Hewers Friends

[Ernest DuBois]

Today I picked up two log dogs made by the smid DeWitt not far from here. He is the company owner, fifth generation blacksmith, now semi-retired and willing to take on such work for the sheer enjoyment as he tells it. Well, we had a good talk about blacksmithing in the good old way, the state of matters there and all those good things and then I was on my way with the promise of another visit to see some of his carpentry axes.

A stout pair for solid working during the notching phase.



E.DB.

 

[halfaxe]

Those are nice. I tend to do a better job when I use high quality tools.

 

[Square_peg]

He made nice square corners. That's important when it comes time to drive them in. And having the two points perpendicular to each other is also correct. Those are very well made. Thanks for posting them.

 

[Ernest DuBois]

They are modeled after one from Fritzi out of CH and the corner was something we discussed because De Witt pointed out that there sat the majority of the work, and yes, he did a good job. But then you would expect that from the fifth generation blacksmith. (There is also a sixth he tells me.) The Swiss one simply extruded the arch of the bent corners to create a right angle though this left a sort of narrow ear that is consequently easily mushroomed from hammering there.
I will say that I will be grinding the bevels to a narrower angle than what he left.

P.S. The scale provided is in inches by the way for our American viewers.