Seasoning logs and the outdoors

[logsforveterans]

First of all let me say that class was great on the 7th and 8th. But you already know that. I'd be asking this question on the member's forum but I haven't quite been accepted yet. With all things being considered for me it seems like the best scenario for me is to cut timber this winter and start the build around May. With that being said, the logs would be sitting and seasoning until May. We touched on this briefly in class but nobody really had questions at that moment so we hustled on through it. While the logs don't need to be seasoned because settling is not an issue, it sounds like we probably will anyways to save some chinking hassle down the road. So provided we have will set up significant shelter for the logs (no precipitation hitting the logs from winter - May, can the logs sit on the ground in piles with only the 2 scrap logs between them and the ground? It seems like there has to be termite issues with this. Wood on wood on ground. If this is an issue, what do you recommend? Is the only issue to have them indoors somewhere? We will only have raw land and logs. Thanks for your thoughts. Look forward to being a part of the community. If anybody has any questions about the class, JUST GO TO IT. Awesome class. If you sat in on just a 5 minute clip of the class it would save you money, time, and frustration.

[rocklock]

Several things you left out.
Logs really don't start to "season" until the Cambrian layer has been removed, ie peeled... Then logs need to be borated and turned. I think the turn schedule was something like once a week for a month then once a month... If fungus shows up a 10% Clorox spray will be in order. I sprayed my log twice with a home brewed borate solution and it seemed to do the trick.
my logs were off the ground with scrap logs. I did not cover them because we were going to start stacking soon. No termite problems in Washington where they need really wet nasty logs and have many to chose from.

[Tom Featherstone]

Welcome LFV!

You shouldn't have to worry a bit about those logs, they'll be froze until spring. Wait until it warms up/ they thaw out, then start peeling them. I will be following this same advice, God willing this coming spring.

Tom

[rreidnauer]

Yep. I've seen logs sit exposed 3+ years in rather wet climates, some peeled & some not, fair just fine, provided they are supported off the ground using sacraficial logs. I've also seen sacraficial logs turn into soil. Wet soil contact is the thing to avoid.

[PeeCee]

With both of my builds, I had winter cut logs delivered in February and peeled by April. The logs got stacked somewhere in the following year and were exposed to the elements for at least a year before getting under a roof of any sort. Complete non-issue as I see it. It's not like we are dealing with super-fragile building materials that are going to dissipate into thin air or get munched into nothingness by bugs in no time flat.

I have logs left over from my first build--three years ago--that have been sitting around completely unprotected and exposed to the humidity, sun, rain, bugs, radioactivity and whatever other nastiness that a coastal Japanese town can throw at it and are still in great shape.

My shed that is covered in 1/2 plywood is doing fine as well. It's a bit grey and weathered, but none the worse for wear. I think we tend to worry a bit too much about things that needn't be worried about.

I would guess that so long as you kept your logs off the ground, if you got a roof over them within three years, you have nothing to worry about. If you are in a drier place than Japan, you'd have even more time.

That's peeled logs. I don't keep bark on my logs for long enough to see what would happen if I didn't peel them.

[btwalls]

Our logs sat for about 1 and a half before being stacked. The sun was more of a problem than the rain and I live in western WA. Had some full logs warp due to sun. Did not turn as much as I would have liked but with limited room, time and help turning wasn't easy.
Peel when you can, borate and turn when possible and you'll be fine.
We got our roof over them a 2 and half years after being cut.

Brad

[Plumb Level]

My logs were delivered spring of 2012. Peeled summer of 2012 and borated. All my logs are on log racks and I haven't noticed any problems except for one that was in contact with the ground that I didn't know about. Little bit of termite damage on that one. Gave it a good soaking of borate, cut the end off about 1 foot and no other problems.

I'm stacking now and probably won't have roof on til next spring of summer, and I anticipate no problems.

[logsforveterans]

Great input everybody. This helps a lot. I think I am starting to really over analyze a lot of aspects of the entire plan now, not on purpose. Thanks for the reassurance.

[dazedandconfused]

Overanalize away, when I first cut my logs I was running around at night trying to paint the ends to avoid checking. It was a waste of time but I didn't know any better. Everyone over thinks things the first time, relax and enjoy the ride and don't rush too much.

[Tim - Canada]

Hello. Just trying to confirm if the winter cut logs peeled the bark and inner layer easy, or would people recommend cut in the spring and peel then. Just wanting to be as efficient as possible without compromising the end product. Thanks for your responses in advance.

