This week on the Island we started to prep for building our log sauna cabin! Before we start felling trees we need a place to debark and dry the logs we get.
First I fixed the front corner of our deck so the whole platform would be useable. Then I started clearing an area for are logs to dry, I used a large dead birch tree nearby to lift the logs off the ground giving them good airflow so they can dry properly. I needed a place to debark logs as there is going to be a lot of that going on in the near future. I ended up cutting down a few small trees and used the sumps to create a stable frame. I debarked some logs and bolted them to the stumps to finish the debarking station.
The hardest thing was moving the logs around. The logs I was moving this trip are much smaller than what we are going to be using for the cabin so I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to move them around the island. From what I’ve looked at maybe a log arch? Let me know if you have any suggestions, thank you.
More about us, the island and the process:
The island is completely secluded, has no electricity or plumbing and currently has nothing on it but trees. We want to turn this island into a fully functioning summer cottage with a log cabin, sauna and other amenities. Most of the work is gonna be done in the summer months as the lake freezes in the winter and the weather conditions are tough. There’s a lot of work to be done as the island is over 2.5 acres (1 hectare) and we have no experience in off-grid living, carpentry or building. So any tips or advice are greatly appreciated, as we are planning on doing everything ourselves and transforming the island into our own little paradise. We’ll document every step of the way, starting from smaller builds to finally – an off-grid log cabin. Our plan for this year is to put up a platform for a glamping tent, build a floating dock and start cutting down trees to begin the process of building our log cabin. The island is located in Finland and we bought it in 2024. We are currently both students and we plan to transform the island alongside our studies.
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Log Tongs
You need to get yourself a "cant hook" and a "come-along"
Genuine answer to your tree question – get yourself a cheap canoe mover with wheels and straps. The only hiccup there is you may need to clear a path so it doesn't get hung up on overgrown ground
Watch how 'Kris Harbour' manipulates his logs – and he's only small…
Since you dont have any vehicles i would think the Portable Winch PCW3000-Li is your best option its runs on battery you also get then with a gas motor. They are expensive but should save your back in the long run. Also get the skidding cap so you can avoid getting stuck all the time
rakenna nyt hyvä mies jo se sahapukki🙃
Dude you need to start reading and learning some basics of woodworking like asap. Those trees take a long time to grow and you shouldn't start felling them if you don't know what you are doing. First of all you make the cut way too high. Get someone to teach you so you learn the right way of doing things. Birch is not rot resistant so it rots outside.. you made whole lot of work for nothing.
Birch, spruce and pine have different properties and uses. Spruce and pine are quite similar in a way that both can be used for building. But I wouldn't mix them. I would recommend of checking your plans if you think you can get all the logs for sauna cabin from your island. I would actually love to see a video where you tell about the plans you have made I mean like CONCRETE plans.
The big birch tree you fell is rotten as hell and it will be reduced to sawdust by the next summer. So no use for anything but it was good that you fell it because it could have been dangerous during storm. You can use birch for firewood but not for building. Those rotten ones are not good for firewood either.
I have seen other videos where they drag the logs with a 4 wheeler in warmer months and a snow ski in the snow. Also they used a wench system in the trees to lift the heavier logs onto the debarking station. If you wonder how to get the machines to your island, wait until the water freezes and just drive them over.
You should buy a car battery powered atw winch, something like 2-5ton model, those are something like 300eur, go big here, don't bother with the 900kg models. Build a mount from 2×4 and attach the winch to that, then ratched strap the mount to a nearby tree. That way you can pull the logs with ease. Also buy a hoist, build a tripod from three logs, attach the hoist to the middle and raise the pod up, that way you can easily lift the logs up and down.
what happens when you run out of trees?
when you're done with this island you're going to be so jacked, buddy. 😂 hauling all these fat logs around isn't a quick fix.
Man, don't, but don't, but really don't put your knee in front of the axe blade… You are asking for big trouble. Keep channel going, it's very good to watch your work. I wish you and your wife/girlfriend the best.
For the sink, cross braces. And on anything rectangular! Corner to corner diagonally, also measure this, and check both ways matches, that's how you get things squared. You should buy a level as well, makes things much easier.
Also, when you start building the sauna and eventually the cabin, you need to have an engineer draw plans for you, even cabins need to pass building inspection.
Could you tell me why you build crazy constructions instead of building the house that protects you from freezing to death?
A clever rule for Survive is:
1. SHELTER => Protect yourself from Rain, Snow and Wind. If your Shelter keeps you warm, thats the next win
2. WATER => Get save Sweetwater => Rainwater could be a good Solution. If you use Water out of the Nature, Use a Filter or boil the water for 20 min
3. FIRE => Be always Prepared to make Fire for make Safe Water and get heat to stay alive
4. FOOD => If all other Points are Saved, you should get some food. In your situation that could be Caned Food or maybe Fish which you hunted at the Lake / Water
try pulling from higher up on the loggs <3 that way it lifts them more than drag them 😀
Love that you’re doing this even when you’re not sure of the best ways. Sometimes finding the best way is doing it wrong first. lol Thanks for sharing your success and failure, it mates your channel authentic and my gf and I are living vicariously through you! I didn’t read all the comments so if someone else commented on the charcoal, disregard. Wait until the charcoal is mostly white and then spread out. Then put your food on. Otherwise the charcoal has chemicals in it to stay lit and that’s not good in your food!😊
To make your sink stable I suggest putting two diagonal straps in the back panel
a pully system, look it up.
