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This is another mantel that was made from an antique barn beam that was ripped on all sides to yield a dimensionally perfect beam. Personally…I can't see the sense in using a perfectly good barn beam to to this with…but I tend to do whatever my customers want. It pays the bills! So…here it is!

First we rant the beam through the mill to clean all sides. Then the beam is sanded, conditioned, stained and sealed with urethane. Then we install. Finally…the stone man does his bit.

The end…

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Comments

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Very nice. Did the customer have the barn and beam or was this something you had? What is the equipment in the first photo?
 

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No…we buy from barn demo companies. We buy and sell barn board and beams. We also use the lumber in our furniture and door building.

The machinery is a portable sawmill.
 

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Hey Harold! I was an Executive Chef myself!
 

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It is a very pretty mantle, but I agree with you: such a waste to smooth out an old barn beam.
 

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Some of those beams are hand hewn, it takes away the character - but he who pays the bill--

How are you anchoring that beam to the wall?
 

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Hi dbray45:

Thanks for your comment. While cutting the beam does cut away some of the character…it gives the client exactly the dimensions they ask for…so it's a necessary evil I guess. But the good news is that the cut side always faces either the floor or up against the wall…so the hand hewn sides of the beam are featured in the mantel.

And, we mount with lag bolts.
 

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Ah, Rebarn… like my chef hat, do you?? It's a neat items my dad would wear from time to time back in the 60's when having family get togethers.
 
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