How do you hew timber with an adze?

12th August 2021


	How to hew timber with an adze?


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			Felled trees are often used to create beams in houses for a rustic or old-world effect.

			Beams are also used to support floorboards in the upper floor of the house. For this reason, at least one of their sides has to be as flat and level as possible, so that the floorboards have an even surface to rest on.

			Hewing is the name of the process where a felled tree is cut into a square shape for use as a beam. This process is also known as ‘squaring’.

			Debarking
			Once a tree has been cut down, the top level of the bark needs to be removed. This can be done using a froe, which will shear off the top level of the bark relatively quickly. (See “Froes”).

			A froe is a tool that has a sharp blade at right angles to its handle. When used with a mallet, it can be used to shear off large chunks of wood from a beam or log.

			Bark can also be removed with an axe through a process called ‘juggling’, which involves cutting V-shaped nicks along the length of the tree.

			The resulting wedges can then be adzed away from the top of the beam.

			You can also use an axe to do the same job.



			It’s possible to use an adze for the whole process of clearing off the top level of the bark, but this would be a time consuming process. It’s quicker to use an adze once the bark has been removed to flatten out the surface of the beam.

			Levelling and planing
			For this task, you’ll need a long-handled (foot) adze with a straight blade.

			Step 1 – Use string line Using a ‘string line’ (a long piece of string attached to the midpoint of each end of the beam) allows you to check easily where the lumps and bumps in your piece of wood are.

			If part of your beam is sticking up, it will displace the string, making it easier to see than it would be if you were looking with no guidelines.

			Step 2 – Level off Adze over the raised areas on the beam. You don’t need to worry too much about precision or a neat finish at this particular stage as you’re just trying to get the surface as close to flat and level as possible.

			Make sure you slip your string line off to one side before you start adzing, or you’ll shave through it!

			Step 3 – Smooth wood Once you have a flat beam, you’re ready to smooth down the surface. This time, the idea is to shave the top part of the beam rather than tear chunks out of it.

			Follow the steps in the guide: How to use an adze for planing and debarking wood to give your beam a smooth finish.

			Step 4 – Move on to next side If you would like to square other sides of the beam, repeat this process, using your froe or axe to start with and then returning to your trusty adze!