Finding flat planes within round logs...

The process of laying out and cutting the tops of the ridge and roof perlins was a new learning experience.

The ridge log was quite straight and went well.

Two more perlins and it was time to check the top surface alignments. Oh, oh, the results were not good and some adjustments were needed. You can see the notches in the middle two perlins. This was the depth to remove in order to get the tops all in the same plane for a good flat surface for the roof boards to lay on. Seems that the problem was with the string and distance it was away from the log where it curved and twisted. What to do?

The solution was to nail on a 2x4 at each gable log end. Then run two lines that would not touch the log but be in the roof plane I wanted. Then use a light straight stick and project the points where that plane intersected the log edge. I drove in some duplex nails and wired the lines to them to make sure the line did not move when the stick was slid along it.

And there we have it! The roof frame is cut and joined. Will take a break for a while and work on some other projects then begin the process of taking it apart and cribbing up the parts out of the way so I can begin the cabin walls this fall.

Raise the yard arms and hoist the ridge mate!

First mate Tommy O at the ready to roll the ridge log up with the parbuckel.

Yard arms rigged with slings so the log can be rolled and two come a-longs to raise the ridge. It was pretty easy to locate, mark and cut the mortises into the ridge with this set up.

Decided to trick out the knee braces with some "real" knotty pine just for fun.

The tricky part was coping out the braces to fit the ridge and king post. The first one was a learning process and took the better part of a day to master the setup for scribing and cutting the brace to fit.
Mission accomplished!

And now it is on to the task of marking and hewing the tops of the perlins flat to receive the roof boards.  This will require the lowering each for hewing and then raising them again for a final check before the roof framing is complete. How much more fun can a guy have?


 

Roof framing with whole trees

Seems like the roof is framed out of whole trees! Tricky but going nicely.

Rigged a nice parbuckle to bring the perlin logs into position for scribing.

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A little work with the chainsaw and chisel and the perlins are seated into the top chord of the truss. For now I have bolted them in place with threaded ready rod because the trusses will be taken apart several times during the construction of the cabin. They will be pinned with 7/8" oak pegs after the cabin has been sold and re-assembled for the final time on site.

Should be an interesting week ahead putting on the ridge perlin and then hewing them flat for the roof boards.