Wilderness Log Cabin

Old Axeman said:
When PBS first aired "Alone In The Wilderness" Montana and Wyoming PBS asked me to show my log building tools and talk about cabin building in the wilderness during their pledge brakes. Between brakes, while we watched the footage, Danny, PBS station manager and I were discussing what would make a man actually do what Dick did for 30 yrs. A lot of us guys talk and dream about doing it but when it comes right down to it, we dont. I spent 1967-68 living in the mountains like Dick did. Then, later in my life, work kept me in the wilderness sometimes for 2 or 3 months at a time. But 30 years alone for the most part? Just as Danny and I were talking, the narrator, speaking for Dick, said something like " you can not trust the weather in Alaska, it is unpredictable, just like a woman" Danny and I looked at each other and said -ah, there it is!
AxeAddict, thanks, I am glad somebody has watched the videos. The producer/camerman, Gene Colling, and I made all the "These Old Cabin" series videos with just the two of us doing all the work. 75% of our time to make all those videos we did on our own time and NOT on US Forest Service time. The same was true also for the "Ax To Grind" manual and video. That is why it really bugs me when people on this forum say things like- we have a right to talk about your work because it's our Forest Service too. Oh well, so far, I have gotten passed all that.
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Bernie,
please accept my apology if I have said anything to you that was out of context. Now that I know the rest of the story, it is so admirable of you to give your own time to benefit others for generations to come!
 
In the roofing video, the kicker course is brilliant. I live in a suburban area (I know) that had nothing but cedar roofs for 30 years and I don't believe any of them incorporated that. Rotted rake boards clear to the horizon.
 
quinton, not to worry

AxeAddict, thanks again

I dont know how or where you guys are finding the "This Old Cabin" videos.There are two more in the series.
-These Old Cabin Windows (NOT COMPUTER WINDOWS!)
-This Old Cabin Masonry (with my friend Dom DeRubis, a Master Mason)
 
They're all on YouTube. The log structure video and the windows video are my favorites, after the axe video. Wish I could find one of those glazier's hammers. Lee Valley has a reproduction but it's not on the level of either of the ones shown.

Mike


These Old Cabin Logs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKGpkTgU1Fo&list=PLJx6OTn__BdM2FGeV4dOF0W2gJ0GLSIXN&index=1

These Old Cabin Roofs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udsE8qZoJZg&list=PLJx6OTn__BdM2FGeV4dOF0W2gJ0GLSIXN&index=2

This Old Cabin Masonry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEs2jo6LjN4&list=PLJx6OTn__BdM2FGeV4dOF0W2gJ0GLSIXN&index=6

These Old Cabin Windows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG8Phb_skLg&list=PLJx6OTn__BdM2FGeV4dOF0W2gJ0GLSIXN&index=7

These Old Cabins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8k4v0xLtzA&list=PLJx6OTn__BdM2FGeV4dOF0W2gJ0GLSIXN&index=8

And of course, An Ax To Grind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22tBYD-HMtA&index=5&list=PLJx6OTn__BdM2FGeV4dOF0W2gJ0GLSIXN
 
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The glazier's hammer I use the most is an original, with original handle, that I got about 25 yrs ago from a hammer collector who wanted $85.00. I offered $60.00, he said no, I walked away. An hour later I thought, you have been looking for a useable glazier's hammer for at least 20 yrs and you walked away over $25.00? So, I went back and paid him his $85.00. This is still the only useable original I have ever come across.
 
Yes, I figure it's not even worth the trouble to look for an original now. But the ones you had made appear to be a good substitute. I've thought about talking to a few machinists to see what it would cost to try to make one.

Mike
 
I think, if I had to pick one question from all your videos, it would be this: Where do you stop? How do you draw the line when you know that you could "fix" that one next little problem? What's the guiding principle? It seems to me that might be one of the hardest decisions in preservation work.

Mike
 
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I was surprised to see Bernie use an Estwing roofing hatchet. Estwings are good tools, I just expected to see a more vintage example. I guess Estwings could be considered vintage now.
 
I have a number of original shingle hatchets including an 18c beauty with what I believe to be the original haft. I did not always like to have my original tools around when we were training people (edges get dings and hafts get broken!) I just forgot to bring my originals the day we shot the roof video. Besides, the Estwing is an old, small, leather handle carpenters hatchet I have had since I was young, and that does make it vintage.
 
AxeAddict said:
I think, if I had to pick one question from all your videos, it would be this: Where do you stop? How do you draw the line when you know that you could "fix" that one next little problem? What's the guiding principle? It seems to me that might be one of the hardest decisions in preservation work.

Mike
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I can't speak for Old Axeman but I have managed a considerable number of historical restorations over the years (still doing it). For me, where to stop has always come down to budget. You list the priorities and start deducting the cost of each from your budget. When you're getting close to the end of your budget you might consider moving up one task which more closely makes use of the last penny in your budget. Then you hope for additional funding at some later date. Whether your working for the private sector, a non-prof or a government agency it is always like this.

