The mortising axe or post axe

[Ernest DuBois]

Do you guys start your post mortises by boring two holes? That the way I was taught. Although, like Jake observes, modern expectations usually require me to bore a line of holes and clean it fast with a chisel or slick.

Parker

If i decide to do morticing with an axe, and that would be strictly with a kreuzaxt, then i begin and finish from off the layout with only that tool. There is a curve and it takes repetition to flatten it but once down it is painful going back to chisel and hammer.

 

[catspa]

I WAS young back then.

Parker

 

[Ernest DuBois]

Along with needle work this technique is among the purest forms of what David Pye would be calling "the workmanship of risk". Once you start pre boring the risk is significantly reduced because you leave the realm of free-hand into guided work.

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

W. M. Beaty sold them as Post axes. Single and double bits offered

 

[I'mSoSharp]

I've enjoyed reading through this thread & at first didn't take note of the date, S Square_peg did the fence materialize? Or did you get a chance to use the axe? I'd be interested to hear if it performed how you expected.
If you haven't got round to it then that's OK, I'm #1 on what I'm going to do.......... eventually.......

 

[Square_peg]

I haven't had time to do it yet.

 

[I'mSoSharp]

I haven't had time to do it yet.

I understand, I find myself saying that a lot! Good luck when you get round to it.