Last year we ended the season knowing we didn't have enough logs to finish the walls. In hindsight we should have known better - they did try to warn us after all. We'd put extra effort into doing the math and picking the right sized logs, but there are just some things you can't know until you are knee deep into the third technique of fitting logs together and there is no going back to last spring to cut more.
In the winter prior to starting our build, we had the privilege of meeting the most amazing couple from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. After having sailed the world’s oceans in their sailboat (built by them) Chris & Anni Law founded Ski Tuonela. They built the most amazing village of cabins nestled in the deep woods off the Cabot Trail and has been in operation for 20 years! Truly a hidden gem. When we visited their little slice of paradise, to say that we were amazed is an understatement. We spent three gloriously lazy days by the wood stove in our little one room cabin with a loft. We read, napped, hiked, ate, and dreamt about how the logs we cut in the spring would soon become walls. Walls filled with memories and good times. We spent some invaluable time with Chris and Anni swapping stories (they have too many to count) and they shared some of their cabin knowledge with us.
There were two things they could not have been more right about:
1. V-notching is an absolute must.
2. You will never have enough logs.
Both things we were certain we had covered.
See - V-notching is a ton of work. It significantly increases the production time of putting one log in place. Instead of just scribing the two notches and fitting those to the log below it, you scribe the entire log end to end. The patience and precision required to do so is something we definitely didn't take into account. We were completely naive - i'll admit it right now. We thought we knew everything and knew exactly what we'd do. We confidently told Chris and Anni we were just going to scribe the notches, and then "run a chainsaw between the logs" to even out any lumps and bumps. There'd be gaps we'd have to fill but "Hey - this is a rustic log cabin - a few gaps is no big deal." ***Insert Family Feud wrong answer sound*** YOU'RE WRONG! Try again!
Chris and Anni looked at us like we were crazy. They didn't try to push us into doing it a certain way, but definitely shared their opinion. Basically "You gotta v-notch." And they were right. After "running the chainsaw between the logs" we realized just how inaccurate and sloppy it was and just how big the gaps would be. We needed to switch gears, and fast. So, we bought ourselves a proper scribe and tried to find anything online to teach us how to use it. we managed to find a couple videos on youtube and then trial and error got us through the rest. The logs fit together beautifully after using the scribe and although each log took about 3 hours to put in place, we were glad we switched it up.
Now the logs. We thought we had more than enough. At an average diameter of 8 inches (some bigger) we figured we'd need 48 logs to make 8 foot walls. Makes sense right? 8 feet is 96 inches. Divide that by 8 inches a log and that give you 12 logs per wall. 48 logs sounds about right. So we cut 56 to be sure. We had more than enough... or so we thought. What we didn't take into account was the v-notches which we didn't think we'd ever do (it removes more material from the log essentially lessening the height of the log by a couple inches), and that some logs would just be too gnarled up to even use. When it came down to it we ran out. And once again, Chris and Anni tried to warn us. I believe the exactly words while shaking his head was "Oh, you'll never have enough logs, it's just the way it is". Mitch and I looked at each other "Oh, we cut quite a few more than we needed so we think we are actually pretty good" .. Chris: "Yeah, I thought the same, but ended up puttin' green ones on to finish her off." Little did we know we'd be doing that exact thing.
One day we'll go back to visit Chris and Anni - as new members of a a special un-spoken of club, showing off of our proud accomplishment in a picture in our hands, telling them "You couldn't have been more right."