Notching posts for headers on pole barn

[SandburRanch]

Need to notch the face of the posts on the pole barn I'm building to accept a 2x12 header that will support the trusses. I'm using a 3-ply header, you can see the drawing of it on page 11 of this document. The posts are solid treated 4x6, really tough, I think I'll use a small electric chain saw. Sawzall would probably take forever. Any suggestions?

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Notching more often than not is un-necessary and usually ends in disaster. But if you must, build a jig to be temporarily attached at the appropriate height with screws or clamps and use a router to notch so it doesn't look as if a beaver has been chewing on your new pole barn.

 

[Artisan]

A Prazi Beam Saw Attachment for a Skill Saw would be ideal for the long cut.
I think I would probably grab a regular Skill Saw and make that first bottom
cross-cut if it is deep enough for ya, then switch to the Prazi.
I have a Skill Saw w/ a Prazi set up all the time, plus a regular skill saw.

It would be entirely possible to make a bazillion cross cuts w/ just a Skill Saw
then chip it out as well, maybe clean up w/ a chisel.

 

[BeezFun]

Lots of good ideas, thanks. We had severe storms last night, not sure it will dry out enough today to work. I'm going to try a hybrid of some of these ideas, multiple cuts with circular saw, block and bar clamp as a guide, clean out what's left with something. I'll post pictures of whatever ends up working for me but at least my head's full of ideas now.
tnx

 

[MotorSeven]

A chain saw in the hands of the right person can be as neat and accurate as a circular saw and twice as fast. That being said, unless you are really comfortable with your CS, use the circular.

Are you working off a ladder(not recommended at all), scaffold or my favorite...my "man lift" :

A large stable platform is really needed to cut notches.

 

[BeezFun]

Are you working off a ladder(not recommended at all), scaffold or my favorite...my "man lift" :

Great minds think alike, my man lift looks almost exactly like yours. I wouldn't try this off a ladder, getting too old for the emergency room.

 

[Zebrafive]

Too late now, but when I built my barn I did the vertical cuts with a circular saw from each side and finished with a hand saw. I went to what I estimated would be an inch below my vertical cut. I did the vertical cut once the poles were set and an acurrate line could be laid out with the circular saw set at the correct depth.

 

[BeezFun]

My solution ended up being screwing a 2x6 block to the post face as a guide, and making a horizontal cut for top and bottom of beam with circular saw set to 1-1/2" deep. Then using rip guide on saw to cut vertically up each side of the post at full depth. Then used a hand pull saw to clean out the block that was left. Thanks for all suggestions.