that is all
well damn it now I do too...
Very nice.
If you can't afford one of those, then Gransfors Bruks hand make reasonably priced axes in a traditional manner.
I've got a Small Forest Axe and it's surprisingly versatile.
http://www.nordicoutdoor.co.uk/gransfors-bruks-axes/forest/small-forest-axe.html
I like that axe ... errmm ... I want a few of those ... in fact I like knives too ...
Hmmm lovely knives
Very nice, being a carpenter I think I've got a very good excuse to acquire one of these!
Very nice vid, dont like axes that much but do like making stuff 🙂
I do not have a wood burning stove.. I do not have trees that need cutting down.. my shed is already full of tools that don't get used... yet I would love to have an axe like that after seeing the work that goes into it. Thanks for sharing that big yim!
His website it good too. I don't think £146 is unreasonable, considering the amount of work that goes into them.
What a lovely film! Yeah, I'm with chewkw here, I love proper tools, but in particular good knives and axes. I've got a Gransförs small forest axe, and it's a beautiful little thing. Damn sharp, I can do the arm-shaving thing with it, too.
I've got a lovely little knife blade, hand forged from spring steel in Wales, with a beautiful polished Scandinavia grind edge, that I really, really must get down to carving out a handle for it. Got a nice piece of Yew all ready, just got to get my sorry ass in gear and do it.
My blade is a bushcraft version of one of these blades, with a longer tang, cost me £45.
http://www.nicwestermann.co.uk/traditional-hand-tools/laminated-carving-blade/prod_30.html
mikey74 - MemberHis website it good too. I don't think £146 is unreasonable, considering the amount of work that goes into them.
You're right - that doesn't seem too bad really.
Would make a great gift. Esp with a link to the vid. Better than a watch!
You just know how good that is going to feel in your hands.
There was another beautiful film of them making a framing chisel, I can't find a link to it.
Found it!
Would have been better if it had been a battle axe, and he had used it on the irritating background musicians.
Here's the Nic Westermann blade, on the block of yew I have turn into its handle:
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Next time a bit of Yew comes down I will hang on to it. Hang on, I may well have some out in a pile somewhere.
EDIT, here it is, the slightly reddish stuff is Yew. Note to self. Do Not Burn.
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The third film in the set, a Damascus steel knife, and a thing of real beauty.
WANT!
mmmm axes and knives, love hand made tools like that
countzero... i like handling knives too, this is one i did a while back, an ekland blade with a pere david antler (legaly obtained!) and bronze handle...
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/8735545353_2193a0042f.jp g" target="_blank">
i am hoping to do one of the dave budd damascus courses soon
Blimey, I want to go live in the woods and make tools!
I'm truly stunned by the workmanship in those.
I have absolutely no use whatsoever for an axe.
I want an axe.
I have no need for an axe, but now It's the only thing I want in my life
i like this one
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What was the tool he was using to make the axe handle - sort of like a really wide spoke shaver, but more blade like?
Thanks, might have to get one and start learning to use it. I don't have a forge, but reckon I could make a handle given enough time....
I was very envious of all the tools and the workshops that were in those films. Daftvader, that's a really nice little knife!
Those are nice - I also really like the things made by S. Djarv Hantverk. I've got one of their adzes, rougher and more handmade than Gransfors Bruks, but lovely to use.
This is the sort of handle shape I'm aiming for, not too fancy, I have limited tools and facilities available, so this Helle,
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or Roselli
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really fits the bill for me.
Then there's a sheath... 😐
I've a Roselli axe for kindling for the woodburners. Lovely bit of kit...
Cheers countzero.
For the kind of handle you are looking at you probably won't need too many tools. Saw for bulk shaping and then if you want to carve it I would recomend [url=http:// http://www.greenmanbushcraft.co.uk/contact-us.htm ]frost carving knife[/url] (be warned **** ing sharp) and a load of sand paper. Sealed with tung oil or linseed.
and check out english handmade knives for any pins, lanyard tubes etc
Boo
I thought this was going to be a thread about guitars
Excellent videos,thanks for posting. 🙂
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So when he was making the axe head, he split the blade and inserted a second piece in and then bashed it all into one. Was that a different insert to act as the blade bit?
Yes, usually a much harder steel, which would be fairly brittle, but takes a good edge, the softer surrounding steel is better for impacts like hammering. That' also why the edge was quenched after heating.
what a tool
... and no-ones mentioned the knitware yet?
And no one mentioned he split his kindling with a hammer ....
Added to the "really could do with one of those" list.
And no one mentioned he split his kindling with a hammer ....
