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Douglas Fir Timber Beam: a Straight Log Hewn Square and Seasoned
Woody

Created by

Woody

17. October 2026NO
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Douglas Fir Timber Beam: a Straight Log Hewn Square and Seasoned

Douglas fir is strong, hard and durable, the wood of timber frames, trusses and heavy timber structures, and it comes in long lengths. Snap chalk lines on a straight log, hew it square with axe and adze, seal the ends and let it season under cover. The picture: our diagram, the square marked on the log end and the hewn beam.
Intermediate
Two days, then seasoning

Instructions

1

Cut and mark

Crosscut the straight log to length. Draw the square on both ends and snap chalk lines along the log between the corners.

Materials for this step:

Douglas Fir Log (Pseudotsuga menziesii)Douglas Fir Log (Pseudotsuga menziesii)1 piece

Tools needed:

Crosscut SawCrosscut Saw
Tape MeasureTape Measure
Try SquareTry Square
Chalk LineChalk Line
Leather Work GlovesLeather Work Gloves
2

Hew

Score down to the line every hand's breadth with the axe, knock off the chunks, then hew the face flat to the line with the adze. Turn the log and repeat on each face.

Tools needed:

AxeAxe
AdzeAdze
Chalk LineChalk Line
Leather Work GlovesLeather Work Gloves
3

Season

Seal the ends and stack the beam on stickers off the ground under cover until it has dried.

Tools needed:

End Sealer (paraffin wax)End Sealer (paraffin wax)
Wooden Sticker (drying spacer)Wooden Sticker (drying spacer)
TarpTarp
4

Largest square from your log

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Materials

1

Tools Required

10

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