Log Furniture Blog

Have you ever thought about building your own log cabin? Even though making some kinds of log furniture might seem daunting, don’t let the size of a log cabin seem even more daunting to you.

How to Build and Furnish a Log Cabin: The Easy, Natural Way Using Only Hand Tools and the Woods Around You is considered the only real step-by-step guide on how to construct log cabins and log furniture. It offers great advice on how to build these items and structures by only using hand tools and items from nature to create pioneer-style homes and furnishings for them. In today’s era of power and the electronic and digital society in which we live, there are still opportunities to get outside and do things like our ancestors did generations ago.

The first part of the book describes how to build three different types of log cabins. These include a one-room log cabin, a one-room with lead-to log cabin, and a three-room log cabin. There are clear instructions on everything from building the cabin from the base up to installing various fixtures inside the cabin like a heating unit and lighting.

The second part of the book discusses log furniture. Benches, chairs, tables, beds, and even candlesticks are just a few of the many items discussed in this section. There is a lot of description and instruction on how to make each of these items. Even if you think it’s too difficult to get started, you will be convinced by the explanations that anyone can make log furniture if they put their heart to it.

Along with detailed text explanations and instructions, the book contains a wide range of helpful drawings to help steer you in the right direction. For all of the visual learners out there, you will be in good hands with this book.

The book was written by W. Ben Hunt. It was published by Collier Books in November of 1974. Even though the book is now a little dated, the techniques outlined in it remain tried-and-true methods, even today. Hunt is a self-taught expert on various crafts and manufacturing methods of the Woodland Indians and the Plains. He was born in the Midwest in Wisconsin in 1888. He spent his life teaching about nature and the outdoors, doing artwork, and crafting beautiful log cabins and log furniture. He has written a number of books on crafting log cabins and furniture. Perhaps his most recognized work is called Macmillan’s The Complete How-to Book of Indiancraft.

In addition to using books as resources for information on log cabins and log furniture, use LogFurniture.com for more guidance on these topics.

Log cabins are places of residence that are built entirely out of logs. In general, they contain an unsophisticated design in which logs are placed on top of one another to form the base and overall structure of the building’s walls.

From an historical perspective, most people think of log cabins as simple structures that are primarily one story and fairly small. Log cabins were primarily designed in a way that used minimal finish on the actual logs as they looked entirely natural. Round logs were used rather than the more modern handcrafted logs that are far more common today. Log cabins were one of the first generation of what we now consider to be a house. The main reason for this is because they were quite easy and quick to assemble, particularly when people needed a shelter from the cold weather outside.

The most common design of traditional log cabins involves laying logs horizontally. They are then interlocked together on the ends of the logs with notches, much like the mortise and tenon method of manufacturing log furniture. A more uncommon method that is not as structurally sound involves using nails to hold the logs together. Although this method may seem a little easier, cabins made with it tended to fall apart in a shorter amount of time and were much less durable.

The two main types of roofs for log cabins are purlin roofs and rafter roofs. A purlin roof is constructed by laying logs horizontally and notching them together. Rafter roofs are made with logs that are progressively shortened to form a triangular shape at each endpoint of the roof.

One of the most famous log cabins was the one-room cabin in which President Abraham Lincoln was born. Lincoln was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky and later moved to a log cabin in Indiana. The Lincoln Log Cabin Historic Site in Charleston, Illinois is a national historic park that houses a replica of the log cabin originally constructed by Thomas Lincoln, the father of Abe.

Log cabins are still in use in various parts of the U.S. Although modern construction has allowed for these cabins to be built with more stability by using other construction materials, many cabins that stand today are primarily made up of regular logs. It’s become popular for vacationers to rent out log cabins for a period of time in the mountains, although most are fully equipped with modern amenities unlike their historic predecessors.

Remember to use LogFurniture.com as your premier resource for information about log furniture and rustic log cabins. Most log cabins logically contain various pieces of log furniture, especially in these cabins in the Midwest or western U.S.

