Hewing a timber

[markv]

the pit saw picture is crazy. they had to do it to get lumber but i can't imagine anyone ever saying anything nice about it, especially the guy in the pit.
thanks for posting
very cool

buzz

 

[Square_peg]

Yep. Now that's a true 'misery whip'.

 

[Broady]

Any particular species of wood that needs to be used when hewing?

 

[Square_peg]

Any wood can be hewn. But just like splitting, some woods will be harder to hew than others. The straighter the grain the better. A wavy grain will frequently dip below the line you're trying to hew. It would require more frequent kerfs and a more skilled hand.

 

[Frank-New Zealand]

Hi Square_Peg...What timber is that. A good even ended log with plenty of heart wood.

42 years ago I watched two 'Good Old Boys' building a bridge way out in the bush. All hand tools being use. To make the line before hewing they burnt some bark from 'Tea-Tree or Paper Bark'. Then used the ash to rub their string in to make the snap line.

 

[Square_peg]

Hi Square_Peg...What timber is that. A good even ended log with plenty of heart wood.

It's cedar.

42 years ago I watched two 'Good Old Boys' building a bridge way out in the bush. All hand tools being use.

I made a small bridge out in the bush a few years back, all with hand tools. The backpack really settles on you when it's full of iron.

The outrigger is there to support a diagonal brace for the handrail. In this photo the superintendent is inspecting my work.

 

[Square_peg]

All made from windfall material on site. The 30"deck boards were split from 8"-10" rounds.

 

[Broady]

How long did it take you to complete the bridge?

 

[Square_peg]

About 24 hours of labor working by myself.

 

[trailmaker]

Great stuff S_Peg. How's that new broadaxe working out, or is it still in refurbishment?

 

[Square_peg]

The new broad axe is due to arrive on Monday.

 

[Square_peg]

Great stuff S_Peg.

On another forum where I use this moniker folks just call me Pegster or Pegs. My real name is Tom. But you can call me anything other than late for dinner.

 

[bearhunter]

that looks nice pegs...
im too damn lazy to go to build a nice bridge like that, i would just jump over the creek or throw a log over and cross on it

 

[M3mphis]

Nice job, Peggy.

 

[Square_peg]

It's better than being A Boy Named Sue

 

[Square_peg]

I got to work on the second side of my cedar timber today.

 

[Square_peg]

It came out pretty well. I'm starting to develop my technique and I spent a little more time cleaning up my work as I went.

As planned I took off the bulk of side 2 with a chainsaw first so I wouldn't waste to much good cedar. I chainsawed it about 1/2" short of my hewing line. Then I scored it with a hand saw and hewed it with my little hewing hatchet. This took about 1-1/2 hours.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Lookin' great, dude! Fun trick--gather up all those chips in a brown paper bag. Burns like you wouldn't believe.

 

[Square_peg]

Here's another photo showing how I hold my material while hewing it. It's pretty simple really. I just clamp a 4x4 to my saw horses and then strap the timber to the 4x4. I'm sure there are a million ways to do this but this was handy and quick.

 

[Square_peg]

Here's another photo of my little Stubai hewing hatchet. It did OK on this small log. My broad axe is supposed to arrive tomorrow.

It will need some work, a new handle, rust removal and reshaping/sharpening the edge.