Anyone have a good historic lime mortar formula for hewn log chinking?

Answer 1

Regular "screenings" work well for Long chinking mortar fill. Here is a basic old formula use screenings from your local stone quarry/supply .

1. One pail of screenings.

2, 1/3 pail of "hogs hair" You can substiture almost any animal hair or even "fiberglass" tailings work well. If you can get these anywhere you can buy a nylon rope and chop that up to about 1/4 inch with a hatchet and untangle the thing and use those as binding hairs.

3. Add about 2 cups of white portland cement to the above and mix well Add water to get it to the consistency of Thick toothpaste.

You will have a mortar filler from this formula that looks a grayish white upon aging which will take about 6 months to begin to show up.

Good Hewing

Answer 2

I think the original chinking was usually splayed saplings or pebbles, to fill in so that less daubing is used, the daubing, was usually some mix with regular clay and quite a bit of lime, that keeps the mix from becoming hard and brittle and cracking as the logs settle and shift a little over time. whatever you use, try not to leave any places where water can be cought.

Answer 3

Usually, it was whatever clay was available.