Log Cabin Rustics Blog: Building Log Furniture Part 3: The Drawknife Log Cabin Rustics

Scott R., Washington

Thank you for personalizing this experience and following up with me. That means a lot. We're looking forward to receiving the chairs and other items. I'll stay in touch concerning follow up orders to furnish our cabin.

More Testimonials >

Log Cabin Rustics Posting Page

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Building Log Furniture Part 3: The Drawknife

There are many tools that are used to build log furniture, but the drawknife is the one you’ll be spending the most time using. It is used to remove the bark off the logs, but is sharp enough to shape the wood. It can also be used to peel logs and make tenons. A tenon is a rectangular shape cut out of a piece of wood before it is used to insert into a mortise. Using a drawknife does take a lot of effort, and be sure to watch out for the “planer glaze,” which when the pores of the wood close as a result of the cutting action. This shouldn’t be a problem unless you plan to stain your furniture and keep it outside, then the stain will not be able to properly penetrate the wood.

If you decide to sand the logs instead of using a drawknife, be sure to invest in a sander that will do the job. But you will be missing out on something important. The drawknife is the king of woodworking tools, and using it gives the builder a chance to get a closer feel of how the wood works and a little exercise.

by: Log Cabin Rustics