This video shows how I make a squared timber out of an oak log.
The log (common oak, quercus robur) is 3,5m long, at the bottom nearly 40cm in diameter. The finished squared timber measures 18,5x18,5cm.
I start by taking a good look at the log and decide how to get nice surfaces out of it, navigating through the natural curves to have as much core wood in the squared timber as possible while maintaining the size.
In the end I used a vintage, probably German axe for scoring (making the notches) after the first one kept slipping off the handle. This one was also vintage and unfortunately people used it to hammer stuff, so the poll was pushed in and the handle doesn't have a nice fit.
After scoring I use a big vintage Talabot hewing axe. They are used for jogging off the billets and rough hewing. A very skilled worker could use this big axe for the finish surface as well, but I had to use a smaller one.
It's a Swedish style Hewing Axe, made by Fadir tools. You can find them under the name KharkivForge e.g. on etsy:
www.etsy.com/de/shop/KharkivF...
Other tools involved:
log turner, log dogs, spirit level, chalk line, draw knife, debark iron.
The chainmail leg guard are made by Ochsenkopf, here's a link to a German tool shop that sells them:
bit.ly/3raucvb
[UNPAID AD] for Fadir tools, Ochsenkopf and Contorion.