The Cabin on a Cliff: Rafter Madness (Ch 14) 

Experience is something you needed to know 5 minutes earlier. This is how you learn and get better and things!

I continue to be impressed by your figure-it-outtedness. You certainly do adapt and overcome. Stay safe!

You are a huge inspiration to me, I'm 53, male, been struggling for the a year now and dealing with surgeries, physical therapy, and many doctors appointments from a horrible car accident. And watching you by yourself build your cabin, sheds, saw mills keeps my fire going. Thank you for sharing your wonderful and hard journey. Please be safe out and up there. Hello from South Florida ❤️

When you learn all by yourself, you miss out on the embarrassment and scolding of a grumpy old carpenter yelling at you and pushing you harder than you can go. Don't be too hard on yourself. You are going to be a really nice old carpenter one day. You will have great stories to share with a young carpenter and you wont be mean to them. I am a 60 year old carpenter that learned from some grumpy jerks. Some were kind, but not the first ones I worked for. Good job Michy. Smiling, George.

Based on a ten second google search I am clearly an expert 😁 so I can say that it sure looks like a bear skull... Pretty cool.

You're doing a great job, the way you're doing everything is a great way to learn. I've been a carpenter for 35 years and there's always another way of doing it. Keep using your noodle and I'll bet that the next time you go to build something you'll already know how to do it, best of luck with your cabin on a cliff...

You are doing a awesome job and remember you are doing this by yourself should be extremely proud of yourself and of course always love seeing the puppies

I've been a carpenter for 28 years. I actually got my degree in Residential Construction back in 1994 from trade school(the good Ole days) Rafters and stairs have and will always be my favorite part of my job. And yes, even us professionals screw up from time to time. Your hair tied up like that reminds me so much of my daughter! I miss her so much. The view from up there must be out of this world! Keep up the great work young lady! 👍

Watching you haul those end beams up into place had me wanting to jump in and help. I suggest you use / make up a small block and tackle that you can use to hoist / hold those sorts of things in place and save youself a whole lot of struggle and danger. Having fallen off a roof and broken my back I can tell you it takes only the slightest overbalance to change your whole world, and doing it out there could be life ending. Please take care and use some assists. 🥺

Don’t let the naysayers or so-called experts get you down with all the details of how they would’ve done it. You are an army of one with your own techniques of doing it by yourself, And from what I see you are getting it done! Keep up the good work, be safe and stay positive and in no time you will be enjoying that awesome view from your little cabin on the cliff!😊

I think it looks amazing! I love your ramblings because that is what goes through most peoples mind's as they are working to achieve a project 😂. Those 'expansion gaps' could be a blessing in disguise! I love those wheels you found. I live on an old quarrying island and I literally happened upon something old and nostalgic which I'm going to make a short video on 🙂. You take care and keep up the great efforts.

The most significant trait that I admire in you is your willingness to expose your mistakes. 💚 Mistakes are only a problem when you keep making the same one over and over.

Don't choke on the smoke! Nice to see you and your smiling shinning face!!!

One thing i learned in my time trying to do thing's that i haven't had a lot of experience doing is that tired mind's make bad decisions. When that happens it's time to step back, relax and re-evaluate. Usually the answer will come quickly once your mind has had time to actually think it over. But your doing damn good. Proud of you for even tackling the job.

You have enough tenacity to keep moving forward even after many challenges. Enjoy your vids Mich

Wow? Look at the k-9's on that thing? I could swear that regular bears have much thinner k-9 teeth than that, no? Maybe it's a prehistoric bear? Mich-Michy-Mich , don't you get frustrated with this build, because it puts a damper on the moments of success, there's no building inspector coming to give ya grief for any imperfections 😆 that roof is becoming extremely heavy however, plus you guys get some crazy snow loads so..I'd consider that from here on out, you have to keep in mind that with a structure (that deck)that's been sitting out in the elements ,with weight on it (the wood stored under those tarps) is going to expand and contract like mad, there's no possible way that it'll all be plum perfect, as they say, if something is off an 8th of an inch down below, it'll be off by 5/8th's up above.. don't let it get ya down! You're doing fine, as long as you're flush on all your outside edges so that you can tack your Sheathing on nice and flat, you're golden.. Also remember, the width of a cut channel that a circular saw blade makes when sawing threw lumber is 1/8 of an inch and an easy way to ensure a nice steady cut line is to use your speed square along the outside gate of your circular saw, one hand on the 🪚 and the other on the square 📐 ensures you a nice level cut ,every time, without the possibility of floating off your mark 😉 your doing well...just keep on keeping on 👍👍👍

Looks great, if everything looks the same then no one will think it wasn't intentional. This is what I tell my self when doing projects... as long as it's the same no one will ever know its not how I wanted it....

