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Inside Log Help For Those Into Log Buildings

Since 1986

Summer, 2019 Vol. 23, No. 2

®

Published by: Schroeder Log Home Supply, Inc.Art Director: Doug Todd1101 SE 7th Ave.Grand Rapids, MN 55744

In This Edition:Do-It-Yourself Chink Paint

Handle FeedingHults Bruk

Replacement HandlesMeet the Staff:

Customer ServiceGLLCA Conference Recap

July Sales:LiquidWood &

WoodEpoxLifeTime Sale

Through OctoberRestoration Special

SchroederLog Home Supply, Inc.

Grand Rapids, MN

Do-It-Yourself Chink PaintIt’s easy to make your own Log Jam® chink paint on site. And since mixing your own costs 1/3 less than buying pre-mixed chink paint, it’s the smart money-saving choice. Simply follow the instructions below, then apply over any water-based chinking*.

PREPARATION: Be sure that all chink lines are clean and dry, and free of waxes, mold, milxdew, dust, pollen, and other contaminants.

MIXING INSTRUCTIONS:

Large Volume (Yield: approx. 5 gal. mixed)

1) Remove and set aside 1 gallon of chinking from a 5 gallon pail.

2) Add one gallon of distilled water back into the pail.

3) Using a high viscosity mixing blade(available at most hardware or paint stores), thoroughly mix the water and chinking.

4) Add additional water or chinking (in smallincrements) to “dial in” your preferred viscosity.

Small Volume (Yield: approx. 1 quart mixed)

1) Gun out entire contents of one 30 oz.cartridge of chinking into any large plasticcontainer (such as a clean 1 gal. ice creambucket).

2) Add in ½ pint (8 oz.) of distilled water3) Using a mixing blade or a typical kitchen

hand-held mixer, thoroughly mix the water and chinking.

4) Add additional water or chinking (in smallincrements) to “dial in” your preferred viscosity.

Floetrol®, a common additive used in the paint industry, can be used in place of water, if desired. Resulting mixture will not be noticeably different. (Floetrol® is a registered trademark of the Akzo Nobel group of companies.)

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: 1) Using a foam paint brush, paint pad or trowel (whichever you prefer), apply the chink paint and

smooth onto the chink line.2) Clean off any drips or runs immediately so they don’t dry on the wood and stain it.3) Allow to thoroughly dry. Cover exterior walls with plastic if rainfall is expected within 24 hours after

installation.

COVERAGE RATES:

Joint Width 3/4” 1” 1-1/2” 2” 3” Lineal Feet per 1 gal. 1760 1320 880 660 440 *Tested for compatibility with Sashco’s Log Jam chinking. Always test first if using a different product.

What About Using Log Builder or Conceal?

Sashco only recommends using Log Jam as chink paint, however, you can use Log Jam chink paint over Log Builder and Conceal. If doing so, always color test in an inconspicuous area first.

Handle FeedingBy Paul VanKeuren, Customer Service

Wooden handles are excellent. On hammers and axes they absorb shock, protecting the user. They are durable when used as a lever, as you would discover while using a peavey, cant hook, or shovel. And they decompose gracefully when accidentally abandoned in the woods, unlike fiberglass or plastic. However, wood handles are susceptible to the same forces that lead to the decay of any other wooden object, log homes included. Water is the enemy. Not only does it lead to the decay of the handle, it can also rust the metal parts of your tools. To prevent this you need to apply something to your handles, and while most handles already come varnished, I argue that a drying oil is the best treatment.

Why treat your handles with oil rather than varnish? An oiled finish is easier on your hands than a varnished surface, and is less slick when wet. This makes it safer for you and those around you. Oiled finishes also breathe better than varnished sur-faces, helping you get moisture out of the handle if any ends up getting in. Another benefit of an oiled handle, is the fact that it swells when treated with oil. This helps the wood form a tighter bond with other parts of the tool like an axe head.

Aren’t handles replaceable, why not just buy new ones when needed?Wood handles are replaceable and renewable which are some of their many virtues. However, quality handles are hard to find at your local hardware store, and the prices keep going up. If you carve your own you can avoid this, but then you still have a month of waiting for your freshly carved handle to dry. It is best to care for your tools AND replace/repair as needed. High qual-ity replacement handles are available to order here.

What oil should I use?When it comes to treating wood, there are essentially two types of oils, the drying oils and the non-drying oils. Drying oils are oils that cure to a plastic-like state, they include oils like linseed, tung, or walnut. A non-drying oil does not cure, but can evapo-rate or wash away with time. For tool handles, I recommend drying oils as they cure inside the wood making it a more durable material, while also protecting much longer than a non drying oil. Traditionally linseed oil has been used.

