So, you think you're a Neanderthal?

[bill epstein]

PARIS (AP) — With precision and boundless energy, a team of carpenters used medieval techniques to raise up — by hand — a three-ton oak truss Saturday in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, a replica of the wooden structures that were consumed in the landmark’s devastating April 2019 fire that also toppled its spire.
https://apnews.com/74b239b6a5d647f5c92e7170243276ea

441481

[Jim Koepke]

Wow, and all that was going on in my arena was to re-saw and plane a 3' piece of poplar.

Using a bandsaw probably doesn't count…

jtk

[Tom M King]

I see two man crosscut saws haven't changed much since midieval times.

[kent wardecke]

I see two man crosscut saws haven't changed much since midieval times.

I think the steel has gotten a little better

[Warren Mickley]

The first thing I thought of was "That is a modern saw". Saws with special raker teeth like that have only been around for 150 years.

I am so glad they are putting it back the way it was. There were lots of people around that thought they could out-engineer something that lasted for 700 years.

[Bob Jones 5443]

"Carpenters without Borders." Nice.

Bill, thanks for sharing the article. It's good to check in with the Notre Dame progress from time to time.

[Osvaldo Cristo]

[...]

Using a bandsaw probably doesn't count…

jtk

Touché! :D

[Robert LaPlaca]

Thanks, that’s really cool article. It’s such a tragedy and a bit ironic that a historic structure like Notre Dame was destroyed during a roof restoration.

[Eric Rathhaus]

Wonder if the Medieval roofers would have avoided this tragedy?


Thanks, that’s really cool article. It’s such a tragedy and a bit ironic that a historic structure like Notre Dame was destroyed during a roof restoration.