The ridge beam is a critical structural component in log cabin construction that serves as the central support point for the roof system. During installation, the beam must be properly positioned at the apex of the cabin walls, secured with appropriate bracing, and aligned to ensure even weight distribution. The process involves measuring and cutting the beam to the correct length, creating a cradle or support structure to hold it in place, and using temporary scaffolding or walk boards for safe access during installation. Once positioned, the ridge beam provides the foundation for attaching rafters and ultimately the roof structure, making precise placement essential for the cabin's structural integrity.
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RIDGE BEAM SET! The Cabin Shell Is Finally Complete | Off-Grid Cabin Build Ep. 17Added:
This video is brought to you by Duke Traps, the maker of the 330 Super Bag.
Where do you get them? You get them at Funky Trap Supplies, the trap supply company with the real cool name. Well, by Spy High Camera Mounting Systems. I have a promo code MWT10 for 10% off. Log Home Store for all your log home building needs. Get a hold of Jim at the Log Home Store. All right, you guys.
Welcome back to episode 17, I think it is.
Today, we're going to put the ridge pole up, but I want to show you something.
I just got this in the mail.
Let's get some power on here, and look at this, guys. This is the power unit.
This is the the battery I'm going to be putting in.
Timco, does that say right? I don't know. But, um nice, huh? And then, another product sponsor, I got These are always hard to say. CalSun?
Yep, CalSun.
Bifacial solar panels. They sent me three 180 W bifacial solar panels. So, they collect sun on both sides.
So, but that's coming up in future episodes. So, um anyways, let's get into this one now.
First things first, um So, we had the Montana Fur Harvesters Rendezvous um this past weekend, and Christina and Andy Christina works for the Fur Takers of America.
I'm like, "Man, why don't you guys stay for a couple days, and um you know, do a little turkey hunt?" Cuz she loves turkey hunting.
Mr. Andy. We're doing. Yes. So, Andy is uh he got a really nice Jake today.
So, Andy, I'm like, "Hey, buddy, you know, guess what? I'm going to go ahead and get the gable up, and what do you think?" So, he's like, "Yeah."
We'll get her up. Yep, we're going to go ahead and and get the the ridge pole up.
So, let's get to it. Um what we're going to do is you guys seen this thing before. The ridge pole is sitting down there.
And we're going to go ahead and separate the separate this thing out and get it up there.
Got a rope along. I think I'm going to have to rope along it up. Um we just kind of got to figure it out.
This whole episode's going to be setting the ridge pole, whether it takes a 10-minute episode or a 30-minute episode, whether rescue has to come out, helicopters, >> [laughter] >> or whatever. So, let's just get into it.
No, Jimmer.
All right, guys. There is the ridge pole.
We're going to probably cut it to size when we get up there.
It's not that big around.
So, have you seen this thing yet?
My cart how it works?
Okay, cool. This works really really slick.
So, anyways, we'll go ahead and separate this out right here and swing that down there.
Pull it straight out. There we go. Bring it all the way down to the end down here.
Notice how I got him doing the work.
Hey, somebody's got to do it. That's right.
All right. How about you hold the camera and I'll I'll lift it on there? Sure.
All right.
I want to see how heavy it is.
Oh, it really isn't that bad. And it's not that bad.
No, it don't look like it would be. No.
Probably dried out pretty good.
>> Yeah. Oop, there goes the glasses.
Let's set it right on the hitch, like that.
I'll step on the glasses.
And of course, what I did is I put all my crap in here on top of the straps I need.
There we go.
And then we strap it to it.
I built this thing in Tennessee before I moved up here for just this purpose.
That's pretty clever. Yeah, man. I had it turned into a thing where I could haul a canoe with my four-wheeler, too.
But I kind of took that all apart.
Oh, come on.
There we go.
We will be cutting it down. This is way too long, so we will be cutting it down. Better to start off long than be too short.
>> yeah.
I I ended up having to re-measure it. So, I was a little bit nervous about it.
Exactly right.
Exactly right. That's I kind of measure measure once, cut three times, get a new piece.
>> [laughter] >> There we go.
Okay.
Awesome.
All right, let's head up there.
So, it's 18 4.
So, we need 20 ft.
Or we'll go 21 ft.
All right, hook hand in down there, of course.
21 ft. So, we get to take a little bit off this butt. And of course, it's going to land right here, right where this is.
All right, let me get the saw.
We'll pull back a little bit.
So, I ain't cutting through my thing.
Slide it down.
Yeah.
Oh, there we go.
And perfect.
There, it took It took It was pretty slick there.
It took a little bit off. Yeah, not much.
>> So, Andy, it's got to sit on top of that right there. Yep. I think what I'm going to do is I'm going to nail some 2 by 4s up and so it can't roll off the the end. I used that.
>> to want to use that to make cradle?
Yeah, make a cradle up there. Thanks for warning it for me.
I messed up my words, so Dang. you know, I was calling that thing down there in between the logs a spline when it's a spline.
You know, so.
And then I got to cut that 2 by 4 off up there. And then we'll do the same thing.
Well, we don't have to do it on that side. Uh cuz I think what we're going to do is we're going to come up this way right here.