[Tracyblott]

If you fell in winter there will be less sap in the tree which makes for less shrinkage and a better quality log with less checking but it makes it harder to peel, if you spring cut it easier to peel but you get more shrinkage and more checking, Rod has suggested gripling your log which means to use a chainsaw and cut through the 1st 2 layers of growth rings to create a standing dead tree that you will peel in spring, the concept says that by leaving the tree standing it will have less shrinking and checking, personally i have no idea as i have not tested myself in real life but i do trust Rod so id say its worth a try and see what happens.

[loghousenut]

If you fell in winter there will be less sap in the tree which makes for less shrinkage and a better quality log with less checking but it makes it harder to peel, if you spring cut it easier to peel but you get more shrinkage and more checking, Rod has suggested gripling your log which means to use a chainsaw and cut through the 1st 2 layers of growth rings to create a standing dead tree that you will peel in spring, the concept says that by leaving the tree standing it will have less shrinking and checking, personally i have no idea as i have not tested myself in real life but i do trust Rod so id say its worth a try and see what happens.

I don't know which is funnier... Gripling, or trusting Rod.




Before y'all start fighting each other to be the first one to steal this thread and turn it into a LHN burning party, let me make this one little point. I trust Rod also.


See there. It's still funny, ain't it?!!!

[Tracyblott]

LOL yes i see it myself now, GIRDLING the tree is the correct term, just goes to prove that a redneck ought to to check his spelling before he hits the post button.

[loghousenut]

Blame it on Tapatalk. I once tried to type "Splitter of doom" and that rascal Tapatalk changed it to "Specially dumb".

It fit the context of the post just fine.

[allen84]

Blame it on Tapatalk. I once tried to type "Splitter of doom" and that rascal Tapatalk changed it to "Specially dumb".

It fit the context of the post just fine.

Which one was right?

[loghousenut]

Which one was right?

Sqwuncher of digits.

[loghousenut]

Darned Tapatalk did it again!

[Tracyblott]

To funny roflol

[rreidnauer]

. . . . . trust me. . . . . lol

[edkemper]

LOL yes i see it myself now, GIRDLING the tree is the correct term, just goes to prove that a redneck ought to to check his spelling before he hits the post button.

What fun would that be for the rest of us? Personally, we need more rednecks in the family.

[LowKey]

Just curious,
What about leaving peeled or unp3ealled logs to soak on salt water for 9-12 months?
I would have to check, but I believe I'd be legal to corral my logs (a few sacrificial logs chained/stapled together to form a pen) in the bay in front of my land.
Any ideas as to how that would affect peeling (if unpealed) or drying/shrinikage over the years?

I mean, if leaving the logs to be saturated with salt water would offer major protection against rot over the years I could see leaving the logs n the brine to pickle.

[Tracyblott]

I don't know about the salt part of the question but I do know that there were logs that sank in the rivers when that was the method for log transport about a 100 years ago and when you pull one of those logs out of the river not only is it still good it's peels very easy and makes some of the most beautiful wood you ever laid eyes on, I for one would very much like to see the results of your idea, I think I might try a branch and see what happens.

[Mosseyme]

Lowkey,
Just a little? How in the world did you come up with the handle Lowkey, is that in jest? Ha.
I don't have the answer to your question but what a great idea. Look at what you get on the beaches floating in. all nice and bare and dries quickly to a nice silver color. Google knows everything! I guess since the Old wooden Navy fleets were treated to protect them it might be an issue.

[rreidnauer]

Water makes peeling easier, no question. Peeling after it rains is good, makes for easier peeling. It's when that cambium and/or sap dries out, it turns to glue. Now, a log sitting in the water that long, I think would be pretty weighty to deal with, especially since you won't have heavy equipment. Besides with the amount of rainfall you get, they'll stay plenty damp to ease the peeling.

As for the salt content, if I'm not mistaken, the salinity of seawater up that way is pretty low. I doubt much benefit would be afforded from it.

[LowKey]

Lowkey,
Just a little? How in the world did you come up with the handle Lowkey, is that in jest? Ha.

Believe it or not I have a knack for disappearing in plain sight, escaping the notice of people actively looking for me when I'm sitting right under their noses, that sort of thing.
My wife has seriously contemplated making me wear bells around the house. Apparently she finds it disturbing to think she's in a room alone only to have me speak to her from a foot or so away.:p

[loghousenut]

Believe it or not I have a knack for disappearing in plain sight, escaping the notice of people actively looking for me when I'm sitting right under their noses, that sort of thing.
My wife has seriously contemplated making me wear bells around the house. Apparently she finds it disturbing to think she's in a room alone only to have me speak to her from a foot or so away.:p

I have just the opposite problem. I am always in the way and everyone knows exactly where I am at all times and they seem to expend a lot of energy trying to stay away from me.

I have considered changing my screen name to WideKey.



Yeah, I know. LHN and Nut have a ring to it. WK is just D-U-LL dull.