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With a chalk line or more likely working just by eye, the worker most often used a broad-axe or a broad hatchet to make the cuts into the log surface.
ADZE WOOD TOOL SERIES
Using an axe, broad-axe, or broad-hatchet, or possibly only an adze, a hoe-like cutting tool with wooden offset handle, the worker would make make a series of cuts along the round up-facing surface of a log.įor those who had one, a chalk line was used to mark a straight line along one or two sides of the log to guide the cutting, and the scoring cuts would be made to about the depth of the line.
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Hewing a rectangular beam out of a round log was done in two steps: Scoring Cuts into the Log To understand just where the worker was standing when a blow from a tool was delivered to a Permit the careful observer to not only recognize the type and age of building framing, but even Adze marks on hand-hewn beams indicate hand hewn beamsĪn understanding of how hand-hewn beams were cut, for example, can The flattening was not done with an axe alone, as we can see the smooth surface left by the adze on some of the beam's surfaces.
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The tool marks on the antique beam shown here were most likely made using an adze or a combination of a broad-axe and adze. Our photograph above shows the scoring axe cuts and hewing adze cuts that are normally visible in the rough surface of hand hewn wood structural beams. Hand hewn beams, chopped and then sized with an adze and axe were used in North America from the 1600's into the late 1800's. Article ContentsĪdze, Axe, Broadaxe or Broad Hatchet cut marks in wood - hand hewn beams and planks Photo at page top: pit saw kerf marks on a sawn beam in a home in Cold Spring New York. Later timber frame construction used sawn beams and still later wood frame construction used sawn sills, studs, joists and rafters. Timber frame construction initially used hand hewn beams, cut roughly rectangular by an adze and axe. Photo above: post and beam construction of a barn in New York's Hudson Valley. We include a table of dimensional lumber nominal vs. We discuss the visual comparison of adze marks, axe marks, hand sawn lumber, mechanical pit sawn lumber, and circular saw mill cut lumber and boards. The marks left by these tools offer both clues to building age andīelow, in rough chronological order, we illustrate different types of saw and tool cut marks in wood: adze cuts, hand sawn pit saw marks, mechanically-operated pit saw marks, circular saw marks, and unmarked, planed modern dimensional lumber. Generations of types of adzes, axes, broadaxes and saws used in cutting beams, and similarĭetails are readily available on many buildings. Adze Cuts & Saw Kerf Marks Indicate Building Age We also provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need.
ADZE WOOD TOOL PORTABLE
We include research citations assisting in understanding the history and development of the mechanically-operated reciprocating saw or a mechanical and often portable replacement for the hand-operated "pit saw". We include a table of modern dimensional lumber nominal and actual sizes for kiln dried and treated wood. This article describes and illustrates different types of marks found on old wood boards and beams:Īdze and axe marks, hand sawn lumber, mechanical pit-sawn lumber, circular saw cut marks, and modern planed or sanded smooth dimensional lumber. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest.