Often we find that we have to re-notch an antique cabin… here’s a close-up photo showing our workmanship on creating new half-dovetail joints.
It’s not uncommon to find that the corners of old log cabins have experienced tremendous weather exposure and eventually rot out. Other reasons to re-notch a cabin include the replacement of rotted logs (as you can see in this “before” photo and the “after” one with replacement vintage logs in place). Also sometimes people want taller ceilings or window and door openings to be changed.
Originally posted 2015-02-08 23:15:03.
I am in the planning stage of rebuilding a 1 1/2 story knee wall 30X15 hewn log cabin that I numbered and took down several years ago. I plan to utilize the upper story logs to replace some of the damaged lower story logs. I have been told that the end notches are compound dovetail. How would I go about learning how to re-cut the notches in the repurposed logs so that they will fit properly with the upper and or lower log notches as the log stacking requires?
I am located in Georgia. I am not a carpenter per se, but I do have some skills and experience with tools, saws, chisels, etc.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Hi John!
Congratulations on your upcoming log project!
Often with true compound notches (in my area we would refer to them as “full-dovetails”) a pattern jig was put to use… if that’s the case for you… and your logs are of similar sizes with reasonable chink joints in between the courses… you are in great shape and shouldn’t have any problems.
But life (and log cabins) rarely works out that way. You will likely have to “adjust” each replaced log notch. I would do that by placing the replacement log in place and transferring any changes required to make a perfect fit. Any wood that you remove will cause the chink joints to close and you do not want to find yourself faced with no chink joints…. if this happens you will likely be facing the creation of new notches which will require creative thinking on your part with regard to perhaps, more windows and doors, or taller windows and doors… or more logs.
I hope this helps… it’s much easier to show… than to explain.
Noah