Building the Hewn Timber Cabins: Scoring a log with an axe

Scoring a Log

Figure 93. Scoring a log with an ax

After cutting a log the proper length, two chalk lines were made on top of the log to show how much had to be trimmed off each side to make a timber that was eight inches wide. Then a man with a felling ax stood on top of the log and scored it, making vertical chops about four inches apart down the length of the log on both sides. Those two sides were then ready for hewing. (Drawing by Chris McJunkin for the hewn-timber cabins collection, 2002.)