Tom Bergman

Searching for sunken RMH.

Moderators, will you please close this thread?

The basic tenet of this thread, building a cabin with no money, is possible, but I have decided it is not what I want.
What fun is it if you can't:
buy some tools?
buy some books or other Permie stuff?
at least buy some redi-mix cement to help build a better foundation?
buy some fire bricks/other parts for the RMH?

I am kicking around some more ideas. This place has so much information and the people are terrific.

Link to another thread I started that relates to this: https://permies.com/t/175536/Building-Crane-Heavy-Timbers#1378915
The basic ideal is to build a log crane to lift the 8 heavy vertical posts for an octagonal frame. The posts would be either 15' long if set in the ground or 10' if placed on piers.  For me, I would probably use cordwood or board and batten for siding, or some combination. There must be a lot of ways to fill the spaces. Windows! Those would be good.
It was really cold and windy today. I watched, listened, and felt the wind roll through the forest. Huge trees bending over so far they must break, but no, bending back again. Trees creaking, groaning, cracking loud. Wind gusts so sharp you have to turn your back and hunch your shoulders. Awesome power in the wind. I tried to film it. You can guess where it will blow next. Just guess.

I am thinking of building something along these lines, but one story. I love the roof, yes, but also the post construction combined with framing. The possibilities to fill between the posts are legion. Also, I am paying particular attention to their concrete piers and how they joined the floor joists with the posts.

"Andy's Little Homestead" has a Youtube video of how to build a log crane for lifting heavy timbers:  

Does anyone have exerience/a better way of lifting logs alone or with two people?

I have an idea to use a crane like this to set 8 vertical posts in an octagon. 15' long round logs if set into the ground, 10' if set on piers.

This will be for the "New Member With a Project" thread in this forum.

I feel comfortable that I can safely take medium trees AND keep my chains sharp now. Feels good.

The first of the two oaks down, almost 15” diameter, and I AM NOT BRAGGING, but it dropped right where I aimed. More like, if I can learn it, you can too. Next one might not be so easy.
Funny though, I wasn’t going to do anything.
Too cold, blah, blah. Started moving some brush, next thing I know the tree is down. Guess I ran out excuses.

I talked to my oldest and best friend yesterday. He doesn't like building on an existing foundation.
So today was spent in reflection. What am I really trying to accomplish here?
Turns out it's more complicated than a place to keep warm and away from skeeters, at least in my head. It's important that I finish the project. And enjoy myself.  So far so good.
I saw a video of a reciprocal roof. An octogonal post frame, with the eight posts notched over the floor joists, which were set on those sonotube things.
I keep thinking that this construction should be round for the 360 view.
So, with eight posts joined in a circle basically, you could fill in around the framing with your choice of material. Mine for now is wood. That could be full horizontal logs, vertical logs, stacked cord style, siding, or any weirdo combo (I saw a house with cord on the bottom and vertical siding on top it looked very stout.
I saw another fellow make a crane to lift the logs, now I have an idea how to lift and place the posts.
I am not sure if we are allowed to link to outside internet places so I have refrained and only described on line videos in general terms.

That was pretty cool. Thank you DLJ

Safety equipment is needed, yes. Don’t have any yet except glasses and hearing protection.
Tip for the day: Unless you are collecting sawdust, zip or button your pockets closed.
So I sharpened my saw(took three you tube videos) with the 2:1 Stihl tool. Nice tool, should be easy to do from now on. Check that fear off. And it only took 18 months and now I have three chains.
Here’s the MS170 stuck as I clean up the top of the maple.
I feel pretty good. Got some excercise, knocked off a procrastination.
Tomorrow the router?