R&D,18th c.Swedish axe

[Ernest DuBois]

Here I am having a bit of a go at the great topic of jake pogg showing off his work on such a prototypical USA axe.

The equivalent of the Swedish version used as model for the axe to be reproduced in form but also technique. That is to say using the construction methods that might have been used on this example.

Showing the steps going into the formation of the major constituent parts making up the axe. Typically each axe has 7 separate pieces but I like to divide it into four sections: Front/back & top/bottom.

Front end formation.

Back end

Ready for the merger.

Simon, with help from Natalé and Eric, does the final welding keeping an eye on the joints.

And after much effort and experimentation a new timmerila comes together.

And of course, gets put to good use.

 

[jake pogg]

Aw man,Ernest,that is so darn sexy!
I'm so happy for you guys,it musta been Something!
That still-life with fruit on the table,was it all made during the meet?(that upside-down one looks very authentic and old,and Terje Granas...(not that the rest look new or nuffink)
What a wealth of Iron(and axe-freakdom!

 

[Kevin Houtzager]

X

 

[Ernest DuBois]

That still-life with fruit on the table,was it all made during the meet?

the timmerbila to the left of noon was brought like that from Switzerland and the small socketed axe at high-noon brought out from Sweden, the rest are what got made during the week. Terje Granas was itching to make a Norwegian axe once the timmerbila was complete and two of those got started on.

 

[Ernest DuBois]

A couple of things I'm wondering though:
-Why use flat stock? Wasn't invented in the 18th century?
-Why use presumably mild steel in the body? Wasn't in use until 19th century?
-How old is that axe they based the measurements on? Because the markings date that to 19th century, when occultism became a fad after 1850?

I don't know.

 

[Agent_H]

What an amazing collaboration in research, design, and construction this is!
I would love to be party to something like this at least once.
In a way you are allowing all of us to enjoy this to some degree or other, thank you Ernest.

 

[Ernest DuBois]

I should not forget this gentleman who kept everyone fed two four-courses a day, seven days long all day till past late.

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

.

I love this photo!!

 

[jake pogg]

What an amazing collaboration in research, design, and construction this is!
I would love to be party to something like this at least once.
In a way you are allowing all of us to enjoy this to some degree or other, thank you Ernest.

Very well put,Agent_H,and even more-this event was also so significant in that Ties so many loose ends together for the Public.
Bringing forth an old axe-design for us,weirdos,is great in and of itself;but to take this further,into it's actual intended use,to complete this logical sequence for regular people....Especially for the young.
To disspell this mystery,to construct this great old tool and then go and make some beams with it,so Everyone can see the inter-connectedness,as in:So THIS is what it was all about!!!
So that also,and bringing The best of the axe-smiths together,and so much more...
But it's that Civic thing that impresses me deepest...
Right on,Ernest,bravo,and well done!

 

[Ernest DuBois]

I really have failed in not having my camera at hand on the two days open to public view, (and more) where the finished axe did get put to use. There were a number of media organizations there at that time and, while in French, some fairly decent documentation, unfortunately captured and contained on internet Moloch facebook.

 

[jake pogg]

That's too bad,but it's the Principle of the thing that matters.
The Educational,the public/civic component is all important(i think).
So that people realize what forging is all about,Whence beautiful beams and buildings come from,so that the future generations have a chance to Comprehend these complex interrellationships between Iron and Wood and human ingenuity...

 

[Ernest DuBois]

Marc, my French hewing parter, one time organized a presentation for his class. In truth it was one of the best display actions that I have till now participated in.

And by far the best compensated.

 

[Agent_H]

Marc, my French hewing parter, one time organized a presentation for his class. In truth it was one of the best display actions that I have till now participated in.

And by far the best compensated.

That is something to keep, frame even.
I wager I can pick you out the two

 

[Agent_H]

The more I look the Timmerbila, me more I appreciate it's lines and build. Seeing the pictures of the whole thing come together and then being used is really something else:

Your pic from above,

I think these pictures may have come from Museot Finna online but is the same type of instrument?
(Steve Tall wouldn't have forgotten)

 

[Ernest DuBois]

The same but different, and the results, that is to say, impressions left behind on the surface of the timbers also differs, not so much by design but by intention. I think photo on top tells us essentially nothing being a single proposition like that we have no sense of the complete proportions, (but isn't it always so?). The down photo we have both a bit of familiarity with in general and is a nice version of something prior to the mass produced design, the socket for one thing much more elegant.
From a purest perspective there is much not right going on in my video but it shows also some of the characteristics of the timmerbila, in particular the principle of opening up the chip in a certain kind of progression.
https://allaxemen.wordpress.com/2018/06/19/the-1700-in-a-kind-of-action/

 

[Kevin Houtzager]

X

 

[Ernest DuBois]

Stopped making? That's a big question were one to scope it out.
It is not likely that a crack has developed. It's a static imperfection in the weld which sometimes happens but is purely cosmetic. Under some adverse conditions such a cavity could invite more corrosion but it really has no meaningful consequences.

 

[Kevin Houtzager]

X

 

[Ernest DuBois]

Of course when you reinforce the corner with more material - such as making it a radius in place of an angle - it has an effect but that really has little bearing here where a failure at that point is simply not an issue. Still, the radius is a bit more refined and less harsh to the eye and is also seen in plenty of instances of this axe type. But this is a question of normal variations in a hand made implement more than anything else. The cracks as you, Keven, call them, when they are genuine cracks, either stem from secondary failures: abuse, maybe corrosion that may get a foothold at the opening of an imperfect weld and for that reason be out of reach of preventative measures like cleaning or corrosion inhibitor, and get out of hand in some extreme cases, but as the design failure you imply, these axes are not subject to the kind of force that would cause them to self-destruct.

More important than trying to convince anyone is to address this fallacy of the crack, if you can excuse my word choice that verges on pornographic, and put a damper on its perpetuation because this is one thing that does cause unnecessary damage to many an old tool. Many times I've seen it when a completely benign imperfection in the forge work is mistaken for a crack in need or repair and some drastic and unnecessary measure taken which degrades a perfectly fine tool based on nothing other than ignorance.