carving axe with tang

[forginhill]

I live in an extremely arid desert climate and it's murder on tools with eyes (hammers, axes, etc.). I've been dreaming of making a eye-free axe, and this is what I came up with. I used an old plow disc for the steel. The handle is ash. I've been using it and am extremely pleased. Overall weight is a tad over two pounds.

 

[snappingturtle]

That's neet!

 

[Muddypaws]

If you'd asked me if I would have liked an axe with a tang then I would have said probably not, but what you have made is really rather good.
I don't live in an arid climate, so I don't have the problems you have, but I can see that your new axe would address those problems.
Good work!

 

[Robson Valley]

That comes pretty close to some custom pole carving tools that you might find here in the Pacific Northwest.
Can't find what you need? Make it. And you, sir, are rather good at it.
What did you decide to use for rivets?

 

[Brandon-C]

Like somebody else said I'm usually a fan of axes with a tang but that's because they are mostly gimmicky/tactical but your's is really nice and traditional looking good job.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Very nice, looks ideal for roughing out spoon blanks

 

[forginhill]

Thanks for the feedback!

I'm not a fan of most tanged axes myself, so I get that sentiment. Necessity kind of forced me to give it a try, and I've not been disappointed.

 

[forginhill]

Here are a few short clips showing me using the axe to rough out a spoon....The wood is dry seasoned mesquite...good for testing edges!

(Ooops, looks like the forum only allows two posted at a time....will follow up with the last two....)

[video=youtube_share;RWRi7Tp8i48]https://youtu.be/RWRi7Tp8i48[/video]

[video=youtube_share;VHnFHzJR6zA]https://youtu.be/VHnFHzJR6zA[/video]

 

[forginhill]

And the last two clips....

[video=youtube_share;rkFxqA7HwXY]https://youtu.be/rkFxqA7HwXY[/video]

[video=youtube_share;05eZpgsOoPs]https://youtu.be/05eZpgsOoPs[/video]

 

[Robson Valley]

Camping tools always look or function like wannabe carving tools. You can bet your gouge on that.
I think what I see is a carving tool that can make large planar surfaces quickly. Then the fine work begins.
Watch very carefully: this isn't an axe. This is a wood cleaver.

 

[Muddypaws]

I know you have mentioned before that you carve spoons from dry, hard wood, but it is only after watching those video clips (and more importantly, listening to the sound of the axe on the wood) that I now appreciate just how hard it must be. Therefore my respect for your work has gone up a notch.

Thanks for posting those videos!

 

[Everything Mac]

Looks like it works a treat. Well done sir.

All the best
Andy

 

[forginhill]

Thanks, Andy, Muddypaws, and Robson!

Here is a shot of my go-to carving tools. Made them myself and absolutely love using each one....

 

[Robson Valley]

Form and function. There's a lot of carving tools in the University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology
which look much like yours. The carving tools of the Pacific Northwest native groups come to mind.
Google UBC/MOA and search the online collection. Look particularly at elbow adzes.
I would enjoy a day, using your adze. I use the designs from

http://www.kestreltool.com/

 

[Alreetmiowdmuka]

Cool axe I also like the look of your little red handled whittler


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[forginhill]

Thanks, Robson, I'll have to do that internet search...I love looking at historical tools.

Alreetmiowdmuka....thanks. That little whittler gets a lot of use. Made from a broken screwdriver bit.

Finished spoon from the above videos....