This thread has started to get kind of repetitive but thankfully it's coming to an end. I finished side 4 today. The images are same-o, same-o.
Notched and juggled again.
I tried something a little different this time. I juggled in one direction and hewed in the other. And since hewing is harder I juggled from the opposite end as I usually do, working backwards with the work on my left. I switched to juggling left handed for this as it's awkward to juggle the left side with the right hand. Try it, you'll see.
In my previous work I had run into some difficulties during hewing when the broad axe would follow a split started by the juggling axe. My solution was to work in opposite directions.
The knots give you a bit of a hard time and need special attention.
It took a little longer to juggle left-handed and it didn't seem like it made the hewing any faster. But the hewing did come out a bit cleaner and that's what I was after. Here's side 4 finished.
Here's a closer look showing the tell-tale marks left behind by the hewing process. I may still dress this beam up a little bit with the adze.
This has been a great learning experience for me. From restoring a rusty old axe and making a handle for it to putting it to work, it's all been quite a challenge and very rewarding. I like to think of myself as at least an intermediate axe user. Learning to use the broad axe was the next obvious step. I've got a ways to go but I can feel my skills increasing.
Final shot, an end view of the finished beam. It's dimensions are 8-1/2" x 11" x 12'. I'm still not sure what I'll do with it, probably store it until I'm ready to build my smithy. If I decide to split it in two I'll take it to work and use the chainsaw mill.
