the.m.joritYof the wood. It . is the only model rye found that has chain speed 'approaching that of a gas sawabout 5000' per minute. The faster the chain, the smoother the cut. Other electric SL1.WS I've tried bUCK and jump because the chain is so slow, A handsaw will do a nice job on the plumb cuts, but is kind of awkward ripping tbe notch-faces.

. To work On the notches, I like having the logabouthip-high.so Ipur iron a couple beefy sawhorses. To keep it secure the log rests in small V's cut in the horses, and then is held in place with achain and load-binder at each end. Each notch- face is roughed-om with two cuts, First, I cross-cuuhe dovetail shoulder .. Next, I rip the sloping face of the dovetail. Hold the saw near the end grain and sight under the bar and down the edges of the dovetail (B to A and C to D)-this will getyoustarted right. It is critical to start right, because it's tough tochangcthe angle once the bar is trapped in it, kerf. 'Stay away from the lines atflrst-s-maybe as far as 1/4". But as you get comfortable with the tool )'ov should be able to leave 1/16" or less.

Ifyoll 'cutover the line on the up-facing

. notch you may be able to fix it by lowering the layout. Much of the nOICh is hidden, however; so don't bother unless it will be seen, Do not lower the up-facing slope W11~ you arc sure that you can cover the point D with the next log. And, never change the layout of the down-face-those lines were scribed.

Up-Face nat

I use a slick to pare to the scored lines of the up-face so that it is absolutely nat~ cheek it with a straightedge across the notch. at all angles. If you rub a metal straigtitedge across thcfiotchit will usually leave a mark,....a bit ef oxidation left Qnly on thchighspots. Pare.rhose downandkeep checking, If the up-face is huml,led it'll keep the next log from fitting; and if it's

When the notches are newly cut they are so tight that water cah't get in, but-as the . dovetails dry arid check th~y)ViII probably open here and there. Full-dovetailnotches , are self-draining, that.is they sloperowards the outside of th~ building, gO( for insur- " ance, llLe last step in PQtcJii~g is to c~t a small gutter in the ·up·face to keep rainwater from, penetrating into the notch. Using a circular saw set as shallow as it willgo 0/8" deep is about right), make a doi-cut 7 1/2" from 'ilLe' end-gain shoulder, This gu\ter catches water and carry it out of the

. .

, LONG-GROOVES

Logs tend to.h~vejustone large seasoning check thatllccounts Iornearly ill of the difference in tangential and. radial shrinkage. This check forms ata weak spot in the log--usually where a deep cut has peen made. Traditionally, the deepest cuts are long-grooves and .mis has caused logs to have seasOni~g ci;~ks that ruin tight fits,

Twp-eut

In this method, two deep chainsaw CUIS ,rem,ove most/of !,he wood'from the groove, gut the log, and guarantee thatthe Jog will ch«:k'from the,grooYe to'the heart, As the , check widens,ilie'long-groove edges move span, no long,,!" support the log, and the log slumps down to a lower point, The log comes to rest at a place where it wasn't scribed.to fit, and won't fit Internal hangups. often acoompany'this process. When the logs are-green, the long-grooves are

Joihers' {jJuarter[y/Sprtng 1990

twa-cut

four-cut with kerf

future munds difficult. Plan especially for ,~ps Iha~ cross over bUltt, but always be thinking LWO rounds ahead.

Keep in mind that y,ou choose the location for each up-face, bunthc location of the down-face o£("e next log j.detennin~ by tha~ choice ~ the scribe-selling. If the scribe-settings get out of lland, then you lose control over the size and position of notches. Only if you manage the scribe. settin'gs will!l!l notch fac.cs (up and down") be the product of ~our choices. This (along with a set of good logs, and a bit of luck) is how you achieve the goal of nearly equalsized, centered dovetails,

As 1.ou build, study the logwork you ftave completed. The walls will tell you more than any calculations and Scale drawings.Po r.e xample.cominuallyre-figurcjhc average height gained per log, and adjust your notch Si7.cS ifnecessaw. Be flexible-eadapi the rules-of-thumb to refleet ¥our logs and techniques. Someone once asked a famous violinist how he could perfectly hit ev~ry note. He replied (hat ",e ofJen played out-of-tune notes-he just correeted them oeforea~yone noticed. Log building isalot

like that. '

FIGURE 13 Long-groove styles.

tight, but as the log, dry the fits become widest spot, point B). This will give you

embarrassingly bad, flexibility in locatjng.dovelailssliglitly off-

Pour-cur' . center, when necessary. Choose a dovetail

The four-cut method makes. shallow slop.; that gives you some latitude in lay-

groove.andsorcduccs chccking'prnblems. ' out~steep 'slopes' waste' valuable flat

Unfonunately, it takes more time tc cutaad height. Locate each' up-face so that its

clean out. Thefits are vastly improved by lowest point (D) is' above tile top of the Jog

kerfing the top of me ldg below and encour- below-how much above depends upon

aging the major check to locatethere.iu~ed whether llie next log is a tip 0, a bun.

the four-cut long-groove with kerfs, on the Manage' your scribe-settings. It is the

Erickson buildings and ihe fits have stayed "Jong-groove, not tile notch, that determines tight. Part of this is because many of-the the posiuonof every log. Carefully select logs have their major .checks 'not in the' " ";'C.hlogtOmatchthe,hapeofthelogbelow

grooves, but on the hewn surfaces, where it-this will make the scribing gap even.

they affect the fits very little. Try to' keep the widest gap in the long-

Double-cut " groove, near the mid-span of tholog. If the

The newest long-groove. and the one I widest gap is in a notch, and so determines

am currently using, was invented by Lloyd the scribe-setting. then the scribe will

Beekedorf (Moose Mountain Log Homes, probably make yOU{ layout on this and

Box 26, Bragg Creek, Alberta TOL OKO, Canada.ccntact Beckedorf about its, use). It takes very little wood from the bottom of the log-only two small, shallow V's. In-: stead, it.removes a great deal of wood from .

the top of llie log below, which, like kerf, ing, promotes checking where it does the most good. It is faster than the .four-cut long -groove and kerf, and the small V's are good places to put air-infiltration gaskets.

CONCLUSION

With hewn-logs the flats are for notches, and .the rounds are Iot long grooves. Keep the dovetails on the flats and you'll avoid wane in the notches. To aceomplish this: hew the logs to a thickness'

that will make flats at tips mace than 1 and 1/2 limes wier than average tip notches. For example, a 6" notch needs lll.kll£l a 9': flat (remember thata6" notch is 8"1311 at us

, About th~la",hot: Robert Wood Chambers lives in B.iv_er Fa1l8. Wisconsi~. where he builds, teacRes, and writes about log and timber homes. fte is past f?resiifenr oj rhe

31iJ

Joiners' Quarterly! Sprihg 1990