I'm looking for recipes for log cabin chinking that use a mixture of morter and other materials such as sawdust as strength and adheasion enhancers. The only one I've been able to find so far calls for hog bristles (ugh) which I can't get. I don't want to use the commercial products because I'm a pureist and because I'm cheap and they're expensive. Help Cheers Joe Longshaw

-- Joseph F. Longshaw (Deercreekfarm@juno.com), September 26, 1999

Answers

The main adhesion additive that I know about is elmers glue in mortar. Since you do not wish to purchase it , then since elmers glue is made from horses you may wish to make your own.

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), September 27, 1999.

I'm afraid I don't have a exact recipe, but you can use straw mixed in with the concrete. I'll talk to a neighbor and find out how he just did his. I also know that you can use clay, mud and straw. sorry for not having a exact recipe, but I will try to come back with one for ya.

-- Lisa Scruggs (lisafrm@aol.com), September 30, 1999.

A friend of mine has a gorgeous log home which she and her husband built themselves. She experimented with many chinking recipes until she found one that worked.

her recipe...and unfortunately I don't know measurements and can't ask her because she is no longer with us: flour, water, wood glue and sawdust.

Their house is over twelve years old and still standing, so I guess it works...and it really looks nice too.

Idaho Cher

-- Idaho Cher (fullcircle@nidlink.com), October 03, 1999.