Although the Internet has become a major source of information for log furniture enthusiasts and manufacturers, there are several books available that contain a wealth of information on this subject. One such book is called Build Your Own Log Furniture: Ten Great Projects You Can Build For Fun or Profit.

As the title, you can use this paperback book as a resource to learn how to create your own log furniture just for fun or to make some money. You will soon realize after reading this that it isn’t as difficult as it may sound to build your own furniture using logs.

The book came out in 2001 and was published by Cowboy Up Log Furniture, Inc. It contains 160 pages of valuable information on all things log furniture. It includes over 200 pictures and illustrations to guide you through the self-manufacturing process in a step-by-step fashion with clear descriptions and graphics. The best way to learn this process is by seeing how it’s done visually, and that is exactly what this book captures.

Some of the items featured in the book include log bed frames, log bar stools, and log benches. The text also describes various finishing techniques and colors to use in order to make a piece of log furniture come to life with true beauty. Various techniques such as the mortise and tenon method, sanding, and drilling are described in simple terms to help the inexperienced log furniture fan become a professional in a matter of no time. Certain tools are recommended as well to simplify the process as much as possible.

The book strives to make readers self-sufficient by offering tips on making log furniture as well as some interesting marketing techniques if you’re interested in getting into this industry and making a career out of it. There is no better feeling than learning a new skill and making a creation shine like a sleek piece of log furniture, and you can do just that by studying the information in this book.

The book’s authors are Les Smith and Dan Swesey. Smith is a master in the field of building log furniture. He is also a carpenter and artist. Smith started his career as a carpenter building sets for television shows in the 1970s, including shows that starred Sonny & Cher as well as the Osmonds. In the 1990s, Smith began making log furniture on his own and would later teach a class at a school in Colorado on the process of manufacturing this furniture. Swesey is a noted carpenter and log furniture maker as well. The two authors made this book easy to read and understand for furniture enthusiasts of all skill levels.

While using this book as a tremendous resource, don’t’ forget to also use LogFurniture.com to find even more info on how to make log furniture and the various tools and techniques that are most commonly used.

Books are a terrific resource to learn more about log and rustic furniture along with the various techniques that you can use yourself to make your own furniture. Whether you live in a country home, a log cabin, or are just looking to add some natural flair to your apartment or even your office, it’s easy to do so with simple instructions and for a relatively small price for materials.

Rustic Furniture Basics is a fantastic 144-page book that outlines exactly what the title suggests – the basics of what rustic furniture is as well as how to actually make it on your own.

Originally published in October 2009 by Taunton Press, this step-by-step book teaches readers how to utilize materials that are collected from nature or otherwise recycled to create fantastic unique pieces of furniture. The book clearly explains various woodworking techniques from start to finish in basic terms. These techniques include cutting round mortises and tenons in logs, making webbed seats for chairs, weaving twigs, and using joinery methods other than the mortise and tenon technique. Some of the furniture pieces that are outlined in this book on how to make them include chairs, tables, chests, and other useful items that fit perfectly into any rustic home. In addition to woodworking projects, the book also explores the use of non-wood materials that are used to make furniture and other items as well.

Along with descriptive text, the book contains lots of photos and diagrams for readers of all skill levels. The diagrams are simple to follow and incorporate arrows and numbers that explain the various shapes and sizes of each piece of furniture that is described. Regardless of your woodworking background, you’ll be able to grasp the different concepts in this book with limited outside knowledge.

This book also points out some of the benefits of making your own log furniture. In most instances, rustic furniture is considered to be environmentally friendly or “green.” This is because furniture of this sort usually incorporates reclaimed materials like logs or other pieces of wood to be used during the manufacturing process. Recycled materials may be used as well.

The book was authored by Doug Stowe, a professional woodworker who has written a number of other books and articles for various magazines related to log furniture and woodworking. His other books include Tauntons Complete Illustrated Guide to Box Making and Box Making Bonanza.

