How to build a log cabin with dovetail notches

Of course the first thing you need is logs. A good source may be someone who has a portable sawmill in your area. Contact woodmizer sawmills to get a list of owners near you.

If you have your own trees, have someone saw them for you.

Step 1 Dovetail Jig

The easiest and fastest way to notch the logs is with a jig

My site has plans to build your own if you want : http://logdovetailjig.com . By building your own, you can have a custom set of jigs that will work for your particular log dimensions and end up with the gap between the logs that you want.

Our example cabin for this instructable is 11'-8" x 16' using logs that are 7" thick x 9" high. The gap will be 2.5 inches. Yours could be other sizes. The plans are custom designed for whatever dimensions are specified.

After you decide on the cabin dimensions, add 4 inches to each and use those numbers to cut the logs to length.

So the logs for this example would be cut 12' and 16'-4".

The jigs shown are for half dovetail notches and take about 2-3 hours to make.

Comments

[Nicholai]

thank god for instructables. in in an architecture class and my insructor wants us to make a scale model of a log home. i got assigned dovetail and have been going crazy trying to figure it out.

[Kotteman]

Maybe the wrong place to ask but, why is it so that in USA the log-cabins have big gaps between the logs so you need to fill it up with something, like clay and synthetic stuff?
Here in Sweden we don't have such big gaps between the logs but the houses are still very comfortable to live in.
http://www.brodernahalvarsson.se/default.aspx?lnkId=25&parent=12,25&pid=23

[glorybe]

I don't know about proper gaps but I do know that in Florida we don't get cold enough to beat down termites and any cabin made of natural wood will be little more than a lunch for our insects. It is also difficult to get permits for any kind of wooden dwelling as our frequent hurricanes turn boards into high speed missiles.

[awtkins]

Several log houses in south Fl. and in Dade some of the lest damaged by Andrew. U can get get homes permitted in Dade and that is the hardest county in the USA when it comes to wind damage stats.
(yes I also know about limber missiles, I wish I still had the picture of a 2x12 driven through a tree at about 20' high)

[maclog]

kotteman - I think you are thinking of the round notch method and the v shape along the bottom of each log. Very snug method, takes longer.

[Kotteman]

If you know what you are doing it doesn't take longer, but it also depends on what kind of notch method and tools you are using. A dovetail notch made with pre sawn timber and a chainsaw is made quite fast. But if you make a Dala-notch with round timber and only use hand tools that takes about 30-45min for a expert to do but with chainsaw, scary fast.

[Ferguson199]

You shouldn't have gaps that big. But, it does look nice.

[Tinworm]

excellent jig!

[KOMAH4]

Very cool! Good jobs, if the logs are not totally dry (kiln dried) then they will settle about 1 inch per foot of height. The opening frames must be able to accomodate the settlement.

[jessyratfink]

Wow, so much easier than the traditional approach! Good on you for streamlining the process. :D

[carpespasm]

From what I've read in some parts of northwest Europe this is the traditional approach. The dovetails make the logs fall together rather than apart and there are some log cabins that are hundreds of years old and might be a little warped, but the walls are as structurally sound as ever since they basically have to rot into the ground before those joints come apart.

[kuppazki]

Actually we have a cabin where we spend our summers. The cabin was moved there in the middle of 1800's so we estimate it was originally built over 200 years ago. one log from the backwall has rotted away and the cabin is slightly leaning towards it. all of the log ends are a little worn out and eaten away. otherwise it is in good contidion

[mountain_man]

This is also very typical of Appalachian cabins in the USA. I also see alot of 1800s cabins here in MT built that way.

[luvit]

this is bad for trees and nature. please see the instructable to build a house out of trash. tanks.

[mountain_man]

The trees I used were all dead when they were cut. Killed by beatles. So rather than rotting or burning (either releases an equal amount of carbon), they will become part of a building. A building with no sheet rock walls. Almost no insulation. No fumes given off.

[luvit]

i love log cabins. besides, if i built a house out of recycled glass bottles, i can no longer throw stones at others.

[rc jedi]

i wonder, if these last longer than conventional construction, then they may be better for trees. maybe we should give it a chance.

[beakman]

Properly maintained, log buildings can last a VERY long time. There are still many log structures in my area that are over 200 years old. That can't be said about too many traditionally built buildings -- and I would bet they've incurred far more maintenance costs over the years if they ARE that old.

[glorybe]

They are climate dependent. Tropics eat wooden homes quickly. Cold keeps wood safe as bugs do not prosper in cold weather.

