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True Handcrafted Log Homes – Explained by a Log Home Builder

Ralph Serpe — Wed, 12 May 2010 03:15:37 +0000

When people think of a log home they can fall into the trap of thinking that every one is ‘handcrafted’. To some extent they are correct, but
Handcrafted in the log home world, refers specifically to the style of home where the logs vary in thickness. As log home builders in Montana, we have seen both milled and handcraft log homes. A milled log home, also known as a manufactured log home, is very uniform. If someone orders an 8″x8″ milled log, then each and every log will be a perfect eight inches wide and eight inches tall, with a stack height of approximately 7 1/4 inches. But a handcrafted log capitalizes on the unique.

Though some homes are made from very large logs, the best of both worlds, large but not enormous, is homes with an average median diameter of about 13 inches. The logs in turn range from about 11 to 15 inches. Each log is hand peeled and then set individually into the log wall. There are men that with the aid of tools as diverse as a micrometer and a chainsaw, hand craft each log for a specific place in the wall.

The stack of the log home is the next area of attention. Some companies that advertise ‘handcrafted log homes’ have a less than adequate process for making them stack. The stack of a log is how it fits one on top of another. Some companies chainsaw the top and bottom of the logs flat. Then they stack one log on top of the next, using only caulking or foam strips to keep the home air tight. The log itself will offer a lot of insulation, but it is a mote point, if there is only caulking between. The bugs and weather elements will have a field day with the caulking over the years. The solution we have found to work as builders –

Choose a company that uses a slight Swedish Cope stack to the logs. This overlapping of the logs is the true key to assist in sealing the weather and insects out of the home.

Now for an eye to the corners — Some companies offer the butt and pass system, where every other end of the logs is exposed to the outside. This is an easier way to craft them, but the exposed log ends are going to suffer from exposure. Thus more rotting and damage to the logs will be seen. The saddle notch corners are the better avenue. But making full saddle notch corners on a log home can be a challenge. Some mills have solved the problem by using a diamond shaped notching technique. From building corners up like this, it is amazing to see how close and tight the resulting ends are.

Handcrafted log homes have many more elements to evaluate and explore before the final choices are made. Take your time and research many different options. It is not a bad idea to choose a log home representative that also can put you in contact with log home builders that are accustomed to the type of log home you plan to build.

Handcrafted Vs Handmade

Thomson Thomas — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:31:17 +0000

No matter how hard I searched I couldn’t find a definitive answer to the never ending debate “Handmade vs. Handcrafted”. If you’re into any aspect of art or crafting I can almost guarantee you’ve had this discussion before one form or another. So what do the experts say?

The American Heritage Dictionary defines “Handmade” as; made or prepared by hand rather than by machine. It’s definition of “Handcrafted”; to fashion or make by hand.

Merriam Webster:

Handmade; made by hand or by a hand process. Handcrafted; to fashion by handicraft. Handicraft;

1: a: manual skill b: an occupation requiring skill with the hands

2: the articles fashioned by those engaged in handicraft.

Webster:

Handmade; made by hand or a hand process

Handcrafted; A work produced by hand labor

Almost every definition was identical. For fun I got out my old dusty Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary published in 1963 to see what they had to say 45 years ago. I wasn’t surprised to see there wasn’t much of a difference. Handmade; made by hand or a hand process.

Handcraft; to fashion by handicraft. Handicraft; 1a: manual skill. b: an occupation requiring a skill with the hands.Lastly I tried to find a more modern definition so I tried Wikipedia. Handmade; means something made by hand, rather than by a machine.Much to my surprise the word handcrafted came up with “No article title matches”. Tried “What is handcrafted” only to come up with a ton of ad’s for people describing handcrafted (as they see it) items for sale.

After several hours of research I gave up. I guess I’m going to have to give you my narrative of handcrafted vs. handmade and let you decide
which classification to choose.

Since most agree that “handmade” is a process of making something by hand, or with your hands, does it mean entirely by hand or the process of putting something together using your hands? Reading the definitions I found, it means just about the same thing.

So you receive a jigsaw puzzle for your birthday and put it together using your hands. Did you handcraft the puzzle or was the puzzle handmade by you? What if you actually drew out a picture, cut it up into hundreds of pieces then put it back together again, is it handmade or handcrafted? You actually made the puzzle didn’t you?

