Well, I couldn't go to the Northwood meet so this afternoon I had a go with the Gransfors hatchet Plastic Ninja loaned me. First impressions - it's a really nice little axe and fits my hands.
I decided to have a go at a spoon so I followed Ben Orford's vid on Youtube, I find it really good and easy to follow. Watching Ben it looks really easy ... I began with a log the same size as his and went to split it; he does it in 3 whacks, I did it in about 10! I found it interesting that I'm usually right-handed but I've got a titanium right shoulder replacement which has restricted my movement; it looked important to be safe so I put the axe in my right hand and hit it with the mallet in my left which gave me more freedom of movement and kept my legs out of the way. Worth thinking about what he means when he says use your non-dominant hand. The log split well.
Next job, using the axe. Again I followed bens instructions, making little chops while holding the log at an angle to smooth the face. Doing it showed me more of what he meant, began to get the knowing into my body instead of just in my head. I carried on, got the squashed Z he talks about and drew a very basic spoon on the face.
I began to find a problem! I was now using my right hand with the axe which was working fine except I got a blister in the soft skin between thumb and 1[SUP]st[/SUP] finger! All stop while I improvise a plaster
Thats better, now it doesnt hurt to use the axe. Get on with the job, its good fun and the spoon-blank is coming along ok. Im making some mistakes using the axe, needs practice. OK his is just the first spoon. Im also finding that the heel of my left hand is getting sore from supporting and rubbing against the log. Ive got steroid skin, very thin and bruises easily from the drugs I take for the RA. Never mind, just means I need to do the axe work more slowly of course, I dont want to because its fun and Ive never done it before and Im thrilled to be actually doing it! Hey ho *grin*.
I went on and did some knife work on the blank. I cant do all Bens cuts, at least no yet, the shoulder one is specially difficult and seems to be encumbered by my breasts! Dammit! Being a woman has unexpected pitfalls! I wonder if theres a way round this? All the cuts are somewhat hampered by my deformed hands but were getting there practice.
Anyway, I got to the stage where I should be carving out the bowl of the spoon and I dont have a crook knife! The best Im going to afford for a while is the Mora. But how did/do people whittle a spoon with just the forest tools of axe and knife? Presumably they must have done so before they dreamed up crook-knives ??? Ideas on a postcard *g*.
I decided to have a go at a spoon so I followed Ben Orford's vid on Youtube, I find it really good and easy to follow. Watching Ben it looks really easy ... I began with a log the same size as his and went to split it; he does it in 3 whacks, I did it in about 10! I found it interesting that I'm usually right-handed but I've got a titanium right shoulder replacement which has restricted my movement; it looked important to be safe so I put the axe in my right hand and hit it with the mallet in my left which gave me more freedom of movement and kept my legs out of the way. Worth thinking about what he means when he says use your non-dominant hand. The log split well.
Next job, using the axe. Again I followed bens instructions, making little chops while holding the log at an angle to smooth the face. Doing it showed me more of what he meant, began to get the knowing into my body instead of just in my head. I carried on, got the squashed Z he talks about and drew a very basic spoon on the face.
I began to find a problem! I was now using my right hand with the axe which was working fine except I got a blister in the soft skin between thumb and 1[SUP]st[/SUP] finger! All stop while I improvise a plaster
Thats better, now it doesnt hurt to use the axe. Get on with the job, its good fun and the spoon-blank is coming along ok. Im making some mistakes using the axe, needs practice. OK his is just the first spoon. Im also finding that the heel of my left hand is getting sore from supporting and rubbing against the log. Ive got steroid skin, very thin and bruises easily from the drugs I take for the RA. Never mind, just means I need to do the axe work more slowly of course, I dont want to because its fun and Ive never done it before and Im thrilled to be actually doing it! Hey ho *grin*.
I went on and did some knife work on the blank. I cant do all Bens cuts, at least no yet, the shoulder one is specially difficult and seems to be encumbered by my breasts! Dammit! Being a woman has unexpected pitfalls! I wonder if theres a way round this? All the cuts are somewhat hampered by my deformed hands but were getting there practice.
Anyway, I got to the stage where I should be carving out the bowl of the spoon and I dont have a crook knife! The best Im going to afford for a while is the Mora. But how did/do people whittle a spoon with just the forest tools of axe and knife? Presumably they must have done so before they dreamed up crook-knives ??? Ideas on a postcard *g*.
. I did keep the strop by me and kept the knife sharp. I've got the other half of the log to do next - in due course! - so will keep practising.
