Hang on and wait-you are asking questions we cant answer. At least on the build part-we are not allowed to answer. Good that you are excited & there should be some classes soon! Someone will tell you about stump pulling-

The class instructors mentioned you can have to much help getting in the way. It would be nice to have as much as you need. Basil-a LHBA Builder member said that the first few rows of logs is where you need the most help. Peeling logs esp. Don't forget to have a policy Workers Comp in case someone gets injured

Thanks for the info. I understand you can't reveal too much about what is contained in the class. Otherwise, nobody would take the class.

My plan for the rafters was to run rafter logs (or timbers) on each side of the ridge pole, place the tips of each rafter pole (or timber) next to each other above the ridge pole, drill through both logs (or timbers) above the ridge pole, through bolt them together, and then spike them to the ridge pole. Am I getting warm?

Yes, you are very warm. If you'd like to see a very good step-by-step of a BnP log home being built, visit http://www.paulkahle.com/logstep1.html

Understand that it's not just about trying to get people to take the class. Those of us posting in this thread have NOTHING to gain by encouraging you to take the class. We are encouraging you to take the class for YOUR own good. "A little knowledge can be dangerous" as the saying goes. It's certainly possible that someone could do whatever research they could manage, and combine that with common sense and thinking everything through, and manage to build a BnP home that might not fall down. One could do that. But it's a pretty BAD idea. Most likely one will make either dangerous or costly mistakes that way.

So if you are serious about doing this, by all means, gather as much info as you can... Think through as much of the process as you can... But take the class if you REALLY want to do this. You will be VERY glad you did. And if you aren't, they have a 100% money-back guarantee with no questions asked. As far as I know, no one has ever asked for their money back. The class is THAT good.

That's good news. I had signed up for the email alert. It looks like class will be scheduled soon.

I won't attempt to speak for Ellsworth/Steve (the class instructors) but I do know that they are very busy doing their own things (e.g. Steve is building in Vermont). Keep in mind that this isn't their full time gig. It is interesting, but class is not driven by supply and demand, it is driven by instructor schedule. I guess one is coming soon, and it may be an item in a shopping cart, once that is done. Anyway, you'll be able to pay by credit card and pay off the balance the next month (few members would recommend carrying a balance on debt cards).

Anyway, glad to hear you are so interested in the class, you won't be disappointed.

-Peter

When I started clearing and building I went out and bought a Case 580C backhoe/front end loader for 8k. At first...I questioned the decision. But that thing has been the most help in my building process. I think it is the best tool for clearing stumps. It, unlike any other equipment, can get ALL the stumps. Even dozer's have trouble with the really big ones. The backhoe is slower, but you can dig out anything. The front end loader is like a mini-dozer in that it will uproot small trees just by hitting them high and leveraging the roots out of the ground. The only thing I haven't been able to do well with it is grade out a spot really smooth. It just doesn't have the weight on the front end to smooth the ground out like a dozer.

Seriously, as someone who works alone alot and built my own house, that old backhoe is my best friend. You will be amazed at its usefullness. Especially if you buy loader forks for the bucket(ebay).

Also, chances are if I need too I could sell it for the price I paid for it. It has pretty much bottomed out on depreciation.

There are other models. None of them are easy to find. It took me months to find a decent one locally. A couple of years later and the local tractor dealer has two 580C's on the lot! There are a few models worth looking at including Ford. Case, however is the "industry standard", Just try "backhoe" in the search.

Is anyone able to estimate the time savings between a fork lift of some sort vs the bloack and tackle? I was thinking too that perhaps renting somewhere cheap may be worth the cost. Hard to know since I have no idea of the time savings. The faster we could build = less time renting......[we don't own presently]. Seems like it would balance out. If t a lift is a great way to go, what are the best optioins? An extending lift [i don't know the terms for these], it be great to have something that can help with the ridge pole etc. I figure it would make using big logs alot easier [thinking 40-50 footers of ~20+" diameter butt]. Any ideas?

Cheers - James

I was getting a road cleared by an excavation service and he told me to cut any tree over 18" as close to the ground as I wanted because a backhoe had to be used due to the dozer not being able to push those up. He had a big dozer too!

I got forks for my backhoe on Ebay. By no means does this turn your front end loader into a forklift. But I have used them to carry many 6x6x20 oak beams around my place. (Oak is friggin heavy) I have also done thousands of other tasks in my building process that would have taken years off my life! The great thing about HAVING one is that you use it almost every day. Heck, I've used the bucket to drive in fence posts, raise myself in the bucket with a chainsaw to get that limb scraping the eave, dige trenches for foundations, septic tanks, power lines, holes for trees. IT IS AWESOME FOR CLEANUP! Just fill the bucket and raise and dump into the construction dumpster. Bottom line is, I think it is indespensible and would be my first purchase in building a home. Also, the backhoe itself is a really good small crane. I've even seen people attach a boom pole on them.

Backhoes, forklifts, chainsaws, are dangerous. But standing under a log raised by block and tackle with uncle Billy on the other rope is not exactly OSHA approved.