Dovetail Log Cabin - Cutting Dovetail Notches

In this video we go through the process of cutting a dovetail notch. We are using 10x6" spruce logs. We made two jigs to use on each end of the log (link below for plans). Using a Stihl MS170 chainsaw + guides attached to the chainsaw bar, we made the cuts on the logs.

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[melvinjohnson]

Loved the jig idea, hope someday to have a dovetail log home, but even if I never do I think they make beautiful homes and cabins and I appreciate the skill involved in building of them.

[grumpa]

I just about finished my 16 x16 with an 8 porch using the same dovetail jig. It worked out fantastic and after about 1-1/2 years the first joints I did are still very tight. Great system, good luck with the project.

[cdennisb]

Very ingenious! Can’t wait to watch more of your build.

[mr_j]

Amazing work. My grandfather did build his house in 1953 using the same technique back in Former Yugoslavia

[markmccombe]

I built a cabin just like yours with the dovetails almost thirty years ago only difference was I left the live edges top and bottom on the log and cut my notches with out the jig. I enjoyed felling the trees and milling the logs with the chain saw, I even put a half story on the cabin and my floors and roof were made of poles and planks that were taken from the property. My foundation was a drystack rock that I also harvested from the land which on the downhill side was as tall as me and I'm over 6 foot. All in all the cabin took awhile but turned out looking like it had fallen out of a fairytale because it was created using material harvested on site. Great video it brought back some fond memories of my time in the high country.

[terrybrower]

I grew up on the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington near the town of Poulsbo. On most of the old farms there was a noticable Skandinavian influance and many of the out buildings were made with the dove tail logs. Some had coved bottoms and rounded tops. I suspect all were hand hewn. I'm sure they would have loved to have your saws and jigs. Thanks for the viceo.

[hillbillyherman]

Thank you for the video I’m always looking to improve you did a great job

[rickybell.]

I'm glad I work in millimetres, can't beat a good jig

[leemccready]

The bug wisdom is the most Canadian thing on the Youtube.

[shanepowell]

Drill a 2" or so for hole for a sight window. It won't hurt or compromise the rigidity of the jig and will be much easier to see the center line

[crazycoyote]

Thanks for sharing your humble video. Filming and sound quality are very good.
Great work bro!!

[ТатьянаВоля-ыш]

Хорошие приспособы. Методика выпиливания лапы доступно изложена.
Спасибо ! 🧤

[dukeman]

Handcrafted log houses have been built for centuries in the Eastern parts of Finland. Also in Scandinavia, Russia and Eastern Europe, and were typically built using only an axe and knife. The settlers from the northern Europe brought the craft to North America in the early 17th century, where it was quickly adopted by other colonists and Native Americans. Possibly the oldest surviving log house in the United States is the C. A. Nothnagle Log House (circa 1640) in New Jersey. The Dovetail is designed to shed water in every direction which is why they are still standing more than 350 years later.

[smallcabinliving]

Thanks for sharing....great idea with the jig. Enjoy your Small Cabin Living

[TheJiminiflix]

That chainsaw setup is smart, never seen that before.

[davidlayne]

That's a great idea to use a jig ....

[tamarahmoore]

i went to Florida from October to March thus year and the first thing I noticed were my friends complaining of Mosquitos bothering them... when they ask me if the pests were bothering me I said what mosquitos??? in my world they dont exist... So kewl you said that meditation comment as that is exactly what you are doing when you will them to no longer bother you... and it is so neat to see You build a house with little tools...

[jeanxyz]

Hello from Jean Rimouski Quebec and well done for the ingenuity you put into all your work!

[timshaw]

Thanks for taking the time to film and post, best of luck with you’re cabin

[unit]

Nice work! That’s going to be beautiful and very rewarding! Thanks for sharing