In an article I wrote Art vs. Crafts I mentioned the definition for “Artisan”; “also called a “craftsman; skilled manual worker who uses tools and machinery in a particular craft” . An interesting interpretation on the subject.

If you were presented with a kit to make a bracelet and did, I believe your bracelet would fall under the category “handcrafted”. You used your skills and put together something that was pre-fabricated.

Using the same analogy if you were to use the same kit and produce something other than a bracelet, or enhanced the bracelet using the parts in a different manner than described or instructed, then you’d still have “handcrafted”. If you were to actually make and add additional parts or assemble the kit in a different manner, then I would say it’s still “handcrafted”.

I believe this because I purchase and use prefabricated items for the creation of the items I design jewelry or otherwise. I may purchase jewelry findings or artisan-made beads to enhance or complete a piece of jewelry I design and make. How I used the findings, where I put them, and the ability to design the jewelry around the findings I use, I call handcrafted. Is this bad, no. Either way, I used my hands and my mind (what matters most) in the creation of a particular item. And yes, I use a variety of tools to help me in the process.

As much as I’d hate to admit it, I think “handmade” should refer to items which are uniquely made from totally raw materials. If you raise the sheep, process the wool, then weave it by hand into a rug, I’d consider that “handmade”. But wait, you need tools to weave a rug don’t you? So does that knock it out of the handmade category? What if you use a machine in the process? But what if you built that machine yourself? Is your rug handmade or handcrafted? Oh my gosh, this is too much informational overload to process.

I work with natural materials in a different art medium; gourds They are a natural material. I grow them, dry them, clean them, sand, carve, inlay, embellish, paint and finish them in different manners. I still consider them handcrafted rather than handmade because I didn’t make the gourd itself. I simply used something and added to it using my hands and imaginative ability. I use my ability to craft something out of an existing item.

Is there an answer to the difference between handcrafted and handmade? I’ve considered which classification to add my own work to several times as I wrote this article. Which sounds better, handcrafted or handmade? Would it make a difference to you if you were given the opportunity to purchase an exact duplicate item; one marked handcrafted and the other handmade? Would you care so long as you knew someone used their hands to create the item? Does it boil down to keywords used in searching Google or Yahoo as to which you buy? Or are you going to purchase something you like? That’s the ultimate question.

The line I have to draw between handcrafted and handmade is the mass produced machine made items being classified as handmade only
because someone had to turn the switch from on to off to start the process.

This debate will go on for years well beyond our time. It truly doesn’t matter. You’ll do a search for “handmade” first then proceed to “handcrafted” thinking you’ll get a better result or the exact opposite. Either way, what you’ll get is items which are made by someone using their hands. Someone who has put their heart and soul into the product hoping someone out there will appreciate their work and purchase the item.

Don’t limit yourself because of what I or anyone else says. Handcrafted, handmade is the same. If you like it, appreciate it, and it makes you happy, by all means purchase it. After all, it was made by hand for someone special; you.

Handcrafted in Todays Modern Age

Kathy Austin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:20:55 +0000

While there is no doubt that our modern industrial world has added to the richness and diversity of our lives, it could be argued that we have lost an essential understanding of the value of making something with our own hands and we have lost our connection to mother earth.

In the 1800’s especially the latter half, the industrial age had kicked into full gear. Not long after the end of the American Cival War, before the start of the Industrial Age, nearly all goods were made by craftsmen that were so skilled, they enjoyed creating products that were of value to others.

Then came the rise in industrialization, every item that was once made by a craftsman took on a degree of manufacturing. So much was this, that nearly all goods sold around the world today, would not have a single human being touch the product prior to it being distributed.

Our Manufacturing world now consists of compressed wood and staples, its now almost impossible to achieve the beauty of handmade wood furniture. Our Assembly lines carry so many glass products, it’s hard to see and appreciate Handblown glass. Not to mention Vinyl and plastic. To find Handmade purses and luggage is almost non existant.

In the 1970’s, there was a full-service gas station at nearly every major intersection. Full-service has since been replaced with self-service, so much so that one can hardly find a full-service station anywhere.

Handmade toys have been replaced with plastic and metal toys manufactured on assembly lines. Wood and plastic designs, made as cheaply as the manufacturers can make them, have replaced handmade items.

We have replaced all that was beautiful and handcrafted, with products made by cold and uncaring machines. Modern living has transformed the products we put into our homes, from works of fine art to efficient and inexpensive products that we have been trained to throw away when the products break.

