Bloomington

Workshop Updates Posted Here - check back often!

Early Registration is encouraged to get a spot - Class size limited to 10 students ! There will be a means for keeping and refridgerating and cooking food as there is a full kitchen there, full shower and bathroom facilities for our use too as well as an enclosed building to get out of the rain in and do the class room work in ! Ample camping space with power and water available. We will be placing a link here soon for local accomodations and proximity to town for picking up what you need as well as what there is available. Class days start at 0800 hrs Mondays through Saturdays with Sundays off in four week workshops and run through and after dinner times with evening camp fire Q&A sessions as well. Course Contents is long and detailed as are the days, (please click on this hyperlink to review.)

There will be many opportunities to do group meal prep to reduce amount of time detracted from the log building project. As a group we look out for each other, share the facilities and keep them clean and follow safety procedures as outlined by instructor the first day with safety training. Students may begin arriving 2 days early if you wish too - this helps a lot to get your bearings and establish camp!

Email Bill with a question now: LogSmithy@aol.com.

Hands-on Log Building Workshops!

"Here we are and it's a new year again!"

"We have accommodations to offer while keeping tuition the same here in our school site in Indiana. We wanted to be sure to keep you up to date as we know the decision to attend can be a process of several years! We want to answer your questions and look to hear back from you if you have any questions!".

Many people are finding out how simple it really is to build their own log cabin or log home from their own hand-peeled logs when they make time to attend a hands-on Log Building Workshop! We are told time and time again ".I wish I would have done this a long time ago!..".

In as little as two weeks we will have you scribing and cutting notches, selecting logs and calculating rough notches, settling allowances, designing/building log trusses and leveling log floor joists for lofts and much much more! The days are long and there is much to absorb but with the hands-on aspect and actually practicing your new found cutting skills your self-confidence will keep pace!

We have broken down the skill of using a scriber and the fitting of logs into a small number of easy steps, when followed you can't help but know what to do! Much of your time is spent mastering the chainsaw handling and cutting operations as you scribe, cut and fit logs onto the walls of a real log building project all the while with a master handcrafter at your side to demonstrate and guide you one on one as well as in a small group!

Classes begin at 8:00 AM and early mornings are spent scrounging for that first cup of coffee while cleaning and sharpening your saw and warming up the crane. The smell of pine wood-shavings, saw dust, chainsaw & diesel exhaust permeates the air as we begin each day. Evenings are spent around campfires recapping the day with Q&A about log building, debt-free living goals and families.

Students bring their building plans if they already have them and have a written list of questions they want to be sure to find answers too while they are here too we suggest they put together a scrap book, filled with pictures of features they are interested in having in their log home or cabin too. Maximizing the value of attending and their time spent with the instructor (s). Our goal is to see that you have every opportunity possible to learn and develop the requisite skills you will need when you return home to begin your own projects!

We also impart the knowledge of wood and the physical characteristics of it along with the history and traditions of this centuries old craft of building with logs you'll not only know what you are doing, but why and be able to explain it yourself when asked. Students take written notes daily and keep pen & paper on their person at all times. Student errors are referred to as "learning opportunities" and students notes will prove invaluable later when at home and working on their own projects.

We have stated for years that everyone having attended a log building workshop will be able to build any other type/style of log home, or hire it done and not only be able to ask the right questions, but, more importantly will know if the answers are true and real. The cost of attending a hands-on Log Building Workshop will be recovered many many times over in the building of your own - and the tools we have on our tool list for students will also pay for themselves over and over again too!

Attending has just gotten better!