Four Basic Log Notches - FHC Q & A

In this installment of the Farm Hand's Companion Q & A Show, Pa Mac covers the four main type of log notches used in the construction of log buildings for the small farm or homestead: The saddle notch, the square notch, the diamond notch, and the dovetail notch.

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[keenowl]

Dovetail is a pretty genius joint. Most people think it's of British origin, but it is of Egyptian, I believe. Never heard of the diamond joint, pretty cool.

[fredflintystoneea]

Glad you're making these notches seem simple. They aren't complicated, but there are some folks who want to make it out that you need so much specialist equipment just to make a notch for a log cabin.

[PickinCotton]

I start my hedgerows this year, thanks for giving me confidence!

[phillyfathead]

Old school “tech” that still works today!

[olddawgdreaming]

Thanks for the great lesson on the log notches cut for building log structures. Great information to save trouble with the corners rotting. Stay safe and keep up the fun you share with all of us. Fred.

[riverrockproductions]

I'm building a log cabin of my own and I'm using the diamond notches. It has worked great for me.

[douglasvantassel]

Great video, thank you for making these!

[TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Paw- good explanation on the notches. The Chism House I restored several years ago had the square notch, or gravity notch ( since it doesn’t lock). I put lag bolts in the corners to keep it locked together. My favorite notch to cut is the half dovetail. The project l just finished has the half dovetails. I’ve cut a lot of full compound dovetail notches but they were very rare to be seen in the south. Hope you are doing well. Still looking for a chance to get down your way. God bless

[fpassow]

Thank you for telling us why the saddle notch goes on top of the round log. I was wondering that and you answered the question two seconds later. 🙂

[atexinc.]

No expert here but enjoyed video. A few years ago I built raised beds out of white oak. I dovetail them with chain saw. It turned out pretty good. Still have them.

[tomkelly]

Yeah those half dovetails are still holding up on my farm after a hundred years. I really like the full scribed method now. It takes a little more cutting but then there is no chinking to do afterwards. Once you get the hang of it after a couple practice logs, it can go pretty quick really. We split the first log in half for the bottom log here.

[marker]

My favorite yt channel! Thanks Pa Mac, here's to a fruitful year!

[longbowbanjoAL]

im in north alabama an ive never seen an old building with a square or saddle notch so you may be on to something lol only exception is my log shed where i used saddle notches. and that never wouldve "saw" it coming

[MarkWYoung-kyuc]

Excellent tutorial Pa. Grandpa used the diamond notch on his tobacco barns.

[eugenetackleberry]

Can you do a video on natural fertilizer for the garden and how you make it?

[stephanygates]

Note on the example of halved trees on opposing walls, that would be to keep the height of opposing walls the same, I think.

[chippysteve]

For people who want a bit more strength than the interlocking notches can give but who don't necessarily have the carpentry skills, you can drill a vertical hole through 2 logs at a time as you assemble and drive in a square peg then cut it off flush before going on to the next layer where you drill the hole in a different location.

[andrewmcdonald]

Imagine my surprise when I heard my name! One of my all time favorite channels. Thanks Pa Mac.

[aussieauntynette]

G'day Pa 😁 Love your channel. I use a lot of older or very old tools and 'things' rather than a lot of highly technical 'modern' tools.
Can you please show the how of the diamond notch in more close detail? What's going on with the underside?
Can you show the dovetail in more detail, especially showing up close the detail too please?
These are the two notches I am wanting to use the most for the main building projects to be started soon.
I completely understand about the saw hitting you on the head!!! 😵😵‍💫🥴😅 I really understand! I've had several things do this, including a concrete brick off a roof! Yes, that hurt 😵‍💫, but I'm still here. 🙃
Thanks, from Australia
🇭🇲🦘🦘🙏🦘🦘🇭🇲

[Piney]

Ive noticed that dovetail notches seem to be the dominant notch used in Appalachia. I've seen the saddle notch and the swedish cope alot in much newer cabins and houses, but in the old cabins with hewn logs, they always seem to be either single or double dovetail notched. Some of the newer kit cabins arent even notched, they are whats called butt and pass. My friend built a log house, and when the trimmed the stick outs, on the corner of the house nearest the driveway, they left one of the logs sticking out about 3' under the porch. His kids sit there in the mornings waiting on the school bus.