Shawn, you are way too hard on yourself. You have awesome skills that most people can only wish they had. Your cabin looks awesome, and you are doing a fantastic job. Not to mention that you are building it alone in the woods with hand tools. You should be very proud.
Yes it looks great however Shawn has to live in it with his wife. So to us viewers it looks like he is too hard on himself since it looks great to us, but I understand his position too. He want to do as good of a job as possible since he and his wife have to look at it every day.
@@Lowlanders Nevertheless, Shawn makes a very good point, which is, "Perfection is the enemy of good." We should not let our ignorance or lack of skill in a certain area keep us from jumping in and learning something new or unfamiliar. Which is worse, a life full of regret about things that we should have done or could have done but didn't, or a being a little irritated by the things we did do, but maybe not perfectly?
Nevertheless he takes pride in all he does. And always accomplishes what he sets out to accomplish. Very admirable. With amazing work ethic. I'm grateful he shares his journey with us all.
Shawn this whole cabin is built by you and you alone. I am no expert but I would be so proud to have this cabin. you have come a long ways. The perfect mans world. May you have a great and safe 2023
Ha ha ha, Love your honesty Shawn. "Expect perfection but rarely able to achieve it" is my life story as well. Like you say the important thing is to have a go.
Given your massively successful effort building this cabin, I wouldn’t be too disappointed with how nice the chinking material looks between the logs! Now, being a little cautious about the wiring is another topic. You’re doing a creat job!
It's a log cabin in the wilderness! It's not Windsor Castle, or Buckingham Palace! It's meant to look rustic and wild with a roughness to it. If it's dry and warm, it's doing it's job. Just enjoy it as it is, and you can say that YOU built it. Love your work and skills. Give Cali a cuddle for me.
Awesome job.......having seen a few cabins built on UA-cam..... you should be very proud of your achievements. Looks fantastic, I'm sure you and your family will enjoy it for generations to come.
Good morning, Shawn - the place looks great drastic improvement from the old cabin much more space. A sealed in cabin with a roof over your head and heat is all you need. I'm sure you have a lot of projects coming up so sealer up and move on. Thanks for sharing these vids as always!!
I would suggest the right tool a mason strike ... essentially a spike with a beveled end ... for the tight joints and a small pointed trowel for the larger ones ... and your golden .. any size gap can then be pressed neatly in place ... without adding rough lines from bristles to hold dirt and filth in ...
Perfection comes over time and with repetition, you're right in what you're saying here. You've also displayed this over the years on this channel by always working and learning from previous mistakes. Life is the long game and sometimes you need to be reminded of that so you can get out of your own head. Thanks for everything you do here Shawn.
Hi Shawn, Re your comment on the ground rod, another solution is that in B.C. you can get galvanized "ground plates" that can achieve the same results. They are used where there is earth that is impossible drive a rod into. Just a thought And I agree with you on joint filling if the job stops the drafts it's doing the job, and really how many viewers notice?
It might be too late but a wet paint brush of the right firmness really helps even things out and adjusts for the variable widths. Keep a dry rag with an edge inside to help define edges when needed. I am in awe of your work.
I have been watching your videos for some time now, and although I enjoy your craftsmanship and skills, I also enjoy your stumbles and challenges because of how much I have learned from them. I have gone from having never used a power tool, never building anything, and nervous to try any renovations myself to doing all of these things. Watching you has taught me that I can learn and do, I can make mistakes and try again, I can overcome challenges and accomplish, and I can do it myself. I have grown so much from watching and listening to you, and have found my stride. Thank you, and I look forward to all your adventures still to come.
Have you ANY IDEA how many people would give just about anything to have even a few of the skills you have!😃 You have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about! Your cabin is amazing and any customer should be very proud to have a cabin you've built, imperfect chinking and all! I know I would! ❤. You are an amazing man in so many ways.
Fantastic that you pointed out that you aren't perfect and that anyone can start on what they want to do if you focus on the goal rather than perfection! Thank you for that. I'm sure you gave incentive to a lot of people. :)
Shawn, take a step back. Take a step back from yourself. See the beauty of the creation from your hands, mind and determination. YOUR PLACE IS A BEAUTIFUL WORK OF ART! It is full of the goodness of your spirit.
One can’t be a master of everything most would be pleased to be great at one thing. What you have achieved is amazing and we love watching you at work.
