We have lucked into an enormous red oak when some good friends needed one removed from their property. It was dead and had a hollow spot near the base of the trunk. This made it a dangerous felling as we had no idea how far up the hollow went. But we’ve had a bit of experience with felling trees so we decided to help them out.
We secured a strap around the trunk about half way up so we could encourage it to fall in the direction of our choice so as not to damage any power lines or buildings. The strap was attached to a snatch block then secured to the back end of the 1 ton pick-up, again, so we could direct the way it fell.
After the initial cut, it got hung on the tree next to it.
Sycle cut a nice wedge and I put tension on the line, he then began the final cuts. It got hung in the branches of the tree next to it and started to twist, making it very unpredictable and dangerous. That also made the wedge ineffective and it was sitting on the stump, completely detatched from the trunk. The truck was proving to not “have enough ass” to pull this tree down so we let out the 12K lb wench and secured it to another tree in front of the truck. We had the 1 ton truck, assisted by a 12K lb wench and it still wasn’t enough to pull this tree down. Time to bring in the tractor. After very carefully securing a chain around the lower part of the tree, above the cut, it was attached to the front of the tractor. Finally she started to come down, taking out a locust tree with her. It was very scary and kind of awe inspiring at the same time.
TIMBER
All that was left was the clean-up. We managed to get four good 8ish foot logs out of the straight part of the trunk. It was all the tractor could take to get them loaded and they about overloaded the trailer. These logs will be milled down for doors adn floors in the cabin.
Off loaded at the farmWe paint the ends to control the rate at which they dry, which minimizes cracking
The experience hauling these logs the 148 miles on a trailer that was just a little too small accelerated the timeline on replacing it was something a little bigger.
20+5, gooseneck with 2 -10K dual axels. We can haul just about anything now.
Sycle took the second week of May and stayed at the farm to work on the cabin and catch up with some chores. He mounted the big windows on the sides of the cabin, finished out the last trim pieces on the roof, cleaned up the cut offs from the saw mill, and installed the cedar on the ceiling of the front porch.
We went from this…to THIS!
Piece by piece, we are getting closer to being able to inhabit the cabin. It will be nice to have a dry, comfortable place to stay on hunting trips, and during construction of the “big house”. We have already begun sourcing trees and logs to start milling the lumber. Looking for locust trees as they are nature’s pressure treated and will not rot when in contact with the ground.
Oh, and I checked on the spring last time I was there, it’s still flowing nicely and the dam is looking good.
So, since the tractor barn is just that, a barn, we decided to build a log cabin from the trees that were blown down by the derecho in 2019. No sense letting them rot in the woods. By doing so, it will give us a dried in, comfy place to “live” while we work to build the main, retirement house, and for when we’re down there hunting.
The plan had been to start building the yurt style house in the fall of 2019 but the wildfires and then the “pandemic” put the builder of the kits way behind. We contacted some local contractors about building it if we had the plans and they said they couldn’t find crews. Not going into the politics behind all that here…
Sycle has a MEWE group where he has posted progress comments and pictures. What I’m posting below is just a mash-up, copy and paste if you will, of what he posted in the group. Moving forward, I will try to post progress in real-time. If you are on MEWE and would like membership in the group, please let me know.
January 2021
Dug holes and used forms to make columns for foundation. Each is at least 16 inches deep and 16 inches in diameter below ground. Carriage bolts are in tops to hold the cabin structure and rebar is inside the concrete columns. Pressure treated 2×12 are bolted to concrete pillars.
October 2019 a bad storm came though and uprooted many trees on our place. As cabin build continues will have to try and harvest these so they don’t rot. Some large trees were topped and still standing, many with widow makers and need to be taken down. These will also be used. We bought a chainsaw mill and learned to make 7×7 timbers from the trees we harvest. Many people use a ladder as a guide but I want length. Bought 25 feet in guides. The chainsaw mill rides on top of this for the first cut which is the most critical cut and measurements to be made. High spot was trimmed from the base to help make a level cut. Goal is to center core of log so warping is less likely. The guide has leveling screws that set it so for even longer cuts you can get a straight cut.