In tody’s day in age, it sometimes seems as if the only things to cherish is each other. Once upon a time our grandmas would have handmade quilts, that were handed down through the generations. Our grandads boots would have been made by the shoe maker. Alterations and repairs would have been carried out often on those one pair of shoes.

Christmas time before WWII, was about gifts handmade by the giver, hand baked cookies, knitted jumpers. But not long after WWII had ended technology began to stamp itself into our lives. Christmas had become this transformation, it had turned into a “buying experience” rather than a “making experience”.

When was the last time you recieved something hand crafted. When was the last time your friend baked you some hand baked cookies? or your children made you something special for Christmas.

I do know that there is a minority in the industrialized nations that still do make goods by hand. But they are few and far between. However there are many who live in Africa and India and even Asia who still appreciate, handcrafting goods.

Now with the internet avaiable 24/7, we find ourselves in a unique position. Most people have not experienced recieving handcrafted goods in a very long time. As global retail giants continue to shop for cheap, mass produced goods, customers can now search the internet for handmade, handcrafted products online.

Many retailers especially on the internet, search far and wide to bring handcrafted products to their customers. Products that have been made in Africa or Asia that can be forund online.

In my world, that is a beautiful concept. It is wonderful to be able to go to a website and buy a product that is made by a real human, using his or her own hands to craft the product with love, care and commitment.

I love the fact that I can go online to buy handmade, but the thing that is most interesting is that one can frequently get handmade products from other areas of the world for far less money than an American, a European or Australian can get the same kind of machined products for from his or her local brick-and-mortar retail outlet.

How To Craft A Toy Car For Party?

Ralph Serpe — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:11:28 +0000

First things first, think of how many party guests you wish to accommodate. It would be on the scale of a standard car. Just because you would like to accommodate your many friends, you can not go on making compartments after compartments. Other accessories need to be fitted into their proper place. The articles required are: Pick up any boxes, hard card-board boxes, TV-computer cartons or any other box. Take paper plates, plastic plates and a good quality spray paint; construction or bond paper in different colors, strong ribbon; stapler and gum; brads fasteners; craft knife, blade, scissor, glue and tape, markers, foam letters and numbers to decorate. As the assembly operation of the car is in progress, you may have some new ideas for enhancing its beauty. Think well and go ahead! The plastic plates are meant to serve as wheels. Choose your color. Do not hesitate to ape the latest model of the race car. Let the wheels turn properly. The other plate will be your steering wheel, unless you have better ideas. Cut two small circles for headlights and tail lights. When your car is ready to roll out of the assembly lines, all that is necessary is to make the rail tracks. Track made out of old tyres looks good and they are durable. You can achieve perfection in this area, by trial and error method.

How to Make Money with Crafts

Gregg Hall — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:46:27 +0000

Opening an online store for your crafts business, can be a great way to deal with the crafts you have left over after a craft show. If you are part of the craft show circuit, then you have probably noticed, that certain crafts seem to sell better in certain areas, and there is just no rhyme or reason to this. You think you have made the perfect crafts for this season, and you almost sell them all out at one craft show, and yet are stuck with them at another.

A craft that may not have sold well locally, might be just what a customer in Europe thinks is the cats meow!. Your online store will compliment your craft shows, and make sure you make money from all of your products. You can also set up a newsletter with your online store, and have customers sign up for it. You can let them know when your next craft show will be, and offer specials.. The ideas are endless… and will ultimately make you money. Put your website on your business card, so that your customers at craft shows, can see what else you have made. It is almost like a “art gallery” online. Online stores are easy to open and get started, you are given steps and templates to use, you do not need to be a computer genius..

Craft Paper

Linda Greens — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 04:14:49 +0000

The craft shop or the stationary shop has all the colors design which you can choose as per your liking. The patterns are many like stripes, dots, checks. Floral, etc. You can also check online for new designs which are introduced regularly. The papers you get are also of different variety that is velvet paper, handmade paper, ribbed, or cardboard, or corrugated paper.

If you are an artist you will want to make your own patterns and for that you can purchase do it yourself kits available in the stores. Make sure you use good paper if you are making your own design or else your photos and material will be ruined because of the quality of paper being bad. The balance paper can be used for the letterhead or you can start another scrap book.The scrap you have left from your patterns, stationary, etc, you can use to create letterheads for your title page, header, and so on. Otherwise, you can use the scraps to start your next pattern on the following page.