Great Job. I've got an old broad axe and foot adz for doing that. Planned on giving them a try. Yeah still planning. Lol enjoyed watching you do it and I learned something. Thanks for taking your time to teach a dying art.
You are quite masterful yourself Dave. I believe we are about the same age and IF I had the skill I MIGHT be able to hew one side per day. My hat is off to you. Beautiful cabin you have crafted.
Awesome video.Tiny mouse getting out of dodge there. Appreciate your time sir. Starting on my own small cabin, 12’x14’ fir casual place to relax near my home on my property. Thinking about hewing but have started and had 5 logs debarked. Trying to get my logs done to dry a little while and get a good start in early Spring. Building mine out of popular (tulip popular) as we call them here in the eastern Ky mountains (Carter County). I have had the same thoughts as others have mentioned that I am using the soft wood popular. But they are straight and there is plenty in the 10”-12” but size on my property. Glad I found your video of your 37 yr old cabin and your technique sir. Very explanatory in a good way and not boring at all. I to would like to find myself a. right handed flat sided hewing axe. God bless and thank you again.
Thank you Mr Dave ! Sharing your log cabin building knowledge is a great and constructive way to spend your retirement years . You are making a difference.
That is the easiest way to hew a log that I have seen. Using the modern and old tools make a good mix and no sawmill is needed. You just saved me a bunch of money when I get ready to do this. Thanks for the whole series, sir!!
That video was great! Thanks, I always wanted to know how to hew a log. When I was younger I used to have firewood splitting contest with my brothers. U made it look easy.
Very nice! A few comments.... If you take off the bark from the top and bottom sides of the log at the start, the chalk line will have a nice smooth surface to leave its mark on, rather than on top of the rough bark. You won't have to cut a groove with the chainsaw as you did. What you were doing when you knocked off those one-foot-long blocks most people would call juggling or joggling. That would normally be done with a normal ax, and then you would come back and do the hewing with a one-sided broad ax, chopping downwards across the face of the log. Broad axes are broad so they make large flat surfaces more easily. And finally, as you found out, you should always knock off the end juggles by going into the log. It is too easy to split off too thick a slice if you go outward towards the end.
Yup I have tried lots of different steps and learn new and better stuff each time. This last log is did I sharpened the double bitted ax you see in the video. It was supper sharp however it didn't "pop" the blocks off it just penetrated really deep and was hard to remove each time. I think an ax with a blunt tapered edge works better cause it wedges the blocks off like splitting stove wood. I run the saw down the log partly to make a defining edge along the entire log. When I don't to that the log has a bit of a ragged edge and I had to use a draw knife to put a crisp edge back on. Since I posted the video I hewed a dry 20 inch dia tamarac log into a big fireplace mantle. I aged it and added some nail holes etc. It turned out amazing. May make some this summer to sell. It was fun. Oh by the way hewing dry wood is a whole different story.
As I will be in my mid 40s when i build my cabin, I will remember you Dave, whenever I feel like complaining about hewing my 50th log ha. Thanks for sharing!
I just found your videos. Thanks for sharing your techniques I am looking forward to using them some day soon to build my cabin. Your explanations are very easy to follow and simple. Thank you very much for sharing this knowledge.
Hello Dave, I have very much enjoyed watching your you tube videos. I would like to ask about the books you mention in your videos. Would you be so kind as to tell me which books you have enjoyed reading in preparation for building your beautiful cabin. Thank you kindly, James
Just noticed your comment. Sorry I didn't respond quicker. I cannot remember the book title and I loaned the book to a friend years ago, He promptly lost it in a move. I do remember it was Canadian and mainly had information on modernizing old log homes and putting log additions on them to make them blend in. I think now there is lots of good info on youtube. You just to sort through it and look at end results. Lots of finished log cabins are a disaster. When building with logs you have to think, what will happen in 5 years, 10 years. logs keep shrinking for years so you have to allow for that settling. sorry I don't have more info Dave
Really enjoying your videos. I doubt that I ever build a cabin in this fashion, but it is very interesting. Also, you do not give yourself enough credit in my opinion. Your talent & thought process is remarkable & this type of project would be quite a challenge in my opinion. In watching your other videos there is no doubt you were & are a very intelligent craftsman. I wish I had the drive to endure such a project.
