big chopper

[robin wood]

A new toy, I bought this head a few years ago, it is old hand forged Swedish, just put a handle on and sharpened it up. Its pretty big and won't be the axe I use most but for hewing beams and rough chopping large ladles and such I think it will be fun.

 

[British Red]

mmm mmmm

looks quite "side axe" like to my eye except it seens to have a bevel - verging in a gull wing at the top.

If you ever want to sell, bags me first!

Red

 

[mr dazzler]

Nice job rob, and nice little log pile as well Very nice handle form, and I like axes with a protuding point to use like a knife point to get into awkward area's. Does the extra weight right close to the edge make a lot of difference?.

Would you consider doing a photo series/tutorial of how you fit a handle to a head?
cheers Jonathan

 

[robin wood]

mmm mmmm

looks quite "side axe" like to my eye except it seens to have a bevel - verging in a gull wing at the top.

If you ever want to sell, bags me first!

Red

Red I am sure you have far too many axes already. I like this one as a thing so even if it does not become a favourite user I think it will be kept as a point of interest and to show folk that there are many ways of making axes that work. It is a broad axe but not a side axe, I have put some more pictures below. It was amongst a group of Swedish boatbuilding tools, during my fist 20 minutes play with it the thing it did best was putting a big flat area on the side of a big log hewing cross grain, just what the big gull wings do best.

Nice job rob, and nice little log pile as well Very nice handle form, and I like axes with a protuding point to use like a knife point to get into awkward area's. Does the extra weight right close to the edge make a lot of difference?.

Would you consider doing a photo series/tutorial of how you fit a handle to a head?
cheers Jonathan

I think that tutorial has already been done here somewhere hasn't it? Perhaps by Red? Can anyone find it?

The most interesting thing about this axe to me is the way the steel edge is welded to the iron body. It looks like the steel has been opened up to make a groove and then closed over the body, a very quick easy way of welding a new edge on but it works well. I would be interested if anyone recognises the maker from the mark.

 

[DoctorSpoon]

Red I am sure you have far too many axes already

but Robin I'm sure you told me it wasn't possible to have too many axes ...

 

[brancho]

but Robin I'm sure you told me it wasn't possible to have too many axes ...

Doh

Interesting tool though

 

[British Red]

You have my permission to send me that one when he buys another one Dr Spoon

The terms "foist" "petard" and "on his own" spring to mind

Axes are like all other hand tools.

"Enough" is a term without meaning

 

[mr dazzler]

I know thers probaly existing pictures of handle fitting, but theres more than one way to skin a cat, I would of liked to have seen how you do the job, you can always learn .
When you do the compound curved areas (eg in and out of the fawn foot area) do you just whittle them with a knife? I always find it extremely testing of patience and concentration in case I inadvertantly cut against the grain coming out of a concave area and get tear out. I use spokeshaves for most of the shaping (after rough cutting the form with axe's), and a knife for the tightest curves. Do you start with a shaped branch or shaped section of log? Do the swedish carvers ever steam bend a handle shape. After seeing your other thread with the swept up swedish axe handle and the explanation of why they do that, I had a go myself today and did one complete swept up style axe handle and roughed out another that is still green and needs to season near the stove. I'll post a picture tommorrow