I've done art with wood over 70 years and I learn that creativity walks hand in hand with mistakes and love for what you do. Don't compare what you do with others. Be inspired by the beauty of nature around you that celebrates the imperfections of the good the bad and the ugly. Let your love dream. God Bless you Shawn, mister creative man. You are awesome.
I’ve used the same product on my log home exterior hand twolled it in and used a wet sponge to smooth it great product has been there for over ten years now .
Because of the fear of failing so many people talk themselves out of accomplishing a single thing in life. I so appreciate your work ethic, candor and "stick-to-it" attitude.
I have watched your videos since you laid the first logs on your previous cabin. You have tremendous skills and abilities. Your right when you say it’s mind over matter……. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. Great work and excellent content.
Watching you jump right in to any task with confidence and finishing the job, even if it isn’t absolutely perfect, is one of the things I appreciate most about watching, and inspires me.
Suggestion from an old potter, push in the clay with your fingers and smooth it off with a sponge. A ladies facial sponge could be best, it’s smoother and flexible, just dampen it and it will be easier and a reasonable finish. Sea sponge could be ok too.
I cannot even comprehend what the feeling has to be for a man to build his own cabin by himself using hand tools basically. Amazing job, Shawn. My 94 year old mother also enjoys your videos as you build a new homestead. God bless you and keep safe.
There is no way I could ever do what you've done but I would love too! I'm a woman but love watching such talent! Give yourself credit for achieving such a beautiful work of art! I'm truly envious 😀
Right on! As self-reliant homesteaders, we should strive for perfection only when it affects safety and performance. Clean grout lines don't help when we run out of firewood or potatoes. You're awesome.
Great job on your cabin prediction does not matter Here is my story about ground rods many years ago I was adding powered to a cabin in the country and to pass inspection you needed to put two ground rods ten feet from the meter and 20 ft from the meter so after hours of pounding the first rod was half way in so I stopped to take a break and an old farmer stopped buy to say hello he you are working much to hard .he told me to dig a hole one foot around and one foot deep get a 5 gallon pail of water start your rod in pour about a gallon of water and start pulling the rod out and pushing it back in keep doing this until the water is gone and more water and repeat .It took me less than an hour and all 10 feet was in the ground
Shawn- personally adopting this mantra, after years of dealing with same paralysis, finally pushed through and with some careful balancing (experience and wife) living a good life….
This is I think my favorite video you've ever done. I'm absolutely horrible at doing projects. But as a husband and father, I must continue to work and try my best for better or worse.
You have NOTHING to be ashamed if in that home! I am continually amazed at what you can do with just your two hands. I am however going to put that quote, "Perfect is the enemy of good", on my wall. As an artistI continually struggle with my self imposed demand for perfection, thus robbing myself of the joy of creating. Thank you.
Another long & hard road traveled only by the few who actually try & succeed. There's an old quilter's quote which goes: "Finished is better than perfect." It can even apply to one experiencing the hard-earned rewards of learning and achieving, while single handedly building multiple log cabins & building structures on their own property. Kudos & admiration to you always Shawn James. You dare & succeed valiantly!
Shawn, you have done an incredible job on your cabin. I know for a fact I could never do what you've done. Mainly because I don't have the skills, but I'd be worried all the time that what I built would collapse on me haha. After watching you for many years, you've given me the itch to do it. I watched a lot of videos on making a deck with a cover and always worry if I did it right or not and will the canopy hold up to winter and weather. Keep doing what you're doing! If it works, you're warm and the cabin is stable and comfortable, you've done a great job!
There is no since thing a perfect item(thing or person) there is always a flaw somewhere. BESIDE Flaws or imperfection or inadequacies actually make interesting looks. Just look at your cabin, ITS great and usually build and VERY interesting. LOVE IT! Keep up the good work. Give Cali a pet and a toss of the toy for all of us.
Everything will look nice when you are finished. Don't be so hard on your self. Just what you have done was and is amazing. All the logs are not the same In diameters. Can't wait to see the finished cabin.
It is an interesting thought as the normal quote is "Good is the enemy of great." In relating to the fact a person will settle for "good enough" in life and miss out on the opportunity to become great. Your point is valid in your world here Shawn, all the best!
I’m right there with you. I can tear apart anything in or on my house and rebuild no problem. Plumbing, electrical no problem. Caulking, problem. I can’t even blame a rough uneven surface.