In the spring and summer the bark comes off cottonwood really easy. you can use a draw knife or just get the bark started with an ax and rip it off in strips. Fall and winter you have to use a drawknife or bark sput. not as much fun. if you peel wood in the spring the cottonwood logs have sweet sap that will mildew, so I spray the fresh peeled logs with a mild bleach solution to prevent the mold.
I used a lever called a peave. Its like that yellow thingy I was using. I also put a long pole under the log and slid it up on the cross logs called bunks. I could lift one of the log but probably not the greatest idea at my age. By the way is your comment key stuck Ha Ha
What are the reasons for hewing logs for log homes? Why not just draw knife the entire log and leave it round, for example? Given how many old, utilitarian hewn log buildings I've seen around where I live in North Carolina, I think there must be utilitarian reasons. I suspect the reasons may also vary according to wood species. Here most log buildings seem to be made of hewn pine, but I've seen some old buildings that were made with white oak where the bark wasn't even removed, and one building where round white oak logs were used for the bottom quarter of the walls and then hewn pine logs were used from there the rest of the way up. I'm wondering about building with tulip-poplar, because it's the species that's growing most plentifully on my land, but there's a lot more that it would be nice to learn before I get started. Thanks for all the great tips in this video, especially all the little things.
Hewing allows you to use somewhat crooked logs. as long as one dimension is straight you hew out the crookedness in the other dimension. Plus in pioneer days you would sometimes take a huge log, split it with wedges and then hew the segments, getting maybe 4 hewn timbers out of one log. Another reason for hewing is the walls end up pretty flat and not so thick. if you use round logs you need logs with very little taper along a long length. if the taper too much you end up trying to notch a thin log over a very thick log and almost cut it off trying to get the notch to fit. on hewn logs you can hew off really thick tops and bottoms .Plus i like the looks of hewn logs much better.....40 years and my logs are still sound.
I like the video and learned a couple of things but for the love of god! Take a few minutes and make yourself a hammer out of wood and stop hitting your axe polls together! Not only is this dangerous, but it mushrooms the hell out of the axe then a guy like me comes along and finds these old gems with a mushroomed poll. When making videos, you have to keep in mind, people are watching what you do and think its the right way. They may go out and do what you did and end up with a piece of metal in a body part. Otherwise, keep up the good work.
I have been able to gain knowledge because of your videos. Thank you.
Excellent vids,lots of great info!
mate you are a legend, nice work.thanks
Well put together. I appreciate you adding those little details. Thanks!
Great Job. I've got an old broad axe and foot adz for doing that. Planned on giving them a try. Yeah still planning. Lol enjoyed watching you do it and I learned something. Thanks for taking your time to teach a dying art.
You are quite masterful yourself Dave. I believe we are about the same age and IF I had the skill I MIGHT be able to hew one side per day. My hat is off to you. Beautiful cabin you have crafted.
You make great vids. Safely !
I appreciate the excellent instruction and “there seems to be a lot less oxygen in the air” had me rolling.
Love crosscut sawing / hewing of the logs. I would have never thought of that method.
Thank one for sharing.
This is a fantastic vid Thanks,
Denis
City girl here who really knows nothing...so thank you sooo much for these videos! Really informative!
