2019 GLLCA Conference

We had a great time with the Great Log Crafters Association this spring. An April snowstorm pushed the scheduled GLLCA Conference into May, which altered a few plans, but ultimately it was an educational and enjoyable conference. One of the outdoor sessions was Mark Weber’s log chain demonstration. He showed how to chainsaw-carve a large-linked chain out of a solid. The unfinished chain went up onto the Association’s fundraiser auction, and now it’s sitting in the SLHS lobby as a point of interest.

There were two experiences highlighting the history of logs in the region—a presentation by Lilah Crowe of the Itasca County Historical Society gave an overview of the history of logging and notable log structures. Later, a visit to the Forest History Center of the Minnesota Historical Society gave a living history experience of life in a 1900 logging camp. Many of the historic tools used in the camps a century ago are still very familiar and used by log builders today—cant hooks, peaveys, axes, and the like.

Some great, educational presentations included engineering for log structures by Asche Engineering, and dustless wet blasting by ABS Blast.

Association members presented on some crafting techniques, including live-edge paneling cut from a curved tree, and an S-Curve log stairway that merged a glue-laminated stringer with half-log stair treads. Another great demonstration was John Beltman’s spring-pole lathe, in which he turned a Windsor chair leg on his lathe powered by a foot petal and a green wood pole.

Preliminary plans are in progress for next year’s moving, annual conference, and those interested in log craft are welcomed to join and watch for updates at www.gllca.org