How to Hand Hew a Beam

Lay two four-foot-long, 12-inch diameter logs on level ground. Lay the log you intend to cut into a beam across them. Hand hewn beams usually span long spaces so you should use a log at least 12 feet long.

Immobilize the long log with four log dogs. Log dogs are steel or iron spikes with bent points. Hammer one end of each log dog into a supporting log and the other end into the long log using a steel hammer. Use log dogs at both ends and on both sides of the long log.

Saw both ends of the long log square with a bow saw. Measure the diameter of both cut ends using a steel measuring tape. One end will probably be a little smaller than the other end.

Draw a horizontal line across the top of each end of the long log using a framing square and a pencil. Each line must be at least as long as the width of the beam you will hue.

String and snap a chalk line from the end of one of these lines to the end of the corresponding line on the other end of the log. String and snap the chalk line in the same way on the opposite side of the log.

Cut a series of vertical cuts from the top of the long log down to the chalk lines on either side of the log using a chain saw. Space these cuts about four inches apart.

Seize an adze with both hands and straddle either end of the log. Beginning at one of the pencil lines, chip away at the log to the depth of the chain saw cuts by striking the log with the adze. An adze is a kind of axe with a curved blade that is intended to be swung parallel to the ground rather than at right angles to the ground like a woodsman's ax.

Cut away the entire top, rounded side of the log with the adze.

Smooth the entire top side of the roughly hewn, partial beam with a slick. A slick is a very broad chisel with a long wooden handle. Slick blades are usually at least four inches broad but may be up to eight inches broad. You can either push the slick or strike the handle with a wooden mallet.

Chisel the top of the beam with the slick until you are satisfied with your results.

Pry out the log dogs and turn the log completely over. Since the partial beam is now lying on a flat side you do not need to reinstall the log dogs.

Flatten the second side of the beam using the same procedures and techniques you used to flatten the first side of the beam.

Turn the log onto one of the two remaining rounded sides. Reinstall the log dogs. Flatten the third side of the beam using the same procedure you used to flatten the previous two sides.

Remove the log dogs and turn the beam over so the only unfinished side of the log faces up. Finish the beam using the same procedures you used to flatten the other three sides.