Log home building course

2012 Feb 4th & 5th

2012-02-06T10:18:00.002+02:00

www.logbuilding.co.za

Hi Guys and girl

I hope you had a fun and informative weekend, it was really nice to get to know everyone.

Here is a copy of your class pictures.

Class Picture

Level

Jacobus

William

Anthony

Chris

Hettie

"Nothing will work unless you do"

Look after yourself.

Roy

www.logbuilding.co.za

2012 Jan 7th & 8th.

2012-01-09T11:47:00.000+02:00

www.logbuilding.co.za

Hi Guys

I hope you all enjoyed the weekend Log home building class, it was very nice to get to know you all and a pleasure having you.

I have been saying it for a while, but I'm hoping to finally begin compiling some new free information pages for the website, which will include tutorials and 3 minute videos of lots of useful skills and tricks that will make your life even easier when you want to make your own stuff.

I hope you all get back home safely.

Here are your class photos, unfortunately the failure of the camera occurred before the class began, therefore the workshop photos are unreadable - sorry.

The customary class photo

Scribefitting

Philip

Stian

Chris

Gordon

Johann

John

"Why fit in when you where born to stand out?" - Dr Seuss

Look after yourself.
Roy
www.logbuilding.co.za

2011 December 27th & 28th

2011-12-30T17:13:00.001+02:00

www.logbuilding.co.za

December 27th & 28th Log home building course.

Hi everyone

It was really great to get to know everyone, certainly a group of characters!

I really enjoyed it and I hope you all felt the same.

Here are your pictures.

Class photo

Classroom

Alastair

Florine

Maxon

Mike

Nico

Paul

Philip

S. Maredi Mokaba

Simon

Susan

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple"- Dr Seuss

Take care.

Roy

www.logbuilding.co.za

2011 December 17th & 18th

2011-12-19T13:20:00.000+02:00

www.logbuilding.co.za

Hi Everyone

Once again we have had a fantastic group for the weekend and the South African Log home builders association has grown a bit bigger.

Thank you all.

I trust that you all came away with plenty of useful information and inspiration.

Here are your pictures.

Customary class photo

Awesome scribe fitting

Lunchtime

Theo

Mark

Derek

Dawn

Arthur

Vance

Gerrie

Jacques

Ken

Nico

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.”

― Dr. Seuss

Look after yourself.

Roy.

www.logbuilding.co.za

2011 November 26th & 27th

2011-11-29T11:00:00.001+02:00

www.logbuilding.co.za

Hi Guys

Thank you for being an excellent group, I felt that we all got on very well together and we had many laughs, even considering the amount of amount of work that we got through during the weekend.
As always, we had a great time and I know that most of you are probably buzzing with ideas.
I trust that you where all pleased with the way that the course went and the content of the lecture.
I expect to see some spud cannons on the forums soon.
Here are the pictures from the weekend, take a copy for yourself to show your friends and as a reminder in the future.

Customary class photo

Michael sawing planks

Serious concentration

I guess I'm making some kind of point.

Excellent scribefitting

Eoghan

Ikram

Kassie

Michael

Danie

Pieter

Stefan

Stephen

Steve

Werner

Willem

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have"
-Thomas Jefferson

Look after yourself and stay in touch.
Roy

www.logbuilding.co.za

November 5th & 6th 2011

2011-11-07T14:45:00.002+02:00

www.logbuilding.co.za

Hi Everyone

We have had a fantastic Log home building course weekend. Thank you all for being such a great group. I hope I didn't wear you all out too much. You guys did a great job on the scribe-fitting.

You all travelled very far to get here, I hope you all get back home with no problem and are not too tired, I know that several people had to be back at work this morning.

There is always fresh information that comes from the group and shall be passed on to the next classes. Thank you all for your input. I will be posting an updated electrical diagram on the forums - thank you Marius for pointing out my error.

Here are your photos.

Your comrades

Marking out

Finishing

Building the Taj mahal

Tools

A really colourful spread

James

Marius

Martin

Nico

Rod

Werner

Anita

Christo

Dewald

Fanjan

Worry more about the manner in which you are travelling and you won't have to worry so much about where you are headed.

