Oxfordshire Woodland Group

After hewing the third side of tie beam no 3 it became obvious that the defect was fairly localised since it did not pass through the log to the third side.

After hewing the fourth side it was possible to make a closer examination of the defect which confirmed that was most likely due to loss of bark by branch rub and subsequent healing by bark regrowth and resin infil of the gap between old and new wood. The knife edged Wetterlings long handled broad axe is proving useful when working round knots as this can be swung from two directions i.e. either up or down the log whereas the chisel edged Kent pattern axe can only be used in one direction (preferably down the log).

Because the defect is on the top surface of the tie beam it will not be visible from below and also it will be in compression near the aris (corner) where bending stress is low and no joints will be cut into this area of the tie beam. The tie beam waney edges were cleaned using a draw knife to form a very useable beam.

The finished beam looks good.

With much use the Woodcraft Kent pattern hewing axe and Wetterlings long handled broad axe are now developing a nice mirror sheen on the blade edges and forged faces.

Ken Hume