Log cabins look rustic and provide a place to get back to a simpler way of living. The best place for these cabins to be built is right within the woods from which the building materials for the cabin can be taken. These areas, however, often are far from sources of electricity, which means that you need to find ways to build without relying on an electrical outlet.

Hand Tools

If you are particularly confident in your building skills, strength and time available, build the cabin using basic hand tools. A few saws, an axe, a hammer and nails, a screwdriver and screws, and a wrench should be sufficient for most jobs. You also may want to have some wood carving and woodworking equipment, such as gouges, chisels, knives, sandpaper and a hand wood lathe. Use these tools to strip, cut, and carve and assemble your lumber.

Companies

If you don't want to do everything by hand, get the lumber cut at a reputable lumber company. They will be able to cure the lumber for you and deliver it to your cabin location. Other companies can help you with tasks like mixing large amounts of mortar or pre-cutting insulation.

Generators and Battery Operated Tools

Bring a generator to the cabin site. The generator can give you temporary electricity to do things like test electrical wiring (if you are installing it) or pump water. Battery operated tools can be used to take the physical effort out of some of the building. To reduce the amount of batteries and generator power you need, work during the day instead of during twilight or nighttime hours. Also look into other "green" sources of power, such as using a team of horses to clear tree stumps from the cabin location.

Basic Method and Plans

Clear the land on which the cabin will be built, either with chains and vehicles or good old fashioned horse power. Level the land with bulldozing equipment or by horse plow, shovel, pick and axe. Stake out a basic four wall floor plan. Lay out two logs parallel on two sides of the staked area. Notch the ends of the logs with an axe or saw, leaving about one to two feet left on either end. Notch the logs that will lay on top of the primary logs, fit the logs together at the notches, and continue to build the walls up to the height you want. You can either adjust the notching as you go to accommodate doors, windows, and a fireplace, or you can cut them out later. Lay logs over the wall structure to create a roof and cover the logs with wood shingles. Install the mortar and insulation and attach your window glass, shingles and doors. Finish with the chimney, which should be made of mortar and stone if intended for use.

Source:

Log-Cabin-Adventures.com: Building a Log Cabin

2020site.org: How to Build a Log Cabin