A decision was made not to halve finished hewn cruck blade number 5 by scie-sawing since this would have resulted in an average blade thickness of about 4 inches. This is not an uncommon thickness for a cruck blade but since cruck number 5 will be used as one of the centre crucks it will be carrying much heavier loads (about twice) than that of the two gable cruck frames.
A butt log of slightly less proportions and curvature than cruck 5 was chosen for cruck no 6 and was noted to contain a felling crack at the foot of the cruck blade.
The log was raised on bearers and then bucked to length ready for moving and bark peeling.
The log was rotated and pulled into position onto log bearers ready for bark peeling prior to being pulled onto the hewing bunks.
Cruck no 5 needs some final attention and then it will be moved off the bunks into the cruck timber stack.
Cruck blade no 6 was then peeled in the rain and made ready for hewing. This log will need to dry before being hewed to help avoid the hewer slipping on same or transferring dirt from boots to log.
To help ensure that the log is kept clean during peeling and subsequent movements and hewing of same the bark strips removed were laid flat, bark side up, on the ground to help prevent the hewers boots from churning up mud and flints.
The spine beam was peeled revealing that it has quite a bit of spiral grain at the butt end of the log.
After completing winter work of hedge laying and fencing attention was turned to hewing cruck blade no 6.
The butt end of this blade was damaged during felling with a crack propagating up from the base for a couple of feet. This separated material was hewn off and fortunately no serious damage has been done to the cruck foot.
A couple of wedges were used to level the cruck face and this was then cleaned using the draw knife.
Ken Hume OWG
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Author
Cruck Blade No 6