Used old tarps for moisture barrier and got workout spreading gravel. Also added a side board to help support and tie in floor joists. Measured and put screws on corner areas, used cross measurements to square up timbers, attached guides and marks so I can move to make v notches, made sample cut with huge saw, attached first beam. Used construction screws 8 inches long and 2 feet apart to attach to frame. Used closed cell poly between frame and timber to seal any cracks.
V-notch
Ok, I have gone over a good bit of Alaskan sawmill, I have ordered a bandsaw Sawmill that arrives tomorrow. Can’t wait. It will allow faster and truer cuts.
Started sawmill assembly, lots of bolts, sharp metal. Will be finding large bottle of blue permitex for bolts along with new impact wrench. On cabin cut v notch and attached back timber. Burnt trash, sighted a pistol, test fired 45 acp +p 250 gr hollow point load (kick is noticeable).
I messed up a log by being tired and not measuring correctly.
1) place log in stable place 2) I made a 7×7 template of the desired beam I am cutting. 3) center template so inner rings are in center of template and use a level on top of template, mark with pencil 4) place guide on log 5) measure from top of guide to top mark on log on both ends. These have to be same. On log shown 7.25 inches 6) level out rest of guide 7) recheck end measurements 8) saw
I am ready to start floor joists and marked at 16″ centers. In doing found I am about 1/2 inch out of square over 20×20 structure, always strive for perfection on square but this will do.
February 2021
Ok, today’s limited work on sawmill.
Leveled gravel pad
Used pressure treated fence posts from tractor supply cut at 4 feet like cross ties
Used 12 ft pressure treated 4×4 for tracks and attached with 8 inch wood screws
Leveled, straightened, backfilled with gravel
The back piece with no support is temporary until I am done with 22 foot logs. Will make temp support next trip.
March 2021
Worked on wood stove install in barn this weekend, not quite done. Also got generator to farm. Set it near cabin build, will need a pole barn to protect it from weather.
We had a productive Saturday! Started laying floor joists, built backstop for the shooting range, and ate an all-American dinner cooked over a wood fire.
Did some cleanup where we have milled logs, got wood stove install in barn finished, put 2 coats of sealer in first log run, burned some trash, got started on floor joists.
Got to our place before rain set in and was able to mount tiller and till garden before it got too wet. Also tarped cabin so I can work in rain. Got over 50% floor joists set. Got about 50% sub floor 5/4 x 6 pressure treated screwed. People asked me why I kept trees close to site, hung tarp last night and sometime soon there will be pullies there for handling the heavy beams.
April 2021
Got to farm late Sunday and got busy. Tarp over cabin was full of water so grabbed hose and used syphon to clean it out and then took tarp down. Started putting sub floor in and for some reason got vertigo and had to stop.
This morning finished subflooring, tilled garden again, changed oil in tractor, gathered garbage, got things I needed at home and came home.
Next weekend goals:
Plant corn
Fix cracked valve on water tank
Get bearings on trailer serviced
Replace broken taillights on trailer
Get big sawmill put together
Stain subflooring to prevent weather damages.
Well life happens…
Too wet to set corn out
Got lots done on sawmill but they shorted me 4 brackets that hold the handsaw guard in place
Did seal decking
Did fix taillights on trailer and serviced bearings
Greased tractor
Greased tiller
Spent a huge amount of time on the tracks for sawmill. These have to be exceptionally level and straight. The cross pieces also have to be very level both across and sideways. I think this took about 4 hours to get as good as it is. Likely could be better.
No pictures today but we got some things done.
Carried toolbox with hand tools down. Had stuff scattered in barn and needed hand tools for mechanical things.
Figured I have bad plug on trailer lights and brakes will need that fixed for logs hauling next weekend.
Put crane back on trailer needs a bit more work.
Missing brackets for big sawmill got here Friday, got those installed
Rounded up tools for next weekend, we have some trees at Toni’s Dad’s house to collect. Ex. Truck crane in trailer, come along, saws, Alaskan mill, side mill, extra chains, top guide, side plane, oil, fuel, hand tools, straps.