Very good idea standing on opposite sides of the razor. Lol great video
Awesome video.Tiny mouse getting out of dodge there. Appreciate your time sir. Starting on my own small cabin, 12’x14’ fir casual place to relax near my home on my property. Thinking about hewing but have started and had 5 logs debarked. Trying to get my logs done to dry a little while and get a good start in early Spring. Building mine out of popular (tulip popular) as we call them here in the eastern Ky mountains (Carter County). I have had the same thoughts as others have mentioned that I am using the soft wood popular. But they are straight and there is plenty in the 10”-12” but size on my property. Glad I found your video of your 37 yr old cabin and your technique sir. Very explanatory in a good way and not boring at all. I to would like to find myself a. right handed flat sided hewing axe. God bless and thank you again.
Your instruction is absolutely wonderful! Thank you Sir!
Again great video and thank you so much for sharing your knowlage At 47 I was thinking the air is thinner also when I am out working in the woods ;)
Thank you Mr Dave ! Sharing your log cabin building knowledge is a great and constructive way to spend your retirement years . You are making a difference.
That is the easiest way to hew a log that I have seen. Using the modern and old tools make a good mix and no sawmill is needed. You just saved me a bunch of money when I get ready to do this. Thanks for the whole series, sir!!
Really enjoyed it. Would love to learn from you in person.
Impressive.
That video was great! Thanks, I always wanted to know how to hew a log. When I was younger I used to have firewood splitting contest with my brothers. U made it look easy.
Loved the little mouse...
Mouse???
Very nice! A few comments.... If you take off the bark from the top and bottom sides of the log at the start, the chalk line will have a nice smooth surface to leave its mark on, rather than on top of the rough bark. You won't have to cut a groove with the chainsaw as you did. What you were doing when you knocked off those one-foot-long blocks most people would call juggling or joggling. That would normally be done with a normal ax, and then you would come back and do the hewing with a one-sided broad ax, chopping downwards across the face of the log. Broad axes are broad so they make large flat surfaces more easily. And finally, as you found out, you should always knock off the end juggles by going into the log. It is too easy to split off too thick a slice if you go outward towards the end.
Yup I have tried lots of different steps and learn new and better stuff each time. This last log is did I sharpened the double bitted ax you see in the video. It was supper sharp however it didn't "pop" the blocks off it just penetrated really deep and was hard to remove each time. I think an ax with a blunt tapered edge works better cause it wedges the blocks off like splitting stove wood. I run the saw down the log partly to make a defining edge along the entire log. When I don't to that the log has a bit of a ragged edge and I had to use a draw knife to put a crisp edge back on. Since I posted the video I hewed a dry 20 inch dia tamarac log into a big fireplace mantle. I aged it and added some nail holes etc. It turned out amazing. May make some this summer to sell. It was fun. Oh by the way hewing dry wood is a whole different story.
Love your videos great job I hope my log cabin is as nice as yours when I'm done. .
You sir are an inspiration, one of the best instructive vids I have seen on youtube... thank you for sharing your knowledge with us..
As I will be in my mid 40s when i build my cabin, I will remember you Dave, whenever I feel like complaining about hewing my 50th log ha. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Dave. Great video and very useful. Cheers, Steve.
I hope my first log looks half that good 😎
I've seen the other way where the guys would stand on the log and hew it like that. I like your method better.
Fantastic--making what looked complicated, simple. I can see the advantage of this over the typical round logs for a cabin.
I just found your videos. Thanks for sharing your techniques I am looking forward to using them some day soon to build my cabin. Your explanations are very easy to follow and simple. Thank you very much for sharing this knowledge.
Great job! I learned a ton from this video. Thank you for posting it!
