I didn't have the funds at the time of the group buy. I was wondering what your thoughts are on them now they have arrived.
I am hoping for a billhook for christmas.
I am hoping for a billhook for christmas.
Billhook Group Buy Review?
- Thread starter Wayne
- Start date
Wayne
Singteck is giving mine a suit of clothes right now, but I'm sure we could arrange a "look over" when he's finshed if you like?
Initial impressions?
The blade seems well forged and the bevel ground evenly. The bevel has quite a pronounced wire edge and will need a run over stones / hone / wet and dry or whatever your preference is. The handle is well attached although it has a slightly rough varnish finish that I plan to remove and replace with an oil finish
Red
Singteck is giving mine a suit of clothes right now, but I'm sure we could arrange a "look over" when he's finshed if you like?
Initial impressions?
The blade seems well forged and the bevel ground evenly. The bevel has quite a pronounced wire edge and will need a run over stones / hone / wet and dry or whatever your preference is. The handle is well attached although it has a slightly rough varnish finish that I plan to remove and replace with an oil finish
Red
I haven't put a proper edge on mine yet, or had a chance to take it out to play.
What I can say it that it feels good in the hand, especially held close up to the blade. It feels like it could be good for precisicion with the weight to make it a thug when needed. I'm looking forward to getting out in to the woods with it and getting my mate Alan to have a look at it, he's a coppicer and hedge layer and has the experience to make an intelligent critique.
I'll put in my pack for the meet on the 5th.
What I can say it that it feels good in the hand, especially held close up to the blade. It feels like it could be good for precisicion with the weight to make it a thug when needed. I'm looking forward to getting out in to the woods with it and getting my mate Alan to have a look at it, he's a coppicer and hedge layer and has the experience to make an intelligent critique.
I'll put in my pack for the meet on the 5th.
Wayne: If it's the billhook I think it is (the Newton?), It's the one the one that Lithril had at the dartmoor meet a couple of years ago - the one with Lith (& Sam), me, Jakunnen, you, FallingRain (& son) & Leon - the one where we all went swimming in the Dart!
I was impressed enough to get in contact with Jack & buy one very quickly after seeing it that weekend.
I was impressed enough to get in contact with Jack & buy one very quickly after seeing it that weekend.
It's a nice tool Wayne. As BR said it came with a serious wire edge, but that doesn't take much fixing.
It feels really comfortable and balanced. I'm trying to limit my use of it at the moment to short trials as I can see it would be real easy to get carried away and start swinging carelessly with it before i've properly mastered my techniques.
The only thing i'm not to keen on is the handle feels like its almost been varnished. At least that gives me something to sand down during the family get togethers over christmas
It feels really comfortable and balanced. I'm trying to limit my use of it at the moment to short trials as I can see it would be real easy to get carried away and start swinging carelessly with it before i've properly mastered my techniques.
The only thing i'm not to keen on is the handle feels like its almost been varnished. At least that gives me something to sand down during the family get togethers over christmas
I just picked mine up when I got back to England last night. I see what you mean about wire edge! Almost flakes of metal. I had a quick go with a sharpening stone and a butchers steel as there wasn't much else about and that seems to have made it better, still not super sharp but it should cut. I'm going to do a bit of shrubbery removal for my Mum so I'l let you know how I get on.
The handle is a bit of an eyesore - varnished, stick tang fitted messily and already a small split because of this. I think It'll have to be replaced.
The handle is a bit of an eyesore - varnished, stick tang fitted messily and already a small split because of this. I think It'll have to be replaced.
Same here - monster wire edge, and varnished handle with various bubbles in it. But...
The wire edge and handle are easily sorted (waterstone on one, and sanding and Danish Oil on the other should do the trick), and it's a lovely looking thing. It's a lot bigger than I had imagined, which is good! It feels good in the hand, and I love the forged finish.
I'm looking forward to trying it out once I'm back from my Christmas travels.
Thanks again to Jack.
Mark
The wire edge and handle are easily sorted (waterstone on one, and sanding and Danish Oil on the other should do the trick), and it's a lovely looking thing. It's a lot bigger than I had imagined, which is good! It feels good in the hand, and I love the forged finish.