Madam, I congratulate you on your excellent work....very inspiring to watch 👋

Michy, this is another great guy that can explain to you how to do Rafters....How To Build A Shed DIY.....How To Build A Shed - Part Building & Installing Rafters ........HouseImprovements June 25, 2013 This guy does every thing, Please check him out on his channel !

First of all........ you have accomplished more SOLO than 90% of my buddies. I truly felt your pain watching today's episode. Ask me how I knew this. If you are worried about your rafters not being perfect you should see my camp kitchen. Built entirely by moi and not a square corner on it. Something of which I am most proud. Good job lady......you have nothing to explain.

I wished I had half your energy, one-third your gumption and a skosh of that kick-ass Canadian lady git-er-done attitude! Well done!

Love your out loud thinking a 12 12 pitch will create a 45 degree angle. At the ridge you could over lap rt an left .Then you could have square cuts at the ridge.keep the videos rolling. Practice makes perfect.....

We said hi to a hound with a gps collar and a tag that said Norton yesterday, one of yours is named Norton right?! He looked familiar

You are proof that, as they say, 'There is more than one way to skin a cat and cut rafters.' Way to go girl!

12 degrees wow. In Alabama that would be Cold. Lol. I bow to you girl! Ole fart from Alabama. You done good!

7:20 It does not matter if they are not perfect. Anybody looking from the ground cannot see the imperfect fits.

Vary good young lady, you have more patience than I do. Keep up the good work . Send more videos you are interesting.

Nice job on the cabin, whatever works for you is fine. Great job on the treasures, wheel and cougar skull ?. Nice ornaments for your cabin or storage shed.

Its great that you're showing the struggles. In the end I'm sure the cabin will be fantastic :)

I don't always comment, but I always watch. I'm obviously a musician first and foremost, but my second love was building. Built several "structures", alone, designing as I went, so you bring back many memories! Love watching you do all the work lol! Just be careful. "Stuff" happens.

When you dropped the hammer, it reminded me when I did that as a first year apprentice. Our lead man picked it up and threw it as far as he could, telling me as he laughed, "You won't do that again, will ya!" I seldom ever dropped my hammer the rest of my working years.

Hey watch outdoors with the Morgan's he uses a he uses a diesel red diesel fuel on his blade and it keeps it shiny and it does not let anything stick to it but he barely drips it on

hello, 12 DEGRÉ ❄🌧LA TOITURE POUR PROCHAINE VIDÉO BON 😋 COURAGE

You are a badass construction warrior. We all make mistakes. The genius is in the resolution of our compromises. I learn and respect greatly your candor. Keep up the fight. Bravo

Enjoying the progress. Looking forward to the end result. Can imagine it will be extremely cozy If you need someone to come keep the adorable Lenny company and snuggle him while you work just give me a shout Should not take me long to get over from UK 😁

Doing good Michelle, your self drive on these projects is impressive. I also love the kickback downtime with your fur friends in the cabins/shelters. Great place to sit with your favorite cup and enjoy life👍

Cabin Is Really Starting to look like a Cabin Michy.....Awesome work and Happy to see all the Pups Playing. Took three sits to watch this one and I was sad to see your struggles earlier in the Video.....Like I mentioned before, I know your Feelings, BUT i'm glad to see you got through it. The mending cuts and angles may be more "RUSTIC" than you care for, but I hope you will be OK with that. It will be a beautiful cabin Either way. Have a great day my friend

You are beautiful. The way you are with your dog's, your husband and your channel viewers. Beauty isn't about what you look like, it's a reflection of your soul.

If I may suggest, before you cut the tail ends of the rafters, keep in mind of the decking you will be putting on. If you can, temporarily tack in a 2x4 or 2x6 where the bottom edge of your decking will line up across the tail ends of the rafters. This will hold your first boards of decking and makes it easier to line up and nail. Then you can mark all the tails that need to be cut once the roof is complete. Considering the pitch of your roof, nailed 2x6 cross boards will be a big benefit.

Hi Michelle, you might want to look at his channel for some tips, on his build. Wet Lumber Framing- Solo Winter Cabin Build.. number 100 Sept. 10, 2022 Surviving Ringworm The Alaskan mill never stops running out here. Three months into building, I have the trees cut and ready to mill. It's exciting to have the framing finished so I can finally see what this thing is going to look like!