In addition to using this book and other books on log furniture as resources for information, be sure to bookmark LogFurniture.com as well for all of your online information needs if you are thinking of investing in some log furniture or if you want to make your own!

Despite the fact that the Internet is packed with information and resources on log furniture, there are also a number of printed books available that offer a large amount of info on how to make log furniture. It’s much easier to look at the photos and diagrams in these books than it is to view them online. LogFurnitureDirectory.com lists the following books as being some of the best resources on this subject:

1. Rustic Furniture Workshop by Dan Mack (Published in 2001 – 112 pages)
This book was authored by a self-proclaimed woodworker who enjoys crafting all kinds of rustic creations, especially furniture and other items for the home. Once you take a look at this book, you will be inspired to get started yourself. It includes tons of tips on how to easily make your own rustic and log furniture by hand. There are photos, diagrams, and step-by-step instructions.

2. How to Build and Furnish a Log Cabin: The easy, natural way using only hand tools and the woods around you by W. Ben Hunt (Published in 1974 – 166 pages)
Even though this book is a bit dated now, it contains a wealth of information that will leave your jaw wide open. The book was actually originally published as far back as 1939 and was updated in 1974. However, it remains one of the only texts still on the market that provides step-by-step instructions on how to build a log cabin and how to make log furniture using manual tools. Even if you aren’t ready to start building anything yourself, you can still educate yourself on the relatively simple processes involved in making wood come to life via a log cabin, log bed, or any other furnishing made out of logs.

3. Rustic Carpentry: Woodworking with Natural Timber

by Skyhorse Publishing (Published in 2007 – 160 pages)
This is a very comprehensive guide to woodworking when it comes to using pieces of natural timber. This includes working with logs, parts of tree trunks, twigs, and a variety of other wood pieces. Regardless of what your skill level is, and even if you’re just a log furniture enthusiast, this book will give you a lot to think about, especially if you’re considering adding some rustic furniture to your home. This book is also a great resource for log furniture companies and manufacturers to improve their woodworking and furniture manufacturing processes.

These books and plenty of others are available through various online booksellers, including Amazon.com.

In addition to the books listed above, be sure to use LogFurniture.com as your premier online resource for information on log furniture.

If you have a staircase or a smaller amount of steps in your home, they are probably quite noticeable.  If there is no railing or handrail on the steps, you might want to consider adding a rustic log railing to them. Log railings will stand out in any home. They provoke a log cabin feel, even if you don’t actually reside in a log cabin.

According to Log-Furniture.ca, log railings contain spindles, mantels, and banisters. The logs used to make railings are usually hand-peeled using a drawknife. This is because most log railings do not contain the natural bark on them, unlike other pieces of furniture for which it is more common to leave the bark on. Other items that are typically used to craft log railings include expansion glue to help hold the logs together, heavy-duty log lag screws for even more support, a sanding device to help make the rails as smooth to the touch as possible, and clear polyurethane or linseed to improve the texture of the actual rails and to add some coloration to them.

In most cases, the mortise and tenon method is used to craft log railings. This method involves cutting the logs so that one log contains a mortise hole and another log contains a tenon that protrudes outward from the base of the log. The logs are then fit together cleanly and precisely, forming a 90-degree angle.

There are various types of railings that can be crafted for stairs, a dock, or any other area of a house that could use some extra support. One option is to go with a traditional straight staircase that is essentially straight but is obviously at an angle running alongside the stairs. Another option is to have a winding staircase. Although most winding staircases already have a railing on them since they are more tricky to maneuver than regular stairs, you could have an entire winding staircase installed in your home and then add the log railings to it. Finally, if you have a patio or dock that overlooks the water, how nice would it be to put up a log railing on it? A great option for a non-stairway handrail is the glass or wrought iron log handrail. LogArtistry.com describes these types of railings as ones that offer that cool rustic look but are also extremely durable because of the glass and wrought iron materials that are used to make them.

Remember to bookmark LogFurniture.com to find out everything you need to know about log furniture. If you’re looking to purchase a log railing for your home or log cabin, there is a dealer near you, or you can find one online that will ship the preassembled materials to you for a simple manual installation of them.

