A view of the nicer-looking (and safer) scaffolding on the west wall. We made this deck double-wide and screwed a 2x4 backstop to the edge. Notice these are not held with ratchet straps like the set on the opposite wall.

Looking across to the scaffolding on the east wall.

Instead of buying more ratchet straps, we decided to utilize what we already had on hand. This entire set of scaffolding is held up using 2" two straps. One end passes through the wall and a short 2x4 is fitted into the loop so the strap can't pull back through.

For other straps like this which have no end loops, it is passed back to the inside where it's wrapped around a 2x4 block, binding on itself. Again, the block prevents it from pulling back through the wall. A nail is driven through the block and into the lower log to eliminate the chance of the block unwinding.

Here's a look at a complete strap setup.

Both sets of scaffolding got a safety cable hung above the inside edge of the planking. It's nice to have it there as a rail so you always know how much room you have near the edge. It's also nice to hang tools from. One end is wrapped around the top log on the front wall, and secured with a cable clamp.

The other end is wrapped around the back of the top log on the back wall, then passed down toward the floor...

...where we made a loop in it with a cable clamp, and used a ratchet strap on a rebar pin to tighten the cable down.

Paul poses on the west scaffold while hanging onto the safety cable at waist height.

The guys chose to start the cap log leveling on the west wall, since that one needs the most work. After laying out a level string line above the log, Jeff started by using the chainsaw to make a series of cuts along the log where the top surface was too high. Here he is measuring the depth of the cuts in relation to the string line.

Paul used the chainsaw wheel down near the south end. Here you can see his handiwork as the wheel rests on an area he's ground down. It's at the right depth below the string, and fairly level.

Some of Jeff's work before he broke the wood pieces between cuts with a hammer.

This is about where they stopped for the day. Jeff has done a section further down the log, and, working his way north (toward the camera), made a few more cuts. Paul has finished off a large area near the south end.

Another gorgeous sunset over our neighbor's house.