Preparing Timber for Construction with Broad Axe and Adze

To build a home or other building the builder first needs to turn trees into timbers. Watch this video to learn how a broad axe and adze work.

Transcript of movie: To build a home or other building the builder first needs to turn trees into timbers. After chopping down a tree and removing branches, the builder chops notches along the length of the tree on four sides using his axe. Next, using a broad axe, he chips and pries the bark and wood away between the notches to flatten the surface of the tree to make it square. Then he uses an adze to smooth off each side.

Broad Ax. View this item in the Online Collection.

Details

TopicIndustry, Occupation, Work
Architecture, Buildings
Science, Technology
EraColonial settlement, 1620–1762
Revolutionary America, 1763–1783
National Expansion and Reform, 1816–1860
Grade levelElementary (K–5)
Middle School (6–8)
High School (9–12)

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