tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post2727707645664913104..comments2024-02-26T02:14:38.494-08:00Comments on Axe Connected: In Search of an Axe for "The World Made by Hand" PART 1Peter Vidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13443265056422774632noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post-24026993824789100302017-04-08T14:26:40.336-07:002017-04-08T14:26:40.336-07:00Leonard Lee grew up on a homestead in northern Sas...Leonard Lee grew up on a homestead in northern Saskatchewan in the 1940s. His family not only cut and split their own firewood, but also sold firewood and supplied pulpwood to mills. All preparation was done entirely with hand tools (with horses used for transportation). His family cut "countless hundreds of cords" of wood by hand. How much did he know about axes? Probably a very great deal indeed. <br /><br />I suspect that the catalogue comment on double-bit axes simply reflects a recognition that, generally, such axes are seldom seen these days, as indeed Lee writes in his book on sharpening (where he also discusses the many advantages of double-bitted axes). I'm well aware that there are places, such as rural New Brunswick, where many experienced axemen may never have used a single-bitted axe, but I suspect that Lee's statement is nevertheless true of the general readership of his catalogues. <br /><br />It's a catalogue, not a dissertation. No one should expect to get an education from it. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post-11074317052253521612015-10-11T23:27:30.494-07:002015-10-11T23:27:30.494-07:00I am not clear on where ax handle length is measur...I am not clear on where ax handle length is measured? Does the number include the height of the head - the over all length? Hardware store replacement handles include a long insert that will need to be trimmed, thus changing the effective length. <br />Another point of confusion is the difference in overall weight and the head weight. I have gotten the bug now and have been watching for older used heads with some luck. Quite a few have followed me home. Very clearly the newer replacement handles and complete axess are quite "fat" and i will be doing trimming and shaping in the near future. I hate to think of the energy I have expended by not learning about this subject years ago. I vividly recall splitting a mountain range of firewood for heating with a very long handled plumb axe as a youngster. I suspect a correctly sized tool would have saved lots of time and energy (blisters) . I have enjoyed studying this series of pages immensely. Thanks for sharing your experience and wisdom. TrapperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post-32469039396285723822013-02-19T05:43:58.910-08:002013-02-19T05:43:58.910-08:00Thank you for your post, it is very interesting fo...Thank you for your post, it is very interesting for axe-nuts all around the globe.<br /><br />Curiously, the average handle length for small axes (hatchets actually, heads are about 400-500 gram in weight) here in north-west Italy is about 20 inches, all with straight handles.<br />However, nobody would really do any serious felling with these, we use them mostly for limbing and clearing brush.ferrari-tractorhttp://lamotosega.forumattivo.com/forumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post-25677098807214361652012-11-04T15:57:17.181-08:002012-11-04T15:57:17.181-08:00Ricson thank you very much,
The 3# wedge does see...Ricson thank you very much,<br /><br />The 3# wedge does seem to be a jack of all trades. Yours sounds to be a gem as well, what type of carving duties do you encounter? (It seems as if there are many who are fans of the northeastern patterns and companies!) Yes the angle of the grind and overall thickness of the cheek are both traits that determine how crude or fine your work will be, or what is best suited for a job. I look at it with respects to geometry; the thicker your cheeks the greater you can manipulate the angle of your shave. As to Grind profile, the more convex it is the shallower and less invasive your shave will be. Not to say a bit on the hollow side can not work for some. I take preference to a head with superior control with thin convex cheeks sloping to the bit with subtle change, i need not do fine work, for it is an axe there is a reason why we should all have a sharp knife. Such as the author of this blog has displayed and wrote. As for the wedge pattern which I do take bias in, I feel that the angle of which it is forged is inferior for carving simply because the width of the poll in proportion to the rest of the head limits ones ability to control the depth of shave. What do you think?<br /><br />I would like to invite you and whomever else reads this to check out my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/LajeunesseAxeHelve -I do custom hafting for axe & tool enthusiasts. If this does not send you there just look under "Lajeunesse Axe & Helve" I have a few specimens up for display. VTclippernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post-37385145859415841122012-10-10T14:02:52.375-07:002012-10-10T14:02:52.375-07:00VTclipper,
How do you feel about the wedge pattern...VTclipper,<br />How do you feel about the wedge pattern for fine work like carving? I love the wedge pattern for chopping, scoring, hewing, limbing etc. A 3 lb Snow & Nealley wedge might well be my favorite choice for just one axe. Sometimes it feels like something a little bit thinner might be better suited for carving though (that said I use wedge patterns for carving all the time when nothing else is around). I tend to think its more about the overall thickness, and especially whether or not the cheek right behind the edge is thinned adequately. A worthwhile mention is the Roselli carving axes that are extremely thick and a lot of people love them, despite it going against the fetish of the thin axe for carving mantra.<br />Thanks for posting your preference, I really enjoyed reading it. Not many folks are kicking around with Emerson Stevens axes and know what a treasure theyve got.<br />Ricsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17939030644820054938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post-46552439387529570252012-08-17T18:31:08.456-07:002012-08-17T18:31:08.456-07:00Have you tried the Fiskars X27? I really love that...Have you tried the Fiskars X27? I really love that axe and I like it better than my Ilthis Ox Head for the same types of felling & splitting tasks.Adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09894010908165413285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post-73612151966402894662012-07-16T15:15:14.602-07:002012-07-16T15:15:14.602-07:00Peter,