It was great to meet you all, welcome to the South African Log Home Builders Association - stay in touch.

Best regards

Roy

www.logbuilding.co.za

2011 October 15th & 16th

2011-10-17T21:22:00.002+02:00

Hi Everyone

Nice to get to know you all, I trust that you had an enjoyable Log home building course. You where a great group and worked very well together. As usual, I learned a whole lot from each of you, Anthonie, thanks for your input about boron, I will share that with future students, and Lourens, thanks for your info on world banking.

Welcome to the South African Log Home Builders Association.

Most of you travelled a long way and I hope that all of you made it back home safely.

Stay in touch and grab a copy of your pictures.

The customary class photo

Discussing scribe fitting

Serious concentration

Steady hands

You guys did a great job.

It's not pretty, but it cuts timber.

You where the first guys to have the 'all new' log sawing demonstration, so now you know how easy it is to saw your own planks (virtually for free). Incidentally, that plank which you watched me cut in about 30seconds would cost you about R145 if you bought it from a dealer, which, on it's own bears out everything which I spoke about regarding cutting out the middle man. Consider that I only would have to cut 110 of those planks to pay for that (2nd hand) saw.

Lourens

Kevin

Leon

Anthonie

Ridhwan

Ntsika

Michael

With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world. - Dalai Lama

Look after yourself.

Roy

www.logbuilding.co.za

Sept. 24th & 25th 2011

2011-09-26T22:52:00.000+02:00

Hi Guys
What a great weekend, you guys really worked as a group. You never know how a group of strangers will work together until they do, and you where all great! I'm sure we will all be friends for a long, long time, make sure you stay in touch with each other. I'm sure you have a lot to think about, I hope you haven't lost too much sleep! Chris, good luck with your school project, you are doing a good thing.

At some stage or another work has to be done.

You where blessed with the best weather.

Everyone smiles at a pretty girl holding a chainsaw.

Concentrating on the job.

Coenraad, you look like a man who knows what he is doing.

Looking good.

I consider that as 'acceptable'

John, consider yourself 'certified'.

Chantal, with that smile, you win.

The gang.

"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it."

—Henry Ford

Best regards

Roy

www.logbuilding.co.za

September 3rd & 4th

2011-09-05T13:02:00.003+02:00

Hi Guys

We all had a great time this weekend. Once again thank you all for your individual expert input at the table, I always feel it is great for everyone to contribute from their own experience as well.
You guys are certainly amongst the contenders for the best scribe fitting award. You did a great job! Remember that if you win, you will all have to come back as a full group for the prize giving - even if you live in Luanda.
I wonder how many spud cannons are going to be built after this weekend - Jolanda, you definitely got the best distance, if I where my neighbour, I would be worried.

Never mess with the man holding the cannon.

This is the first time that Father Christmas has actually made a personal appearance during the course.

Marking out.

Roughing out

Just a little cleaning up to do.

It takes teamwork - yes work together.

Perfect fit.

Talking sawmills.

Great class photo.

Paulo - you are now 'certified'.

Wouter - also 'certified'.

If you keep doing what you keep doing, you will keep getting what you keep getting.

Stay in touch.

Roy.

www.logbuilding.co.za

August 27th & 28th 2011

2011-08-29T15:53:00.003+02:00

Hi Guys

We really had fun and learned a whole lot this weekend. I hope that I didn't wear you out too much! Thank you all the really interesting input that everyone gave. I really enjoy having this size group due to the variety of experience that everyone brings and shares.I hope these pictures give you all good memories of the weekend. Johan, thanks for mentioning your experience of building the obstacle course (rebar in particular) and Victor, thanks for all your knowledge on world finance. Victoria, in your honour, I think that from now on the 'you know what' will have to be referred to as a 'cotton puff'! (by the way, I thing that you also set a new record for distance with a spud cannon).

Quality time in the classroom

Steady hands

Family teamwork - It's great to see people work together.

You did a nice accurate job Piet!

