Building a Saxon House with Hand Tools: A Bushcraft Project (PART 1)
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Date: 2019-09-10
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Comments and reviews: 10
Brother Maleus Praetor
My theory on the way the houses were dug down is that with regards to heat from a fire, the way heat rebounds off surfaces is that hard earth seems to me to reflect heat far more effectively than soft surfaces; thinking of a mirror reflecting light as oppose to using a curtain. Keeping that heat within a confined area below ground and from the swell and gust of air/weather is going to retain that heat for longer before it dissipates into the general top-side atmosphere. The convected cold air will sink to the bottom of the pit, where it can be made deeper than the level of the rest of the space, say a corner of the area would be slightly lower so as to maximize use of the air within. Also, as mentioned in the video, digging down below ground level reduces the profile of the house in relation to being hit by wind-chill, primarily wind chill. In addition to this making the house a lower profile, it is less conspicuous and harder to see than a house stood at ground level. - perhaps adding a level of evasive defence allows for greater safety from being detected by bad people? lol Funny maybe but it makes perfect sense to me. I would also say that if an area's resources are hard to come by, then using the ground's vacant space makes up for materials or lack there of. All you have to build is a roof, because you have eliminated the requirements to build wallsLove the videos Also LOVE seeing animals having fun, joining in on the shenanigans: ) More animals please: D
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My theory on the way the houses were dug down is that with regards to heat from a fire, the way heat rebounds off surfaces is that hard earth seems to me to reflect heat far more effectively than soft surfaces; thinking of a mirror reflecting light as oppose to using a curtain. Keeping that heat within a confined area below ground and from the swell and gust of air/weather is going to retain that heat for longer before it dissipates into the general top-side atmosphere. The convected cold air will sink to the bottom of the pit, where it can be made deeper than the level of the rest of the space, say a corner of the area would be slightly lower so as to maximize use of the air within. Also, as mentioned in the video, digging down below ground level reduces the profile of the house in relation to being hit by wind-chill, primarily wind chill. In addition to this making the house a lower profile, it is less conspicuous and harder to see than a house stood at ground level. - perhaps adding a level of evasive defence allows for greater safety from being detected by bad people? lol Funny maybe but it makes perfect sense to me. I would also say that if an area's resources are hard to come by, then using the ground's vacant space makes up for materials or lack there of. All you have to build is a roof, because you have eliminated the requirements to build wallsLove the videos Also LOVE seeing animals having fun, joining in on the shenanigans: ) More animals please: D
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Southern Wanderer
All right, another build I love history and you guys are bringing history to life. And you're teaching great skills to others, including the new ones you learn along the way. Absolutely wonderful. At the end of your entire build series', you could camp chronologically through history, from the earliest settlement to the newest. That would be cool. (Dressed in the garb would be cool, too)Heat rises and cold air falls, so many archeologist believe the pit was for food storage and to keep the warmer air in the living area above. If I remember correctly, there was a wood floor or slats over the pit. (It's been a while since I've read Anglo-Saxon archeology) By the way, that bark you're shaving off, after dried, should make good fire tender. I'm always happy to see you and Graeme working together. Tell Graeme I Iove TA Fishing and I'm the female novice that asks a lot of questions in his comments. :)
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All right, another build I love history and you guys are bringing history to life. And you're teaching great skills to others, including the new ones you learn along the way. Absolutely wonderful. At the end of your entire build series', you could camp chronologically through history, from the earliest settlement to the newest. That would be cool. (Dressed in the garb would be cool, too)Heat rises and cold air falls, so many archeologist believe the pit was for food storage and to keep the warmer air in the living area above. If I remember correctly, there was a wood floor or slats over the pit. (It's been a while since I've read Anglo-Saxon archeology) By the way, that bark you're shaving off, after dried, should make good fire tender. I'm always happy to see you and Graeme working together. Tell Graeme I Iove TA Fishing and I'm the female novice that asks a lot of questions in his comments. :)
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Sheniloiu
There are a few reasons for a pit house. First, it needs less building materials. Second and most important, when you dig a hole in the ground one reaches the level where the ground never freeze. This means one can use the natural heat from the ground. Such a house is, compared to an over ground house, cooler in the summer and easier to heat in the winter. This kind of house is said to be the oldest constructed type of a permanent house in Europe. Very popular in Eastern Europe and Balkans. Depending on the region, temperature inside is kept to 8 to 10 Celsius without any heating. I am from Romania and here these type of houses are called bordei and were in use in the Southern part of the country well into the first decades of the XX century. Even now some are using it for storing food.
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There are a few reasons for a pit house. First, it needs less building materials. Second and most important, when you dig a hole in the ground one reaches the level where the ground never freeze. This means one can use the natural heat from the ground. Such a house is, compared to an over ground house, cooler in the summer and easier to heat in the winter. This kind of house is said to be the oldest constructed type of a permanent house in Europe. Very popular in Eastern Europe and Balkans. Depending on the region, temperature inside is kept to 8 to 10 Celsius without any heating. I am from Romania and here these type of houses are called bordei and were in use in the Southern part of the country well into the first decades of the XX century. Even now some are using it for storing food.
