Broad Axes Explained

How to tell how big a handle you need for your Broadhead axe?

where you stand and how you stand matters, pretty sure when you're using a Frowing ax or hatchet to turn a round log square, if you're cutting the right side your right foot should be on top of the log and you only lift the blade than controle the fall as it dropes to your side safely along the side of the log, no chance of hitting yourself.

Great video. I saw in another video where it is better to make smallcircular motion with axe as the blade connects wit the wood.

Good day Jim of Highland woodworking, I've appreciated your reflections in a couple of your video's and you seem familiar with a number of axe types and manufacturers to an extent I am not so I'd really appreciate your opinion. I've, with one exception, never had the chance to try a carpenters or carvers axe*, never mind a broad axe, but I do a 'little bit'' let's say with axe's, usually making a felling or splitting axe 'one size fits all', but I've been wondering about branching out, you know going out on a limb and buying a specialist axe; I noticed you have experience with the Gransfors Bruks axe's amongst others and wondered if you had to use just one axe, let's say a Gransfors Bruks large carving axe or a Gransfors Bruks Swedish 1900 Broad Axe to do a variety of major tasks, let's say make a dugout canoe, some furniture, a dwelling in the woods and a totem pole-just for variety- which would be your choice? Or would it be a different axe entirely, like the older, equally-or more in Scandinavia- reknown Hults Bruks for example? Even a felling or splitting axe that I still use for a multitude of tasks... I'm thinking a double bevel, rather than right or left sided, I have tried a Stubai right sided and havn't found it THAT advantageous for flattening and of course much less useful for general use...If you have a moment I'd appreciate your thoughts on the matter if you find it is an interesting question to ponder of course Thank you.* Except the Stubai right bevelled which thus far I havn't found particularly handy at all...

Thank you for this information. I always wanted to know more about hand hewn timber as our families barn has beams created this way.

Thanks for the refresher. Great information

Very clear!

So Broad Axes are essentially Chisel Ground?

Absolutely one of the clearest presentations of anything I have ever heard. Worth the listen just for that alone - a model of clarity!

D not hold the timber with your thumb on top of the piece. Be safe. The handle of a hewing axe should not be straight it should be bent to the side, so you don't scrape your knuckes. That's why this guy is chipping away. He is scared of scraping his knuckles!

Через вас можно ?преобрести топор как у вас

Good video, thanks, As I'm in the market for a broad axe and a goosewing for that matter, would be even more helpful if you called out which axe is which in the video, that is, what is the brand and model of the axes you're using here?

Also, in the same vein, would be great to take 8 or 10 of the axes you sell through a use and care video, that is, "...this Granfors broad axe can be used for hewing/shaping/... but is best used for shaping...", and show it in use for the tasks noted. Then, "...when you're finished with the work give it a fresh edge by honing, sharpening with a puck/stone/diamond/file, and wipe the handle with light wax/oil/....", etc..., etc....
Thanks,

I was curious why my old axe find was forged asymmetrically. Thanks!

How long do you let the logs dry before making posts?

I thought the bevel goes towards the log.

The beveled side is actually intended to be toward the log when doing fine trim. The flat side provides a thinner, sharper edge. The flat side bites into the surface and could lead to an excess removal of material.

Can you turn a log into planks with a broad axe?

Man you need some quality log dogs. They make such a difference when hewing to stabilize the log. Great video with lots of info!

Such a nice well done presentation. Thanks for sharing and I will check out your store. On the flip side, " no pun intended" some use the right or left hand grind axe on either side. Perhaps the straight flat edge to produce a more flat surface and the reverse to take off smaller surfaces, or with the more circular Gransfors Bruks he displayed to produce a cupped or scalloped look. Just my two cents for what its worth.

Great presentation.

So a right handed person uses a left bevel broad axe?

Can you simply turn one upside down and handle it to make it a left-handed

Very helpful video, thank you

Although I like your video, I believe your mistaken about which end of the axe to use, your analogy of the chisel was spot on, then you kind of preformed the opposite. If you were to only use a chisel to hewn a log, you would use the beveled side far more than the straight side

Do these have regular handles or flat on one side?

I just watched another video called hand hewing from tree to beam that shows a guy named Dan Dustin use a broad ax as he skilfully produces a beam for Canterbury Shaker Village (looks like around 1980). In his opinion the flat on the broad ax should be out, and his explanation makes a lot of sense to me, as a woodworker. Not my area of expertise but I'm just pointing out that anyone considering buying or doing work with a broad axe should watch that other video.

This is a conspiracy to sell more axes! Think about it — all beams have a LEFT and a RIGHT side. There’s two axes already. I wonder if there are top and bottom axes as well?

I dig your apron. You sell those as well?

Works better with your index finger on the axe head

Gransfors really makes it confusing on their website.. The say ''Right-handed persons normally use Large Carving Axe, Grinded left side'' When I think of the word ''Grind'' I think of the bevel itself, and not the flat portion. I've always thought that axes would be the same as traditional Japanese knives, if you're a right hander you have the bevel on the right side and the flat on the left.

Can one do with one axe or does one need both a right and a left version?

Awesome video, I don't suppose you know anything about Russian/soviet axes? I'd love to pick your brains about one I picked up recently. :)

Thank you so much for this information! I have collected a couple antique axes that I intend to restore and use. And knowing what you showed me through your video gives me greater appreciation for hand-hewn woodwork I see in old buildings. Thank you again - subscribed!

So I dug out an old hatchet, sanded some rust off, filed the edge a little to remove small burrs & I was wondering what the heck is with this bent head. Has a 17" handle that is almost straight on the bottom and a almost flat cutting edge. Now I know. Thank-you for the stupid simple explanation lol. KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid.
Going to be great for kindling when out fishing. That's about what I'll be using it for. Darn thing still has mill circles on it!!!

I wonder how some one Kentucky would tell this .

Great overview. I just picked up my first broad hatchet today, will make it a new handle, clean the rust, sharpen, and it should be good to go. I'm excited to try it out!

Left and right beveled axes depend on how the handle is hung. Broad axes I have handled do not have a tapered eye, so the handle can be inserted from either end. Your hewing technique is flawed but only because it has been perpetuated by many. Ergonomically, hewing on the top face of the log is safer and more efficient.

ON WISCONSIN!

Have to share a story from my father a carpenter from a long line of house mechanics. He was sent out to hang a new door for an officer. It was an expensive special order door and it was way to big for the opening. So my dad pulled the broad ax from his tool chest and started reducing it The officer went screaming to the foreman of the carpenter shop "That crazy carpenter is copping up my expensive door with an ax." The foreman tried to calm him down explaining that it was not an ax but a very special carpenter tool. by the time they got back to the office he was bringing it down to the pencil line with his long plain.

Great video. I've wanted to get into this for turning firewood like pieces into usable wood. Some pieces can be pretty sketchy even taking them to the band saw and my band saw isn't very big. I have the same drill press as you fellow Wisconsinite. I love that thing but I bought it used with a crack on the back the pulley enclosure. Looked up the part and am not sure what to replace it with exactly. It's not noticeable but I refurbished the pillar and all the small parts and find it annoying.

👍

Very interesting tool!

Go Badgers!