Timber Frame Cabin; an anthology (and I don't mean collection of flowers)

This summer I started a new project ... a timber frame cabin. When Colorado was decimated with the pine beetle, I was devastated. Our ranch is covered with old growth Aspen, but we do have conifers which include the Lodge-pole Pine, the tree hardest hit by the beetle.. Then someone gave me the idea to buy a mill and put to use all that dead timber (I figure we have close to 1000 Lodge-pole Pines on the property). Well, I sold a seldom used tractor and purchased a bandsaw mill from TimberKing.

After I cut several of the trees down and saw how the forest responded by revealing much new growth not noticed when the old growth was overwhelming the view, I felt much better about the situation. And, from that point on, I looked at dead trees in a whole new light. I now look at a dead standing tree and assess its straightness, and thickness for the purpose of providing lumber for my many new projects. Oh, did I say a cabin? Well, yes, but, why not a new house for my wife Susan and me? And, how about a new shed, or a bedroom behind the existing house. The possibilities are endless when all you need do is cut down a tree and cut it into any sized lumber you want. No more going to the lumber yard to purchase over-priced wood for a project. Just cut your own to the dimensions you desire!

In the coming months.... years? I will write entries into this blog describing my trip down this path. I hope it will be of interest to others than my family getting a look-see at the progress. I know that when I started my search and research on the subject of Timber-frame building, I found a couple of sites doing this, and I found the info useful.

I will post pictures when possible showing the progress and, although I have high hopes, I know that when it comes to keeping these types of blogs current it is hard (I find myself very tired at night after a full day do this), I will try to keep the entries current as best as I can.

As I write this entry, the first big day of the project looms. Tomorrow, I will have an electrical inspection on the new service I installed to the cabin and to the old shop on the property. I have been working for several weeks now getting this done and finally I have my "final" exam. The whole process of doing the electrical has been a story in its own. Perhaps I will take the time to enlighten all those who want to tackle this type of work.

Well, that is enough for now. I leave you with a couple of pictures of the project with the last one the project as it looks today.

Scott