Leveling academy

For the specific task of leveling irregularly shaped logs, I am pretty sure this post could be really handy. After two weeks of practicing this technique, everything became smooth and easy to accomplish with a quite good result... or at least, I am quite happy with it! I wrote about this task a few days ago but I didn't explain the most essential part of it all... which is marking the pieces before cutting it.

Here is the most essential set of tools: the spacing blocks.

There are a few things to consider before starting to explain, which depend on this very situation and the tools that I am using.

First) The blade of the jigsaw does NOT pass through the all width of the piece so it needs to be marked on both sides. This is not a downside but actually allows to adjust perfectly on any irregular log.

Second) The first spacing block has the exact height of the rafters that are going to make the level on top of the logs.The second spacing block is the exact double of the other.

Third) When setting spacing blocks and wedges to make the level, you need to place the piece on the exact vertical from the position where it is going to rest. 

So this is how to use the spacing blocks.
Trying to explain it with some drawings: let's say you find the perfect horizontal level (on top of the log) between the two points A and B by setting proper wedges, temporarily fixed to the log (picture 1). On top of those wedges you set the rafter (picture 2) and along its side you set the spacing block with the same height of the rafter (picture 3).

1)





2)

3)

Then you start sliding the spacing block along the top edge of the log, making sure to keep tight to the side of the rafter. While you do this you mark the point on top of the spacing block, like in the next picture.

So that is the line where you are going to cut with the jigsaw... from each side! As I mentioned earlier: with totally irregular logs, more than likely each side of the rafter it's going have a slightly different marking line so you are going to need to adjust the center part by chisel & hammer.
Discard the lower part and set the upper part down onto the log and the job is done! Beware that there are many tricky things that can happen: in fact each log is going to be different... and you may be working against a wall like this...

Besides that, if the gap that you need to fill is bigger than then height of the rafter... you are going to need more rafters one on top of the other, so this is why you need the double height spacing block.

Viewing from the top: another tricky kind of log. In order to follow the log, this is going to happen with many slices of rafters joint together.

It's a really lovely (but time consuming) meditation... and now it's DONE!!!