Traditional post and beam construction companies always seem to be located in the back of beyond. Hartwood Oak Buildings, my assignment for the day, was no exception – located at the end of a long and winding journey through undulating countryside just outside Newbury.
My reason for being at Hartwood was to have some “hands on” experience of producing oak framed buildings and the invitation came from Makita. The power tools manufacturer was keen to show what its products can do and how they are adaptable for use in traditional post and beam manufacture.
Hartwood, established about 12 years ago, manufactures garden buildings, house extensions, garages, garden rooms (conservatories), as well as completing the odd restoration project. It sources most of its oak, predominantly French, from Honey Street Sawmills at Pewsey. It also sometimes uses other European oak.
According to office manager Paul Harris, sometimes clients choose oak because their house is a listed building and they need something in keeping. “Then you get people who just like oak and want to see real wood instead of PVCu,” he said.
My job for the day was to help produce an arcade beam for a two-bay garage with storage – destined for clients
in Bucklebury. The beam would eventually be connected to a series of timber studs and another arcade beam.
Under the guidance of craftsmen Tim Poole and Gabriel Langlands, I wielded Makita’s 7104L chain mortiser – basically a mini chainsaw which clamps onto the beam – to cut out a series of mortises. A few buzzes with this and the odd wiggle of the adjustable saw created the hole necessary for a stud.
Next up was using Makita’s MXT 18v 844 DW drill for drilling drawboles holes to take the pegs – the holes are slightly offset so the peg pulls the joint tighter when driven in. The joint in question was the mortise on the end of the arcade beam, which would be connected to a tenon on another similar beam.
A craftsman’s touch is still needed – as Tim proved with his dextrous use of a manual saw to ensure a snug fit for the joint.
Other tools used during my visit included a heavy-duty Makita KP312 planer, and two circular saws – the 24v BSR730 and the giant 355mm 5143R, which can cut up to 130mm at 90O.
Having the opportunity to work on these structures was definitely an ambition fulfilled. And, while I’m a long apprenticeship away from understanding all the tricks of the trade, the art of oak construction has been demystified a little bit.
Knowing that these beams could remain up for possibly hundreds of years must be a satisfying feeling for the craftsmen that do this on a regular basis.
So my thanks to Hartwood for the experience – and to Makita for providing the tooling that made the job a lot less arduous than it would have been in the past.