Instead of 2, 6 foot ground rods you can get one grounding plate that just needs to be placed under ground in a dug hole. The surface area of the plate is sufficient to ground your system any where in Ontario.
I super appreciate your message here. I know there is so many people like me watching your work in awe and thinking this is the greatest sht and I could never do it. So: thanks. You are still a model for every man out there imho, a guy with a very individual perspective and an incredible work ethic. Truly an inspiration.
Shawn. Just wanted to say thanks for this post. It spoke volumes to me at a time of professional transition. New starts in ones mid-50s bring up a lot of anti-vulnerability defences and anxiety. You said a book and it’s appreciated. Colin
They make a bit for hammer drills (real hammer drills, not the cordless drill kind) that is used to pound in grounding rods. I've done several on my property, and the ground here is hardpacked rock, clay, and more rock. It will stall at times, but if you keep letting it pound it will almost always make its way through. In decent ground, it can sink an 8' grounding rod in less than a minute.
Mr. James as you build your cabin you see the flaws. We the people see a beautiful work of art that you have built all by yourself! It !amazes me how much you have achieved. Maybe you wouldn’t build it for someone else, but I bet everybody watching your great videos would move into that cabin in an instant! I know I would! As the world around us is moving more and more toward chaos I think your idea of living off grid and being self sufficient is the way to live. A harder but simpler life style. Love watching your videos and thank you very much for posting them.
Unfortunately, way too many professionals are amateurs and still charge for their poor jobs. You are correct about needing to just do it and gain the knowledge as you go.
It's interesting to hear this conversation you have had with yourself. Like others who have commented, I see your tremendous accomplishments with this project and think there is no need for an apology. However, there is something to be said for having an ideal in mind against which to measure performance, and holding the value, intent, and action of making the results as good as possible. Considering how judgmental some viewers can be, your explanation is understandable. Well done.
A lot of what is considered skill in the finished product in rustic building comes from persistant determination. Really the 'skillful' only have to have a handful of tricks. I suspect even experts mostly muddle through. God bless the work. 💖🙏🌻
Your job is perfectly fine. I know that there are many of us your viewers that would gladly pay for your work. No mater how not perfect you think that it is.
One of the best carpenters I know used to tell me there is a circle of perfection. You slowly come around and get better and better then you end up not making money as you come up the other side of the circle. There is that balance between perfection and profit. He used to do completely wood trimmed rooms in some of the most expensive hotels in the world.
Hi Shawn , you should be proud of yourself ,your have put together a new home for you and family the last cabin was beautiful,and one that you are building now is a home that has grown out of the frost ,have a great new start to your new year , stay safe my friend.🇬🇧👍
i think for your own freedom to do what you are doing if it makes you happy, don't worry about anyone else you have always learned from your mistakes and that is the learning process. i have watched from the beginning and at least you are out there doing what makes you happy. you are a common sense guy, and that is what self reliance is all about.
Shawn you built a beautiful log cabin that you should be very proud of. Don't think someone who claims to be a professional builder would be able to do a better job. Enjoy the wonderful cabin you built.
As a painter, I would suggest using a flexible wiping tool. They sell rubber triangle pieces attached to a hard plastic handle, but it would be easy to create something similar. The advantage is that the flexibility allows for constant contact on uneven surfaces and the triangle shape allows for different sizes of gap. Keeping the mixture wet enough for easy wiping and flow into position is also a consideration. Looks good on camera though. Good work.
The requirement for ground rod is minimum two 8ft rods at least 6ft apart. In sand it may not be a great ground depending on how dry it is. You may want to drive the ground rods outside the cabin and run the ground wire in to the panel. You can also run 2/0 bare copper in a ditch but you need at least 20ft and that can get expensive and if the ground dries in summer you may lose a lot of effectiveness. You are looking for 25ohms or less of resistance.
Kudos, it's better to try than not at all. The last few cabin builders of many types, all have stated they have never done this before or are definitely not an expert, but they are trying. That would be you, The Outsider, Cabin and 50 acres, and Bushradical. Everyone has given their best effort.
