hewing a white oak 6"x6"

Old Axeman said:
. . . this Harry Rogers does not have a clue how to hew a log. . .
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He might not. :D That's not Harry. Harry is not in the video. Harry just made the video.

Bob

(EDIT: Description of video by Harry Rogers: "In this film Dr Damian Goodburn, one of Britain's leading specialists in ancient woodworking, shows the Bodgers how he hews a log to create a beam.
Damian has a great knowledge of ancient worked timbers and woodworking tools, and gave a very interesting demonstration of log hewing using his fascination collection of specialist axes.
Damian frequently works with archaeologists to provide advice and insights into past carpentry techniques, based on the evidence of ancient worked timber, and by using reconstruction archaeology to compare his woodworking tool marks to those left behind in ancient timbers.")
 
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I dont get the hate, sure he isnt using the tools as they were meant to be used back then but he is doing his own thing at his own rythme without hurting anyone, why would you say he is less of a man for doing so? on the contrary, its way better to do it the way he is doing it than just buying lumbers treated with chemicals at the store imo.
 
Thank you for 'wading into this' Old Axeman. I'm fully expecting a hue (hew?) and cry from some quarters for dissing next generation improvisation and creativity. In times past folks rarely (I've never come across it) constructed log buildings out of valuable hardwoods because a rot resistant cedar (eastern white or western red) or eastern red cedar (which is an erect juniper) sill log is much easier to lift, move, shape and fit.
 
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I used a nail set once for a drift punch.:eek: I'm just glad no one filmed me. Lord forbid, what ever you do, don't ever mention using a carpenters hatchet for actual carpentry around here!:D
 
Remzy said:
I dont get the hate.....
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Hate?!?

Where'd that come from ?

I'm just trying to save whoever reads this thread a lot of wasted effort by emulating something that is close to the least efficient way the job could be done. Would you prefer I just offered a happy platitude and let the lad go on breaking his back for no reason?

I value the young man's effort. And I want him to know that he can double his output for the same effort.
 
quinton said:
I used a nail set once for a drift punch.:eek: I'm just glad no one filmed me. Lord forbid, what ever you do, don't ever mention using a carpenters hatchet for actual carpentry around here!:D
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I just use nails for nail sets and drift punches :).

Old axeman,

One serious question I have is how frequently were adzes used at all back in the day. On hewn timbers from the past, I usually see only occasional signs of broadaxe use, but in some modern reconstructions, I see nothing but adze marks which to my eye looks less well finished than the originals. Is this due to skill or are modern hewers overusing the adze? A lot of old barns seem to have beams hewn mostly with a standard axe, and the appearance is fine for that application.
 
It is good to discuss the right and wrong way to use classic woodworking tools. Discovering the right way to use them preserves history, and it also will save a lot of people time and energy in the future. It is nice that they kid is using his hands and building things, but I hope in the near future he finds better tools and techniques so he can build even more things with the time and energy he will save.
 
Here is a sequence of another technique different setup and tools.

Two men alternate blows cutting the notches:
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Juggles come off with a socket chiesel:
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Hewing:
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Video posted earlier here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1323959-Axe-and-other-hand-tool-work-1936-Germany

Bob
 
Have a seat

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Put your work up on a mighty horse tilted back:
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Bob
 
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hand hewn beam / mit der Hand hacken Balke :)

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(Crank up the volume if you play this vid :thumbup:)

Bob
 
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Hewing a wall beam for a viking age barn with a broad axe from Hedeby

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Hew to the line
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Bob
 
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rjdankert said:
Have a seat
25562484622_41bc82f30a_c.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j506cXGvOPg
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Note that the man hewing at 00:47 cuts a notch by himself just as fast as the pair cut a notch at the beginning. That's because he's standing atop the log and working with gravity. The paired work is fun and showy but less efficient.

rjdankert said:
hand hewn beam / mit der Hand hacken Balke :-)

25381944890_7925ebc71f_c.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkK2E5ejqi8
(Crank up the volume if you play this vid :thumbup:)
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I did crank it up!


I fully approve of the bench. By using it he's putting the work in his power zone. Whatever it takes to increase efficiency.

6-Working.jpg


That last fellow's axe might have been a little light for the work. Green conifer shouldn't require quite that hard of blow.

At 4 minutes in when he's hewing with the laser he's struggling because 1) his axe is light again and 2) he's hewing from bottom to top. If he rolled the log over 180° he could make the same cut top to bottom. It is easier that way.

That's one helluva timber he hews. I'd love to buy him a drink and talk about it.
 
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300Six said:
. . . I'm fully expecting a hue (hew?) and cry from some quarters for dissing next generation improvisation and creativity. . .
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Are you suggesting that dogma will rear it's ugly head in this thread? :eek:

300Six said:
. . . In times past folks rarely (I've never come across it) constructed log buildings out of valuable hardwoods because a rot resistant cedar (eastern white or western red) or eastern red cedar (which is an erect juniper) sill log is much easier to lift, move, shape and fit.
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I don't know if ceder was an option where he could obtain wood, but his criteria was to use a hardwood. He is in eastern KY, and I don't know what would be the best for that region, or any other for that matter. You can converse with him directly on his blog.

Bob
 
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