I hope we can get over 7 pages out of this one.
The pictures have to come from a source such as Photo Bucket, then it can be linked as Ken directs.
This past summer I tried charcoal as a snap line on a replacement post and the top covering has blown off which left it exposed to the weather, I will check to it remains this morning. Would they have uses a wet line in conjunction with charcoal? Mine was dry and worked very well.
I would much rather hew a log which is just big enough to gain the size timber needed than a larger than necessary log. I find the size of the top plate interesting, it is just largenough to get the job done, 5X6.
Probably chicken, Ken.
Tim