Log Frogs

Log Building Scribers for the log builder.

I finally have a pair of Chambers Scribers in my hand in order to really take a close look at them.  I have three in stock so I thought, why not take them out and show you guys some closeups of the workmanship and engineering that has gone into making the best log scriber in the world.

I started out scribing logs with a pair of hand made log scribers.  These used wood indelible pencils that required me to spray both the upper and lower the log with water so the paint like “lead” of the pencils would scribe a fairly crisp line.  However, as the pencils dulled, the line got less and less accurate and became thick.  Another pain about the pencils was they had to be broken in two so as to allow each half to be secured to the scriber via a thumbs screw of some sort which caused the lead to break.

So you can imagine how fun it was to constantly be sharpening pencils that had really breakable lead.    Next , I had to “plumb” the scribers by pressing the newly sharpened points against the wooden scribe board three times per new log -and doing this often broke the sharpened pencils.  It was indeed a pain in the you know what and especially  an enormous time wasting endeavor.  Not the way to go during a building project that is already an expensive one.  Chambers knows how much saving time can mean to a building project.  Log homes take longer to build as it is.  Anywhere you or anything that can save you time during such a labor intensive project needs to be implemented wherever possible.

I had a new project coming up and knew that some new scribers for both me and my partner were in order.  I had sharpened my last pencil!  At that time, the Griebs “Gearhead” scribers were what was available.  These were great because the pencils of old were now ballpoint pen tips soldered to a pressurized pen body making them able to write upside down -which is essential.  The end of these pens were individually bent to enable the pen angles to be rotated for constant adjustments for awkward scribe angles (see photo below).  You can rotate the pens yet their pen tips stay in the same spot, making them able to scribe in and around lumps and knots or in places their static predecessors simply did not allow for.

The other and most time-saving and most important improvement found in the Griebs Scribers were their ability to be adjusted to a new scribe settings without going out of plumb.

Griebs Gearhead Scribers.

This magical engineering feat made log builders now freely able to scribe those three individual scribe settings per log without having to climb down off the building (3 times), walk to the scribing board (three times), hold the scriber to the board (3 times), unloosen the bubble level (3 times), carefully hold it until it was plumb (3 times), while re-tightening the thumb screw (even writing 3 times is hard!), add some wind, some sleet, you get the picture, the new Griebs Scribers did away with all that and really handed me back hundreds of hours I figured per building.   The Griebs Gearhead Scribers were very slick.  I paid around $800 for two pair and bought 4 new pens after running out and believe I paid around $25+/- each for the pens.  Again, I had no problem with their price, they were fast, and you need to know that time is more important than money.  You really can’t afford to use the old scribers because they eat up hundreds of hours each!

So what’s the problem with the Grieb Gearhead Scribers?  First, the pens are not readily available.  It’s almost as simple as that.  Every pen is individually bent to the perfect shape (see photo above) to make them able to be rotated without the pen point changing position.

Readily Available Replacement Pens

Chambers Scribers Pens are “off-the-shelf” so no worries about finding them should yours run out.

Second, the Gearhead Scribers were only able to scribe vertically (with one pen point directly above the other) such as when scribing log walls and notches.  However, when it came to scribing horizontally for stairs or scribing a log wall to an adjoining wall, I had to more or less guess if each pen was at the same height in space as its mate.  One other issue that came up frequently is that older scribers as well as the Griebs Gearhead Scribers have simple straight arms that are not of themselves adjustable.  In some cases, even the rotation of the pens did not allow for the pen tips to reach around an odd shape and make writing contact with the log. In these cases one would have to decide between chiseling or sanding the oddity or just guessing if you dared.

Chambers Scribers

Robert Chambers has worked with virtually if not all of these scribing tools over the years having taught professional log building crews the world over.  Chambers, having probably the most keen knowledge of the requirements for log home scribers of anyone on the planet, designed and developed the most advanced set of builders scribers to date -the Chambers Scribers.  I have three sets right here and want to show you some closeups!

Always plumb no matter what your adjustment.

Here you can see that each arm is actually pointing in the opposite position like what often must happen while scribing around knots and notches.  The pen points are however directly above one another or “plumb” while the bubble levels are plumbed as in the photo.

3 Top Quality Bubble Levels

Chambers Scribers come equipped with top of the line plumb levels that will hold their pressure and always remain accurate.  Other bubble levels can slowly leak and create giant bubbles.  Older models either used two separate bubble levels in perpendicular formation for keeping your scribers level in both directions.  Some came with a center bubble level.  Chambers Scribers come with all three.

Adjustment arms are easy to change settings.

Adjusting your log scribers is super easy.  What’s different is that with older scribers, as you opened up the “caliper” to a wide setting, your grip on the tool would need to change.  Because the adjustment arms replaced the calipers, your grip remains the same.

Ergogrip Handles with tool storage compartment.

Grippy and tactile pistol styled handle.  I must say it is very comfortable to hold and comfortable means accurate scribing and more of it.  Plus you get a handy grip storage compartment for your hex wrenches and replacement washers.

If you’re going to be building a log home once or if you’re a pro builder, Chambers Scribers will give you the most important asset you have, and that is time.   Time can be your enemy or your best friend if you learn how important it is in home building.   Finishing your log home project faster means more money in your pocket no matter how you look at it.  Easily shave off hundreds of hours off your project and get better results.

Order Chambers Scribers Page>>>