Push it through on top.
And then lift this side up.
And then come over over here then lift this side up there and then screw it down. Sounds like a game plan.
>> Getting plan. I hope.
This side away.
Need something so it don't fall out, you know.
This looks like rain, boss.
It depends upon the cloud. Yeah.
Okay.
Let's wait.
I think it's going to go easy.
I think so.
Yeah, this might just be a short video.
The ridge pole is a very important part of it, you know.
We need got to dry. We're about to get rained on.
I'll grab the heavy end.
I ain't try.
I'm going to grab that end. I'll need to make sure the rough stuff fall on them.
All right.
Oh, that ain't bad.
Then spin.
Want me to stick it right up before we're talking? Not yet. We got to film it.
Oh, I didn't know you were. Yeah.
You readjust, yeah. Yeah, I got to readjust here.
Oh, yeah.
Nice.
Okay, let's see if we can go a little further.
All right, here here's how I think it's going to go, Andy. Um I'll get on the walk board right here.
You lift it up and I'll pull it. I'm sitting on the scaffolding right now and um we'll lay it right on the scaffolding right where my leg is.
Sounds good. And then that way I can get up here on top of here and then lift it up in between that right there and then readjust some more boards over there. I might have to get a ladder, I don't know, and then we can set it up on top of that over there.
I think it's going to go easy and then we can just go block it in and then we'll be done. This might be a quick video.
I think so, too. I think so. All right.
All right.
I like >> Okay.
Yeah, that's good.
Leave me up there.
I need to grab that ladder.
And on the inside here and help me just pull I can't I know put it up against the wall over there. Oh, I got you.
Yeah.
And then maybe you can give me a little push or something.
See if it's on a knot.
I don't have enough ass.
Okay.
There we go. Yeah.
Okay, roll that all the way to the corner over there.
Watch your other end. Yeah.
Sweet.
Okay.
I think this is going to be easy.
Might have to put something Keep it from rolling.
Oh, it's a good thing I didn't cut that Any shorter? Any shorter because it would have it would have rolled right off.
Okay, now I need to go ahead and >> [snorts] >> get some more boards over there.
I might need that ladder.
Um I need to deck off this side over here so I can walk on it.
I know >> [snorts] >> I'm not going to be able to pick this up. I think what I'm going to do is about every foot or two nail a 2 by 4 in that that way I can step it up, you know what I'm saying?
Oh, yeah. Even to the face.
You know what I mean?
Or sticking out a little bit more where it's going to hold that.
Um It's light, but it ain't that light and I ain't that strong. So let's go ahead and cut some blocks and then um you could hand me the saw and then that 2 by 4 there and then the nail gun.
This will give me just some resting points, you know? Oh, yeah.
Cuz I ain't that strong.
Hey, are you ready?
We We? You're the Nails have it in my pocket. You're you're the one that's got it. Right?
Yeah, that would not have been fun without those rest spots. No, no, I couldn't have done it.
My shoulders are really angry right at me.
>> [laughter] >> Ready?
There it is.
yeah, Andy.
>> [snorts] >> We might have to go that way a little bit. I'll measure it, but Heck yeah.
All right, fire up the generator and we'll put some screws in it and then we'll go ahead and finish this stuff up around it and get a peak on. Sounds good.
Woah.
What did I say it was 21 ft?
Yep.
I'm going to try to bump it that way just a little bit.
>> Yeah.
That was a good little bit right there.
Yeah, you got to move.
Find center.
Half of 28 is 14, and guess what? That sucker is dead dead center or right across the top perfectly.
I better screw it down, eh?
Hurry, quick.
>> Before Before it decides to do something. Yeah.
I don't have that many wins, you know? I better take it.
All right. Now I got to move everything over to the other side and and screw it down.
Oh, I left my hammer down there.
I like it.
I like it. I like it. I like it a lot.
Oh, we're tall.
We got a ridge pole, buddy.
Yes, sir.
>> We got a ridge pole.
Now we can go ahead and finish these off right here and go up around it, you know what I'm saying?
And finish it off. I got I I was standing over there and this this right here I got trim this down.
It's all really shitty angle.
But, um we got a ridge pole. Well, maybe those three will work. What we're doing is filling in around it.
And then, what I might do before I nail it is uh mark it.
And then cut them down there, maybe. I don't know. I mean, I'm pretty comfortable cutting them up here.
So.
There we go.
We had one that fit perfectly one of my cutoffs.
That one will go there.
I should get another walk board up here to be safe, huh? Somebody's going to be calling OSHA, I mean.
Yeah.
I like to live a little bit on the edge a little bit. Makes for good content.
It's not a government job, you're good.
Hopefully this one's long enough, [snorts] but it ain't going to be long enough.
Is the hair shaft going to be the one You said you got to put one on top of that one? What's that?
>> You got to put another one on top of that one or not?
>> Yeah, there'd be another one on top.
>> So that would probably then be long enough?
>> Yeah, it'd be long for the top top.
All right, get a little bit longer.
Okay, so what I'm going to do is Well, that's what higher Well, no, it's by time it comes up I I got to be up above in here.