Thank you, I am looking forward to more di...Peter,<br /><br />Thank you, I am looking forward to more discussion. I can sympathize on the joys of haying, wether it be bound by twine or under plastic. Good luck.<br /><br />VTclipperVTclippernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post-80365541063458852442012-07-09T19:39:24.238-07:002012-07-09T19:39:24.238-07:00VTclipper,
Thanks for what to date has been the m...VTclipper,<br /><br />Thanks for what to date has been the most comprehensive response to our ax blog in general and to the question of (One?) Ax for the World Made by Hand specifically. I can see that you have not only given this subject due thought, but that you also spent enough time at the knob end of the helve... and I agree with practically all your musings.<br /><br />That said, we can certainly take this topic several steps further and perhaps inspire more folks to join in. At this point into haymaking (and many other tasks...) season I get more behind in correspondence and website-related work by the week. I hope to respond more at length once my head is just a bit above water.<br /><br />PeterPeter Vidohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13443265056422774632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post-1202944739447264882012-07-08T14:22:12.678-07:002012-07-08T14:22:12.678-07:00I found your opinions on axe selection quite simil...I found your opinions on axe selection quite similar to my own. Personally living "a world made by hand" lifestyle I have found there is no tool more used than the axe. Dwelling with mixed boreal/ temperate broadleaf forests in the northeast give me my own bias's to my response to "The one Axe". I would have to say if one is homesteading it seems to me a single bit axe of 2 1/4-2 1/2 pound weight with a proper helve ranging from 27-29 inches will take care of everyday chores with most ease. But for those days when one must harvest wood for fire/lumber this axe falls short. The energy one must put forth for felling, limbing, bucking, and splitting is almost vane compared to it's heftier relative; the felling axe. For me, the light single bit is most handy for everyday chores, though, the weight of wood harvesting and limit to one edge is so that it has defined my opinion for the "one axe". The axe that I carry along for every duty regardless is a 3 1/4 pound double bit of Emerson & Stevens make. The pattern i have come to most favor is the classic "maine wedge" style head that forms almost a diamond in the eye rather than an oval. The helve is of thin diameter and stretches 31''. One bit has an angle proper for efficient felling and bucking and stays razor sharp at all times. The second bit has much wider cheeks and of a blunter much more convex grind enabling it to hold up to almost every duty i throw at it. The blunt side is truly the work horse side of the axe, i will frequent this bit about 80 percent of the time but having the luxury of a sharp bit with the twist of the helve is invaluable (a dull axe will wear one down as much as a inaccurate swing). So being able to hone in each bit for different duties truly enables one to have 2 axes in one. To discuss the weight; 3 1/4 pounds is more than enough axe for me to get through any tree of my geographical region with ease but is also plenty light enough to do everyday chores without fatigue. One handed axe use is often overlooked as well, this weight and bit design gives me the proper balance and allows me to use enough finesse for carving lighter duties when in such one hand has to stabilize an objective. For handle; the 31" seems to be the golden length for me and it is what I have grown used to. Trying to chop with a handle that is lesser than the inside seem of ones pant leg is awkward and returns to quickly, causing one to bend over more often and to use more force in result fatiguing your stamina and back which will leave one bitter and sore the next day. Not unlike the short handle, a long handle can be equally awkward and fatiguing on some jobs. The only time I've ever used a handle of say 36'' and was useful was in the felling of trees and doing Pulaski work which involved rooting and excavating. With this in mind the helve of good length should average the tag on your pants. <br />This is my idea of the one axe for the homestead, different lifestyles ask for different tools. This one suits mine to the point where I find a functional pleasure in partaking in the arc of the swing with it. The axe is my farmhand but not to say I do not have others nor use them, though, if I was a colonial I would want this one above all.<br />Thank you.VTclippernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post-26500539554174708932011-05-08T14:35:56.986-07:002011-05-08T14:35:56.986-07:00Walters... I have a walters I finished rehafting t...Walters... I have a walters I finished rehafting today. I put it on a 30" or so Sugar maple handle. I haven't measured it, but it feels right. Thats all I go by. <br /><br />This blog has helped me a lot in my own axe journey, also introduced me to the wonderful offset handle. I made my first and put it on a 2 1/4 pound Mann axe, and I love it. Hits hard and accurate, and the balance is impeccable. Thanks for the blog.Ricsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17939030644820054938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post-80765617939832572032011-05-07T17:51:16.131-07:002011-05-07T17:51:16.131-07:00To A Northern Farmer: Congratulations. Whether as ...To A Northern Farmer: Congratulations. Whether as a product of comprehensive research, intuition or plain good luck, I think you made a fine choice with your first ax. But she does need a mate...<br /><br />However, don't rush it; we still have a few more days of grace, and my forthcoming post may help you select the next one. On the other hand, any ax is better than none and a man can hardly have too many axes these days. So you can add a third or fourth later.Peter Vidohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13443265056422774632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563475851837975463.post-34456766403451731212011-05-06T11:48:52.615-07:002011-05-06T11:48:52.615-07:00I want to thank you for this post, and this blog.
...I want to thank you for this post, and this blog.<br /><br />As someone expecting to end up in a 'World Made by Hand' scenario I'm trying to ensure I get the best tools, gear, clothing etc. that I can, and an axe was one of my first big purchases.<br /><br />I asked around, read a bunch of reviews and ended up going for the GB American Felling Ax. I've been working my way through The Ax Book for a few days now and whilst I really do love this ax, I know I need something a little lighter too, so I'm back researching again for my 2nd smaller ax.<br /><br />Thanks once again.Northern Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08483495225114621168noreply@blogger.com