Beginners Guide to Wood Carving - Analyzing Axes
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- Some thoughts on choosing an axe which many will see as a quintessential part of wood carving.
I don't believe there is any right answer to which axe is "best" and a lot will depend on your personal preference and whether you want a dedicated carving axe or something more dual purpose that can perhaps be used for bushcraft as well.
what i really like about this video is the subtle background sound of rain. It's very relaxing. Great info on the Axes.
Great video loved how u made the relation between woodworking and bushcraft hard to find people defining that relationship
Great explanation and advice for the options of a beginners. Now that I'm retired I plan to spend the dark fall and winter days creating ,
Very nice video. I really like that you bring out the fact that starting out with carving/bushcraft that you don't need to spend a lot of money. I think too many people push the idea that if you don't have a $100 + axe, then it is automatically worthless. Great information.
Excellent advice. Thank you!
This video really helped me in my decision making process!
Adrian. What did end up getting?
Really enjoyed the video. Keep up the great work. Be blessed
Woodcraft Hamster you are absolutely right, the Hans Karlsson is ideal for spoon work. I use my Gransfors Buks for heavier big bowl work. Love them both. Either would work if I could only have one.
Good video. I think a proper axe is second only to the knife.
One of the most enjoyable and beneficial projects I've had in carving was to buy a cheap axe, a couple of files and a sharpening stone and learn by trial and error how to profile and sharpen it.
Steve Stephen totally agree, I think anyone using axes for bushcraft or carving can benefit from getting a cheap hardware shop or car boot axe to practice sharpening and reprofiling. Same thing with knives it’s a great learning process without risking more expensive tools.
Woodcraft Hamster I find your axes expy as I'm limited finance I bought a bear ghrylls hatchet absolutely fantastic tool light strong and gets a razor sharp edge I recommended highly it Google it one tool for everything its got nice thin profile great to split billet's for my spoon carving and such made by Gerber too 💪🐺🐾💕👌
I have two CS hawks which i changed the edge profile, one is more flat and the other nicely curved. Bought them years ago. And the work quite well with short handles on. Thes old hawks keep their edges for a long time. I have carving axes, but if your are strapped for cash there are other axes you can get to try carving with a axe. Just have fun and be safe. There is too much snobbery with axes, the firm who makes all the different axes for different names love it. Gransfors axes are the same company who make Husqvarna and Hultafors. They stopped making Wetterlings so they just sold Gransfors axes. Husqvarna have the same steel, just not finished as good on the edge, but have better handles and fit and finish is brilliant! And third of the price. Just finish the edge yourself for about 20 minutes.
Try the husqvarna hiking hatchet! Great for carving,
Thank you
Can you link me to a shop that deals the Hans Karlsson Axe?
Are you sure you don't have the left handed GB carving axe there? I'm pretty sure the bevel side goes towards the wood so you can carve into then away from the subject
Ah Gransfors Bruks - the accessory of choice for the discerning gang member in tbe east end of Glasgow on a Saturday night. 😀
Do you have a spoon carving tutorial video?
Vox Rocker I have a few on my channel but will be doing a newer (and shorter) one as part of this series.
No links to the axes?
Is there any other model from Gransfors suitable for Carving? Maybe wildlife? If I am right Hultafors doesn’t have a carving axe or something like that
will you be fixing the chip on the beard tip on the small hatchet?
soundremo I’ll be honest I chipped it two days after buying it (let’s call it user error) and debated grinding it back slightly but after several years of use it’s never caused me a problem so it will probably stay as it is.
A carpenter/cabinet maker for exactly 40 years I have spent a lot on tools - and I've changed my ways! I figure an axe head of 1045 steel - or comparable , forged (hand or machine) is good enough. I'm not going to concern myself with brand names any more - just steel. I found my axe in Marbles Camp Axe. $28 + shipping. It needs profiling, I'm glad for that - as I need to make a tool my own. It needs a sheath, OK since I make my own shoes, so have tools and leather.
Let's face it, good steel is good steel. 1045 steel is good enough to bother with. My usual nature is to buy the expensive, top of the line stuff. When I finish filing and honing I'll have an edge equal to any Swedish axe, for much less than a Swedish name brand. (just un-boxed and wrote this ditty as I'm so pleased with what just came in the mail)
Question: I am preparing to buy my first spoon knife... and I see LEFT and RIGHT bevel. How should I know which to use? Thanks
Hey Michael, may I give you my honest opinion? Maybe consider starting with a one-sided bevel first. I can almost guarantee that this both helps you to develop a feeling for the different cutting techniques which exist for hook knives, furthermore you will have the benefit of being able to use your thumb for some extra control. Hook knives with two bevels find their way into your life eventually, and up until then there is a lot to learn - also sharpening a hook knife, for example. Truth being told: I messed up my very first hook knife while sharpening - and I guess many others did so too. That is fine, after all there is no learning curve without failing. So personally I'd suggest buying a simple Morakniv carving knife, getting some practise and then upgrading. My two cents...
All the best!
Michael J Ashe if you’re right handed, use a right hand bevel...
What’s the best type of axe to start with? I’ll mostly be using it to take off larger pieces of wood before I use a draw knife. I want to use it for shaping legs for benches and making walking sticks to start. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
If your only using it for woodworking and not bushcraft I would say a cheap Kent pattern axe from a boot fair or evilbay.
You can pick them up for pennies and may need to do some work on them but it’s a fun project and you can profile it how you like it.
If you want something out of the box ready to go I make no secret of the fact I love Gransfors Bruks but they can be a bit pricey, Hultafors make some decent cheaper alternatives.