Be warned, drying oils heat up as they cure and can burst into flame. Any rags you use to apply drying oils should be burned, or soaked in water and spread out on a hot surface. I’ve heard several stories of folks throwing oil soaked rags in the trash only to have them start on fire and burn down their homes.

Boiled or Raw?There are two kinds of linseed oil on the market, boiled and raw. The boiled linseed oil is not actually boiled, but has heavy metal

Order Online

Tool Talk

driers added at the factory to make it dry faster. Raw linseed oil is the same thing as flax oil without any additives. Raw linseed oil will dry much slower, but is also a more natural product. To further complicate things, some folks thin their linseed oil with turpentine to aid in penetration. The turpentine then evaporates out of the handle depositing the oil further into the wood.

Application?Apply liberally to the handle paying extra attention to the end grain until refusal. Then let the handle sit out in the sun for a minute or two, and wipe away any excess. There is an old adage that says you should oil your fresh handles once a day for a week, then once a week for a month, once a month for a year, and then yearly. I think this is over prescribed, but you do want to build up a good layer of oil within the wood.

Name & Length Handle Code Eye Width Eye Length Price

Akka - 24" T089-H840772H 15 mm 42 mm $29.00

Almike - 16" T089-H840702H 15 mm 42 mm $29.00

Arvika - 32" T089-H840511H 23 mm 63 mm $49.00

Atran - 32" T089-H840182H 23 mm 63 mm $49.00

Jonaker - 9.4" T089-H840762H 15 mm 42 mm $29.00

Kalix - 28" T089-H840102H 20 mm 50 mm $29.00

Kisa - 26" T089-H840722H 20 mm 50 mm $29.00

Motala - 30" T089-H840752H 23 mm 63 mm $49.00

Tibro - 20" T089-H840732H 20 mm 50 mm $29.00

Hults Bruk Replacement Hickory Handles (haft or helve) for Hults Bruk Axes. Eye Widths and Eye Lengths are provided in case you are looking to use one of these handles with a

vintage axe or one from a different forge. Made in Sweden.

2019 GLLCA CONFERENCE

Meet the Staff:

Wishing you A Great Summer!Customer Service from left: Chris Kavanaugh, Melody Garza,

Paul VanKeuren, Pam Clairmonte, and John Schroeder.

By John Schroeder

We had a great time with the Great Log Crafters Association this spring. An April snow-storm pushed the scheduled GLLCA Conference into May, which altered a few plans, but ultimately it was an educa-tional and enjoyable confer-ence. One of the outdoor sessions was Mark Weber’s log chain demonstration. He showed how to chainsaw-carve

a large-linked chain out of a solid. The unfinished chain went up onto the Association’s fundraiser auction, and now it’s sitting in the SLHS lobby as a point of interest.

There were two experiences highlighting the history of logs in the region—a presentation by Lilah Crowe of the Itasca County Historical Society gave an overview of the history of logging and notable log structures. Later, a visit to the Forest History Center of the Minnesota Historical Society gave a living history experi-ence of life in a 1900 logging camp. Many of the historic tools

used in the camps a century ago are still very familiar and used by log builders today—cant hooks, peaveys, axes, and the like.

Some great, educational presentations included engineering for log structures by Asche Engineering, and dustless wet blasting by ABS Blast.

Association members presented on some craft-ing techniques, including live-edge paneling cut from a curved tree, and an S-Curve log stairway that merged a glue-laminated stringer with half-log stair treads. Another great dem-onstration was John Belt-man’s spring-pole lathe, in which he turned a Windsor chair leg on his lathe pow-ered by a foot petal and a green wood pole.

Preliminary plans are in progress for next year’s moving, annual conference, and those interested in log craft are welcomed to join and watch for updates at www.gllca.org

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To Place An Order:Call Toll Free: 1-800-359-6614 or order online:

www.loghelp.com Fax Toll Free: 1-800-755-3249

Schroeder Log home SuppLy, Inc.1101 SE 7th Ave Grand Rapids, MN 55744

BuSIneSS hourS: May - Oct: Weekdays 8:00-4:30 CST (Saturdays by appointment).

Nov - April: Weekdays 8:00-4:30 CST.

If traveling long distances - Please Call Ahead

CALENDAR Independence Day July 4th Office Closed Labor Day Sept 2nd Office Closed Daylight Savings Nov 3rd Clocks Back Thanksgiving Nov 28-29 Office Closed

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July Sales

InternatIonal log BuIlders’ assoc. 2019 conference & MeMBer MeetIng

September 20-22Bad Wildbad, Germany

(819) 983-1494 Fax: (819) 983-2094info@logassociation.org www.logassociation.org

hope To See you There!

See sale items at www.loghelp.com

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