Kreuzaxt

E

Ernest DuBois

Joined
Mar 2, 2013
Messages
1,772
Now the stage of getting the axe in working order, clean-up, grinding the 2-bits, sharpening, putting a handle on there, is done, the work of discovery can begin and I can start chopping joints with the axe of timber framing work going back to the compagnons of France and the wondering journeymen out of Germany.












E.DB.

 
Last edited:
I really like the looks of that tool, it gets my imagination going.

What do you mean with "wondering journeymen"?
 
Even now it is continuing in both Germany and France that part of the really long and extensive training to become a carpenter of competence, is to go on your working journey, I think around three years, a time when you are not allowed to go within a certain range of your home and must seek out a living with only the tools you carry on your back. When you have completed this period you have then achieved your journeyman status on your way to master.

E.DB.
 
I don't know if I have ever seen one before but that is one good looking kreuzaxt. What did it look like before you started?
 
This came from a collector over in Germany, so on the face of it was in good shape, but to get it in a working condition the edges needed work, flattening out the bottom of the chisel side, grinding nicks and hollowing the bevel. You can compare the edges in the fourth picture and the last picture for before and after conditions. This was a lot of work with such an unwieldy piece of iron and because the blades are composites, not suitable for machine grinding, so it was all a manual effort. I have found that the German prepared steel is the most unfriendly to have to grind under the best of circumstances and in this case it took hours at the lapping stone and finally grinding on a foot powered sandstone wheel, really the most suitable grinding method for this tool.

E.DB.
 
Super cool. I've never seen one before. I'd love to see some video of it in action once you get familiar with it.
 
Yes, wel some of the results and it shows promise. At first it is real quick, that is the chopping, then going on to paring to clean up the mortice takes up more time.







E.DB.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top