Spoon carving with a new Axe...

[Mr Mac]

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Spoon carving with a new Axe...

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I recently got in touch with Sean Hellman and asked if he wouldn't mind selling me one of his fine Granfors Brucks carving axes. I have been interested in this axe for quite some time now.​

Sean seemed quite keen on the idea and drove up to my home one Sunday afternoon. Sean and I had a great time swapping yarns about this that and the other, and he duly demonstrated the axe over a cup or two of coffee.​

It didn't take long for me to see that this might be a good addition to my arsenal.​

This axe is in no way a bushcraft tool. I have bought it purely for spoon and kuksa carving.​

I wanted an axe with a slightly heavier head that would be suitable for splitting out waste wood as well as finer carving, a faster axe in fact.​

Here's what Brucks have to say about it...​

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Swedish Carving Axe
A chop axe for hewing bowls and other wooden objects, artistic wood carving and architectural work. The characteristic curved shape of the cutting edge, carried well above the head's eye, the position of the edge in proportion to he handle, the rather thick bit and the big angle of the wide beveled face makes this axe a good carving tool. You "cut on the beveled face" with curved movements. This new axe pattern, based on old Swedish carving techniques, was developed by Wille Sundqvist, master craftsman and author of "Swedish Carving Techniques" in cooperation with craftsman adviser Onni Linnanheimo. The handle is "rugged" to give a good grip.
The axe has a 4 1/3" face and a 14" hickory handle and the head weighs 2 lb. It comes with a grain-leather sheath...

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Now I've had a good old play with it, I think I can explain why the toe of the axe is higher than the eye.​

It's all to do with being able to turn the axe out of a cut. You may wish to do this when cutting out the back of a curved spoon handle or the neck of a goose or kuksa.​

Here is a photo of me cutting the back of a kuksa using the middle of the cutting edge. As you can see, if I wanted to turn out of this cut, the poll of the head would foul the work piece.​

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However, if I cut using the fine toe of the axe I can turn the cutting edge out without fouling the poll against the work.​

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And from above...​

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You can see that I can swing the head past the work, this enables me to slice finer curves than I would be able too with a Standard axe head shape.​

So far so good.​

I also like the way I can cut using a rocking motion, much like a clog knife.​

Here I'm using the toe...​

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And I can use the heel of the bit in the same fashion.​

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All in all I am thoroughly enjoying my new addition and I would highly recommend giving Sean a call.​

But don't worry bushcraft folk, this isn't the sort of axe that could usurp the H.Roselli for all round versatility...​

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Enjoy...J​

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[Hugo]

Thanks for posting Mac, enjoyed reading that.

 

[Flynnsmith]

Good pictures, Mr Mac, and a good little tutorial on the favours of one of these axes. Thanks for taking the time

 

[Mr Mac]

Thanks for posting Mac, enjoyed reading that.

Nice little axe Hugo. I'm enjoying the experience...J

 

[Mr Mac]

Good pictures, Mr Mac, and a good little tutorial on the favours of one of these axes. Thanks for taking the time

If I could remember my password and user name for BCUSA I'd post it there as well...LOL... Nice little axe, I'll have to give my Roselli a cuddle so it doesn't feel left out......J

 

[the interceptor boy]

thanks for the tipsMr mac, nice axe you got there, I am sure it'd going to be pretty scary sharp to use. have fun. cheers the interceptor boy.

 

[Mr Mac]

thanks for the tipsMr mac, nice axe you got there, I am sure it'd going to be pretty scary sharp to use. have fun. cheers the interceptor boy.

Thanks mate. She's in pretty good shape, she'll shave alright.

 

[woodspirits]

great post and some exellent tips, thanks for running through it

steve

 

[Ian S]

Not a bushcraft tool? I wouldn't necessarily bet on that.

You'll find that the extended and backswept cutting edge really helps when you want to shape bigger pieces. You can get the axe working with a wonderful slicing action which is a delight.

A beautiful tool, and my favourite axe.

Cheers

 

[Mr Mac]

great post and some exellent tips, thanks for running through it

steve

No worries. my pleasure...J

 

[Mr Mac]

If you want to take it into the forest Ian, go for it. I'll take my Roselli every time.

 

[Chris the Cat]

Great axe, and a fine bushcraft axe too! ( ask Robin Wood! )
I use mine, not as much as my Roselli or my Dave Budd but it does a great job as an alrounder IMHO.
Nice write up!
My best.
Chris.

 

[Mr Mac]

Great axe, and a fine bushcraft axe too! ( ask Robin Wood! )
I use mine, not as much as my Roselli or my Dave Budd but it does a great job as an alrounder IMHO.
Nice write up!
My best.
Chris.

I have a wee bit of time invested in these matters, so I will rely on my own experience. I enjoy all of my axes, especially the Roselli. The Brucks carver is nice as it allows me to quickly split slabs from a spoon when forming the handle, I like the extra bit of weight as well. But I wouldn't tote it in my bergen as a camp tool.

 

[mr dazzler]

Nice kuksa forms, especially the fish one, have you any close ups of your ladles and spoons?
I too rate the roselli all rounder. I liked it right away (I think I have owned it 3 or 4 years) But it improved even more when I rehandled it with a more usual "vaccuum cleaner" type finnish handle form. I could never figure out the weird reverse angle factory made shape......

 

[Mr Mac]

Nice kuksa forms, especially the fish one, have you any close ups of your ladles and spoons?
I too rate the roselli all rounder. I liked it right away (I think I have owned it 3 or 4 years) But it improved even more when I rehandled it with a more usual "vaccuum cleaner" type finnish handle form. I could never figure out the weird reverse angle factory made shape......

Hi Mr. Dazzler.
I should have some pics at http://spooncarvingfirststeps.blogspot.com .
I tend to make more Kuksa than spoons these days. The old Roselli has chipped away at my Kuksa work for about 7 years, an old friend indeed. Lots of people have inquired about it's use and versatility over the years and I have always given it a super recommendation. I love the way it will spit large chunks of waste wood away without much effort, and the way it will turn in a cut. I'm glad to have met another owner who appreciates this eccentric edge tool.
Cheers Mr.D
J