Olde Wood 8" x 8" Reclaimed Wood Mantel Shelf

A solid 8x8 barn beam, cut to length and finished to order

The Olde Wood 8" x 8" Reclaimed Wood Mantel Shelf is a solid timber beam salvaged from old barns and factory buildings across the United States. Olde Wood cuts it to your length and finishes it at its shop in Magnolia, Ohio. At 8 inches square it is the heavier of the two Olde Wood profiles we carry, with enough mass to hold its own against a stone surround or a tall wall.

Hand-hewn shows axe marks, rough-sawn shows saw marks

The two cuts come from two eras of timber framing. Hand-hewn beams were squared by a craftsman with an axe, often more than a century ago, so the faces are chunky and uneven with the axe marks still in them. Rough-sawn beams were cut on large mill saws, many of them water-powered, which leaves straighter saw lines and a cleaner, more even surface. Either cut can carry the beam's working history: insect holes, structural notches and the grain of old-growth timber.

De-nailed, kiln dried and insect treated before it ships

Each beam is surface de-nailed, treated for insects, pressure washed and kiln dried, which stabilizes the wood so it moves less once it is in your home. It ships raw, keeping the natural color of the old timber, or pre-finished in one of Olde Wood's wax-oil colors. Sizes are nominal: Olde Wood cuts mantels to within an inch either way, so an 8x8 can measure closer to 7 inches in places. That variation comes with hand-worked timber, and it is also why no two are alike.

Best for large fireplaces, stone surrounds and tall walls

The 8x8 suits a big room: a wide firebox, a floor-to-ceiling stone or brick surround, or a vaulted wall where a slimmer shelf would look lost. The 8-inch depth also gives you a usable shelf for framed photos, candles and seasonal decor. If your fireplace is smaller or the wall is lower, the Olde Wood 6" x 6" mantel shelf gives you the same reclaimed timber in a lighter profile.

Your fireplace manual sets how high the beam goes

This is solid wood, and wood is combustible, so the clearance between the mantel and the fireplace opening comes from your fireplace manufacturer, not from the mantel. Check that figure before you mark the wall. A beam this size is heavy, so plan to anchor it into studs or masonry rather than drywall anchors. Unwrap it as soon as it arrives so any moisture trapped in the packaging can escape and the wood can acclimate to your room. Every beam is made to order, so if you need a length outside our standard sizes, email support@modernblaze.com before you order and we will ask Olde Wood about a custom cut.