There are a lot of things they don't tell you...

When you start joining together round logs with mortis and tenon there are a lot of things they don't tell you in the book or on the internet, but there is no better way than just doing it!

Getting to this point took a bit of doing.

First, with the bottom chord on the floor I rigged up some 2x4's at the planned king post height just to "get the feel" for how much space there will be for a loft if the owner goes that way. The standing 2x6's show where the cabin walls will be. The bottom chord of the truss extends 3 feet beyond the cabin wall on each side.

The bottom chord and king post are positioned on "sleepers" so that they can be scribed on the top and bottom.

With my trusty log scribe in hand and set for a 4 inch long tenon I begin the process. Keeping my eye on the two level bubbles I proceed. This is not as easy as it looks.

So far so good.

OK. And it even fit! I think I can do this.

For the lay-up of the top chords of the truss each had to be blocked and shimmed up high enough to just clear the bottom chord and king post assembly.

A mortise and tenon on each end will be used to join the top chords. Getting the length to the tenon shoulders just right is critical to keep the king post plumb.
 

Walla! It fit and now for the test.

The tapes confirm that the king post is at a right angle to the bottom chord.

And there you have it. One down and two more to go!

Log cabin foundation framed up

The weather has been good and I think spring is hear. Made quick work of the logs and joined them together with some dovetail joints to hold them in place.

The cabin floor dimensions are 12' by 16' and the 2x6 oak floor joists were notched and inlet into the center beam and both ends. Six 4' by 8' OSB sheets will be applied as a temporary sub-floor and layout surface for cutting and building the log king post roof trusses.