Using axes as a hobby?

J

jec88

Joined
Mar 6, 2012
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833
I've always been interested in knives, and think I would have an interest in axes but don't really know anything about them or where to start. I have a couple of old hatchets from when I was a kid and have a couple of very old axes that my father in law gave me when he broke the handles on them and I've just stuck them out in the barn, not really knowing anything about them. Can anyone suggest any good websites or books etc. to point someone in the direction of using axes. The only thing I've really found were lumberjack competition type of things. I'm not interested in that, but I have 15 acres of mostly cedar and I've always thought about the idea of maybe building a cabin or something.
Thanks in advance.
 
An axe to grind is great. Get a good axe, learn how to use it, practice practice practice, then tackle a couple of projects working with logs. Cedar can be an interesting wood to work with, but also finicky. Good luck- look around the forum, ask questions. Lotta guys around here who really know their stuff.
 
You're in the right place if finding a purpose, resurrecting and using an obsolete (axes mostly have been supplanted by electric and gas-powered goodies now) edged implement fascinates you. And it sounds like you don't even need to shop around for something of quality to start with. You can stay in shape (or get in shape), save a bunch of money on not having to buy and maintain gas motors and chains, learn as much as you want about traditional crafts and have some fun while you're at it.
Log building, when done right is both a painting and signature piece that long out-lives the maker and imparts a wealth of character to anyone able to 'properly read into' it years later.
 
Raymond1000 said:
Give this a read. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/fs_publications/99232823/

It’s called An Ax to Grind, and it will give you the basics.
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Good place to start. Also look at 'Woodsmanship' by Bernard Mason. The 'An Ax to Grind' publication draws heavily on Mason's book.

http://cedarriverforge.com/Photo-index/axephotos/Woodsmanship.pdf


And look into hewing. I think hewing is the highest calling of the axe man. The USFS video 'These Old Cabin Logs' has a decent hewing demo at 6:20 into the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XxQKtTTNmo
 
I had near zero interest in axes until a few years ago. I guess that it hits a guy when he's ready.
 
Square_peg said:
Good place to start. Also look at 'Woodsmanship' by Bernard Mason. The 'An Ax to Grind' publication draws heavily on Mason's book.

http://cedarriverforge.com/Photo-index/axephotos/Woodsmanship.pdf


And look into hewing. I think hewing is the highest calling of the axe man. The USFS video 'These Old Cabin Logs' has a decent hewing demo at 6:20 into the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XxQKtTTNmo
Click to expand...

I highly recommend Woodsmanship. It’s full of old school logging wisdom, and written just in time. Logging was being transformed by high tech tools. Many of those skills were becoming obsolete.
 
errr... error on my part wron company name. still pretty sure its hultafors though. wetterlings was apparently the maker of the older mulit purpose axe through Husqvarna I believe the change took place a bit over a year ago. (mind it may actually be that my initial error was saying multi purpose axe instead of forrest axe... sorry
 
upnorth said:
I had near zero interest in axes until a few years ago. I guess that it hits a guy when he's ready.
Click to expand...
How's about that quote of your's gets slightly rephrased to "I guess that it hits a guy when he's most vulnerable". None of my fashionable/eccentric neighbours run around waxing eloquent (to me) about their 'manual push mowers' nor glow about their attempts at saving money with e-Green battery-powered electrics. Choosing to go back in time and intelligently use an axe (when any number of gas and electric-powered gizmos require very little skill or learning, and are 10X as fast) is entirely a personal decision. But in choosing between a trendy Yuppie exercise machine, and hauling, splitting and stacking wood, swinging an axe so far has been no contest to me.
 
92F out today and I had a 14' long 10" across cedar log on my trailer that needed to be 2 7 footers. Could have grabbed the saw but I had a little TT Flint Edge boys axe I just rehafted and sharpened that needed testing. Did a most excellent job! Neighbors looked at me a bit odd but they usually do ;) Restoring and old tool and they making good use of it is satisfying beyond the quantity of work done.

The log was harvested with a saw as time on site was limited and a clean cut at ground level was needed as this was pasture land. I do not have a hewing axe so will rough it down with a limbing axe and then drawknife- destined to be the cross piece for our outdoor cross.

Bill
 
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