Well that was a good call with the rafter ends, and just making a square cut, instead of a plumb cut. Okay michy a quick lesson on the speed square: in the 90° corner there is a point marked pivot; the base ,the part with the lip, rests on the the board. Now where it marked pivot keep that part touching, and lift the end. The marks on the outside edge are for the degrees so you lift it up to the degree let's say 30° find the mark and bring it up to the boards edge, now holding that firmly run the pencil down the leg of the triangle and the line you made is 30° . That would be the leg of a birds mouth or the plumb cut. Now the inside edge has another set of numbers that's for a hip roof, jack rafters. It's pretty easy peasy, and there should be a little book with it on how to calculate rafters. You should be able to find it on line if you want some reading material 😉 👌. And yes it is what a great find, all the teeth intact. If you have a idea where it is you can most likely find the claws as well. Bleach it and sun dry, you could also use the teeth for a really nice necklace. See if they can take you back too the site for the claws, a really nice find. When mother nature offers you a gift receive it. Anyway enough said , until next time stay safe, be confident and go forth, and God bless amen.

As always you are so impressive with your determination, creativity and positive attitude. Having those skills are more important than any others and you consistently achieve great things, well done, that is a proud achievement for something that you hand made all by yourself! ♥️

Just wanted to say, Your videos have been an inspiration to me. I've had a bad time over the past few months and watching you with your can do attitude, Has been something to look forward to every week. Thank you 😊 Nik from the UK

We’re all far far from perfect. Nice circular saw skills though.

Rafter madness, reefer madness, nice play on words especially with the smoke.

When you're working with rough-cut lumber, there's a limit to the precision you can expect! I think you did pretty well, for a first timer, doing it by yourself. Most importantly, you did it. One note, for the future- when you find that you're consistently seeing a bad cut, or a missed dimension, think back on your process. A lot of carpentry is execution, doing it the same way every time: marking correctly, cutting on the right side of the line, that kind of thing. Nothing beats practice, and you're getting plenty!

As a carpenter who made my living for over twenty years, I will say that you are doing pretty well for someone who is working alone, and I know that you are learning heaps as you go along...KUDOS and God bless, Michelle! :D

Morning Michele! Coming along great! I look at the “puzzle” you have and I run several,solutions through my head and it’s difficult to find one that will work with out being there…gotta love a challenge! Lookin wonderful!

Have you tried using a beval

You explaining you intentions and thought process is some of what keeps me coming back. PRICELESS THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Your rafters look great. Don’t worry about the small imperfections. One of my favorite sayings is You’ll never see it from the Space Shuttle ! 😃😃😃

Who cares what the "pros" think. I subscribe and watch to see YOUR personal journey and discovery. There are far too many constructive criticism types in our daily lives and exponentially more online. Continue the process of being great.

Impressive and inspiring, well done. Great edit also.

Солнце, ты там поаккуратнее по стропилам бегай. От такой красоты голова закружится может.

Hi Michelle, I understand your frustration as you talk through teaching yourself each step of this build, and believe all DIY-ers go through that, but not sure all DIY-ers learn as quick as you do. If you can reach back far enough with your good shoulder, definitely give yourself a pat on the back, for all you have accomplished and continue to accomplish...pretty darn amazing from where I'm sitting. Loved seeing Lenny getting in there and playing with your other fur babies! Stay safe y'all!

What a remarkable young woman you are. You are such a problem solver. Your tenacity is only exceeded by your ability to look good .I am surprised you dont have a solar generator at the cabin to keep your batteries charged . You may want to invest in a satellite emergency device , considering how dangerous your activities are . Thank you for sharing , and please stay safe . Your animals are very lucky.

You looked 'wore-out' dealing with the rafters......GREAT accomplishment!!

Less caring.🤔 Truck driver here. Smelly. 😬 dirty clothes. muddy boots🥾🥾. bad hair 🙄🚚🚛🚚 you are learning carpenter. Michelle😻💪💪👀☝️🪒🪚🔨 🏕 🏡 😇❤🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕👌

caring so much makes life better for everyone around you but not often you .... ask me how i know...lol... I've been working on my place by myself for 3 years... you get used to it... i read and youtube alot to learn and then i try to give myself grace when things aren't "perfect" (which is a moving target by the way!!!! lol) YOU'RE DOING GREAT!!! YOU'RE A CHICK WITH A LUMBER MILL .. DESIRE... AND GRIT!!! I THINK YOU'RE COOL AND DOING A GREAT JOB!!! it's about the journey as much as it is about skill

Be careful lovely Michelle. No one there to catch you (me).........Impressive work on the birds mouth cutting etc.!