Ha! Ha! Love you Shawn. My husband was in construction for 20 years. You two are alot alike. He will be the first to acknowledge that he likes things done right the first time. He calls it grandpa lazy. He says that he does not like to redo. He wants it done right the first time. I call it o.c.d. After nearly 50 years of marriage it no longer bothers me. I am neat but he is really neat. I just let him have his way. My house is always cleaner. The thing is do not leave a dish out that you are coming back to cause it will get washed. I have scolded him many times over this. I say just ask if I am done. He is wonderful,kind and a great husband and grandpa. He is now a great grandpa to two. Enjoy your channel very much. Bless you.
The cabin is a wonderful example of what one man can do if they put their mind to it. Dont worry about perfection. An example from my life is my garden. At 56 years old my wife "volunteered" her inside loving computer junkie who hates the summer heat husband to start "our" garden. Meaning I would be doing all the work. I tried it, found out I was pretty good at it, learned a ton, and found I really enjoyed it. Its been 5 years now, nothing is even closely resembling perfect. But its good enough for me and we eat a lot healthier.
You have soOOooo many tasks yet to fulfill, that doing your best and 'moving on' is totally fine! Like any normal complexion...it has flaws. Your home is beautiful and any flaws are what make it a 'home' and not a 'masterpiece'. Who cares? It is lovely and well insulated!. If at the end of all things, something still bugs you...hang a picture over it! LOL! Thanks 4 the vid. Health and God Bless!
Mr. James , I hear what your saying , But Look what you've done , pretty special the REST is History ! Time to enjoy it now , it will all Fall into Place in time so No Worries
Such a great lesson for all and it transfers to other fields. I'm really working on this for my crafting and my students desperately need to relinquish the need to be perfect. Sylvia Plath wrote in one of her more obscure poems, "Perfection is terrible; it cannot have children." I get my students to think about the metaphor at play there. Perfection is sterile, inert, and a literal dead end, and who knew that better than Plath who eventually killed herself. Creativity is like progeny; it spills over and flourishes and reaches into the future. Way too many of us get paralyzed in the ways you note here, Shawn, and we're trapped in a kind of perfect nullity. Pure, but sterile. It looks great.
Completely understand, perfectionist in one's head but struggling to achieve it in reality! I always try, but in the end, function over form always takes precedent for me. Keep going, you are doing amazing work.
I don't know Canada's code on grounding but I would put the ground rod outside the cabin where there is more water, the water helps spread any voltage out into the earth.
Shawn, you are way too hard on yourself. You have awesome skills that most people can only wish they had. Your cabin looks awesome, and you are doing a fantastic job. Not to mention that you are building it alone in the woods with hand tools. You should be very proud.
Yes it looks great however Shawn has to live in it with his wife. So to us viewers it looks like he is too hard on himself since it looks great to us, but I understand his position too. He want to do as good of a job as possible since he and his wife have to look at it every day.
@@Lowlanders Nevertheless, Shawn makes a very good point, which is, "Perfection is the enemy of good." We should not let our ignorance or lack of skill in a certain area keep us from jumping in and learning something new or unfamiliar. Which is worse, a life full of regret about things that we should have done or could have done but didn't, or a being a little irritated by the things we did do, but maybe not perfectly?
Nevertheless he takes pride in all he does. And always accomplishes what he sets out to accomplish. Very admirable. With amazing work ethic. I'm grateful he shares his journey with us all.
I think you are doing a great job that is a fiddly process. Agree while there are exceptions most of the time good enough is good enough.
he needs to test his cabin for mold thats what he needs to do
Shawn this whole cabin is built by you and you alone. I am no expert but I would be so proud to have this cabin. you have come a long ways. The perfect mans world. May you have a great and safe 2023
with hand tools even
Ha ha ha, Love your honesty Shawn. "Expect perfection but rarely able to achieve it" is my life story as well. Like you say the important thing is to have a go.
Given your massively successful effort building this cabin, I wouldn’t be too disappointed with how nice the chinking material looks between the logs! Now, being a little cautious about the wiring is another topic. You’re doing a creat job!
It's a log cabin in the wilderness! It's not Windsor Castle, or Buckingham Palace! It's meant to look rustic and wild with a roughness to it.
If it's dry and warm, it's doing it's job. Just enjoy it as it is, and you can say that YOU built it. Love your work and skills. Give Cali a cuddle for me.
Awesome job.......having seen a few cabins built on UA-cam.....
you should be very proud of your achievements. Looks fantastic, I'm sure you and your family will enjoy it for generations to come.