Great work Dave!
i enjoyed the class Dave....& what a wonderful cabin
Hello Dave, I have very much enjoyed watching your you tube videos. I would like to ask about the books you mention in your videos. Would you be so kind as to tell me which books you have enjoyed reading in preparation for building your beautiful cabin. Thank you kindly, James
Just noticed your comment. Sorry I didn't respond quicker. I cannot remember the book title and I loaned the book to a friend years ago, He promptly lost it in a move. I do remember it was Canadian and mainly had information on modernizing old log homes and putting log additions on them to make them blend in. I think now there is lots of good info on youtube. You just to sort through it and look at end results. Lots of finished log cabins are a disaster. When building with logs you have to think, what will happen in 5 years, 10 years. logs keep shrinking for years so you have to allow for that settling. sorry I don't have more info Dave
Morning Dave, Thank you for taking the time to reply. Not to worry, I will continue to browse book shops when I pass them. James
Really enjoying your videos. I doubt that I ever build a cabin in this fashion, but it is very interesting. Also, you do not give yourself enough credit in my opinion. Your talent & thought process is remarkable & this type of project would be quite a challenge in my opinion. In watching your other videos there is no doubt you were & are a very intelligent craftsman. I wish I had the drive to endure such a project.
Yeah Dave, where'd all that air go? Thanks so much for the video. Great work and exactly what I was looking for on hewing!
Looks like the one you're using is from them!
The steel in the ax is very soft will not hold an edge.
This is great. I luv watching these. Thank you for posting this. What do you use to peel the bark off?
In the spring and summer the bark comes off cottonwood really easy. you can use a draw knife or just get the bark started with an ax and rip it off in strips. Fall and winter you have to use a drawknife or bark sput. not as much fun. if you peel wood in the spring the cottonwood logs have sweet sap that will mildew, so I spray the fresh peeled logs with a mild bleach solution to prevent the mold.
More vids please!
Yeah....but how did you set that log up there
Sir, Thank you for your series of videos ... quite enlightening to see and learn your method.
Hope I can, someday build myself a cabin also.
Two tractor trailers full of logs were on the highway. I said, Oh look, someone is making a log cabin!
What did you do when you built cabin?? By hand or use chainsaw.,?? To hue it ???
how did you set that log up there
I used a lever called a peave. Its like that yellow thingy I was using. I also put a long pole under the log and slid it up on the cross logs called bunks. I could lift one of the log but probably not the greatest idea at my age. By the way is your comment key stuck Ha Ha
What are the reasons for hewing logs for log homes? Why not just draw knife the entire log and leave it round, for example? Given how many old, utilitarian hewn log buildings I've seen around where I live in North Carolina, I think there must be utilitarian reasons. I suspect the reasons may also vary according to wood species. Here most log buildings seem to be made of hewn pine, but I've seen some old buildings that were made with white oak where the bark wasn't even removed, and one building where round white oak logs were used for the bottom quarter of the walls and then hewn pine logs were used from there the rest of the way up. I'm wondering about building with tulip-poplar, because it's the species that's growing most plentifully on my land, but there's a lot more that it would be nice to learn before I get started.
Thanks for all the great tips in this video, especially all the little things.
Hewing allows you to use somewhat crooked logs. as long as one dimension is straight you hew out the crookedness in the other dimension. Plus in pioneer days you would sometimes take a huge log, split it with wedges and then hew the segments, getting maybe 4 hewn timbers out of one log. Another reason for hewing is the walls end up pretty flat and not so thick. if you use round logs you need logs with very little taper along a long length. if the taper too much you end up trying to notch a thin log over a very thick log and almost cut it off trying to get the notch to fit. on hewn logs you can hew off really thick tops and bottoms .Plus i like the looks of hewn logs much better.....40 years and my logs are still sound.
i like your video! thanks for the info
Why did you not do 8 inch logs, why did you want 6 inch logs ???
I like the video and learned a couple of things but for the love of god! Take a few minutes and make yourself a hammer out of wood and stop hitting your axe polls together! Not only is this dangerous, but it mushrooms the hell out of the axe then a guy like me comes along and finds these old gems with a mushroomed poll. When making videos, you have to keep in mind, people are watching what you do and think its the right way. They may go out and do what you did and end up with a piece of metal in a body part. Otherwise, keep up the good work.
yes your right,I have a wooden club from making shakes and just couldn't find it.
how did you set that log up there
how did you set that log up there
how did you set that log up there