[beakman]

Most definitely the climate plays a part. My area gets good and cold during winter, killing off quite a number of the insects. But we also get 90 -100 degree, high humidity summers, and these buildings still hold up very well.

[steliart]

Congrads, very well done

[skunkbait]

Great instructable! A few years ago, I bought a few acres up in the hills for hunting. It's accessable by 4x4 only, and we haven't put up a cabin, yet. This really gives me some good ideas!

[germeten]

As for chinking, how about paper-crete, (shredded paper, sand-cement mix) or shredded paper, bucket of tar and clay powder, or asphalt and clay/or other aggregate.

[spa31rky]

Sure use the Asphalt...........then try to spend the night in the cabin with that strong smell.......asphalt not a good idea in cold weather either.

[dchall8]

That is a huge jig. I like it.

Why do you leave a gap between the logs?  Along the line of huge jigs, why not build a jig to put a peak (or dome) on top of each log and another to put a matching groove on the bottom so that they interlock?  Seems like you do away with almost all of the chinking.  Or maybe you could lay the chinking into the groove before you drop each log onto the lower one. 

[spa31rky]

Sorry if I may seem like I am stepping in here........Guess I am............... I have built a few different styles of "log cabins". It clearly depends on what materials are used to start with for the logs. Crowning the log so the log landing on it accepts it is a very good way all around. This prevents any water from seeping inward also, decreases bug infestation, wind, and re-chinking in a few years. Care must be taken in this process due to if the logs are "kiln dried" or sun dried over a year. Kiln Dried shrinks the log about 20% in some cases. Sun Dried shrinkage is minimum compared to kiln. Practice by making a model from spruce. This will help in the design and help prevent any snags later.

[mountain_man]

The gap is common on these type cabins. You can buy logs that are milled with tongue and grooves but this works well and I think looks better. The chinking is made to expand and contract. It is really a thin layer that is bonded to both the upper and lower log, applied over the foam backer. As the logs shrink and swell with the seasons, the chinking maintains a good seal.

[dejure]

Another approach is the "spline method." This would require a cut (a dado) in both mating surface (aligned with each other), into which a board would fit. This would help keep timbers aligned over the years and reduce the need for backer and chinking material.

[sajjad786]

What about the flooring? In the picture it's at ground level. Did you raise it? What happens for example when it rains?

[spa31rky]

FLOORING?????? It depends on the style you wish to have in it. River Rock is great flooring too. Plank boards work well. But if it is to be like those picturesque type cabins than the footing will be much different for sure.

[mountain_man]

This was just the log shell. You will need to research elsewhere for foundations and floors.

[honorman]

mountain_man I am a retired New Home Builder, and repaired a log home one time from upstairs water line coming lose while owners were out of town. also added more center supports under middle of crawl space. From past reading on log homes, you need a space over the windows and doors of 1-2 inches with a slip type joint hid behind the side trim so the logs can move and not settle on the doors and windows like just nailing the 2x6 to the log ends. But then I have never build a log cabin, but check on that before cutting out the openings. Ed

[mountain_man]

Right, if the logs are not totally dry (kiln dried) then they will settle about 1 inch per foot of height. The opening frames must be able to accomodate the settlement.

[spa31rky]

A "floating header" needs to be installed above doors and windows - the use of a moisture detection helps alot also.

[lucek]

Nice cabin. I've been fascinated with log cabins ever sense I watched Alone in the Wilderness. Now that was a cabin. Hand made by the sweat and blood of Richard Proenneke. Evert notch carve to precise detail, every log flattened so the thing even before caulking was practically air tight.

[spa31rky]

That was one build to in the wilderness. Richard started it in his 50's and stayed till he was 83. I watch that video several times to get the tricks he used in many applications. Good thing is the cabin is still standing-------WOW!!!

[mountain_man]

Thanks. I've done it that way too before I thought to use a jig. I hewed the logs with an axe too. Took me 4 years to finish that house.

[lucek]

If my comment sounded like I was disparaging this instructable I'm sorry. I was just mentioning my first exposure to the skill and talent required to build thees magnificent houses.

[snworks]

The Intro picture appears to have big (3"?) gaps, especially on the wall to the right. Doesn't look workable for chinking at all. Isn't the point of notching to get the logs close? Steps 6 and 7 show small gaps that one would expect. Is this a different structure?

[mountain_man]

Smaller gaps are easier, faster and less expensive to chink. The photos were taken while chinking a gap of 1.5 inches. The cabin has a gap of 2.5 inches.