Aardvark
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2002
- Messages
- 4,857
I already posted the link to the khuk in question earlier this week, but in case you missed it:
http://kwo.smugmug.com/gallery/913997/1/41660478
I tried it out today, and I have to say: I have another favorite. This thing is a chopping fiend. At 1 oz shy of 2 pounds, it's probably a little much to carry on a long hike, but for car camping or around the house, it's perfect.
I started out on a 7 ft 2 x 6, left over from my old deck. The khuk made short work of the old redwood. I cut it edge-on. And, yes, it WAS necessary to cut it into 6 pieces. It wasn't because I was having so much fun.
Next was a bunch of fruitless mulberry 'branches'. Granted, I could have cut these with a largish pocket knife, but I needed the exercise.
Then, a 6 ft branch of an undentified shrub from the back yard. This stuff is TOUGH, dense and dry. A couple of chops at each point, and it was through.
This is one of the smoothest choppers that I have. Don't know how to expain it, exactly. It's the feeling that all you have to do is lift it and aim, and the chop will be right.
In spite of how smooth the handle looks in the pictures, the TruOil finish is nice and 'grippy'. I finished it off with Meguiars Cleaner Wax. Don't ask me how to pronounce it, but it works great to provide the look of a hand-rubbed finish. Got the tip from "Fine Woodworking". Good magazine.
Chopping's done, time to clean up. That's one of the things that I love about the villagers: you don't have to worry what you use (within reason) to get the gunk (technical term) off the blade. The 2 x 6 was painted red, so I had some of that ground into the blade. I use a coarse nylon pad and Murphy's Oil Soap, then some Treewax for the blade. Some of the Meguiars on the handle, and she's ready for storage.
http://kwo.smugmug.com/gallery/913997/1/41660478
I tried it out today, and I have to say: I have another favorite. This thing is a chopping fiend. At 1 oz shy of 2 pounds, it's probably a little much to carry on a long hike, but for car camping or around the house, it's perfect.
I started out on a 7 ft 2 x 6, left over from my old deck. The khuk made short work of the old redwood. I cut it edge-on. And, yes, it WAS necessary to cut it into 6 pieces. It wasn't because I was having so much fun.
Next was a bunch of fruitless mulberry 'branches'. Granted, I could have cut these with a largish pocket knife, but I needed the exercise.
Then, a 6 ft branch of an undentified shrub from the back yard. This stuff is TOUGH, dense and dry. A couple of chops at each point, and it was through.
This is one of the smoothest choppers that I have. Don't know how to expain it, exactly. It's the feeling that all you have to do is lift it and aim, and the chop will be right.
In spite of how smooth the handle looks in the pictures, the TruOil finish is nice and 'grippy'. I finished it off with Meguiars Cleaner Wax. Don't ask me how to pronounce it, but it works great to provide the look of a hand-rubbed finish. Got the tip from "Fine Woodworking". Good magazine.
Chopping's done, time to clean up. That's one of the things that I love about the villagers: you don't have to worry what you use (within reason) to get the gunk (technical term) off the blade. The 2 x 6 was painted red, so I had some of that ground into the blade. I use a coarse nylon pad and Murphy's Oil Soap, then some Treewax for the blade. Some of the Meguiars on the handle, and she's ready for storage.
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