Tilled garden and got corn and beans planted. Scary thing though, farmers co-op had no large bags of corn seed. We had to buy 1 lb bags. Many may not understand this but if farmers can’t get corn seed, we have no crops to feed this nation.
I hope God grants me a crop this year, soil looks great, 6 deer were taken between Toni, my neighbor, his wife, and myself so maybe less home body deer eating my garden. This was a Sunday there and back trip as Saturday there were other things required.
Went to Toni’s Dad’s to cut some timber already down and will have to go back, not done. One tree on the ground got a 14.25″ x7″x14′ slab I can cut to 2 7×7 at our place. Burnt clutch and housing on Holzforma saw, will replace it this week with a Stihl, nothing on earth better.
Gary has about 4-5 massive pines he wants taken down so they don’t fall in his turnaround for his camper. Will get lots of wood from them.
May 2021
Overnight and back trip. Friday night to Saturday afternoon.
Patched broken water valve with JB weld
Changed tiller to bush hog
Ran bush hog
Went as far as I could on sawmill, missing parts
Ran weed eater around solar panels and barn
Poisoned half a dozen fire ant mounds
Packed up items for other projects
Measured to weld adapter for portable 12k wench for tractor
Enjoyed tall red clover
Smiled at my beans and corn coming up.
Short time at Patriots Rest the following weekend but got much accomplished. Corn and beans coming in nicely. Sawmill is coming together. I think another full day and I can crank it up.
Two of several trees Toni’s dad wanted gone cut, branches cleared, milled and loaded. Winch helped greatly. Load was heavy. We went from Toni’s Dad’s to our farm then home, 6 hours driving.
Corn and beans are coming in good. We got bush hog run but bent a lip on deck and will have to fix that. Got sawmill operational and made beams as well salvaged a log I messed up on with chainsaw mill. 30 minutes verses 2-3 hours is notable. We have 13 beams ready to attach. Also started cutting and splitting fire wood for winter. Some of the scrap will be used for kindling and outdoor fire pit. Toni stacked while I split.
June 2021
Headed down Thursday night taking couple days off. Friday got 4 timbers milled and 5 set on cabin. Learned to use a jig that makes angles easy to cut. This one log was bent and bowed, hence clamps and come along.
Set a bad piece yesterday and got all but one screw out, not a problem tractor pulled wood off the 10-inch screw then I used vice grips to remove screw and replaced with better wood.
Raining all day so far Sunday, loaded up a nice piece of poplar for a class u am teaching next Saturday on chainsaw mills.
Ok, last weekend we got a resource to cut some very large oak. Large enough to cut doors from a single slab. Upgraded Alaskan mill to 59 inches and got winch mount done on trailer in evenings this week. Will schedule next Saturday to cut some big slabs with this absolute beast of a saw.
Large whitetail hanging out, hope he stays until deer season.
Did cleanup Saturday sawing and splitting leftovers for fire pit wood we cook with and got it stacked.
Spent the day cutting red oak slabs from a tree that had been down for about 4 years. Got some really pretty wood for cabin doors and who knows what else.
There is still more to cut but that will have to wait for another day. We’ll run this load to the farm tomorrow and run the bushhog.
Quick down and back trip to drop off the slabs and trailer. Garden is looking good! Best one we’ve had so far, but it’s taken quite a bit of work to get the soil conditions right.
July 2021
Corn almost waist high, beans coming around corn stalks, even some squash blooming.
We got our goals accomplished.
firewood
clean up slabs
run bush hog.
I call the rig in many of the pictures a Tennessee Chainsaw planner. Worked well.
Got to farm Sunday evening and unloaded large slabs we cut the day before.
I already had an oak log on the sawmill so I sliced 8-12inch 5/4 planks 16 feet long and got them stored in the dry. Got camp set up.
Monday 12 am to 4 am hard rain, around daybreak the leftover mist subsided and I got to work. Stack of timbers shrank over the week and cabin walls are 8 high as of today.
Came home tired a bit beat up, ready to soak in Epsom salt and sleep in a bed.
City Girl on the Farm 