Chopping Cedar Rails for Cordwood

This was the pile of wood I was starting with. It has been sitting out drying for at least two years. The kids are in sleeping bags because it was pretty cold when I started this morning.

I used a chop saw borrowed from a friend. I know a lot of people use chainsaws to cut wood for cordwood, but I am much more comfortable using a chopsaw, and I think it must be more accurate. I built a jig so all the cuts would be the same. I cut the wood at 12 1/2 inches.

 Maybe 1/4 done after day 1. The wood was very light and dry. More cutting today and tomorrow and I can hopefully do it all. 

Summer Plans

So far, what I've built in my life is basically this:

A chicken coop on wheels made out of reclaimed and recycled building materials.
(The straw was for winter warmth, which is why you can't see the wheels very well).


For a couple of years now there have been two projects lingering in my mind that I've wanted to do.

#1-  A pergola

#2- A tiny round house/ hobbit house/ garden shed...type thing, (with reciprocal roof).


I'm going to try to do both this summer.

Natural Building Expertise

Sawhorses

If I am going to be doing some building this summer, I will need sawhorses...



Super easy project, took a very short time.

I used this pattern:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2011/09/15/how-to-build-a-quick-and-easy-sawhorse/

from the "art of manliness" blog- giggle.


No fussing with angles, and they turned out very sturdy. If I were doing it again, I'd make the legs about 2 inches taller. Otherwise, great.