Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Making a Summerbeam

I'm in the same boat. That was my question, too.

It's a main support beam in a building. It works like a bearing wall but without the wall under it. It can hold up the roof or maybe a 2d floor without center supports.

I read a book that talked about the different European immigrants that settled the Texas frontier and how the author could determine the nationality that settled different areas by the construction of their cabins in general and the corners in particular. IIRC the Scandanavians used the dove tail corners.
I learned that the dove tail's drain water instead of holding it like a notch so the corners don't rot.
Being a carpenter and interested in that kind of stuff it stuck with over the years to where the first thing I look at are the corners whenever I see an old cabin.

Great thread. Thanks

Excellent thread! Thanks for the pictures.

Let me guess, got a few new colts running around there you want to stump break?

The first snatch block I bought on ebay was made by Western, Lockport NY. It was such a well-made tool. I just had to pull the main axle, a 1/2 inch bolt, and grease it up, and it worked great.
I liked the way the letters WESTERN BLOCK CO LOCKPORT NY were formed into the sides of the pulley housing.

That got good to me so I bought 3 more Western snatch blocks.

Western is long gone from Lockport, I bet these beautiful old tools are 100 years old.

Beautiful wood.

Impressive work.

Gonna seal the ends to keep cracking/splitting to a minimum?

Can't imagine in my wildest dreams you leaving all those stumps just sitting in the ground...dang!

Speaking of beams, I cut and use walnut in my woodworking projects as well. Got a 12' x 10" x 6" slab from a farmer who had stored it in his chicken house for around 30 years. He said I could have it if I'd take it away. It had accumulated a nice thick layer of chicken crap on it over the years from the chickens roosting on it. The urea was absorbed into the wood naturally. Potential mantle piece???

Upon cleaning it off and planing it...holy mother of God...you should see the colors in that wood from the urea, etc! Unreal.

Good luck with your project....can't wait to see the finished product!

I did seal the ends of the 8x8 kingpost, and the 8 foot summerbeam, with wax, to minimize splitting.
That main summerbeam was so heavy that I decided I would put up with some cracks, in order to get as much water weight out as possible, so I didn't seal it. As of 2 weeks ago it was hardly splitting at all. Anyway, the cabin is supposed to be "rustic looking" so I don't mind a few cracks.

The main favor I did myself was I got a winter cut on these trees. I cut them in March when the sap was down.

How do you keep the cuts parallel on the vertical with a chain saw? Just go slow and eye-ball it?

Awesome thread!

I'm looking forward to more.

Thanks!

Well, I start off with vertical marks on the end of the log, made with the use of the level.
This gives me a starting point. Of course, the top cut line is marked with the chalk line.
After that I just eyeball it. If there is a little wobble it is macht nichts, this beam is way over-sized, anyway, it is supposed to be rustic looking.

I have a lot of experience with a chain saw, I would say that there is no more than 1/4 inch of wobble the length of the beam.
I did send off to Wisconsin for a ripping chain for my Stihl, works better than a conventional chain for this work.

Thanks! Really looking forward to seeing more as the project moves along.

I cheat like roundoak. The Haddon guide rocks....

I have a feeling this is going to turn into one of the most epic threads ever

Do you do a full scribe on the lateral grove?

Up in northern BC in hunting camp, I watched a guide turn logs into a bunk bed with a chain saw. After watching one, I grabbed the other saw and built one as he dd another. Watching him was a real education in what a chain saw can do and it's paid off many times.

Go slow and use a really sharp chain.

I too am interested in the progress here. Our logs weren't nearly that big or that long.

This beast is 18 inches high, 8 inches thick, and 18 feet long. So heavy, my log cart would barely lift it. I believe it is about 500 pounds.

http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/black-walnut/


using the number of 38 lb/cubic foot for dried black walnut ,would result in a weight of 818 lbs.
your green log most likely exceeds that by a fair margin