I look at public safety first. Then problems that are causing further deterioration of the structure. Next I look for items that give the buyer some 'Wow!' factor. Those things can lead to additional future funding.
 
Thanks Square_peg, that's insightful. But what if there's enough budget to replace the whole building? (A ridiculous example but let's say money isn't the overriding restriction.) Clearly a brand-new building would be safer, cheaper to maintain, cheaper to operate if served by any utilities, etc. But from the viewpoint of historical preservation, would you do it just because you can, and if not, where's the line?

In the real world I can imagine budget is always an issue to one degree or another, but I would think there are times when preservationist principles have to be employed. I appreciate your thoughts.
 
Old Axeman said:
When PBS first aired "Alone In The Wilderness" Montana and Wyoming PBS asked me to show my log building tools and talk about cabin building in the wilderness during their pledge brakes. Between brakes, while we watched the footage, Danny, PBS station manager and I were discussing what would make a man actually do what Dick did for 30 yrs. A lot of us guys talk and dream about doing it but when it comes right down to it, we dont. I spent 1967-68 living in the mountains like Dick did. Then, later in my life, work kept me in the wilderness sometimes for 2 or 3 months at a time. But 30 years alone for the most part? Just as Danny and I were talking, the narrator, speaking for Dick, said something like " you can not trust the weather in Alaska, it is unpredictable, just like a woman" Danny and I looked at each other and said -ah, there it is!
AxeAddict, thanks, I am glad somebody has watched the videos. The producer/camerman, Gene Colling, and I made all the "These Old Cabin" series videos with just the two of us doing all the work. 75% of our time to make all those videos we did on our own time and NOT on US Forest Service time. The same was true also for the "Ax To Grind" manual and video. That is why it really bugs me when people on this forum say things like- we have a right to talk about your work because it's our Forest Service too. Oh well, so far, I have gotten passed all that.
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I imagined I would not get the chance to express my appreciation for your work. It took me a while to realize that Old Axeman was you! Thankfully, you have posted here, so I now have the chance! I got into axe restoration in my fifties. The first source of really helpful information I found were your films. I watched them many times and often return to them for reference. I printed off the Ax To Grind. I thank you for your willingness to share your experience and your knowledge. I have tremendous respect for it. It has been my inspiration and my mentor. I count myself lucky to have come across it.
 
I agree with what Peg said.
To answer AxeAddict I will give you my guidelines that I used and taught for historic preservation and historic building restoration.
1) take time to study the entire setting, dont start right in "fixing" the problems. Look at the entire building, the landscape, the outbuildings, etc
2) Now, think about the most important person in the creation of the structure-the builder. Try and figure out, from reading the structure, the builders approach to design, materials and craft skills. Were they highly skilled or was adequate good enough. This is very important. I have had very skilled carpenters whose approach was to do a better job on the restoration than the orginal builder. Wrong! I would make them tone down their skill level to that of the builder. Notice that I talk about the builder and not the designer. A lot of historic structures had seperate designers who were not the builder. Anybody who ever built a structure that had a designer knows that the builder NEVER builds exactly what the designer puts to paper.
3) Now, think like the original builder in every way you can for your restoration project as it relates to design, materials and craft skills. Match existing.
4) Save as much historic fabric as possible. If not possible, then match in kind. Always keep and label a small piece of the original fabric. For example, a plank floor is used up and must be completly replaced. Match the original, save some original and build a artifact box to put the labled pieces in. When you finish the project leave this box in the attic with pictures, sketches and a written report of who you are and what you did and when you did the work. Allways date stamp the year of your work on the back/bottom of the new flooring.
5) DO NOT MAKE A STATEMENT WITH YOUR DESIGN OR WORK. This one is really hard for some designers and craftsman. Try and remember, the statement was made by the original builder of the historic structure. YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT THE ORIGINAL BUILDERS STATEMENT.

Whew! I feel like a preacher.
 
Old Axeman, those are the sort of guidelines I've wondered about for a long time. I like how those could be applied to any preservation project. Thanks you so much for your wisdom on that.
 
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Old Axeman said:
5) DO NOT MAKE A STATEMENT WITH YOUR DESIGN OR WORK. This one is really hard for some designers and craftsman. Try and remember, the statement was made by the original builder of the historic structure. YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT THE ORIGINAL BUILDERS STATEMENT.

Whew! I feel like a preacher.
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That's got to be a tough principle to abide by. Despite reminiscing about quality craftsmanship from the 'good ole days' I came across lots of substandard and poorly executed woodwork in old houses. Luckily for me these weren't heritage dwellings. Certainly though you do grow to recognize particular individual's workmanship on jobs; you can pretty much tell who did what in many old buildings. Everybody leaves their signature in one way or another.
 
"Everybody leaves their signature in one way or another"
This statement is also true for craftsmen like us who restore something historic. What I do is to try and make my signature sympathetic to the original builders signature.
 
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