Let me pull these off here.
Oh. Pull them all up in there.
Hand me that level if you could.
And let's transfer.
Cool, I think it's going to Yeah, that'll be it right there. We don't need this top one here. That works out. Yeah, that worked out real good.
I don't know if you're going to clean that up a little. Yeah. Oh, I see. Yeah.
Yeah, you see it?
>> You fix You fixing you fix.
There we go.
I'm going to leave I don't know, should I?
Cuz it goes up in here.
I guess I could.
I'll bring it I'll I'll mark it just in case I want it. Then you cut it.
This whole deal right here has got to be trimmed up.
All right, there.
It's sitting a little bit lower than I want it to, Andy.
But uh One more little too high? Well, the Raptors are going to sit on of it, you know what I mean? The rafters will sit on top of it like this.
That'll give you some height. Yeah, it'll give you height. Yeah, it's going to give me the height. So, it'll it I want everything underneath the And you know that the roof is going to sit on top of here then, you know, so Okay, I think we're good. Now, we pull it down and just we'll bring it down there and we'll cut it.
And then they should just stack right in there. I'll probably just hand drive it, you know, with hand drive nails after I cut it, you know. Yeah. Perfect.
All right.
There's a little mouse.
This one here is going to be a pain in the butt. It's got I You look at it at like an angle, you know? Yeah.
>> to trim that. Ah, skill saw.
We'll use a skill saw on that one.
>> [snorts] >> Oh, look at that. It doesn't matter.
Yeah.
And this one here.
>> Oh, is the battery dead?
Yeah, that's lithium. No?
No? No. What happened? Oh.
Safety.
>> Ooh, yeah, I knew I hit I hit one of them.
Dang it. 10 in and 5 chance of hitting a nail, and you you found it. And I found the nail.
All right.
See if there's any life left in that saw.
All right.
Now comes the tough cut. Yeah.
>> All right.
Pretty happy with it. Yeah, it looks pretty good. I think it looks good.
Well, I'm not done. I'm going to go ahead and foam it.
Bam!
I'll all the way around that out there, too, [clears throat] you know.
Um over the top of that foam there eventually.
Not going to it till probably beginning of August when everything is completely dry. Yep.
And then before that, I'm going to sand everything with an orbal or orbital.
Just 80 grit and just round these edges off and these uh these lips.
Lips.
Oh, that one's the top. Okay.
I was getting confused.
Which is easy to do.
Oh, look at that.
It looks good from down here, at least.
>> Yeah, well, you should see it up here.
It's even better. [laughter] >> [clears throat] >> Now it's starting to look like something, Andy.
>> Yeah.
Look at that.
Very nice.
I could leave these cracks open for bats.
So, bats have a place to live, too. Mhm.
You know? Yeah. Yeah.
Now, the fun one. Am I going to be able to reach it?
I'll start it down here.
Hope it don't split.
We got it.
We got it.
Get a little foam in there.
Good. Let's go do the other side.
Wrap this video up.
Back. There we go.
Oh, she on?
Okay.
I think it's going to hit fine.
Okay.
We'll get this one up here and then get a mark.
A marky mark.
Okay.
It's almost identical to the other side, so that makes me happy.
You know? That's always a good thing when it comes out even. Yeah.
There it is.
Now we got to do is cut it.
Be a head right there. I picked up a really cool deer head this weekend at the the auction. It's got velvet on it.
I didn't want to put my own stuff up there, you know.
A tur- first turkey fan.
Yep.
>> And door handle. Yep. And door handle.
That's right. That's right.
Got a um he found a shed. So, let's look at it from the outside.
Timbers had about enough for today.
Oh, look at that, guys.
Come over here.
Isn't that awesome, Andy?
Sure is. Sure looks good. A little determination and a sawmill and and some scared trees.
>> [laughter] >> When I got my sawmill, my trees are like, "Oh, Don't make eye contact."
>> [laughter] >> That's a good one. Yeah.
But uh well, I could go ahead and figure out my roofing material now.
I got a bunch of one bys I got to start planning because that's going to be seen from the inside.
Um hopefully I got it right. I got a um a timber framer guy that has offered help for notching the the rafters and all that.
So, um well, can you I bet you can't wait get back to New Jersey, huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah.
>> [laughter] >> Big big big uh missing that. Yeah. You know what I mean?
All right now, guys. I don't know how many minutes this is going to take. I think it's a short video, but um as always, I hope you enjoyed the video as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.
And um now it looks like a cabin minus the roof.
But uh it's sure getting fun. Now I want to shore it up. It's it's a little wobbly, you know. I do have it braced up. That end over there is a little wobbly, but uh I might throw some bracing on it or something like that, so.
All right, you guys. Whatever day it is today, have a great day. And Andy, I appreciate it. No problem, Paul. Yep.
Laters.
>> [music] >> I was mountain goats and the martins and minks.
Mountain [music] men living is the life for me. I'm a trap line man. Yes, >> [music] >> indeed. I'm a trap line man.
There ain't no changing me.
I'm [music] a trap line man.
I'm a trap line man.
Yes, indeed.
>> [music] [music]
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