Intro

[Seabhac]

Hi, just joined the forum. I'm interested in building a log cabin. I have an option to buy 5 foot lengths of ash. I could alternatively get my hands on 5 foot lengths of pine. I can't seem to source longer lengths. Can anyone advise on joining logs in a straight line? I'm considering this and building a timber frame inside the log outer walls. Any knowledge on using ash pros and cons would be appreciated also. Anyhow, good to be here!

[loghousenut]

That 5' long Ash would make fine tool handles if it is nice and straightgrained. Kinda short for the style of log building promoted around this site. Where do you live, Seabhac, and how cheap are those short logs?

[Arrowman]

Hi, just joined the forum. I'm interested in building a log cabin. I have an option to buy 5 foot lengths of ash. I could alternatively get my hands on 5 foot lengths of pine. I can't seem to source longer lengths. Can anyone advise on joining logs in a straight line? I'm considering this and building a timber frame inside the log outer walls. Any knowledge on using ash pros and cons would be appreciated also. Anyhow, good to be here!

I'm sure you could join them together, but it would be an awful lot of work splicing over and over. Would be better to use that same effort in finding longer lengths, imo. Finding logs can be tough sometimes, depending on where you are at and what your budget is. Persistence is your best friend.

[Seabhac]

That 5' long Ash would make fine tool handles if it is nice and straightgrained. Kinda short for the style of log building promoted around this site. Where do you live, Seabhac, and how cheap are those short logs?

Indeed they would make great tool handles. I'm in the west of Ireland. They are being sold at firewood prices.

[Seabhac]

I'm sure you could join them together, but it would be an awful lot of work splicing over and over. Would be better to use that same effort in finding longer lengths, imo. Finding logs can be tough sometimes, depending on where you are at and what your budget is. Persistence is your best friend.

I see your point but I love to get started. I assume ash is ok for a log building?

[StressMan79]

Hi, just joined the forum. I'm interested in building a log cabin. I have an option to buy 5 foot lengths of ash. I could alternatively get my hands on 5 foot lengths of pine. I can't seem to source longer lengths. Can anyone advise on joining logs in a straight line? I'm considering this and building a timber frame inside the log outer walls. Any knowledge on using ash pros and cons would be appreciated also. Anyhow, good to be here!

Ugly, if possible, a lot of the strength of the BnP method comes from the nonperfection of people pinning together long logs, and the fact that those many pins are not close to parallel. You'd have 2 pins per length. I doubt it will work well.

Ash is fine for building, so long as it is big and straight enough.

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[rocklock]

Having just been to the west of Ireland, I saw lots of trees being cut down and then cut into short pieces and then stacked... There were several places on the west side where I saw trees that were planted for harvesting but they were no where near big enough. I believe they were a type of Pine or Fir (US variety).

I'm not sure that I would build a log home, but a timber frame one for sure... But you need to find a source for timbers that are 12 to 14 feet long. Historically it has been done. I can't recall the style but the timbers were painted a dark color and the stuff in between was white or a light color..

There is a book that I read that stated that homes should be built with earth, stone or wood. Since I was born in the evergreen state of Washington, logs seem to be what was called for... I can't tell you how many rock homes that we saw in Ireland... many of them abandoned... Just to go crazy, I saw a post on facebook on a home built with earth bags. It reminded me of homes that were built in Wales with a thatch roof...

So, there you go...

[rreidnauer]

I'm thinking cut those five foot logs into five one foot logs, and build a sweet cordwood style home

[PresterJohn]

I'm thinking cut those five foot logs into five one foot logs, and build a sweet cordwood style home

That's actually a good idea!

[Seabhac]

Ugly, if possible, a lot of the strength of the BnP method comes from the nonperfection of people pinning together long logs, and the fact that those many pins are not close to parallel. You'd have 2 pins per length. I doubt it will work well.

Ash is fine for building, so long as it is big and straight enough.

Sent from my VS986 using Forum Runner

2 pins per length, Good point, I hadn't thought of that.

[Seabhac]

Having just been to the west of Ireland, I saw lots of trees being cut down and then cut into short pieces and then stacked... There were several places on the west side where I saw trees that were planted for harvesting but they were no where near big enough. I believe they were a type of Pine or Fir (US variety).

I'm not sure that I would build a log home, but a timber frame one for sure... But you need to find a source for timbers that are 12 to 14 feet long. Historically it has been done. I can't recall the style but the timbers were painted a dark color and the stuff in between was white or a light color..

There is a book that I read that stated that homes should be built with earth, stone or wood. Since I was born in the evergreen state of Washington, logs seem to be what was called for... I can't tell you how many rock homes that we saw in Ireland... many of them abandoned... Just to go crazy, I saw a post on facebook on a home built with earth bags. It reminded me of homes that were built in Wales with a thatch roof...

So, there you go...

Sometimes there's a possibility of getting Douglas Fir or Larch, and yes often times it's hard to get the correct size.

[Seabhac]

I'm thinking cut those five foot logs into five one foot logs, and build a sweet cordwood style home

I'm thinking you might be onto something there!