Hand Tools	Tenon Cutters	Mortising	Adhesives	Books/Videos

When you live in a log home, there are always repairs or projects that require tools not normally found in the standard woodworker's tool chest; especially hand tools such as a drawknife, spokeshave or tenon cutters. Additionally, many of us DIY-types like to save money by doing many of the tasks that would typically be subbed-out to a contractor such as building a railing or adding log accents, etc.  The one truism that never changes is to "have the right tool for the job".  You can't drill a hole with a pocket knife.

Hand Tools - Drawknives

Log railings and much rustic furniture are typically available in two varieties, clean peeled or skip-peeled.  Clean peeled logs have all of the bark and sub-bark removed, but the trails left by the drawknife used to "shave" the log remain visible - not sanded away.  This results in a clean looking log with visible tracks left by the drawknife or spokeshave (a smaller version of the drawknife).

Skip-peeling does not remove all of the inner bark.  A skip-peeled log will have patches of the dark interior bark exposed, which produces a more rustic look and feel.  Your taste, or the preferences of the builder dictates the peeling method used to remove the bark.  Peeling has no structural consequence on the finished piece. 

Building log railings, accents and rustic furniture is as much an art as a science.  Shaping logs and creating strong joints require special joinery methods outside the field of typical home building. There are special tools available to perform these particular tasks.  On the following pages, we have the most common tools and miscellaneous supplies you might need when doing your next DIY project.

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 Gotta' have tool accessories

Rockler 25-Piece HSS Brad Point Bit Set These bits are made of precision-ground high speed steel (HSS) that keeps a sharp edge longer, resists wear and possible overheating. Center brad point allows accurate positioning and prevents skating.. Rockler 25-Piece HSS Brad Point Bit Set

16-Pc. Forstner Bit Set
Perfect for doweling, mortising, pocket holes, hardware installation and more! Pre-sharpened bits are ready to use in any type of wood. Cut precision flat-bottom holes without tear-out. 16-Pc. Forstner Bit Set

DIY can be EZ

There are many projects that require the expertise of a professional... i.e. most of us would not attempt to repair a damaged roof.  However, smaller jobs like building a gate to match your log railing is not out of reach of the typical DIYer.  Where most people fail is when they don't have enough information, or the right tools for the job at hand.

There is nothing you can do that is not fully documented online. A quick search on any project topic will deliver in-depth DIY help and complete instructions. Once you have obtained the project guidelines, make a list of the materials and supplies that will be needed. Then - review the tool requirements. If you need a specialty tool that you don't want to buy because it may be a one-time purchase, remember the cost savings of doing the job yourself. As mentioned above, buying a tenon cutter to build or repair a railing is a whole lot less expensive than hiring a company to perform the task.

(Tip #9)

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