Thank you for your help. I don’t mind spending a little more and I do camp several times and year and will bring it with me so maybe the Gränsfors Bruks Hand Hatchet or the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe 19 Inch will do the job. Should I get a longer handle or shorter. I probably won’t be swinging it much.
Anthony G personally i much prefer the hand hatchet as you get a lot more control and for camping it’s a smaller/lighter package.
I had the wildlife hatchet but gave it to a friend as the extra length got got in the way for carving and wasn’t long enough to do much for bushcraft
Thank you again! This is very helpful. Keep up the great videos they are helpful as well.
Surprised you never mentioned the hufaters great alternative to the bucks
Oz33y, He's talking carving axes here. I use the Hans Karlsson carving axe for spoon work and my Gransfors Buks carving axe for heavier big bowl work. If hufaters made a good carving axe I'd buy and try one. If you're a carver and can suggest a model please don't holdback. Only the best tools suit me.
Bill Astell fair point I don’t do bowls but have carved many spoons with my hufaters and bear in mind they are literally made down the road from the bucks , it’s a bit like having a Skoda or a Audi , same thing different badge , and different price ....
I went 2 years carving spoons using several types of hatchets/axes. You can rough out with any axe/ When I got the HK I was spoiled. You can use it like a knife and get your piece much closer to finished than with other axes. Similar story with the GB with big blocks. the curved profile, asymmetric grind, weight and face profile in relation to the swing arc just cuts out more wood off a big block. Having said that there are videos of folks doing amazing stuff with pretty unsophisticated tools. Better men than me!
Jesus those hans karlson axes are over £100 more now , ye i will make my own i think.
Hey, you don't mention hults bruks! Now owned by hultafors (who have been making axes a lot longer than gransfors) 17th century - gransfors - 18/19th century and are equally as good (see you tube vs videos) without the frankly over the top prices!?
Alex, I use the Hans Karlsson carving axe for spoon work and my Gransfors Buks carving axe for heavier big bowl work. If Hults Bruks made a good carving axe I'd buy and try one. If you're a carver and can suggest a model please don't holdback. Only the best tools suit me.
@@billastell3753 hi Bill
Much apologies - hults bruks is a carpenter's axe not carving, sadly the hans karlsson seems unavailable now so it'll be a gransfors!
The Liam hoffman carver looks great but out of my budget! (if even available in the UK)
Great informative video thanks.
I do have a Husqvarna carpenters axe. (I have way too many axes) It is essentially a Hults Bruks axe as the HB company makes them. When I started carving I had hoped it would work as a carving axe but it has a flat face which is not useful to do the kind of carving I do. It is a fine axe for what it was designed for. I use mine for the initial splitting of a small log by whacking it on the butt with a mallet. After that it sees no more action. I have not used a Liam Hoffman. They tend to be more expensive than either the HK and the GB. There are other carving axe made in small work shops that may be excellent but I can't see paying more to try something that may not be as good as the HK or GB. The GB is the axe David Fisher, the great bowl carver uses. He also has a HK for smaller work. You can't get a better recommendation that that .
@@billastell3753 I'll try not to keep going on! Yes I've got a HB trekking axe very similar, During my research in making the right choice it seems people have been profiteering from the HK - buying more than one and ebaying them. Any ideas on how to get one or how often they become available anywhere? Thanks for the advice.
Sorry, No inside advice re getting an HK axe. They make their various tools in batches. I just got lucky and contacted them when the carving axe was in production. I could only buy one. The GB carving axe is readily available and it is a fine axe too.
I wish you had written down what the little Gransfors Bruks is called because I can't understand what you are saying. Sounds like coven at first, then slowing it down, it sounds like something that starts with "cu" but GB doesn't make anything with either.
What he said was "Kubben" and here it is :
www.gransforsbruk.com/en/product/gransfors-hand-hatchet/
You're a bit out of touch with the price of the Hans Karlsson. I bought one direct from them in February. It was £193.19 delivered.
Tony Kemp try the woodsmith experience or woodland craft supplies £145 and £150 respectively but like I said in the vid often out of stock.
As the old joke goes, You can buy one from me for £150 when I haven't got any. LOL
Just buy the treking axe from hultafors for 40 euros
Do you know that ace?
I’ve had a couple of hultafors and although the rate them highly as general bushcraft axes I just couldn’t get on with them for carving. For the price you can’t go wrong with them as a camp axe and I will say you can carve with them but I just didn’t get in with them, something about the grind style and angle just didn’t work for me but others may find them ok.
Oke
Woodcraft Hamster i use one because i cant aford a granforsbruks because i am 13
GB's make the same axe with carving handles. Over priced because of all the bullshit on CZcams! Like he said you don't need to pay their prices. They are not the only axe makers. And the carving style of axe has been around for years. Stubai make a side axe for £40.
Why do you call yourself Woodcraft Hamster? I have to get an axe - and I haven't a clue...
Buy a kent pattern axe and shape it into the same shape as a carving axe. Easy to do. And the steel is very good. Elwell, Brades. Gilpin. All good makes. Any rhineland axe, Alder make good axes. Don't get sucked into this hand made nonsense, just because it has hammer marks, doesn't make it the best. They are quick to make with power hammers. Watch how they make them. They take minutes. The drop forged ones are not rubbish. They are made using same steel punch out of heated bar stock under terrific power a few times then the excess is cut away then ground. This is not inferior. Power forged company's use marketing to sell quickly made tools for a lot of money. Gransfors bruks make, or have them made for south America and Spain. Look on ebay. They are still over twice the price because you are buying a name. Before, wetterlings used to make Gransfors axes. So they bought them out. They wanted to take over the market. So don't get sucked in to the hype. Buy a axe and enjoy!