Logs for Posts

[Bobmarlon]

Hey Ive seen alot of people on this forum use logs for posts We have an alder log that is the perfect width and length but were looking for some general information.

1. Whats the best way to mount a log?

2. what did you guys use to strip your logs?

3.Is an alder log strong enough should we look for something else?

anyway any information or a link to another post where this has been covered would be awesome.
And we are going to use it as part of a support for our loft.

[Redoverfarm]

Hey Ive seen alot of people on this forum use logs for posts We have an alder log that is the perfect width and length but were looking for some general information.

1. Whats the best way to mount a log?

Usually I just swing one leg over and then sit down .  Now on the serious note you will have to plumb it up.   Meaning you will have to cut the bottom to where it will sit flat on the floor.  The best way I found to do the most of mine was to stand it up and plumb with a 4' level.  Once it is plumb take a 2X4 and lay it on the floor and then scribe to the top of the 2X4 all the way around the post.  Then lay the post down and cut to the scribed mark.  When the post is sit back up it sould pretty much stand on it's own.  

Locate the position that you want it to set and beef up the area underneath the floor with large demension lumber 2X10 or 2X12 secured to the floor joist and against the subfloor.  Now locate a position to drill anchor holes through the subfloor and 2X support which you will later use for lag bolts (from underneath to the bottom of the post).

2. what did you guys use to strip your logs?

I used draw knives followed by a belt and palm sander.

3.Is an alder log strong enough should we look for something else?

I will refer this one to Peg or Don_P.  I am not that familar with that variety.

anyway any information or a link to another post where this has been covered would be awesome.
And we are going to use it as part of a support for our loft.

[glenn kangiser]

Alder is used for furniture - If in a dry area it should last forever. 

I noted quite a bit of checking when it was down for a while and noted to be not very rot resistant.

A pressure washer with a turbo tip helps to remove the cambium layer.

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Usefulness_of_Alder_Wood.html

[Bobmarlon]

I knew alder was a hard wood but where I live its considered a weed because it grows so fast here and I think it kills other trees.  Thank you for the information.

[Don_P]

When I'm doing several posts, like for a porch, I'll build a 3 sided trough that the largest log can drop into. One end is cut perfectly square in all directions. The logs are dropped into the trough and shimmed with the centerline of each end centered heightwise and side to side. I then follow the square cut end with a chainsaw. The result is the same as what John is doing.

Alder should be fine if its big enough for the load. A column is mostly about stiffness, load and dimension to prevent buckling. Compression is normally a concern in the beam you are supporting. One method of sizing logs engineeringwise is to figure up the rectangular post or beam needed and then make sure that can be inscribed within the small end of the timber. Our alder tends to have spiral grain, not sure if yours is even the same tree, I've only crossed paths with pacific alder once. I would avoid a log with spiral grain if possible, they can do some unique things while drying out.

I use a drawknife to remove bark most often. Most of the time I'll insert a piece of 1/4x2 or 3" steel into a post and pin it but if I can get a lag up into it that works.

[Redoverfarm]

Don I like your method a little better.  You don't have to stand the post up twice.  I used Locust for all of my post. Some were 14' and  14" dia and it is a chore to do it twice.  I was lucky to have my son to help. IMO it is almost impossible to get a square cut without one of the two approaches because you can't actually get a square to work in this application.     

[Ernest T. Bass]

When I'm doing several posts, like for a porch, I'll build a 3 sided trough that the largest log can drop into. One end is cut perfectly square in all directions. The logs are dropped into the trough and shimmed with the centerline of each end centered heightwise and side to side. I then follow the square cut end with a chainsaw. The result is the same as what John is doing.

That's what we do as well. We also have plywood pads bolted to the bar of the chainsaw the same distance apart as the width of the trough, so you can run the saw down right against the end of the trough for a perfect cut. We have one end of the trough cut at a 45 degree angle, which is useful for making log knee braces and such. The same setup also works great for flat-siding a log, for a floor joist or something. Just run the saw down the top of the trough and cut a slab off the log. The log can be shimmed to adjust the amount taken off.

John, your method works great for leveling log furniture. I let the legs run long and then prop the piece up level on a flat surface. Run around each leg with a scribe to the floor and cut 'em off.