O.P.V
Other People's Videos
I realize I just put up an O.P.V. post. Normally I try to space them out, but in this instance I don't care. This is another video from John Neeman toolworks, however, this one doesn't revolve around making tools as much as it focuses on those using the tools.
Hand hewing logs is an ancient skill with roots in everything from homebuilding to barn raising. In fact, water powered sawmills date back to the 6th century AD and have been improved upon consistently in the ages since. By the 16th century sawmills were strewn about Europe and were a fairly common among developing communities. The need for hand hewn logs has been slowly dwindling since the advent of the efficient sawmill. That is not at all to say that people haven't continued hewing logs by hand since the first axe was forged. People in rural areas or without the means to purchase milled lumber, would often resort to hewing their logs by hand. Thanks to many strong bodied craftsmen, this art form has been kept alive. This video is from Latvia, but there are several outfits in the US that still shape lumber by hand. In fact, if you are interested, Mr. Peter Follansbee has some specific instruction on the matter in his blog.
As an additional note, in this video at 3:16 there is an ingenious idea for holding work on a job site that I'd recommend everyone check out. There is further demonstration of the technique at 4:19. I'll be giving this a try in the very near future.
I enjoyed this video, not enough to go out and hew beams by hand, but enough to motivate me to go build something...maybe my wife won't miss me for a few weekends...
Hand hewing logs is an ancient skill with roots in everything from homebuilding to barn raising. In fact, water powered sawmills date back to the 6th century AD and have been improved upon consistently in the ages since. By the 16th century sawmills were strewn about Europe and were a fairly common among developing communities. The need for hand hewn logs has been slowly dwindling since the advent of the efficient sawmill. That is not at all to say that people haven't continued hewing logs by hand since the first axe was forged. People in rural areas or without the means to purchase milled lumber, would often resort to hewing their logs by hand. Thanks to many strong bodied craftsmen, this art form has been kept alive. This video is from Latvia, but there are several outfits in the US that still shape lumber by hand. In fact, if you are interested, Mr. Peter Follansbee has some specific instruction on the matter in his blog.
As an additional note, in this video at 3:16 there is an ingenious idea for holding work on a job site that I'd recommend everyone check out. There is further demonstration of the technique at 4:19. I'll be giving this a try in the very near future.
I enjoyed this video, not enough to go out and hew beams by hand, but enough to motivate me to go build something...maybe my wife won't miss me for a few weekends...