I noticed that, thought 'eh?', then realised that he was being clever and using the tool inserted into the anvil that's used for cutting heated steel for folding. Makes sense, really.
Was that a different insert to act as the blade bit?
Japanese swords use a different principle for the cutting edge. They're folded steel, using several different steels, along with charcoal, like the Damascus knife, but when the blade is finished, wet clay is moulded along the blade, then carefully scraped off of the edge, then the blade is re-heated and quenched, making the cutting edge very hard, and leaving the rest of the blade flexible.
That edge has a pattern, called the Hamon, which is unique to each swordsmith.
countzero you should check out this chap http://owenbush.co.uk/ really nice stuff and some of the courses look really tempting. .. especially the damascus seax one
CountZero,
for shaping the handle you can use sandpaper cut into long thin strips and backed with two layers of duct tape. Its strong enough to use a 'wire saw' motion to shape curves into the handle and strong enough to stand some use. More satisfying than power tools too 😉
Clamp the blade in a soft vice then work on the handle as required with the strips. I did the scales on this one using that method
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4149/5128385489_8ec59c5011_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/10417878@N08/5128385489/ ]scales reprofiling[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/10417878@N08/ ]subZero rider[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1210/5128995554_c44c7f3103_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/10417878@N08/5128995554/ ]scales after polishing[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/10417878@N08/ ]subZero rider[/url], on Flickr
Nice vid and pretty tools but to be much use an axe needs to be twice the wieght of that one. That one is only good for making kindling.
Andy, that's a really neat tip! Pretty obvious, once you know, but I'd have never thought of it. Thank you very much. 😀
Daftvader, thanks for the link to the blade forging site, some really nice stuff on there. I particularly like the bearded axes, and the Viking sword is seriously tasty.
Hmmmm, tempted, very tempted...
No problem, always glad to see someone making stuff like this :-). I got loads of advice on British blades forum when I started making em.
other really important tip is WEAR A DUST MASK. Wood dust is really bad for you, do it outside if you can and make sure you wear a good quality dust mask. Ffp3 mask or better!
Outside is my only option! I have a shed, but it's very small and cramped, I have to have the door open to use the vice!
Just waiting for some warm, dry weather...
Dust mask tip well taken, too, thanks. 😀
Oh, and pretty knife, too! What wood is that? It's beautiful.
Cheers :-). Wood is spalted maple or beech I think, basically wood with fungus damage that causes the patterns. It's also stabilised with resin so the wood is mostly immune to moisture and will polish up like a plastic.
Do a google image search for Arizona desert iron wood burl for some really nice wood!
Cheers, Andy, I'll do that. I'm going to stick with the Yew for this knife, but Casstrom do this rather nice full tang forest knife blade blank for £30, which I'd like to have a go at, so something like your knife handle would look the mutts, I reckon...
http://www.casstrom.co.uk/epages/Casstrom-Outdoor.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Casstrom-Outdoor/Products/33110
http://www.casstrom.co.uk/epages/Casstrom-Outdoor.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Casstrom-Outdoor/Products/33101
Just had a look at a site that does desert ironwood burl scales for knife handles, for around $50, some really beautiful grained wood, and their buckeye burl scales are tasty, too:
http://shop.arizonaironwood.com/Buckeye-Burl-Scales_c21.htm
what this thread really lacks is a proper man beard...
or do all these latvians shave themselves with damascus axe blades? their arms as well...
probably do shave with fiendisly sharp, custom, hollow ground, damascus cutthroat razors. as for the arms... having done a little forge work you dont keep hair on your arms for very long!
countzero... caastrom stuff is really nice but i would phone them before you order anything and make sure its in stock, internet and real stock dont always tally! that said the customer service is really good. but i would really think about using that yew you have. once its shaped and polished yew can be stunning
[url= http://www.woodandknifesupply.com/ ]wood and knife supply[/url] another really good and helpful chap. got some nice bits and pieces but will also stabalize wood/bone/horn.. i have some spalted silver birch which i want to get done...
edit... this really isnt helping as i now want a new blade to play with!!!
I just found this thread again and loved how wintery and relaxing the vids were so thought I would give its bump. I also REALLY want the knife. And the axe. Ok, and the chisel. Please Santa, please?!?!
Not my thing at all, but the axe video is brilliant. £146 seems a bargain!
does anyone know about tempering an axe edge? i have a lovely axe head that i got from a farmers market when i was about 16, i sharpened it on an angle grinder when i was stuck for a sharpening stone a few years back and now it loses its edge really quick so i dont use it any more. i'm hoping i can re-temper it and get it back into use. do i just get it cherry red and dip in oil?