Any adze users?

P

psp7

Joined
Dec 12, 2010
Messages
105
I was wondering if anyone had experience with an adze? I fiddled with one for a bit and I really like the gutter or bowl adze which is a more curved blade with greater sweep than say the straight blade which is more like a hoe. Of course they both have their own application, but I feel the bowl adze would be more useful for me. So my other question is what brand do you suggest? I can get a Gransfors Bruks gutter hand adze at a local shop, but its $329! Its likely the best made, but it hard to justify the price. The one I have an eye on in Traditional Woodworkers catalog is an Austrian made Mueller brand called Bibler thats just $149. It has a longer handle as well. Anyone have an expericence with that brand or any other?:)thanks
 
pipe, thanks for the link. I never heard of Lee Valley. I checked it out and placed an order with them as they have a free shipping special ending tomorrow. So I ordered an Austrian adze, a froe and also an Austrian draw knife. All for $199. I feel better getting the three tools than getting the spendy Gransfors hand adze that is $329 plus sales tax here in town. The GB adze here has a 8" handle with about a 20oz head, while this Austrian adze I ordered has a 2lb head with 18" handle. Both have a pretty good sweep to them. Around a 9 on the scale with at least 2" blade surface. I'm sure the GB steel is superior as I have 5 of their axes and they are awesome, but it was hard to justify paying 3 times the price for their adze. If money wasnt an issue I would buy all tools GB makes, including the relic remakes like a battle axe!
 
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Anyone use the Outdoor Dynamics adze head? It's less than 10 USD before shipping and could make useable alot of old replaced axe heads. Trying to figure out how to mount it...
 
PayetteRucker said:
...Trying to figure out how to mount it...
Click to expand...

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Thumbnails from Google Images search for Beliung Semelai:

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Attached with rattan.
 
psp7 said:
pipe, thanks for the link. I never heard of Lee Valley. I checked it out and placed an order with them as they have a free shipping special ending tomorrow. So I ordered an Austrian adze, a froe and also an Austrian draw knife. All for $199. I feel better getting the three tools than getting the spendy Gransfors hand adze that is $329 plus sales tax here in town. The GB adze here has a 8" handle with about a 20oz head, while this Austrian adze I ordered has a 2lb head with 18" handle. Both have a pretty good sweep to them. Around a 9 on the scale with at least 2" blade surface. I'm sure the GB steel is superior as I have 5 of their axes and they are awesome, but it was hard to justify paying 3 times the price for their adze. If money wasnt an issue I would buy all tools GB makes, including the relic remakes like a battle axe!
Click to expand...

You are welcome. Lee Valley only deals in great tools, i'm sure you'll be happy with them.

Regards

Robin
 
I have my great, great grandfather's adz. The handle has worm holes in it and probably would break if used. I haven't re-handled it and am torn between doing that or leaving it as is. What would you guys do?

Howard
 
Hey Howard
Make sure those little wood eating critters aren't still alive, they'll eat yur house. ;-)

R
 
HandAxeProMan said:
I have my great, great grandfather's adz. The handle has worm holes in it and probably would break if used. I haven't re-handled it and am torn between doing that or leaving it as is. What would you guys do?

Howard
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Yeah get the handle looked at to make sure there are no creepy crawlies in there like pipeman said, then, if you arent planning on using it, I would get it looked at - sometimes items like that with "use" or "age" or even with the worms "destruction" can have a greater value. Sometimes, not always.
 
Hey thanks Steve Tall. I've got a 26 inch haft I sawed off flat underneath a bit. I can carve out a notch for the blade to sit and then do a soaked 550 chord wrap or something... maybe epoxy coat it to boot.
 
HandAxeProMan said:
Thanks for the advise Robin and PayetteRucker.
Click to expand...

Hi Howard
If they're active you will usually see very fine sawdust where it's been sitting or coming out of the holes. Years ago I bought a bunch of Scottish country furniture that had live woodworns, nasty fast eatin little critters. Made a big fire.

R
 
I've had the GB adzes for a while now, gee they've gone up in price. Would also like another adze or two for bowl carving and such but I havn't been working the wood for a while so I haven't purchased one in a long time....
 
I was literally just looking at one on kijiji, straight blade and 30 inch original handle I believe, though it looks like it could possibly need a rehandele,
and its rusty and antique looking. Asking 45 bucks, good price but not sure if I will ever use an adze. Jumpins now I want it!
 
I remember watching an impressive video on totem pole carving where the artist did about 90% of the work with hand adzes and a wood mallet. It was before I was really familiar with Gransfors' line but now that I think about it I'm very sure it was a GB that he was using. Amazing tools...
 
HandAxeProMan said:
I have my great, great grandfather's adz. The handle has worm holes in it and probably would break if used. I haven't re-handled it and am torn between doing that or leaving it as is. What would you guys do?

Howard
Click to expand...

I'd use the present handle as a template for carefully making a replacement one to the same dimensions. Then burn the old one.
 
I have an old Plumb adze with a straight edge I use for finishing beams and whatnot. I made my own handle for it. When they are sharp they are awful nice to use. Be really really careful though, its easy to open up ya foot. Swing it from the arms and not the shoulders or upper body.
 
I found this in my great uncle's barn this week (he is a shipbuilder).

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The mark says St. John N.B. I couldn't read the maker.
 
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