Working around the house has always been a big part of my life. In reality, you may need to make several passes to get the depth required. The process of creating a square beam from a round log, by hand, is quite simple though labour intensive. I did most of the hewing by hand, though I used a chain saw on one very large timber for the first step. Broad axes are similar in look to an axe with an extra wide blade. Hewing is the process of straightening a round e… They can be used for hewing logs for building (the focus here) and for other uses as diverse as carving chair seats and making totem poles. (In the forest it was hard to raise the logs this high, so I worked sitting on the log and had to position the face at a slight angle as a result, as seen in the next photo.) – Common Mistakes Explained. It seems unnecessarily risky to me and isn’t too comfortable, to boot. Once you have one face complete, make the chalk line for the next face and repeat until you your round log is a rectangular beam. Time is of the essence here. These bite into the tree bark. You’ll almost certainly need to give it another pass, because the first pass usually gives you a rough surface (unless you’re a master hewer which, if you’re reading this, you most likely aren’t! For an even smoother finish, you can plane all the faces that will be visible in your final project.
When felled timber was too difficult to transport to a mill, or not the right size for it, it was often hewn into a beam where it fell. Before logs can be hewn, however, they must be debarked. Hi, my name is Michael Culligan and I’m the founder and operator of Awesome Axes. Long handles are often used when straddling your work on the ground, or close to the ground. Note: Bucking is simply a term that refers to cutting a fallen tree to desired length. You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $17.95 for 6 issues. CAREFUL: Springpoles, a branch, log, sapling or rooted tree that is bending with some tension, may spring back at you when cut. First cut the log from the top about 1/3 of the way into the wood. Probably the most versatile type for the beginner will be the centered handle with the double sharpened blade. Hand-hewing a beam from a log by hand, using an axe, is an ancient skill that has been perfected over thousands of years. These tools are the plastic wedge, iron wedge, splitting maul and a sledgehammer. What I did first was cut a notch on one side then the other side, all the while careful not to meet the cuts. If you live in a neighborhood and you have a tree or tree in the backyard, then you may use it for logging. Next, I cut one side within two inches of the back of the face cut and switched over to the other side and did the same. Start the lay out at the top end of the log (smallest diameter). It’s more like a circular slicing movement. I used the chainsaw-method on this 18 inch diameter log.
That way, you have a bit of wiggle room to work with if you hew off too large of a piece. Now you have all the gear required lets look at the steps to successfully cutting a log safely. I can personally recommend this set, the bright lime color makes them easy to find should you ever drop them by accident. Of course, a lot of skill goes into it, and there’s a vast difference in the hewing process and result of a master hewer versus someone who is holding a broad axe and hewing for the first time. Instead, I recommend using a felling wedge. Next overbuck the whole branch, further away from the trunk than the first cut to remove some of the branches load. Broad axe handles can be angled to the left, right or centered. I find that the longer the axe you use, the better – 36-inch felling axes work great, but depending on your height you might be more comfortable using something smaller. This is to allow the axe to make fine shavings and not bite into and get stuck into the side of the log (or beam-to-be), which is always a risk with a regular axe. Don’t rush this and pay attention to what you’re doing, since you’ll be cutting and hewing according to these measurements. Make an initial cut upwards (underbuck), about 1/3 of the way through the branch, a short distance from the trunk of the tree so you have room for the final cut which will be close to the trunk. Handles are most often mid to full length and grasped with both hands. Make small cuts and keep chipping away at the log until you’ve successfully done the job. Ship carpenter’s adzes have a flatter blade. I really can’t stress enough how you should make sure that the log you’re hewing is firmly in place and can’t roll over or wobble – especially since the traditional methods of hewing call for standing on it to chop the notches into it. If you think of cutting edge of a regular axe, it is angled, or sharpened, on both sides, making a sort of “V.” You can have that profile in your broad axe or have one side left flat and the other side sharpened. You'll find tips for slashing heating bills, growing fresh, natural produce at home, and more. The log or beam can either be on the ground, or raised depending on how you're gripping the handle. Needless to say that would be a very bad outcome, so here are the recommended methods for joggling: Remove the wood using whatever axe you have at hand. When you think of Appalachian style square hand hewn log cabins, chances are the logs or beams were dressed with an adz or broad axe. Is there any special issues/advice that you could share?
Recommended: a regular axe and a broad axe (also known as a hewing axe). You generally work standing to one side of the log with the flat side of the broad axe to the wood. That, however, must be done when the cutting depth is deep enough to cover 75% of the cutting blade. However, with this step in the hewing process, you can’t do that, and you risk an axe in the foot or shin. It is possible that your cutting blade is pinched.