Oxfordshire Woodland Group

Nevan Carling (CT. USA) has sent these pics of Black Locust (Robinia) that he has hand split using wedges first by halving and then quartering.

These sections will now be hewn to remove excess sap wood to make timber-frame sills. B. Locust is very durable and stronger than oak.

Nevan has now felled and cleaved a white oak tree using iron wedges to make a pair of sills for a carriage barn.

The log is slightly spiral but this can be flattened by hewing. Wooden wedges would have been preferred (eye safety reasons).

That's Nevan at the top of a replica Notre Dame Cathedral roof truss (or is it Spider man in disguise) ?