Looking good Victoria.

You did well Ayla.

Adding the finishing touches.

Closing in on a perfect fit!

Intense concentration.

A couple of easy tricks - note the 'cotton puff' in the background. Ayla, thanks for taking these great pictures, even if I look like a very old man in the one below

Fun with slings.

For anyone who couldn't follow the splicing, this should help - Haha - a very handy and simple skill to know. Does anyone want me to post a short video of this?

No course would be complete without the customary class photo.

Ayla's winning smile.

You are officially 'certified'.

There are no strangers here, only friends we have not met yet.

Stay in touch.

Best regards.

Roy.

www.logbuilding.co.za

August 6th & 7th 2011

2011-08-08T20:16:00.001+02:00

Hi Guys

Thank you for being such a great bunch, I really enjoyed the Log Home Building Course. I must admit I was really tired on Sunday evening - even today. I hope that you all got home safely. I consider it an honour that you where all prepared to travel such long distances to attend the course. I am aware of this, which is why I make sure it is a worthwhile trip. I will be uploading all the rest of the course photos to the members section of the forums tonight.

You guys did a great job on the scribe fitting.

I heard through the grapevine that you all enjoyed the Spud Cannon (currently my favourite toy)- I have been wondering how many people will make one - let me know if you do - I want to see some pictures.

The classroom

Pierre marking out.

Travis doing some fine swordsmanship

No course would be complete without the customary class photo.

Johan - thanks for the very nice comment on the forum.

Best regards
Roy
www.logbuilding.co.za

2011 July 30th & 31st

2011-07-31T22:32:00.001+02:00

Hi to my friends

The first weekend course that it did not rain.

What a great weekend, we where certainly very busy and covered a lot! I hope you can sleep tonight. The discussion on what it REALLY costs to build a house (the conventional way) turned up some very interesting points which will certainly be presenting to future courses from now on.

Please download your photos, there are many more which I will post up on the forums. You guys where truly excellent and I really enjoyed having everyone here this weekend. Thank you. Tonight I am doing an evening of feet up, proper fire, glass of wine.....etc. Tomorrow I am taking the day off (as has become customary). You were truly a great group and we all learned a lot from each other. The SA Log Builders Association has it's first international members - welcome and kudos to everyone for travelling so far.

As has become customary, the group photo.

The simple and economical calliper technique.

The most challenging of all scribe fitting challenges.

Bless - you are the man who really knows wood.

Riaan, concentration and accuracy.

Will he, won't he? - The concentration is unbearable.

All that hard work deserves a decent snack.

Munhamu - officially certified log home builder

Bless, I think that you are going to go on to teach and build many log homes, stay in touch.

As always:

Best regards

Roy

www.logbuilding.co.za

logbuilding

July 2nd & 3rd 2011

2011-07-04T22:30:00.003+02:00

Hi guys.
What's really great about this course is how a bunch of strangers ends up being a group of friends over the space of just 2 days. It shows you, we all have much more in common than you can imagine. (ok, some people want a pink roof and some don't - so be it, if you want a pink roof, have a pink roof - at least you have a roof, and it's your own roof). What I really enjoy is gaining a new group of friends. I noticed how many of you exchanged phone numbers - stay in touch with each other.

As has become customary, a picture of the class on the front deck.

Thank you guys for the super emails that you sent me today, I really feel as if we all achieved the goal and way more.

The girls have taken over.

I am really pleased that the weather held out for us over the weekend, ok, it wasn't exactly warm, but at least we didn't have to do scribe-fitting in the rain (unlike some previous classes). The situation has changed now and this evening is cold and raining, which gave me a reason to make a proper fire (and when I say proper, I mean proper).

I think that you all come here just for the scribe fitting - nice work Willie.

Kevin practising some fine chainsaw craftsmanship.

Arrive as strangers, leave as friends

We are all characters in our own right. (don't ask - if you where there you would know what I mean)

I must admit, I was exhausted today, sorry that this blog has gone out so late, I spent 6 hours this morning dealing with all the emails that had come in over the weekend and then I took the rest of the day off.