I love the scene of driving through the railroad tunnel on the way to your cabin. It's as if you are passing through time to a simpler place.Your cliff cabin is now suddenly looking like a cliffside chalet!! Good on you Michy! Lenny's tail is always in motion like a metronome. He is obviously so contented to be with you. Now Norton did not eat the tomato... he inhaled it! Finally when you pulled out the old iron wheel it took my breath away! What a great historic find from the abandoned railroad grade above.The adventure continues...

Hello from Hurley Mississippi , USA ! I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE SNOWFALL YOU HAVE THERE ! IT WOULD MAKE YOUR ROOF STRONG BY USING 2 BY 8 RAFTERS ?!

How I understand you 😀 I was doing a hipped roof on my gazebo. I didn't read much, I relied on my gut feeling. You understand that with zero experience the results were.... ridiculous :) And in the eyes of any carpenter this roof would only arouse pity. But it was MY own. Made by ME. By the power of MY own mind. Huge satisfaction. Like independently discovering the wheel....

I like the way you cut your rafter tails at 90 degrees. That is the proper rafter tail cut for snow, Great job your getting the job done. 👍

M A R G A R E T , GET MY GLASSES ! If I'm reading this RIGHT, that CANADI-ANNE GAL, has Gone ON the REEFER . "You mean She's on the REEFER On the RAFTERS, THAT'S MADNESS !" __PS: IF a PRO is Watching You, It's Not for Your Carpentry Prowess, Sorry Honey . . . 'Love Your ChanneL, it's makes my Day, of course it's kinda sLow around here, much Like me ; )

At 13:18 the music started suddenly and I soiled myself while kicking 30k worth of audio visual equip. off my desk. ,!!! 👍👍👍👍👍🤪

Ok Michelle- it's time for some self-love; GIVE yourself a break!! You're doing a great job- and any new skill/project takes time to master. It's the nature of the beast. Pat yourself on the back for what you've already accomplished. I totally get it.....I'm my worst critic. ps: tell your hubby you want a MULTI-TOOL, before X-mas. It makes notching angles /cutouts in beams so much easier. Like a hammer, circular saw, etc.- it's a tool you'll end up using a lot. And: knee-pads! (you'll thank me later)

Thats one fine Gud'n tight ship ur building Capt. !! She'll weather any storm nicely... as the builder is doing. Awesome

Kudos, bravo and congrats for your daring do, tenacity and accomplishments. Thanks. Peter

Hmmm...looks like fun. It is quite small isnt it? It will heat up fast with a wood stove. You def are winging it,but learning along the way. Fun to watch. Are you in Canada? It could be Oregon too....where is this? Gorgeous country....

Glad to see the progress. Feeling sad for Hannah.

Very well done ...a challenge being so high up💯 and loving your adorable dog...and kit...missing my adorable Kika very tall and large but so usually calm ...very active if a challenge popped🐕

Great videos. You look great and your work is A-OK so don't worry about. Shit happens, and BTW your odor isn't a problem, we can't detect the odor. If the odor is of Essence of Pasture,so what.

“The Little Michelle that Could” I think I can , I think I can……and you did! Perseverance paid off, well done 👍🏻 🍺

You always look fine as hell girl!..great scenery!....and no one cares what you smell like on RU-vid. Very inspirational videos for us "would be" DIYers. Your calm, quiet confidence and tenacity, can do, will do attitude is quite infectious. Thanks much!

Hello Pretty Lady, I had 2 surgeries and thought I was very behind, but only 1 day. I don't think I've 'wisecracked' you, but it's what I'm famous for. They are never personal, hateful, or mean. Purely meant to make you smile. 1) Seeing you way up there on the rafters make me think, 'don't jump, it's not worth it '. And the wisecrack of the day is 2) Life's not a fairytale. If you lose a shoe at midnight; you're drunk. Hopefully this will input a little fun into your day. As always, all the best to everyone. Chef Scott 👨‍🍳

Hello from the Netherlands . thanks for the video Michelle . Sincerely, Hollandduck

With the variation of your lumber, I think you should consider firing your miller. I have yet to see a video today, so rewatching an old one. Watching you run about at height, on a cliff, with no reception and nearest rescue personel being a bear.. well let's just say makes for great entertainment. Thank you for your Madness! ❤

Sorry to say, but your saw pick for Birds Mouth is totally wrong, that little , curvy saw is meant to pruning. Get a good, sharp, Swedish handsaw, then you dont make any mistakes, and stay on a line ! Just saying......=0

I thoroughly enjoy your videos..!. The rafters are looking good. It’s all coming along nicely. So good to see the dogs playing at the end.. Thanks for sharing.. ♥️👌🏼

You go iron wheel picking, I go mushroom picking... Sadly its been quite dry so hardly any mushrooms.