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Jono Doe
A pit-house (or pithouse) is a building that is partly dug into the ground, and covered by a roof Besides providing shelter from extremes of weather, these structures may also be used to store food (just like a pantry, a larder, or a root cellar) and for cultural activities like the telling of stories, dancing, singing and celebrations. General dictionaries also describe a pit-house as a dugout, and it has similarities to a half-dugout. In archaeology, a pit-house is frequently called a sunken featured building and occasionally grub-hut or grubhouse, after the German name Grubenhaus this is what I found out hope this helps, love the videos keep up the great work
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A pit-house (or pithouse) is a building that is partly dug into the ground, and covered by a roof Besides providing shelter from extremes of weather, these structures may also be used to store food (just like a pantry, a larder, or a root cellar) and for cultural activities like the telling of stories, dancing, singing and celebrations. General dictionaries also describe a pit-house as a dugout, and it has similarities to a half-dugout. In archaeology, a pit-house is frequently called a sunken featured building and occasionally grub-hut or grubhouse, after the German name Grubenhaus this is what I found out hope this helps, love the videos keep up the great work
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cody ray chapman
One of the reasons you dig into the ground is more lazy than you'd think. XP Mainly people are 5-6 feet tall so you need a house with a 7ish foot tall ceiling which means Talll walls and walls are difficult and work intensive to build not to mention the structural integrity can be greatly compromised quite easily. Now if you dig into the ground you can build shorter walls and a more structurally sound building with half the work. As the saying goes, Give the hardest job to the laziest person and they'll find the easiest way to do it. XP Love your guys' videos and builds, I have learned quite a bit form y'all.
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One of the reasons you dig into the ground is more lazy than you'd think. XP Mainly people are 5-6 feet tall so you need a house with a 7ish foot tall ceiling which means Talll walls and walls are difficult and work intensive to build not to mention the structural integrity can be greatly compromised quite easily. Now if you dig into the ground you can build shorter walls and a more structurally sound building with half the work. As the saying goes, Give the hardest job to the laziest person and they'll find the easiest way to do it. XP Love your guys' videos and builds, I have learned quite a bit form y'all.
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Jeff Olp
The side teeth make the cut and the middle teeth work like a chisel removing the piece of wood. If the saw is properly sharpened and the tooth set correct it will cut very fast. Ive used these saws for most of my life. As slow as it was cutting it makes me believe it needs the teeth set and sharpened. The angle of the sharpening on the teeth is extremely important. I almost forgot to mention the height of the teeth are also very import. When I restore one I start by filling the teeth down to make them even. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to sharpen them.
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The side teeth make the cut and the middle teeth work like a chisel removing the piece of wood. If the saw is properly sharpened and the tooth set correct it will cut very fast. Ive used these saws for most of my life. As slow as it was cutting it makes me believe it needs the teeth set and sharpened. The angle of the sharpening on the teeth is extremely important. I almost forgot to mention the height of the teeth are also very import. When I restore one I start by filling the teeth down to make them even. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to sharpen them.
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Kevin Probitts
Hi in this video I see you started on the foundations of the house. what is the size of the foundation. the reason I'm asking is you've inspired me to give it ago myself. I've just joined a group local to my area, which work with mental health anf wellbeing called the greenlight trust they teach us bushcraft and woodland conservation and I would like to show the group I'm in and use this as a team building exercise while only using hand tools only. any help would be much appreciated. thankyou in advance.
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Hi in this video I see you started on the foundations of the house. what is the size of the foundation. the reason I'm asking is you've inspired me to give it ago myself. I've just joined a group local to my area, which work with mental health anf wellbeing called the greenlight trust they teach us bushcraft and woodland conservation and I would like to show the group I'm in and use this as a team building exercise while only using hand tools only. any help would be much appreciated. thankyou in advance.
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Chris P
Loved the viking build and looking forward to this oneA tool suggestion: Maybe look into a vintage broad axe. Cutting a flat on a log is doable with a draw knife, but takes a lot longer than a broad axe. If you want to square up boards or just cut some flats, the axe is quite a bit faster. It only has a bevel on one side and the eye is offset so you can cut really nice straight and flat down a log. I actually just picked up a head without a handle a month ago for 15. I'm a hand tool woodworking nerd, sorry. :)
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Loved the viking build and looking forward to this oneA tool suggestion: Maybe look into a vintage broad axe. Cutting a flat on a log is doable with a draw knife, but takes a lot longer than a broad axe. If you want to square up boards or just cut some flats, the axe is quite a bit faster. It only has a bevel on one side and the eye is offset so you can cut really nice straight and flat down a log. I actually just picked up a head without a handle a month ago for 15. I'm a hand tool woodworking nerd, sorry. :)
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Shawn Finley
Great videos brother. The viking house was awesome and this saxon home looks like its gonna be cool. Your giving me plenty of ideas for my sons and I to do this summer. Keep it up? My boys and I say hi from Canada. Also the pealing station is genius. I'm a vet and have a messed up back and knee. That thing is gonna save me alot of pain when I build my cabin. Awesome boys. TA Fishing is awesome as well. I wish my dad did cool out door stuff with me in my youth. God bless ya both. Stay safe
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Great videos brother. The viking house was awesome and this saxon home looks like its gonna be cool. Your giving me plenty of ideas for my sons and I to do this summer. Keep it up? My boys and I say hi from Canada. Also the pealing station is genius. I'm a vet and have a messed up back and knee. That thing is gonna save me alot of pain when I build my cabin. Awesome boys. TA Fishing is awesome as well. I wish my dad did cool out door stuff with me in my youth. God bless ya both. Stay safe
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huntsman525
Just an idea about that saw, try waxing the sides of the blade, ( candle wax will do, it will help your saw slide through the wood and prevent rusting. Just rub the candle all over the blade. No need to heat the steel, although you could heat the wax to make it softer and easier to spread over the steel. Maybe the reason for the pit was for insulation or partly for defense? My guess would be for insulation. Creative cooking? Looks good By the way, where's Dustin?
reply
Just an idea about that saw, try waxing the sides of the blade, ( candle wax will do, it will help your saw slide through the wood and prevent rusting. Just rub the candle all over the blade. No need to heat the steel, although you could heat the wax to make it softer and easier to spread over the steel. Maybe the reason for the pit was for insulation or partly for defense? My guess would be for insulation. Creative cooking? Looks good By the way, where's Dustin?
reply
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