Charring and drying rough cut lumber, moving material around the cabin, Wood stove efficiency
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- A busy day at the homestead preparing materials for the next phase of my log cabin build. Is it really off-grid? The cabin really stays warm in this weather with this large wood stove.
BTW, chaga is back in stock on my website and if you use the coupon code, THANKS10, you'll receive 10% off your order.
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“For only one man” you have done a fantastic job in all you have achieved in such a short time. I watch many people who like you are living off grid and l have not seen anyone who has done as much as you have single handed. Some like you want to do it alone but you often see they have help when needed, ie the roof, beams and the actual roof haven’t seen anyone that has actually built a cabin on his own. Thank you for showing us how it’s done and taking us along on your journey.
Shawn is great, but also check out another guy called Chris Harbour. I guarantee you, you will be pleasantly shocked, he can Macgver almost anything in addition to his organic farming, brewing, livestock raring and small busines.
Who actually built (2) cabins on his own and fully documented it.
Not an fantastic job, but an AMAZING work!!
… no question, he‘s a great guy - but not the only one…
He is not the messiah of woodwork
Still I will bet you that Shawn would have LOVED to have had a son. That's how things got done back in the past. One man is very awkward and inefficient for work done. It's nice to have another warm body on the other end of a board of wood. I honor that one daughter of his who is at least willing to learn - alas she's a petite lass and no match for a typical male's physical strength. (It would be interesting to see Shawn's sister's physique - she might have inherited Shawn's robustness from their family's gene pool).
Good morning Shawn. I would not worry about those who say the use of fossil fuel tools to help you build. There are not many who can build a cabin by themselves, over a years time, working during the coldest of days to the hottest with bugs swarming, lifting those logs hundreds of pounds each up to over their heads using hand tools. For me, you are one man who has great craftsmanship in building. If you need a power tool here and there, do it. Plus you are filming and editing also, which takes a lot of time. Those who question the title off grid probably could not do what you have within one year in the conditions of a forest. I tip my hat to you. Keep doing what you are and thank you for sharing with us.
When laying out the site, it is always worth considering putting a woodpile or small woodshed (maybe better for your climate) next to the path between the cabin and the outhouse.
That way, whenever you use the outhouse, it is very little extra effort to bring a log or two back for the stove/fire.
I've come across a few folks who have successfully used that strategy and had great success - they barely even notice bringing in firewood anymore.
Awesome idea. Thanks
Sounds like a great idea for sure
Cali laying there watching you talk like she understands everything you're saying cracked me up. After all this time with you she probably DOES understand what you're saying!
Dogs are pretty smart. I am sure Calif does understand. She is so cute too.
hahaha I came here to say the same thing at 9:45
@@chadmatejcek1909 ☺👍🏻
You’re one man that can’t do it all at once, but as we’ve seen you can do it all. Loving both channels.
Cali is so funny. She can lie right next to you with the noise and heat from the propane burner but if snow falls off the roof she’s out of there. Take care,be safe. ❤ Dorset, UK
This new metal roof is working well with shedding the snow and saving you lots of time not having to shovel it off your roof (like your old cabin). Beautiful cabin. You should be so proud of your great accomplishments with this cabin build.
One thing I have learned by experience rather than being a plant taxonomist, is that white pines do not age well. My late father planted them on our 5 acres of an old farm. Three at the end of the driveway were just huge. After a storm took off a 10" limb high up on one which was leaning slightly the other way, I felt the need to have them cut as that "balance" branch was gone. Neighbors had various opinions: "Glad you are taking them out to how could you take them out"? Several more were dying in the tops. Daddy planted them in 1937. The first 3 went to a mill and the later ones were milled by a man working nearby who asked to have them. Pines, etc., are first successional species which need full sun. As time goes by they provide shade for the sun intolerant species such as the hardwoods. Then the pines which survive are emergent trees of by-gone times. Now you live in the boreal region so conifers rule, but as a species, white pine do not age well. A note from your neighborhood botanist in West Virginia. BTW, just got a Canaan Fir Christmas tree. Canaan Valley is where the southern Fraser fir and the northern balsam fir meet and hybridize to form the Canaan fir. "Canaan" here is pronounced "cuh,NANE".
I would think Shawn's primary concern would be their lumber, for which Eastern white pine has superior qualities. If risk, better than average. They make an excellent specimen species and are generally considered the most attractive pine spp. in their natural range. They do better in well-drained non clay soils. They do tend to grow higher than other species and therefore are exposed to more wind and thus breakage of their soft wood limbs. Rust could explain the loss of these limbs and root rot their premature failure. In urban areas, soil disturbance and compaction will come into play. Many white pines planted offsite in less than suitable soil conditions don't do as well. Maybe your experience is more localized and anecdotal?
