The ‘Hand-Hewn Beam’ Blog

These rains and wind left many trees down, some that were a significant part of the landscape. Before you have it cut out and the stump ground away and the tree ‘erased’ from your property, consider having it carved into something beautiful and let it continue to be part of your beautiful yard

Here’s to a safe and happy weekend.

Cheers!
D.

New hand-carved rope vigas for a Scottsdale patio…

Pictures of the actual installation will follow. If you are interested in hand carved vigas and are in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Care Free, or basically anywhere in Arizona (travel/shipping charges may apply ), contact me at 602.418.0800

Well I had hoped to save two vigas from being put to pasture today, but they had been mounted directly on the concrete of a patio and the termites had taken them over! The old vigas will be turned into art and the new vigas were properly mounted with metal post plates [actually made for 6x6 posts but if you use a chainsaw to cut slots in the bottom of the pole, you can insert the hardware right up into the viga].

So all’s well that ends well… even though the contractor that called me out said the poles I was replacing were 12″ and they turned out to be 10s! So I put over 120 miles on the vehicle driving back and forth to Fountain Hills and Southwest Latilla at 40th Ave!!!! Doing custom carving and woodwork in Phoenix means a lot of driving some days

After visiting the beautiful “Work of Artists” Gallery in Scottsdale, I met with Darrell, the owner. It looks like HeadSpace is going to get some ArtSpace in the near future. Although I love the work I am able to do in architectural terms, the art is still a passion and it will be great to have an outlet for it!

Stay tuned for updates!

So one of my suppliers has a huge surplus of used beams, corbels, and vigas. So many, in fact, that he is threatening to put them in a dumpster if I don’t come and take them away!!

Clearly, an offer I can’t refuse

So from these used beams, corbel, and vigas, I will have a TON of material to make Mantles, Rope Vigas, and samples for clients, not to mention the ART I will be able to create from it all.

It’s a bit of a paradox: I, personally, try to be ‘green’ and I also run my business ‘green’ to the extent it’s possible… but I am working with DEAD TREES! Trees have to be cut down for me to do what I do. So it’s great when I can acquire ‘scrap’ from other contractors!

Anyway, watch for a sale on MANTLES and long live the environment

If you haven’t already RSVP’d, you should go to www.NetworkingPhoenix.com and register for their Launch Party happening next Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30. At last count, 257 people were confirmed so it should be worth checking out.

After 8 years in Phoenix, it is clear that there is a great deal of wood that could use my services! I have seen strap marks from shipping, water stains and other weather related damage, and even FOOTPRINTS on features that are already installed.. ON THE CEILING!!

Even though it is hard work (oh no!!), I set up scaffolding and remove all these blemishes BY HAND… I can also blast the wood if desired but that changes the look of the beams considerably. What I like best about doing it by hand is that the wood is left with a very ‘organic’ appearance AND the stain goes on very predictably. Blasting allows the stain to go on evenly as well but the result is much darker because of how ‘deep’ the grain is from being blasted. Much of the natural variation is lost because the wood is so porous after blasting.

There are several images in the Architecture section at www.HeadSpaceCarving.com.

Enjoy and have a great day!