We all need lighting to be able to see what we are doing and where we are going. It might not come to mind initially, but there are actually a number of rustic log lighting products on the market to brighten your home or log cabin.

Log furniture and rustic home decor sites sell a variety of lighting options. These are some of the most popular ones:

Log table lamps – Illuminate a small area of a room with a log table lamp. These lamps are made with different kinds of wood, including cedar. They are made using various colors and styles, especially when it comes to lampshades. You can purchase these lamps that include shades made from logs. They come in different patterns, and some include rustic features and designs like plants and animals. Green and brown are popular lampshade colors for log lamps, but you can find companies that will manufacture custom lamps and lampshades for you. These kinds of lamps are perfect for reading and can sit on your bedside table, in the living room, or even in the dining room.

Log floor lamps – Wouldn’t you love having a bright room that is lit by a log floor lamp? You can have just that. These floor lamps are generally made with pine but can be made with almost any type of wood. White pine logs are perfect for creating a bright floor lamp that is sure to add some cheer to any room in your home or log cabin. Most come with lampshades. The actual lamp poles are constructed using a log, and a larger log is used as the base of the lamp on which the pole stands.

Log wall lamps and sconces – If you’re looking to add more light to a room and want to make sure the lights you put in area high enough, you could always invest in some log wall lamps or sconces. These lamps are usually handcrafted and include the original knots and gnarls that are a natural part of logs for a cool rustic look. Wall lamps and sconces can be attached to most walls with ease. They offer a clean look. Since there is no pole on wall lamps, they can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes. Cedar is the ideal type of wood to use for these lamps.

Ceiling lights – A rustic ceiling light can really light up a room – and in many ways. In addition to the actual light coming from it, a rustic ceiling light is a fantastic addition to a room that contains log furniture. When you look up and see one of these lights, you will immediately feel like you are living among nature. These lights can be connected to wall switches for convenience.

All rustic and log lighting requires certain kinds of light bulbs. Make sure you know which kinds of bulbs are required prior to making a purchase.

Remember to use LogFurniture.com for all of your log furniture information needs.

When it comes to making a purchase, you should always take into account the price of what you plan to buy. This goes for buying log furniture as well. Because of how many log furniture companies and manufacturers are out there, you will find that there is some variation in the prices of different log furniture pieces.

Here is an overview of how much some of the more popular pieces of log furniture cost according to LogFurniturePlace.com, which sells lots of log furniture pieces:

Log beds – LogFurniturePlace.com has sells a variety of log beds made in different sizes with different kinds of wood. The site lists prices on these beds anywhere from $300 up to about $3,000. Beds made of cedar and hickory tend to fall within the lower price range, while beds made with barn wood tend to be more expensive. Beds are perhaps the most varied type of log furniture, especially when it comes to the prices of them. If you shop around, you can get a beautiful log bed for a reasonable price.

Log dining tables – Dining room tables made with logs typically cost  several hundred dollars. You can find a nice dining table for less than a thousand dollars, but some run well over $1,000. If you buy a set with a table and chairs, you will usually be able to save money on a package deal. In addition, when compared to prices of dining tables that are made with other materials, the prices of log tables are very similar and offer a rustic addition to any log cabin or home in the woods.

Cabinets – Cabinets can be placed in the kitchen, in the bathroom, and in other rooms where storage is needed. Medicine cabinets for bathrooms run from $200 to about $600, although the prices may vary depending on how large the cabinets are and how many doors or drawers are included in them. Base cabinets for the kitchen may cost between $200 and $400. Upper cabinets, which are usually larger, are typically more expensive.

Rocking chairs – A log rocking chair is a terrific addition to any bedroom, living room, or patio. Rocking chairs are very reasonably priced, many of which are available for between $100 and $200.

Keep in mind that custom log furniture, as with custom-made furniture of all varieties, generally is more expensive than log furniture that has already been manufactured.

