Log Home Building ToolsIf we were to assemble a kit of log home building tools many of them would be the same tools required for conventional or stick-framed houses. Most people who are contemplating building a log cabin for themselves using milled logs either already have these tools or are familiar with them. UNIQUE LOG HOME CONSTRUCTION TOOLSThere are several unique power and hand tools required for log home building. Tools are a great investment and you can't go wrong with buying the best: 
Beam saw. The most popular of the log home building tools is the Makita 5402NA 16-5/16 inch Beam Saw.
Power planer. Even milled logs are uneven and often need to be fitted. A quick way to flatten a milled log with tongues and grooves is to rip it down with your Makita beam saw, then clean it up smooth with the power planer. Also good for knocking a high crown off of a floor joist. I happen to use a Makita N1900B 3-1/4 inch planerChain saw. Still the best tool for working with round logs, quick removal of material and, in the right hands, even fine finishing. Electric chain saws work best for fine control but the cord is a hassle if power isn’t nearby. The most versatile saw is a gas-powered chain saw 
Chisels. A good, sharp chisel can work wonders. A dull chisel is an accident waiting to happen. Timber framers use very large chisels called “slicks” to cut precise mortises and tenons. Get a complete set of high-quality chisels
Squire chain saw cutter. Made by King Arthur’s Tools, this cutter looks like a chain saw blade mounted on a 4 ½” angle grinder. Excellent, quick material removal but watch your fingers! Whether you're shaping stair railings, log support posts or fireplace mantles, this chain saw cutter will get it done in a hurry with excellent control.
Electric drill. For quick, solid assembly of log walls, a powerful electric drill/driver will sink log screws without slowing down. I like the DeWalt DW236KR Heavy-Duty 1/2-Inch VSR drillThe 1/2" drive chuck means that this electric drill can handle all the big bits you need to use, like large hole saws, or 1" auger bits for drilling wiring chases through the logs.
Beam Cutter. This chain saw cutting blade attachment is called a Prazi PR7000 Beam Cutter.
It attaches to your circular saw and allows you to make straight rip cuts for shaping your own beams. It fits on a 7 1/4" circular saw but needs to be installed on a worm-drive rather than a side cutter. Using this beam cutter set-up is much easier than setting up a jig to try and hold a chain saw in a straight line. It makes a great addition to your collection of log home building tools.Prazi PR7020 Beam Cutter Chain. If you just need the chain blade to replace your old beam cutter chain or to have a spare on hand, you can pick up one here.
It's a good idea to keep a spare cutter chain on hand so you can keep working while you are getting your dull blade sharpened.
Power Tenon Cutters. If you're building your own log or twig furniture or assembling any kind of structure such as counters or fireplace mantles using logs or sticks, you'll find many uses for a power tenon cutter.
The tenons you cut with these cutters will fit perfectly into an opposing hole drilled into the other piece. The resulting joint is strong and secure, with an interesting rustic look. The tenon cutters fit into an electric drill and come in various sizes, typically ranging from 5/8" to 2".
These are the primary log home building tools we’ve added to our arsenal. The rest of the tools are fairly standard construction tools and are essential: The extra log home building tools detailed at the top of the page allow us the precise control and size capacity we need to deal with large beams, timbers and logs.
|
Drawknife. A drawknife
is the best way to remove bark from a log. We often cut our own logs for posts or mantles and use a 10" drawknife to clean up the surface. We cut and peel the bark early on, then let the logs sit undercover for several weeks to dry out.