I'm looking forward to trying it out once I'm back from my Christmas travels.
Thanks again to Jack.
Mark
I managed to have more of a proper play with it today. First things was to sand down the handle to get rid of the varnish, and it's now being replaced by a few coats of Danish Oil. Much better already. The handle is "utilitarian", but I kinda like it. It'll be a user tool anyhow, and it provides plenty of secure grip when whirling it around.
I also spent a short time on the whetstone to get rid of the wire edge. That's gone, although I can't really say I've managed to get it super sharp, but that's mainly down to my lack of sharpening skills and shortness of time today. However, the main problem is that the edge at the hook is blunt as a blunt thing - literally about half a millimetre of unground thickness there. Because of the angles it's not something that's easily doable on a whetstone (at least with my limited skills), so I'll have to attack it with a file or something.
I needed to split up some half-round logs for kindling, for which I normally use my cheapo Stanley hand axe, so I gave the billhook a go. And I loved it! It's nicely weighted in the hand, and I could either give it a good whack or more gentle nick as required. Also, as it's a thin blade compared with the axe I think it's probably better than the axe, as it's more refined - you split bits of wood off the log as opposed to the axe hurling bits of wood at all angles. There's less risk of nasty glancing blows. Also, once you're half-way through the log a quick twist of the hook and the kindling pops off easily - very nice.
I do need to keep practising, though, to get used to the different uses of the pointy hook and the flat bit - they sometimes got in the way of each other too.
I also needed to get rid of some rampant bamboo. Normally I hack at it with my pruning saw, but thought the billhook might do the trick. Unfortunately the most useful part of the blade would have been the hooked edge, but since this was still so blunt it was useless. So I gave up and went back to the saw. Once I sort out the edge properly I'll try it again.
My actual hedge is too young and small to need laying yet, but hopefully in a year or so I'll be able to use the hook for in its native habitat!
So, it's not perfect, and still needs a fair bit of work on the edges to get it in full working order. But it's great for the kindling already, and once I sort out the rest, I'm really looking forward to using it in the future!
I also spent a short time on the whetstone to get rid of the wire edge. That's gone, although I can't really say I've managed to get it super sharp, but that's mainly down to my lack of sharpening skills and shortness of time today. However, the main problem is that the edge at the hook is blunt as a blunt thing - literally about half a millimetre of unground thickness there. Because of the angles it's not something that's easily doable on a whetstone (at least with my limited skills), so I'll have to attack it with a file or something.
I needed to split up some half-round logs for kindling, for which I normally use my cheapo Stanley hand axe, so I gave the billhook a go. And I loved it! It's nicely weighted in the hand, and I could either give it a good whack or more gentle nick as required. Also, as it's a thin blade compared with the axe I think it's probably better than the axe, as it's more refined - you split bits of wood off the log as opposed to the axe hurling bits of wood at all angles. There's less risk of nasty glancing blows. Also, once you're half-way through the log a quick twist of the hook and the kindling pops off easily - very nice.
I do need to keep practising, though, to get used to the different uses of the pointy hook and the flat bit - they sometimes got in the way of each other too.
I also needed to get rid of some rampant bamboo. Normally I hack at it with my pruning saw, but thought the billhook might do the trick. Unfortunately the most useful part of the blade would have been the hooked edge, but since this was still so blunt it was useless. So I gave up and went back to the saw. Once I sort out the edge properly I'll try it again.
My actual hedge is too young and small to need laying yet, but hopefully in a year or so I'll be able to use the hook for in its native habitat!
So, it's not perfect, and still needs a fair bit of work on the edges to get it in full working order. But it's great for the kindling already, and once I sort out the rest, I'm really looking forward to using it in the future!
I looked at these billhooks when Jack had them at the WG a few years ago and I'm very impressed with their lightness and how they "come to hand". I use an ancient piece through the winter (about 60 years old) which has a fairly flat blade (ie no curved tip ) and I think (with all due respect toJack as a professional user) that this suits me better. I recall Buckshot making just such a modification on his and if there are any left, I'm tempted to acquire one and do the same before the opportunity is lost...