Be sure to visit LogFurniture.com for all of your log furniture information needs. Using this site as a resource for shopping around for log furniture will help you find the best prices on this furniture.

Building a log bed is a relatively easy process compared to building other types of log furniture. Consider using the following steps when constructing your bed. This method is courtesy of Cedar-Log-Homes.com:

Start out by choosing the pieces of wood to use. Find two matching 48″ posts and two matching 36″ posts. Select wood for the head and footboard, and then choose four rails. The box spring will be placed on the top rail.

The first thing to start constructing are the headboard posts. Place them side-by-side and position them so that the cracks in them face toward the back of the bed. The next step is to mark the top of the posts to show the position of the headboard and the rails. Use a block and screw it to the bottom of the post. The block should be marked into quarters so that you can easily find the center of each side of it. Cut a thin groove on each side of the block. Attach the post to the center of the block so that the headboard side is up. Use chalk to mark the center of the post from one end to the other. Then drill holes in the post with the rail side facing upward. Do the same for the other post. Use the same process for the footboard.

The next step is to place a tenon on the headboard and footboard. Build a set of blocks to accept the tenons. Five spindles are usually appropriate for a queen-size bed. Once you finish constructing the top and bottom rails for the headboard, place them together with the posts and measure them for the spindles. if you make the center spindle tenon a little longer, you’ll have to forcefully squeeze the rail and post together. But doing so will keep the headboard together tightly. Do the same steps for the footboard.

One of the toughest parts of this process involves notching the top rail to allow the box spring to sit in it. Use a saw to do this. The notch should be cut at the center from the top downward toward the top of the tenon. The horizontal cut should go from the top of the tenon down to the center cut.

Use cables to hold the bed up and make sure it is sturdy when it is time to actually put it together. Put eyehooks on each post to the holes that were drilled for the headboard and side rails and at the center of the top rail. Attach a cable to one eyehook and the other cable to a turnbuckle. When the cables are attached diagonally from one post to the other and are tightened, the bed will be tightened and will be very secure and sturdy. If both cables are measured to be equal, the bed will be square. You can then enjoy sleeping in a wonderful rustic log bed.

For additional information on log beds and other methods of making them, use LogFurniture.com for all of your log furniture needs.

There are several ways that logs can be finished before they are used to manufacture various pieces of log furniture, such as beds, tables, and chairs. LogFurnitureWyoming.com lists the following methods as some of the most prevalent ones used to finish logs in order to create durable furniture that will hold up for years to come:

Lathed and sanded method – Logs that undergo this process are centered and turned on a lathe. This makes each log the same general size, and then they are sanded to give them a very smooth texture finish. Log furniture that is manufactured with this process will be very smooth, but there will still be visible color streaks and knots to give off that great natural look.  This kind of furniture will have a similar appearance to the more traditional non-log furniture that is commonly found in homes.

Hand-drawn method – These logs are manually peeled by hand using a drawknife. Although most of the knots and pieces of bark are removed through this process, the logs will still maintain their overall shape and characteristics. Hand-drawn log furniture has more of a rustic appearance than furniture made with other methods.

Rough-peeling method with a machine – Logs that are rough-peeled have their bark and knots removed with a machine known as a peeler. This peeler essentially grinds off the outer part of the log, but this does not give the log a true dimension as it is not completely centered on a lathe. Most of the logs manufactured with this process are utilized on farms and ranches for railings and fence posts. However, the best logs are kept for manufacturing log furniture. Machine-drawn logs will appear to have a straight line that runs the length of the log.

The quality of log furniture depends greatly on these processes. In general, logs should be aged from 2-3 years before they are used to make furniture. This is to allow them to completely dry out and take their final form. Green wood should not be used for making furniture because it can warp and cause the piece of furniture to fall apart. Although all logs have some naturally occurring cracks and marks in them, most furniture that is created with the above methods should be in great shape and should last a long time.

Be sure to check out LogFurniture.com for all of your log furniture needs if you are considering purchasing some new furniture for your home or log cabin.