@@capturehishonor9292 white pines while beautiful.. are the cheapest lumber for a reason.. whitewood.
Do not use structurally
Dolly Sods has amazing alpine boreal forests of red spruce/ Canaan fir.. looks like the barrens of Quebec/ Newfoundland
@@TaigaTurf Not sure what you have against white pine. While inexpensive, cheap or structurally unsound do not readily come to mind. Eastern white pine is a very versatile, popular, durable, workable, straight grain, easy to nail, easy to stain, sturdy, shock-resistant, easy to cut, easy to shape, and easy to carve.
Eastern white pine has been called the 2d most stable construction wood in America (Douglas fir is #1). White pine has also been called the best wood for timber framing. There are millions of homes and boats, some over 350 years old, built with Eastern white pine, that are just as sound today as when they were built. The King of England sure didn't believe white pines were cheap.
I am not in the sale or profit of pine or any other wood product. But I have closely worked with over 300 species of North American trees/wood for over 50 years, from silviculture, logging, lumber production, clipper ship production, forestry, arboriculture and forensic science. You could do worse than Eastern white pine as a building material.
@@capturehishonor9292 I prefer southern yellow pine.. if working with pine.
I respect your opinion however
Just an idea: if you put snow guards on your roof, I believe the snow will fall off in smaller, safer sheets. And Cali will not be scared💜
I always regard 'off grid' as not being connected to any 'pay for' connected utilities. You deal with your own water, power, sewage etc. You are most definitely Off-Grid. 😎👍
Yes building a cabin is one thing to consider about living in the woods but drying the timbers out from inside, is a bigger job than anyone could envisage except you and with Cali listening intently on your every word shows how much patience she has for you and us your viewers. Cheers Shawn.
Yep. In an ideal world...
Your videos are as much about Cali as they are about self-reliance. Every other dog in the world dreams about a life like hers. I don't mean to say she's stealing your thunder as much as complimenting it by specializing in play time. You have amazing accomplishments under your belt, more than any other mortal I know, and Cali balances out all this work. On that note, I find your hunting and fishing vacations just as spellbinding as your lessons in construction and common-sense logic. Catching fish with friends on canoe trips and then cooking and enjoying the fish is a personal aspiration and I have done these many times in Maine. When you pause to explain what has happened and will happen, Cali watches you intently without a clue as to what you are talking about. But the pride on her face is as plain as day. You are man's best friend's best friend if that makes any sense. The bottom line, everyone, including dogs, enjoy your videos. All I'm saying here, is that your videos are stress-relieving, informative, interesting and more importantly, the snippets of your philosophy are enlightening. UA-cam videos come and go but your videos have staying power. I have been watching and enjoying your videos for several years and unless there is a major blackout, I will continue to do so. I applaud your efforts and sincerely thank you. You, your family and Cali are helping to make this a better world.
Just enjoying your video for today. For me, it doesn’t matter if your on grid, off grid, or just off your rocker, you are the best at everything you are doing, on line or off line, quality, perseverance,
talent, personality, and a great dog. Your creative process, and the results of your work are pure beauty. Just the enjoyment of watching you gives us older guys enormous entertainment, and a bit of wistfulness, wish I had done that or lived like that. Your shows are the next best thing.
Much thanks.
The main asset which Shawn possesses is an outstanding personality with real charisma. I've watched other guys who do the same general thing with self-reliance, but they are pretty much not very interesting to watch.
Based on your comments at the beginning, I guess we don’t have to worry about your running out of building projects! The journey continues!
You think of everything, Shawn. Seriously, nothing needing to be done goes unnoticed. And, unlike many, it gets done. The amazing process and results are here...and there, for everyone to see👍
How you manage to do all this is amazing, you help your daughter and in the summer you had three gardens going and also helping your sister and you have built this log cabin. You have done so much in the short time you have been on this property. I hope you and your family are well and keeping warm.
Incredible progress of one man building a cabin in the wilderness.
Well not exactly wilderness. Not as you should say "wilderness". Hopping in a truck next to a paved road leading to a town is not "wilderness".
I love your videos. They are so calming. You look exactly like my late brother so that’s another reason I like to watch. He was also an outdoorsman in the Appalachians. Thanks for sharing 😌
Shawn, off-grid simply means that you aren't connected to the electric grid, NOT that you aren't using energy. NOBODY survives without using any energy source ... and that's OK. Use the energy you need, and conserve what you don't need.
