What is this? A window?

We thought we'd NEVER get to this point in the building phase, but we have our first window cut in.

Notching the bottom log

I had some 3x10 spruce material made along with the T&G order. Its been the perfect size for window bucks. Thick enough to give the buck that sturdy look yet thin enough to cut with a sliding chop saw or my table saw. It also runs through my 12 1/2" planer just fine. The first one is the hardest, right? Right. It took about all day to complete it and fortunately I used the laundry room window as a guinea pig. I've learned mainly to take more time when notching out the bottom log with the chain saw. That tool can get outta hand quick! Additional patience helps too when cutting around the rebar.

First window completed!

Bathroom window ready for marking

Showing 12" milled sill

One of the biggest changes I made going at this was to mill the bottom sill from my log surplus. After looking at other members log home pictures, I liked the look of an extended sill; one that has the natural log edge to it. So out came the Alaskan Mark lll chainsaw mill to cut my 3" slab. Setting it up for the first cut takes about as long as cutting the thing. After it was milled I cut a straight edge then ran it through the planer. The buck was built with some 3/8' lags holding it together. I used a strap to hold the buck in place while I marked around it to show where to cut the wall. Then the work began! The vertical cuts went pretty fast though the horizontal cuts, with rebar to dodge, took some time.  Once I was happy with the opening I convinced the buck into place and pinned it to the logs with rebar. The pins will be hidden by the window once its in place. Done! But wait, there's a bit of clean up to do. That one 3030 window created quite a bit of shavings and scrap.... Now on to the next.