Great job! What wood was that? If you wish the mantle to have few or no drying cracks, you may want to try Sewari, a Japanese tradition in which you kerf the timber along one face (normally a side not visible),the timber will "open up" along that kerf and this will absorb all the stresses. You can even add a well fit wedge after it opens if you wish.
This is a piece of chestnut oak that came down in a storm this summer. I love the look of it, but it seemed like a pretty tough piece of wood. Thanks for the tip on preventing drying cracks; I will have to look into that! I put some wood glue on the end grain to try to slow the drying. Also, I cranked down a ratchet real tight at each end to prevent it from splitting. Not sure if that will do anything, but I figured it was worth a shot. Your youtube stuff is great! Keep up the good work!
heres a few videos, one old and one new way its done, going to the pith is key. ruclips.net/video/VI18PQjIDR4/видео.html ruclips.net/video/YaXhRTIup0I/видео.html Also, chestnut oak tends to crack fairly symmetrically and equally all around in small checks, which may be the aesthetic you are after.
Very cool technique. I wonder if I could do that, but stop 6 inches short of end of mantel. Otherwise, the kerf would be visible on both ends, right? If possible, I'd rather avoid that. Unrelated question, the woods in your videos remind me of the woods in Central / Eastern PA. What state are you from?
If the kerf will be visible, the traditional technique was to let it open as it dries, then glue in a wedge that fits well the shape, then trim and smooth. It can disappear if done well. We are in Eastern KY
Yeah seriously! I estimate it probably took about 8 hours to finish. With an actually hewing axe and some experience, I could probably speed that up a bit. The mantel is drying now, and I am so excited to put it in my house someday :-)
I would estimate about 8 hours. As you can tell by my constant changing of clothes in this video, I broke the work up over about a week. Now that I kinda know what I'm doing, I could probably do it a little faster the next time around. Also, it would definitely take less time with a broad axe, but those are insanely pricy.
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Great job! What wood was that? If you wish the mantle to have few or no drying cracks, you may want to try Sewari, a Japanese tradition in which you kerf the timber along one face (normally a side not visible),the timber will "open up" along that kerf and this will absorb all the stresses. You can even add a well fit wedge after it opens if you wish.
This is a piece of chestnut oak that came down in a storm this summer. I love the look of it, but it seemed like a pretty tough piece of wood.
Thanks for the tip on preventing drying cracks; I will have to look into that!
I put some wood glue on the end grain to try to slow the drying. Also, I cranked down a ratchet real tight at each end to prevent it from splitting. Not sure if that will do anything, but I figured it was worth a shot.
Your youtube stuff is great! Keep up the good work!
heres a few videos, one old and one new way its done, going to the pith is key.
ruclips.net/video/VI18PQjIDR4/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/YaXhRTIup0I/видео.html
Also, chestnut oak tends to crack fairly symmetrically and equally all around in small checks, which may be the aesthetic you are after.
Very cool technique. I wonder if I could do that, but stop 6 inches short of end of mantel. Otherwise, the kerf would be visible on both ends, right? If possible, I'd rather avoid that. Unrelated question, the woods in your videos remind me of the woods in Central / Eastern PA. What state are you from?
If the kerf will be visible, the traditional technique was to let it open as it dries, then glue in a wedge that fits well the shape, then trim and smooth. It can disappear if done well.
We are in Eastern KY
You making a railroad? 😂😂😂😂😂Hard work, good luck
A fireplace mantel 👍
thats a lot of work but well worth it
Yeah seriously! I estimate it probably took about 8 hours to finish. With an actually hewing axe and some experience, I could probably speed that up a bit. The mantel is drying now, and I am so excited to put it in my house someday :-)
Curious exactly how long that too you.Very well done.
I would estimate about 8 hours. As you can tell by my constant changing of clothes in this video, I broke the work up over about a week. Now that I kinda know what I'm doing, I could probably do it a little faster the next time around. Also, it would definitely take less time with a broad axe, but those are insanely pricy.
The company I work for sells these for around $ 600 a pop
Oh yeah? Sign me up-paid exercise :-)