The look Calli gets with a big flaming propane torch is the same as my dog with the vacuum.
It still amazes me how massive this cabin is, being built by one man, mostly with hand-tools, log by log. I salute you, Shawn.
I had to laugh when you said “ i’m only one man’, you would never know it from how much you’ve accomplished in so little time, your definitely my hero! Great job Shawn ✌🏼❤️🙏🏼
Incredible progress in one year. In my feed today I noticed the video of the cabin with just the blueskin floor and basement done and thought of where the project is now and it's amazing.
No off grid structure on the Tube comes even close to the cabin you built . Great work .
That toboggan is awesome Shawn. Large size really helpful piece of kit for you.
Having the right bit of kit makes all the difference
Your integrity is refreshing…a virtue rarely observed these days! God bless you!!!
Shawn, Speaking from experience, as you ponder and plan where to build your barn be sure to plan for snow coming off the the roof, direction and pitch. You definitely don’t want snow and ice building up in front of the doors because if you don’t stay on top of snow removal you’ll find yourself in bad situation. I lived where we got 200”+ of snow most every year and I’m thinking you may get those numbers too. The cabin/home is really looking great!!!
Shawn very good work, the cabin look very and you almost finished before the winter, Callie a such a nice dog when you talking to camera she thinks you talking to her and she listen and looking you that is incredible she understand what you saying, thank you for the video and take care.
Great video! A good way to help groom your trail is to take 3 old heavy-duty truck tires and chain them together in a triangle shape and tow it behind you snowmobile, it works really well to maintain a trail!
Thanks again Shawn. Love watching you and Cali work together. You are a wonderful team. Amazing what you accomplish there. I'd like to peek in on the "commenters" who seem to know better than you how you should be doing things. Somehow, I doubt many of them can spell propane, let alone use it. For MY money, you are doing it perfect. (and that includes any mistakes or "do overs" that may come along) I really learn a lot watching what you do. I do a lot of "wishing" here. Thanks for the inspiration.
So good to see you and the girls recover from the business failure to make this life a success. And see the beautiful wilderness around you. It is possible to make it in the wild
.
I like this type of video where we get to see your thought process 👍
You are inspiring, doing so much all by yourself...stay safe, be careful,take it easy and keep warm and dry.
As always Shawn great video! Don't know if you have given it any thought but maybe in time you might want to build a RAISED COVERED WALKWAY? The constant snow clearing each and every winter I assume must be a bit annoying. The idea would be to link ALL outdoor buildings you intend to build and maybe provide extra storage for those outdoor items, just a thought. Thanks again Shawn, God bless you and your family! !!!.
Good morning Shawn and Cali, the cabin looks amazing I hope the weather is not too cold for you guys. Love the videos and your cabin. 💯👍😎
" I hope the weather is not too cold for you guys" - that depends on what one considers "too cold". Shawn is in Ontario CANADA for Pete's sake! An old west Texan like myself the mere mention of that word "CANADA" brings to my mind "too cold". 😆
Rule of air drying lumber is 1" of thickness per year and that's with stickers between the layers of stacked planks with good air flow, i probably would have built a simple wood shed similar to your prior outdoors kitchen and stacked all the lumber that was milled a year ago prior to digging the foundation for this new home. There are several simple solar kiln videos out there to speed up the drying of rough cut lumber.
Cali is so cute!
She is sitting there looking at you like you are talking to her.
You are doing a great job , i am sure that you are NEVER bored . We love your cabin !
Cali is such a good student, she listens and watches every move you make.
Good Morning SHAWN & OUR CALI !!! Couldn't sleep so found you here I AM HAPPY ABOUT THAT !!! You should have a melt down up there and we are having a warm spill now here in Northern Illinois !!! Am glad to hear your voice want to feel the wood again under my hands !!!
I love your cabin and its been so interesting watching you insulate the walls and then put up the plank over the insulation. The cabin is coming on so nicely. Looking forward to see you build your outdoor kitchen and other projects that are coming up. Love your channel.
I love that speech about the future outhouses. Cali was riveted & your most loyal audience.
Thanksgiving Day as I opened four of my home canned good that you inspired us to do, I thanked the Lord for people like you.. we keep our heat at 58degrees on our second floor level of the house…. Blankets are cheaper than gas! Lol
You made my Sundays a time I look forward to. Especially now in the winter.
I think you are doing a great job , I too work alone remodeling homes if it gets done I got to do it people do see the hours of time you put in off camera I understand because it's not that interesting to most of the people who watch but yes I know there is a lot we don't see that you do. Love it and thank for putting this on for us . Even at 65 and having worked construction all my life I still am learning.
Thanks Shawn your visions and ideas are just amazing, God bless y’all! ✅✅✅🤩🤩🤩💯💯💯
Sounds like the building 👷♂️ jobs never end. Hope one day you can slow down and enjoy your labor 😉. Good luck, Mike in the USA 🇺🇸
You have done another amazing job of this cabin build Shawn I am excited to see what spring time brings in the building process. Take care.
Shawn, good day to you.
I was just wondering what your better half thinks about this cabin. I know that she wasn’t to keen about staying at the last one, of course that was due to several things. Bugs, neighbors, much smaller, etc.
Your plans for this homestead are complex so that should not be an issue, with a compost bathroom and bedroom, five star!
Sean
Everyone is an expert…..live your best life that makes you happy
Hello Shawn,
Thanks for the update,,, all moving in the right direction... quote of the day must be "just one man!" well you doing a fantastic job.
Take care.
Paul,,
Someone’s living the dream.
The cabin is beautiful. We all love watching your channels. After thinking it over my husband and I are thinking you need a portico or a carport on your barn for your sawmill or whatever else you need to park to the side and protect from the weather.
I believe that's already part of his plans; a structure that will serve that purpose too.
Hello Shawn Im loving your channels. Your log cabin is beautiful. nice to see Cali in the videos as well.
Love the way 💕Cali sits and listens to you talking about your shed build! 😅 👍🇨🇦😎🐾🌲🔥
You have left your mark on the world. I love it!😎
Ignore these " know it all". Don't see them building a cabin. Use what you want to make you happy, no one else has to live there. You know there are always some people, just jealous. So happy how far your cabin has come. You sure are a hard working man.
Would LOVE a tour of your bookshelf sometime this winter.
Y'all are getting the rain that hit us the day after Thanksgiving! Everything is looking so good Shawn!! Great Work as always!!
Yay, more awesome building coming. Great to see such beautiful craftsmanship and Cali. Stay safe.
Beautiful scenery. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Shawn !! I am glad to see how well you are thriving !! By following a european historian on medieval construction techniques,
it is clear that then, they were working on the wood when it was freshly cut and were never cutting the wood after drying
since the wood gets to mineralized from outside to the core as the time goes and than makes it very hard to shape it.
Only recently with high frequence and power tools we organize wood manufacturing with a different model.
Otherwise, by using traditionnal techniques, it is a hole different game. Wood petrfication is no myth.
Your house has this nice swiss chalet look, simply beautiful !!
You do such great work! I love watching what you and your family are creating. Great job!
My father used to start a hot fire, then put a one big log that barely fit in the stove, and it would burn/smolder all day. Then he'd do the same at night. kept a place about the same size as yer cabin warm all winter like that. he'd use the air control on the pipe and the one at the bottom of the stove to keep it burning, but not burning hard and fast.
For one man, you have created what I can only call, heaven on earth. You have created more in the last few years, especially the last year, than most in their whole lifetime.
Cabin is no longer
a house.
It's a home !
By the time it's finished it will be a very Nice home !
Mike.
Fossil fuels are natural and using them in the limited way that you do is understandable especially considering you are one man. Transition means just that transition.
Amazing as always. Thanks Shawn
Thanks Shawn. Quite the puzzle you have to put up more building's! Wish i had one man like you. I can't even find one to pay to help me. I trapped a possum yesterday an relocated it. Today i got a raccoon and it's giving me the sad eye. It's gonna be hard to kill it. Got one more to go. They were in my attic. Thank you for the update. Glad there's a excavator to help you. That sled is really nice.
Even Josh and Erin over on Wild, Wonderful Off Grid, aren't totally off grid. They have a massive solar array and are more off grid than any I've seen.
I see one man doing it all. And I'm enjoying every mintue of it.
Shawn, I would put the whole mill under cover because the rails will start rusting after a while if you leave them out. Just my 2 cents.
You must be a major Craftsman to form wood into a beautiful art only cabins like this exist in the high mountains of Switzerland no one can build as beautiful cabin as you work of art
I think if Frank Lloyd Wright was alive today he be it Mays how beautiful your cabin is I hope one day the Historical Society will as beautiful Kevin has ever been built in America
I love Cali, I've decided to get a Golden Retriever next summer!!
You will never regret it. I have had 5 wonderful goldens in my life.
Golden’s are man’s best friend.
@@gail8494 Thanks, I can't wait, I'll spend the next 6 months trying to choose a name!
@@jakeh5756 For sure! I am so looking forward to getting her!
That is a stunner of a wood burner! It must be ready for its 🎥 close-up.
