Hewing Timbers

At Vermont Timber Works we hand hew timbers for antique, rustic looking beams. We use hand-held tools such as the adze and slick. The process is labor-intensive and time-consuming but creates a unique and beautiful effect on the timber that our clients love in their homes and other buildings. We achieve this effect the old fashioned way using the traditional tools that have been used for a hundred years.

Hand Hewing

We hew different types of timber depending on the project. We prefer to hew white pine, but can also hew hemlock, douglas fir, and even white oak. The harder the wood, the harder is it to hew.

Hand Hewing / Slick

Hand Hewing / Adze

Hand Hewn White Pine Timbers

The beams above were hand hewn and received an application of driftwood stain by Minwax. They were used as decorative trusses in the home shown below.

Beautiful Photo by Tobias Gabranski

Below is a frame with hand hewn hemlock timbers that were finished with a natural / clear stain.  What do you think? Do you like the character the hewing adds to beams?

Hand Hewn Hemlock Timber Frame

If you like the timber work in this post, or have any questions, we encourage you to get in contact, ask an expert, or share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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