Good morning, Shawn - the place looks great drastic improvement from the old cabin much more space. A sealed in cabin with a roof over your head and heat is all you need. I'm sure you have a lot of projects coming up so sealer up and move on. Thanks for sharing these vids as always!!
Many of us would find it impossible to do what you do Shawn. I am impressed with all you do.
I love the imperfections, it shows that it was done with love, and not created like a cookie cutter cabin. This makes the cabin uniquely yours.
Try using a paint brush with the bristles cut down to half their length to spread the sealant
The brush is a great tool to use on stonework also.
I would suggest the right tool a mason strike ... essentially a spike with a beveled end ... for the tight joints and a small pointed trowel for the larger ones ... and your golden .. any size gap can then be pressed neatly in place ... without adding rough lines from bristles to hold dirt and filth in ...
@@kaboom-zf2bl A strike is great for brick and block but rock, stone or log joints vary.
Perfection comes over time and with repetition, you're right in what you're saying here. You've also displayed this over the years on this channel by always working and learning from previous mistakes. Life is the long game and sometimes you need to be reminded of that so you can get out of your own head. Thanks for everything you do here Shawn.
I see no flaws Shawn. All I see is AMAZING. Please do not stress. be proud of your work, you inspire all of us.
Hi Shawn, Re your comment on the ground rod, another solution is that in B.C. you can get galvanized "ground plates" that can achieve the same results. They are used where there is earth that is impossible drive a rod into. Just a thought And I agree with you on joint filling if the job stops the drafts it's doing the job, and really how many viewers notice?
Great message and refreshing honesty. Your cabin is beautiful, your craft is artful!
VERY good message! I've been saying the same thing for years. Don't sweat the small stuff. Everything is small stuff...
It might be too late but a wet paint brush of the right firmness really helps even things out and adjusts for the variable widths. Keep a dry rag with an edge inside to help define edges when needed. I am in awe of your work.
I have been watching your videos for some time now, and although I enjoy your craftsmanship and skills, I also enjoy your stumbles and challenges because of how much I have learned from them. I have gone from having never used a power tool, never building anything, and nervous to try any renovations myself to doing all of these things. Watching you has taught me that I can learn and do, I can make mistakes and try again, I can overcome challenges and accomplish, and I can do it myself. I have grown so much from watching and listening to you, and have found my stride. Thank you, and I look forward to all your adventures still to come.
Have you ANY IDEA how many people would give just about anything to have even a few of the skills you have!😃 You have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about! Your cabin is amazing and any customer should be very proud to have a cabin you've built, imperfect chinking and all! I know I would! ❤. You are an amazing man in so many ways.
Fantastic that you pointed out that you aren't perfect and that anyone can start on what they want to do if you focus on the goal rather than perfection! Thank you for that. I'm sure you gave incentive to a lot of people. :)
Your cabin is perfect! Any flaws add character. Just knowing how you worked and designed and accomplished every task is beyond belief!
Shawn, take a step back. Take a step back from yourself. See the beauty of the creation from your hands, mind and determination. YOUR PLACE IS A BEAUTIFUL WORK OF ART! It is full of the goodness of your spirit.
One can’t be a master of everything most would be pleased to be great at one thing. What you have achieved is amazing and we love watching you at work.
I've done art with wood over 70 years and I learn that creativity walks hand in hand with mistakes and love for what you do. Don't compare what you do with others. Be inspired by the beauty of nature around you that celebrates the imperfections of the good the bad and the ugly. Let your love dream. God Bless you Shawn, mister creative man. You are awesome.
I’ve used the same product on my log home exterior hand twolled it in and used a wet sponge to smooth it great product has been there for over ten years now .
I can watch you work - the way you approach it has a Zen character, that's satisfaction enough for me.
The motto of many Quilters is "Finished is Better than Perfect"!
It's the imperfections that make it all perfect. I love what you do.
Because of the fear of failing so many people talk themselves out of accomplishing a single thing in life. I so appreciate your work ethic, candor and "stick-to-it" attitude.
I have watched your videos since you laid the first logs on your previous cabin. You have tremendous skills and abilities. Your right when you say it’s mind over matter……. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. Great work and excellent content.
All i see is lots of love, hardwork and a beautiful cabin.
Watching you jump right in to any task with confidence and finishing the job, even if it isn’t absolutely perfect, is one of the things I appreciate most about watching, and inspires me.
