Beam Splice, Part 2

Here are some photos of the flitch beam being created and then the final beam in place.

One side of the flitch beam in place for assembly. After some discussion, the group decided to move it off the saw horses and place it on the ground, thinking it would be easier to get the leverage to drill into the beam.

How many people does it take to move a 16 foot long, 600 lb piece of steel?  Our work crew decided on six. 

And this is how they chose to cut the steel to size.  It took two men the better part of the day--and many cut off wheels--to do this.  I kept thinking of plasma cutters, water jet cutters and such when I saw the labor involved here.

The flitch beam, once constructed, was moved indoors, right underneath its final home.

This lift was used to hoist the beam up to the ceiling.

And here's the beam in place.  The beam was just a hair longer than ideal and fitting it in was the only time I've heard the foreman be exasperated.  But he's persistent and a problem solver.  I'm actually not sure how he figured out how to squeeze it in place, but he did.  Ultimately, the beam (and the new, architecturally aesthetic, parallel faux beam)and columns will be wrapped in a plywood sheath to match our new cabinets.