Hardwood.....it ain't easy!

One of our initial design specifications had been to partly replicate the feel of an exposed timber frame English medieval house. Ideally we were after Australian hardwood power poles; imported from last century through to the first half of this one i believe. To cut a long story short we met a lovely guy who had several piles of poles in his paddock and needed to clear them. We found thgere was about 5 distinct colours, with varying shades as well. Handling these beasts is very hardwork by hand and potentially quite dangerous. The old white HIAB we used in 2009 used to strugge at times too. I've lost track of the number of times i've (and often very patiently Greg) sorted through them for just what i was after and then re-stacking them for various organisational reasons.

To summarise a year's worth of work (on and off) to now:- Choose poles to satisfy engineering requirements of the post and beam system. Rechoose half of them because i wanted to match colours! Set up the 2 longest largest poles as runners for a processing area and place chosen poles on these, for a reasonable working height. Spend 2 days pressurie washing them. Start the drawknifing process (lovely green woodworking tool, "google" for more info) as opposed to the usual approach of grinder with wire brush then sanding disc. Takes approx a day a pole. Bloody hard work but very pleasing result. Much time spent sharpening drawknife.

Beam system constructed on ground but posts stay on runners as project delayed. Throughout the year gradually choose more poles for different parts of the project, pressure hose and then sharpen up yet again! By March 2010 have drawknifed 40 poles (ie 40 days of work!). Enter Tomek. when house build restarts