make shift lean to shed

[bruiserx2]

I have 10 oak logs all between 12 and 18 feet long. I have plenty of firewood and was thinking of making a lean to shed. The logs have not been milled but are pretty straight. I understand they should not be in direct contact with the ground but what harm would it be to use them. The bark is still on them.
It would be 15 feet high in the front and then 10 foot high in the back, twenty feet wide and 15 feet deep, open front and dirt floor.

 

[brin]

I have 10 oak logs all between 12 and 18 feet long. I have plenty of firewood and was thinking of making a lean to shed. The logs have not been milled but are pretty straight. I understand they should not be in direct contact with the ground but what harm would it be to use them. The bark is still on them.
It would be 15 feet high in the front and then 10 foot high in the back, twenty feet wide and 15 feet deep, open front and dirt floor.

If you just want a shed that will last 10 to 15 yrs, I don't see a problem but to extend the life why not coat the part that would come in contact with the soil with some tar or blackjack and you could even pour some concrete to give you a buffer and prevent direct contact..I have a neighbor who put up 4 board oak fence from a mill and used 6x6 oak posts ..he put the fence in 25 yrs ago and it still looks nice...I am sure there will be others with opinions about using pressure treated lumber but then I ask them why are there so many old buildings and fences still standing here in Georgia anyway from 100 yrs ago..and have not been painted ..Just one opinion.

 

[bruiserx2]

The logs would not be in direct contact with the ground. They would be either on rock or on pressure treated wood on a footing. The rock surface would be above ground.

 

[dave1949]

If you put a rock beneath the log butts, that should last a good while. A water tight roof with some overhang would be good. I would strip the bark off the logs once it loosens up, that will keep the bark from holding dampness against the logs and discourage ants, beetles and so forth. I say go for it

 

[bruiserx2]

Any ideas on the best way to debark an Oak?

 

[smiley]

Any ideas on the best way to debark an Oak?

I remember 40 years ago soaking some logs in the pond for a week or two but I think they were hemlock and definately not oak, but it might might be worth trying on a couple.
We had a tool for scoring the bark that went on an axe handle with a triangular blade sticking out where the blade would be, about 3 inches long and a quarter inch thick. It was ground to a v point on the business end. You just scored down the bark until you got through. Then we used what looked like a big dull chisel about 2 inches wide and 2 ft long, to work under the bark and pry it off. If you've got any log cabin builders near you, they'd probably have something similar.
Smiley

 

[dave1949]

Any ideas on the best way to debark an Oak?

Supposedly, the best time to peel bark is in mid-Spring, this is for fresh cut trees. You can use those 4-5 inch wide blades on a long stout handle like they use to rip old shingles off roofs. A heavy draw knife might work too if you can get the log up at a comfortable work height.

If your trees have been cut for a while and the bark has tightened up, I would try soaking too, or just wait 2 years until the log has shrunk inside the bark a bit. You could probably speed the process up by scoring through the bark length-wise down the log with a circular saw. Maybe adjust the cut depth to 3/8".
Dave.

 

[pat32rf]

I needed a quick cheap 10'x10' woodshed about ten years ago so I just used 8" maple logs for the uprights and nailed 2x4s to them to give a straight edge to fasten the sides to. Set it on 12x24 pavers. Bought hemlock for the beams and roof rafters. Still looks like the day I built it, despite being moved three times....
I have oak tops out in my bush that have been there for over ten years (before we bought the place) that are still solid, as long as they are not laying in direct contact with the ground. The outer 1/2" may be soft but the inner 4-6" is still solid...

 

[studor]

Any ideas on the best way to debark an Oak?

You can buy debarking "spuds" which are basically a wide chisel on a long handle that you can push like a floor scraper to take off the bark. Split the bark the length of the log then use the spud to peel it around. Hardwood bark is tough stuff -- be prepared for a workout

 

[Chilly807]

There's this lil' doodad too...

Log Wizard Online

Chilly