such thing as logs being too big?

[andrew mason]

ok, first off... i understand that only so much can be said, before i get "take the class, you will learn it there" i would be taking it in vegas in september, but im currently deployed over seas till febuary.
i was talking to a buddy of mine about building a log home, and he was telling me that up in washington, he has trees on his property that are over 5ft in diameter.
other than difficulty to move, and lots of chinking, is there such a thing as logs being to big?

thank you.
andrew mason.

[Shark]

Yep moving them & chinking might be more difficult, & it might look strange with only 4 rows of logs haha. Plus you'd have to make the foundations that much bigger to compensate for how thick the logs are.

For the reasons mentioned, I would likely not go larger than 3' (still absolutely huge logs), but having a big one like that for a ridge pole would be sweet.
http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z289/Shark13_/?action=view&current=IMG_0419.jpg
The cinnamon rolls were almost as big as the ridge pole...

[loghousenut]

Somewhere in all my junk is a book that had a photo of a 1 log house. It was an 8' diameter cedar and they bucked it into lengths and mitred the corners and pushed the pieces into place with a cat. A lot of work to put in a window, I'd think. It would be a lot of work to use 5' logs but they'd make some nice lumber. I'm agreeing that 3' logs would be cool and it could be done with the right equipment. Below is a photo of our ridgepole the day we felled it. It is on top of our walls waiting for us to finish lifting it up on top of it's support logs. If you want an idea of what it would be like to move around logs like this watch the video link at the bottom. Bear in mind that this log is 53' long and you may be using something shorter for wall logs.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Our%20Home/The%20ridgepole/P1000696-1.jpg
http://s157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Our%20Home/The%20ridgepole/?action=view&current=P1000844-1.flv

[Loghomeguy]

You guys cheated ! It would be a lot thinner with the bark removed !

Now, all you need is a muddy-sloped driveway and a forklift ! :p I am touched by the handholding, is your cell phone on vibrate?

[Loghomeguy]

You guys cheated ! It would be a lot thinner with the bark removed !

Now, all you need is a muddy-sloped driveway and a forklift ! :p I am touched by the handholding, is your cell phone on vibrate?

[loghousenut]

I woulda thought an old-timer like yerself woulda been able to torment my Boy and I in only ONE post. To answer your many unasked questions...
Yes, my Son and I felt like holding hands that day when we cut that ridgepole down (he has extremely soft hands).
Yes, our ridgepole had some real thick bark on it.
Yes, we were wearing our new "I heart my ridgepole" shirts and didn't want to get any burnt bark on them, so we were not hugging the tree too tightly.
Yes, we think it will be the largest ridgepole in Grants Pass, Oregon.
It is sitting on top of the walls as we speak. In a day or three we will have a new engine in our little (6,000 lb) forklift and we will launch that ridgepole up onto those RPSL's and into LHBA history.
HAHAHAHAhahahAHAHAHAhahaHaHaHa.
PS... For those of you who have never met Mikey (Loghomeguy), I am here to tesify that he is a veritable fountain of LHBA information. It is resources like Loghomeguy who make this thing work for the rest of us.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Wow/Ridgepole7-7-10025.jpg

[andrew mason]

wow, thats a big log.....

[loghousenut]

Actually that log only weighs a little more than half as much as the telehandler...

But then the telehandler does weigh 23,000 lbs.

[edkemper]

I have to admit, few of these log homes look very big, in pictures. I didn't realize how small they look in pictures until I experienced LHN's house in person. It's hard to understand in pictures just how big these homes really are. 30x30, 40x40 are just numbers. LHN is lying. His logs are very impressive in person. The closer I get to my own project the more excited I get. Wrestling logs is going to be an adventure.

[Pipesmith]

Let the competitive juices start flowing! My family and I are still looking to purchase land in/around Grants Pass. Should be back up there to visit family within the next couple of months -would love to check out your building site and offer some help. LHN you were right - the class was excellent!! I think it is great that your son is sticking around for the build.

[ivanshayka]

RPSL is not an illusion. Just look at the driver, and look at the size of the log where it touches the forks. It is huge. I am very jelous of Loghousenut, in a good way. The end closser to us is the top, I believe. Regardless, it is an awesome ridge pole.
Ivan

[Peach1956]

LHN,
I'm envious of all the equipment you have at your disposal. And your son looks like he was indispensable help. Have any pics of installing the rafters and roof and finishing out the home? Thanks for allowing us access to your photos. :D

Steve

[loghousenut]

LHN,
I'm envious of all the equipment you have at your disposal. And your son looks like he was indispensable help. Have any pics of installing the rafters and roof and finishing out the home? Thanks for allowing us access to your photos. :D

Steve

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Wow/Rafters9-2010068.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Wow/Rafters9-2010131.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Wow/Rafters9-2010413.jpg

[loghousenut]

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Floor8-2011022.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Wow/Rafters9-2010443.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Wow/Rafters9-2010219.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Wow/walllogs9-09019.jpg


The rest are on the members side.