Good Morning Shawn, good to see you wishing you the best on beating all that's necessary before winter.. Your using some grand ideas. man, Nature throws it at you fast. Very cool operation, grand for you both. Good to see YA! .... Mike. & Kody-O
Maybe after you've settled in and have time, you could work on a magnetic copper fan heater. Very interesting, and they say they get really hot.
I believe off grid means that you are not on the power or energy grid provided by a company or government entity. When a person camps and uses propane for cooking and are not plugged into a power source they are off grid. You are off the grid. Fortunately, we’re not living in the 1850’s. I’m thankful for the inventions that have improved our quality of living and health. It’s fun to see people invest time and energy in developing their skills on historic living practices. I’ve enjoyed your videos over the past number of years.
shawn is the" one man, "who can do it all.
My grandpa used what he called a skid years ago when he cut logs and brought them in with the mules. It had two skids with boards across them to hold the logs. Your system works but maybe you could pull more with a skid.
Cali is doing her best to figure out what you saying. Such a good girl.
Зима пришла неожиданно быстро. Надо поторопиться с благоустройством. Всех благ
Good morning my boy. up and at 'em again. work, work, work. your place is really coming together, and you have been such an inspiring man for so many in a lot of ways I might add. Have a good day Jimmy.
It's fascinating and more interesting
because it's hard to see around me!👍👏
Shawn James! 🌹🍀
Have a warm smile! 🙏
Cali is enjoying the cooler weather.
Looking so good... hard work pays off!
Always amazed at what you have been able to do and everything that is coming
You should see about lumber covers at a local lumber yard to cover things you want protected. Not perfect, but better than shoveling everything of when it shows. And they're free compared to tarps (at least here in the states anyway)
Speaking about energy sources off grid...... Shawn, I worry about the solar charged lithium batteries in your beautiful log cabin basement. As reliable as these batteries have become, a single cell failure in a battery pack or a charger inverter failure, can set off a battery fire that is almost impossible to extinguish. At the very least I'd install the same fire retardant sheet material that you used under the oven area tiles around and under the battery packs. I liked the fact that you installed the lithium battery pack and inverter in a separate structure at your daughter's homestead - much safer. For a while GM was advising people to not park their lithium battery powered Chevy Bolt in a garage attached to the house - nothing like losing your car and residence to a battery fire at the same time.
Γεια σας! Είμαι από Ελλάδα. Θα ήθελα πολύ να σας παρακαλέσω να γινότανε μετάφραση στα αγγλικά. Θα χαιρόμουνα πολύ!!!🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💞💕 Τώρα που σε γράφω , έχουμε προπαραμονή Πρωτοχρονιά.💕💞 Σας εύχομαι καλή χρονιά και να μην ξεχάσετε να γίνει μετάφραση στα σας ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ σας εύχομαι υγεία αγάπη
. Και να έχετε και όλα τα καλά του Θεού!!!🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Und wieder tolle Arbeit geleistet und richtig schön gemacht 👍👋😊
When things slow down for you, how about a Q&A. Best to you, make it a great day.
Take time for yourself, 🤠, been watching from the beginning, you're doing God's work. ☕
I love the quote "One man can't do it all." haha wow watching you makes me amazed just amazed each year in really what all you do. You help me with so much one day you will see what inpact you have done for so many. Be prepared up on heaven's door the video will be lengthly. Be well. I can tell you read our comments for you answer my questions like in the same video. March on brother.
An honest admission of dependence on material civilization and its energy grids. Very commendable!
I love what u doing with the cabin how u explain what u are doing . Thank u Shawn james 💓 great job 👏
Can't wait for the barn build! I would build that next to have a nice place to work.
The cabin is so nice. ⛄🎄🎄🎅
Funny you mentioned that I always build the garage first but I also have lived in the garage while building the house.
Hello Mr. James . St. Catharines here. Been with you from your start. Love what you and your family are doing. I tried back in 81. But the other half got cold feet, about no doctors and no hospitals close by. We had two small ones then. I won't tell you about the price of land and material then. But , , , , FUCKI ! ! Anyway, reason for comment . Air tight wood stove . Love them , keep you warm five or seven times . But I watched you , just now , say how air tight the home is , will be . Alarm bells in my head. My Grandfather, and others , Pioneers of the North , told me about fire in the house. They had single pain windows and next to no insulation in the walls . Heavy curtains to slow down the drafts . Consider a outside source of air for the fire box . It beats leaving the windows open all night. Stay safe brother.
Maybe you should help the snow off the roof Shawn It could hit you or Cali
When I was living under a metal we used a long pole to guide it down. you will
sleep better.