Axe skills

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wrknives

Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Messages
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I am looking for resources on increasing my skill with an axe. Learning to make good notches, fine work, tricks to make flat boards, etc.. Anyone have any favorites? There is a traditional Swedish cabin building video on YouTube I have watched probably ten times, haha. I have learned a lot just watching and practicing, I am aiming for the skill level of a traditional Swedish carpenter ;D
 
Best way I have found is do some research into old cabins, buildings, traps/snares, shelters and what not and find interesting things about each one. Like the notches on a trap, and think, How would I do that with an axe(safely)? Then try to do it. some of that stuff takes multiple tries to get right. When you do, you get a skill that you hold onto forever and will never forget. If you want to become Swedish carpenter good, look at what they made and how they made it with an axe and just try it.
 
Watch the videos and read the books and then get out there and practice and practice. For starters you'll quickly learn that some woods are much easier/nicer to work with than others.
 
300Six said:
Watch the videos and read the books and then get out there and practice and practice. For starters you'll quickly learn that some woods are much easier/nicer to work with than others.
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I can't think of better advise. Unless you work on a crew and can learn from the experienced guys, this is the best way that there is.
 
jblyttle said:
I can't think of better advise. Unless you work on a crew and can learn from the experienced guys, this is the best way that there is.
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Days of forest clearing and other pro (ie paid) crews using hand axes on the job are long gone. Unless you can find one of those quaint outfits that pride themselves at building and erecting custom log cottages/houses. There is a market for these and skilled workmen are hard to find. The dedicated owners of these operations will usually find the time to encourage keeners, but don't expect to get rich.
 
Yeah, I can completely agree with that. The reason I became so interested is from working in the tree industry, I have climbed and used a chainsaw for awhile, and gotten pretty good at all that is felling/notches/trimming/rigging with ropes etc.. But man, those old school loggers were insane, and so skilled. I have seen videos of dudes not even tied in standing on a plank standing sixty feet up making a notch in a sequoia with a double bit. So awesome.
 
I did line clearance for awhile (trimming trees back from power lines) and there are transmission crews working in national forests that hike in and stay for weeks in tents and such, and can only use hand tools because of the risk of wildfires using motorized tools. I honestly am so interested in it, I have done most there is to do with saws, but I want to experience that.
 
A huge amount of it would be pure muscle memory. So practice, practice, practice. I'm pretty useless with an ax, call me lightning, I never hit the same place twice! but then that sort of skill never really works for me, I'm a bit of a klutz, I can only shoot well because it doesn't require moving! But get those muscles doing what you want them too, and having the feel for the ax so it's doing the work, not you. My Dad is pretty good with an ax, and its all in the subtleties of the body mechanics, more so than the technique of the actual cut. Often he looks like he's only dropped the ax from height, until the block comes apart, and its apparent how much energy is in the ax.
 
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