You didn't think this process out ahead time did you
Save that birch bark!
Haven't read through the comments if this has been discussed yet, but I am a little bit interested in a process of getting a build permit for the planned log cabin. As you probably know in Finland the building regulations are pretty strict so you really need properly EU standard plans how are you going to build the cabin (even in the middle of the forest or an island). Of course you could build without any permits and hope for the best but it needs just that one jealous neighbour (or an internet troll) to turn you in and you might have to tear down the whole cabin :O
Buy a battery powered winch. Not too expensive but will meke your life easier to move the logs.
It's mot so much about those mushrooms spreading to the other logs…
More so that any wood that is that kind of riddled with mushrooms is most likely going to be "punk wood", meaning it is rotted out and thus soft on the inside, even if it may not feel or look like it on the outside…
So, what would happen if you would add weight (like a big stack of freshly drying logs) on top of that "punk wood"?
Yeah, that punk wood will get crushed, therefor defeating it's own purpose of keeping the other logs of the ground…
Punk wood doesn't have a lot of use, other than mulch, it doesn't even make for halfway decent fire wood
A pully in a tree by the stand and than a electrik wire winch
Cut a section of a bigger log about 3 feet long and clear out the ground from obstacles and place it perpendicular to the log and in the middle under the log to be moved. Tie a rope on one end and pull it and the log in the middle will act as a tire and roll in the direction you pull so that it is carrying the weight and your force will give the log direction.
lifting=tripod with chain hoist, moving logs=get a much larger "come along" 2 of them!
U need some.sort of sled to move the logs. Or.else u kill ur back
A pulley might be the answer to step up forces ..?
DAMN BE CAREFUL PLEASE
Firsgt thing you need to do is completely clear out the area around the debarking station to avoid tumbles or accidents.
Me asombra mucho tu falta de experiencia y que no busques ayuda en tutoriales como hacen muchos y aprender a usar el trinquete
If you put your wood drying pile next to a little hill which it looks like [11.16 behind you?] you can use the hill's upper ground to pile it higher. 🙂
?s your saw dull again or are your batteiries dead ? or does the electric saw just don't have the power to do big trees ? Because like this cutting a big living tree is going to take you a lifetime. 🙁
Your saw I literally crying for help sawing that small living tree [23:12].
Safety first.
Always keep your working area clean.
Don't throw those log ends and cuttings to your feet or where ever. Make a one pile that is not in your way or Paths that you are walking aroun that working area. Hopefully under a baby spruce or at a feet of a tree that you don't go too near to. You can also mark the "trashpile tree" it with marking ribbon – you need that anyway to mark your trees that you want to fell.
It will not be fun to try to break your leg in there, especially not alone. :=(
Please be more careful.
Please get proper shoes with toe protection and ankle support, your rubbershoes make my ankles hurt.
Two ideas for moving logs: 1) wrap a rope around the log several times, and pull on it. It doubles the leverage of getting the log to roll. 2) build a triangular frame from two branches, maybe 5-6’ long. Tie a rope to one end of the log from the top of the triangle. Then pull on the triangle. This simultaneously lifts the log, and drags it forward (along its length) with leverage. Reposition the feet of the frame and repeat.
Any chance to get a table saw there? You'll likely need to set up a workshop.
In the winter the logs will also be a little lighter because they are (much) drier.
I hope you are reading these comments. Use mechanical advantage not your back. You are too young to live with a life long injury. You tube has all the answers, check it out.
Watch the wooded beards man ‘Building a small cabin in the woods (full build!)’ it will help and give you a lot of ideas for your cabin and look at 29:50 for an idea on how to move your logs around 👍🏽👍🏽
You need a tractor but I have no idea how you would get it to the island. Trying to move a 10m green log buy hand is going to make that cabin build awfully difficult.
You can install a cable a few meters up between two trees and hang a small electric winch from it and use it as a helping hand to lift the logs, Shawn James did something like that for his build.
Get a motor you can chain to a tree and winch your logs in. Kris Harbour used one in this video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpRVIPwIauM – you will be able to drag all your logs to where you want them. Nice work.
run a heavy cable between trees and use block and tackle with your comalong wench . work smart not hard.
Get yourself a ”timmersax” (Swedish) timber shears(?). Dont Know the finnish word
Mänty ja kuusi taitaa olla paljon kevyempi kuin koivu, elii helpompi käsitellä Ja yleensä mökit rakennettaan mänty/kuusi tukeista.
The water tape, is.called teflon tape and you use it on the threads of a fitting before you install the fitting wrap it around the threads in a counter clockwise direction its use to seal the threads.
The pump will not work if there are any air leaks. If you have a leak the pump will not hold pressure. Also, buy yourself a framing hammer it is a heavier hammer with a longer handle the head will have a diamond pattern , it will make it alot easier to drive the nails. Use galvinized nails or screws or else they will rust out quickly .
What in the hell is even that 😂.
You could also use the dirt and soil on your property to make rammed earth furniture or sheds etc. And most trees have more than 1 lean, don't just always go based on what you can see, and experienced sawer taught me to always look at the tree from a distance to see whole tree and not just the base of the trunk.
Check out these items for logging. Maybe you can figure out a way to use them for moving the logs. Log tongs. Log skidder. Log arch.
Why does you camera keep focusing on what’s behind you instead on your face?