Suggestion from an old potter, push in the clay with your fingers and smooth it off with a sponge. A ladies facial sponge could be best, it’s smoother and flexible, just dampen it and it will be easier and a reasonable finish. Sea sponge could be ok too.
I cannot even comprehend what the feeling has to be for a man to build his own cabin by himself using hand tools basically. Amazing job, Shawn. My 94 year old mother also enjoys your videos as you build a new homestead. God bless you and keep safe.
There is no way I could ever do what you've done but I would love too! I'm a woman but love watching such talent! Give yourself credit for achieving such a beautiful work of art! I'm truly envious 😀
Right on! As self-reliant homesteaders, we should strive for perfection only when it affects safety and performance. Clean grout lines don't help when we run out of firewood or potatoes. You're awesome.
It's a hand-built traditionally rustic log cabin, Shawn, its perfection is in its imperfections!
Great job on your cabin prediction does not matter Here is my story about ground rods many years ago I was adding powered to a cabin in the country and to pass inspection you needed to put two ground rods ten feet from the meter and 20 ft from the meter so after hours of pounding the first rod was half way in so I stopped to take a break and an old farmer stopped buy to say hello he you are working much to hard .he told me to dig a hole one foot around and one foot deep get a 5 gallon pail of water start your rod in pour about a gallon of water and start pulling the rod out and pushing it back in keep doing this until the water is gone and more water and repeat .It took me less than an hour and all 10 feet was in the ground
Shawn- personally adopting this mantra, after years of dealing with same paralysis, finally pushed through and with some careful balancing (experience and wife) living a good life….
This is I think my favorite video you've ever done. I'm absolutely horrible at doing projects. But as a husband and father, I must continue to work and try my best for better or worse.
You have NOTHING to be ashamed if in that home! I am continually amazed at what you can do with just your two hands. I am however going to put that quote, "Perfect is the enemy of good", on my wall. As an artistI continually struggle with my self imposed demand for perfection, thus robbing myself of the joy of creating. Thank you.
Another long & hard road traveled only by the few who actually try & succeed.
There's an old quilter's quote which goes:
"Finished is better than perfect."
It can even apply to one experiencing the hard-earned rewards of learning and achieving, while single handedly building multiple log cabins & building structures on their own property.
Kudos & admiration to you always Shawn James. You dare & succeed valiantly!
Pretty sure I'd be happy with it! I think it's beautiful, especially that front porch. I like that you're modest and truthful.
Shawn, you have done an incredible job on your cabin. I know for a fact I could never do what you've done. Mainly because I don't have the skills, but I'd be worried all the time that what I built would collapse on me haha. After watching you for many years, you've given me the itch to do it. I watched a lot of videos on making a deck with a cover and always worry if I did it right or not and will the canopy hold up to winter and weather. Keep doing what you're doing! If it works, you're warm and the cabin is stable and comfortable, you've done a great job!
I love it, adds to the hand built log structure that it is Shawn. Thanks for sharing and keep rolling
There is no since thing a perfect item(thing or person) there is always a flaw somewhere. BESIDE Flaws or imperfection or inadequacies actually make interesting looks. Just look at your cabin, ITS great and usually build and VERY interesting. LOVE IT! Keep up the good work. Give Cali a pet and a toss of the toy for all of us.
I smile...you are a good friend, teacher...
Everything will look nice when you are finished. Don't be so hard on your self.
Just what you have done was and is amazing. All the logs are not the same
In diameters. Can't wait to see the finished cabin.
The beauty of a log cabin lies not in perfection , but in its character, and you have achieved that in spades Shawn.
Shawn, it looks great and I'm sure it is excellent. I've come to believe that all we can do is to strive for excellence, not for perfection.
It is an interesting thought as the normal quote is "Good is the enemy of great." In relating to the fact a person will settle for "good enough" in life and miss out on the opportunity to become great. Your point is valid in your world here Shawn, all the best!
I’m right there with you. I can tear apart anything in or on my house and rebuild no problem. Plumbing, electrical no problem. Caulking, problem. I can’t even blame a rough uneven surface.
That cabin looks perfect to me, it has a own personality, the smell and sound, wood lives it is never dead like concrete and white walls inside.
You do what you do Shawn for us your cabin is nice you have builded it with your own engraving your own idea and turns out good. God bless
Instead of 2, 6 foot ground rods you can get one grounding plate that just needs to be placed under ground in a dug hole. The surface area of the plate is sufficient to ground your system any where in Ontario.
