Anyone ever hand hewn logs or beams?

[robbyreneeward]

I am going to make a light for over my bar with an 5'x8"x8" cedar beam and am wanting to hew the wood. Any one ever used an adze before? Should I use a straight edge or curved? Any advice I could get would be appreciated. Is there a tool like a hammer or such I could use instead of buying an actual adze and get the same effect?

[robbyreneeward]

No one?

[ahlongslide]

I recommend a straight adze for a project like that. Are you going to go all the way through or just make a valley down the middle? If you lived closer, you could borrow all my primitive tools...

[Stoof]

Nope but I’m in. YouTube is your friend.


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Violence never settles anything
-Genghis Kahn

[robbyreneeward]

Would this work?

[ahlongslide]

Not as well, but if you sharpen it you can probably make it work.
Out of the common tools at a hardware store I'd probably opt for a small sledge hammer and a nice big chisel.

[18ncs]

Do an Internet search for The Woodwright's Shop or look for it on youtube. I think the guy's name is Roy Underhill. He had a show on PBS for years. He was from NC maybe and never used power tools.

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/Products.asp?mi=89780&itemnum=33018&title=Ochsenkopf%20Adzes

I think he had an adz that was heavy and longer handle than what you show. Got it good and sharp, straddled the log and worked his way by swinging like a pendulum. You might want to wear boots

[Kbar]

lookup spoke-shaver or draw knives.
lots of work but lots of satisfaction.

[18ncs]

Let us see before and after

http://m.youtube.com/results?q=woodwright's%20shop%20full%20episodes&sm=1

[18ncs]

The first episode I watched will help you. I am ready to come by for a beer when you get it done. Good luck!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLI3AdlB5pDXXtPe_fZAYgn7xj4EaJZcBb&params=EAEYATgBSAFYEmILdS1Ia1JMdjJVUkVoEA%253D%253D&v=pJoAmFkNEow&mode=NORMAL