Prepare the Beam with Saw Cuts

What happens here

Begin by clearly marking the dimensions of the notch on the larger timber beam where the horizontal beam will be attached. Once marked, use a circular saw to make a series of multiple, parallel cuts across the marked width of the notch. These cuts should be made to the exact desired depth of the notch (which corresponds to the thickness of the joining beam). The close spacing of these cuts will make subsequent material removal much easier.

Goal: Create preliminary parallel cuts for the deck beam notch.