The best bit is the end!!! When it's all done 👍
A cabin built from the heart is beautiful. Still a work of Art. Such details and care that went into such creation is amazing. Awesome job.
Hello there👋👋,how are you doing today?hope all is good at your end? always keep your faith in Jesus Christ our savior and you’re blessed today.Amen!!
I super appreciate your message here. I know there is so many people like me watching your work in awe and thinking this is the greatest sht and I could never do it. So: thanks. You are still a model for every man out there imho, a guy with a very individual perspective and an incredible work ethic. Truly an inspiration.
Shawn. Just wanted to say thanks for this post. It spoke volumes to me at a time of professional transition. New starts in ones mid-50s bring up a lot of anti-vulnerability defences and anxiety. You said a book and it’s appreciated. Colin
Watching you for a looooooog time. Love it. Ty❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
They make a bit for hammer drills (real hammer drills, not the cordless drill kind) that is used to pound in grounding rods. I've done several on my property, and the ground here is hardpacked rock, clay, and more rock. It will stall at times, but if you keep letting it pound it will almost always make its way through. In decent ground, it can sink an 8' grounding rod in less than a minute.
Mr. James as you build your cabin you see the flaws. We the people see a beautiful work of art that you have built all by yourself! It !amazes me how much you have achieved. Maybe you wouldn’t build it for someone else, but I bet everybody watching your great videos would move into that cabin in an instant! I know I would! As the world around us is moving more and more toward chaos I think your idea of living off grid and being self sufficient is the way to live. A harder but simpler life style. Love watching your videos and thank you very much for posting them.
Thanks for your honesty...your work is still incredible to me!
Unfortunately, way too many professionals are amateurs and still charge for their poor jobs. You are correct about needing to just do it and gain the knowledge as you go.
For maximum safety; 2 grounding rods 6 feet apart..
Or hire an electrician to go over the system when done.
Roofing, you're definitely an expert.
100% correct! When ever you do something that you've never done before - baby steps! You cannot run until you learn to walk by crawling!
It's interesting to hear this conversation you have had with yourself. Like others who have commented, I see your tremendous accomplishments with this project and think there is no need for an apology. However, there is something to be said for having an ideal in mind against which to measure performance, and holding the value, intent, and action of making the results as good as possible. Considering how judgmental some viewers can be, your explanation is understandable. Well done.
Shawn, I agree that functionality is more important than astettics. Great job cabin looks well built and should last a long time. 👌👌
Your work looks great. Nothing stands out as a pour job. Thanks for sharing.
Not flaws, unique touches to your work.
A lot of what is considered skill in the finished product in rustic building comes from persistant determination. Really the 'skillful' only have to have a handful of tricks. I suspect even experts mostly muddle through.
God bless the work. 💖🙏🌻
Your job is perfectly fine. I know that there are many of us your viewers that would gladly pay for your work. No mater how not perfect you think that it is.
One of the best carpenters I know used to tell me there is a circle of perfection. You slowly come around and get better and better then you end up not making money as you come up the other side of the circle. There is that balance between perfection and profit. He used to do completely wood trimmed rooms in some of the most expensive hotels in the world.
Hi Shawn , you should be proud of yourself ,your have put together a new home for you and family the last cabin was beautiful,and one that you are building now is a home that has grown out of the frost ,have a great new start to your new year , stay safe my friend.🇬🇧👍
There are no imperfections...They are design elements. I think you're efforts are great. As long as Cali is happy all is good.
Shawn, your whole cabin is beautiful. A really wonderful achievement. ❤️
Thank you , Shawn .
🐺
You are a true craftsman! Of course you don’t feel you could charge for you work. But your cabin is awesome!
i think for your own freedom to do what you are doing if it makes you happy, don't worry about anyone else you have always learned from your mistakes and that is the learning process. i have watched from the beginning and at least you are out there doing what makes you happy. you are a common sense guy, and that is what self reliance is all about.
Try a cake decorating tip. Don’t stress over it. It’s yours and it’s amazing! Thank you for sharing
Shawn you built a beautiful log cabin that you should be very proud of. Don't think someone who claims to be a professional builder would be able to do a better job. Enjoy the wonderful cabin you built.