I literally LOLed.. when you dropped the hammer.. i have been building my double decker Porch and Sun deck.. by myself.. and hate it when I am all the way up the ladder and... ugh.. dropped the (fill in the blank)!! ;-) Can totally relate

Just extend them ..add ply on each side,, it's just the overhang ..it is supported ..or add a 2 ft piece (scrap) on each side of the extended joist..it ain't pretty but hey, it's in the Roof Overhang..surrounded by Insulation and Covered by Boards or plaster anyways.

Your chainsaw sounds like a mosquito, set off my PTSD from living with Florida mosquito hawks

Holy cow, that view at 18:11, breathtaking, how much did that 20 acres cost, amazing, see why youre building there

I could care less.. love it! Hopefully the wildlife doesn't mind !! I love what you're doing.... I so look forward to each of your posts..

Great job, girl... You nailed them... Some screws and a couple of batteries juice + some boards and the roof will be almost done, so at least you'll have a gazebo. 😁Cheers, keep on.

That is twice i've cut it, and it is still too short.........Just a joke Michy, you are doing fabulously well as always., safety first. 😘

Man, waking up looking at the view..perfect setting for the musical piece in The Last of the Mohicans..I would pay for that.

Just finished a similar but much less elaborate build myself and struggled greatly with the birds mouth cuts. As a non-professional (unprofessional?) builder I fall back frequently on the "make It work" ethos. I was rooting for you every time you went up the ladder to check your cuts. Cabin is going to look great and what a location. Wow.

Truly do admire how hard you work, overcome, and accomplish. But l'm not gonna lie, some of those "extensions" you pulled while catting around on the frame/ladder and placing your gable rafters made me pucker up lol. Dang but you're a tough and courageous soul, love ya Mich! Regards to Steve too!

Another great video by michygoss you do such a great job at everything you do and show us It's looking better and better everytime.the cabin is looking real good.👍 I find myself so focused on your videos they end pretty quick.cant wait for the next one Michelle.👌 Troy Calgary ab

I had just gotten hit by a major betrayal by someone I love dearly, creating the sensation of a knife blade in my lower left abdomen. I needed something to distract my mind from the pain. I loaded up RU-vid… and there you were, top-left, #1 post-position, standing amidst a row of rafters. I’m not sure how I could be more proud of you. Your courage/improvisation/creativity due to far less than ideal circumstances, is exactly what my soul needed to view at this particular point in time. A very wise, very elderly Gent (who took me under wing when I was 15… 55 years ago), told me that an expert is not someone who never makes a mistake. An expert is someone who can make it work and appear like there was never a mistake… such as your solution with a rafter tails. (a dull chainsaw blade is preferred in making fine cuts on rough cedar. .. not overly aggressive.) Thank you Michelle. For my abdomen’s sake, your timing is perfect.

Holy smokes Batman!, get a look at this woman! You did mean mad skills! After watching several of your videos, there isn't anything you can't do. Beautiful location.

you are very talented, I'm a carpenter and I wish I could be there helping you. that's a beautiful spot and a very beautiful lady!!!!

Funny! Rafters may have been off due to curve in ridge beam or top plate. Great job! I'd investigate pin placement on basei think they make brackets that bolt down. Just say'n

Birds mouth, body odor, visage...Phuket, as they say in Indonesia. You are truly the incarnation of Artemis: know that and continue as the formidable lone wolf deciding with instinct instead of overbearing thought. Any "pros" watching are right there with you. And in the end, we even get paid! Most of the time. Unless we underbid, in which we end up paying the customer. There's an oddly satisfying irony to that

I'll tell you what Michelle, I was on the edge of my seat willing you on to get those beams up mate, seriously, who cares what they look like, only you'll know and we certainly won't say anything haha. You're doing fantastic, one day at a time, I know the seasons are changing but if you push TOO hard that's when mistakes are made. Seeya Rob.......you'd think Lenny would help more haha, just kidding, he's busy doing other things, sleeping, eating, watching.

Hi. Michelle. Been watching alot of your older video. Good your a women of many talents. Would enjoy and be very lucky to actually know you in person. But I can say I will never drive to Canada. We will most likely never meet. But just want to say your a beautiful wonder women. Keep the videos coming and I will keep watching them. Be safe, happy and content. Your big fan Gary

Brave and determined, just be careful of tripping hazards young lady. Love your grit love all your videos. Mike in the UK.