If it's worth doing, it's worth doing properly.

Don't be shy to post a comment.

Roy.

www.logbuilding.co.za

June 2011 class

2011-06-06T16:40:00.002+02:00

Hi to all my friends.
Thanks for being such a great class! Judging by the response from everybody, I can see that there will definitely be a few log homes going up in the near future. Stay in touch and let me know how you are all getting on.

June 2011 class

As you know, you where the first class to have the new models and the updated workbook. I felt that the models helped a lot for you all to visualize the entire process .

Dedicated students

You will need to spend some time reading all the extra information that I put into the workbook, you will find things in there that you didn't know and even things that you didn't know you needed to know, and will be useful for all sorts of other applications. I have some ideas for a couple more models, which I will be building before the next class takes place.

For a city girl, you got right into it!

Fine scribefitting by J.C.

Just to let you know, J.C. was on the road until 4:30 AM this morning, getting back home, I called him up to make sure he got back ok. The amount of effort that everyone went to, to get here is amazing, and I am honored. This is only one of the reasons why I make sure that the course is a thorough as it is.

I couldn't resist taking another picture of the particularly accurate scribe fitting job that you guys did - a great credit to you - I think there might end up being some sort of competitiveness between classes for the most accurate scribe fitting job. Maybe at the end of the year, I should give out some sort of prize - what do you think? Maybe one of those fancy and very expensive scribing caliper tools that I use?

A fit to be proud of! It's not so difficult when you know how.

There are no short cuts to any place worth going.

Roy.

2011 February log building course

2011-05-10T12:12:00.001+02:00

Hi Guys

We had a fantastic and busy weekend, sorry that I made you all write down so much information, I didn't believe in spoon feeding students, and didn't realize that universities did this (This is not a university). However, after your weekend I decided to get stuck in and write the class manual. However, you are not completely out of the water. I have left enough detail out of the construction part of the book to keep everyone busy writing during the course, to check if you are actually listening. You lot will have to fill it in if you like. I have bound it in a clip folder so that you can add to it.
The plan is to regularly write extra articles which can be emailed to you and added to the folder, a couple of subjects I have considered are: Building decks, handrails, electrical wiring, soil conditions, finance, etc - if you have any suggestions or information you would like to share....
As promised, I will be sending your copies to you soon.
I'm not an writer or author and all the research, drawing and typing took me a full 2 months! (and I'm still not friends with MS Word!) But I can guarantee it is a thorough document, with all the course work and loads of other information, too much to shake a stick at actually.

A pity, I was so busy doing other stuff that I forgot to take the class picture until after half the student had left.
Still here it is.

Wallace, Gavin and Wessel

As you can see, one notorious student got particularly cocky.

Best regards

Roy

www.logbuilding.co.za

2011 May log building course

2011-05-09T22:03:00.002+02:00

www.logbuilding.co.za

Hi guys, I hope you all had a fantastic weekend here, I know that most of you where very excited when you left and have sent me some great emails - Thank you.

I sincerely hope you all came away with far more than you expected, including your certificates, which by now, I expect will be gracing a wall in a prominent place.

Thanks to Carolina for suggesting this blog, and also for all your insight into the property market.

I felt we had a really great group of people, who interacted very well with each other. Whats really brilliant, is the amount of extra information and experience that everyone shared with the group. Everyone has their unique field of expertise and interest and we all learned far more than just log home building. It is really important.

I was really impressed with the final fit you all got with the scribe fitting, so, I won't be writing any names on that log.

Bad news, the camera got wet somewhere along the way and only a few of the pictures came out - Just to let you know, we had 90mm of rain during the weekend - the most we have had in one hit since sometime last year.

Funnily enough, the weather has totally changed, this evening is toasty warm with almost a berg wind blowing, so unfortunately I didn't have any excuse to make a fire, ah what, hopefully it will be cold tomorrow.

Here are a couple of photo's from this weekends course.

Clearly there must have been something very serious under discussion

Scribe fitting

Just in case you have forgotten who was there

Successful student