As a painter, I would suggest using a flexible wiping tool. They sell rubber triangle pieces attached to a hard plastic handle, but it would be easy to create something similar. The advantage is that the flexibility allows for constant contact on uneven surfaces and the triangle shape allows for different sizes of gap. Keeping the mixture wet enough for easy wiping and flow into position is also a consideration. Looks good on camera though. Good work.
Agreed. Fashion a small rubber kitchen spatula to the desired contour.
The requirement for ground rod is minimum two 8ft rods at least 6ft apart. In sand it may not be a great ground depending on how dry it is. You may want to drive the ground rods outside the cabin and run the ground wire in to the panel. You can also run 2/0 bare copper in a ditch but you need at least 20ft and that can get expensive and if the ground dries in summer you may lose a lot of effectiveness. You are looking for 25ohms or less of resistance.
Kudos, it's better to try than not at all. The last few cabin builders of many types, all have stated they have never done this before or are definitely not an expert, but they are trying. That would be you, The Outsider, Cabin and 50 acres, and Bushradical. Everyone has given their best effort.
Ha! Ha! Love you Shawn. My husband was in construction for 20 years. You two are alot alike. He will be the first to acknowledge that he likes things done right the first time. He calls it grandpa lazy. He says that he does not like to redo. He wants it done right the first time. I call it o.c.d. After nearly 50 years of marriage it no longer bothers me. I am neat but he is really neat. I just let him have his way. My house is always cleaner. The thing is do not leave a dish out that you are coming back to cause it will get washed. I have scolded him many times over this. I say just ask if I am done. He is wonderful,kind and a great husband and grandpa. He is now a great grandpa to two. Enjoy your channel very much. Bless you.
I think you have the right blend of self criticism and reality. Good advice for the novice. Thanks. 😊
When you are finished you will be a pro at it.
Dear Shawn James.
Happy new year to you, your family, friends and Cali 💚 of course.
Best regards, luck and health in particular.
Thanks for filming Shawn. 👍😁
The cabin is a wonderful example of what one man can do if they put their mind to it. Dont worry about perfection. An example from my life is my garden. At 56 years old my wife "volunteered" her inside loving computer junkie who hates the summer heat husband to start "our" garden. Meaning I would be doing all the work. I tried it, found out I was pretty good at it, learned a ton, and found I really enjoyed it. Its been 5 years now, nothing is even closely resembling perfect. But its good enough for me and we eat a lot healthier.
You have soOOooo many tasks yet to fulfill, that doing your best and 'moving on' is totally fine! Like any normal complexion...it has flaws. Your home is beautiful and any flaws are what make it a 'home' and not a 'masterpiece'. Who cares? It is lovely and well insulated!. If at the end of all things, something still bugs you...hang a picture over it! LOL! Thanks 4 the vid. Health and God Bless!
Always learning from you.😁🇨🇦
Great job on 👍 😎 Tiny cabin UA-cam video
It looks awesome! And that’s the end of it! Good job!
Well put, everyone could relate to avoiding tasks that we’re not so confident in. I’m inspired, Think i’ll go tackle some plumbing.
Mr. James , I hear what your saying , But Look what you've done , pretty special the REST is History !
Time to enjoy it now , it will all Fall into Place in time so No Worries
I zoomed in and I don’t see any flaws! Always say to yourself “ This is unique for me and my family! It looks good Shawn!
I prefer there that has character ... every house has something that sets it apart ...
I like the way it looks, its fine. It dont need to be perfect really. Sometimes good enough is good enough.
Such a great lesson for all and it transfers to other fields. I'm really working on this for my crafting and my students desperately need to relinquish the need to be perfect. Sylvia Plath wrote in one of her more obscure poems, "Perfection is terrible; it cannot have children." I get my students to think about the metaphor at play there. Perfection is sterile, inert, and a literal dead end, and who knew that better than Plath who eventually killed herself. Creativity is like progeny; it spills over and flourishes and reaches into the future. Way too many of us get paralyzed in the ways you note here, Shawn, and we're trapped in a kind of perfect nullity. Pure, but sterile. It looks great.
Completely understand, perfectionist in one's head but struggling to achieve it in reality! I always try, but in the end, function over form always takes precedent for me. Keep going, you are doing amazing work.
I don't know Canada's code on grounding but I would put the ground rod outside the cabin where there is more water, the water helps spread any voltage out into the earth.