There's a reason why forging is such a powerful word in the language. You forge friendships, pathways, careers and bonds; all through effort and endeavour. It was a pleasure to see you produce this thing through your pure hard graft and skill. A unique implement that is full of you Max, may it serve you well. Thank you for sharing it with us.
@@24vince1 I find an oilstone to be slow and inaccurate, but that's just me, I know many swear by it and good for them. There's many ways to get a sharp edge!
I think that I watched Grand-dad in all of the videos he was in.... it is no exaggeration to say that we (speaking for all of us) fell in love with that lovely Gentleman. Fair winds and following seas, Grand-dad! Rest your oars sailor, we have the watch....
Really enjoyed this pair of videos. I found a small Kent pattern head amongst some family "junk" and liked the shape so I cleaned it up in strong vinegar, fitted a new handle and ground a new bevel on it. Very satisfying and nice in the hand. For you to manufacture what I merely renovated is staggering to me, Max. I doff my cap in awe. 👍
Really enjoyed that. Have watched every one of your videos and that was the best. Lovely to see how you were so pleased with the final result. An axe head that will no doubt outlive both you and me. Salute. Roy and Tanya NYorks
One could go out and work, feel the man. And use some of these money to buy an axe. Or one could do life a favour and lay a piece of your personality into your work like this. I am so impressed by your way of living. ❤ - thank you for sharing your knowledge and a view into this - i am sure (just as frustrating as the rest of us) but wonderful life.
your videos are such a joy. i have only very basic knowledge of wood working and none of metals. You explain things with modesty and with interest for all levels incl the most basic. you are not afraid of failure. it is inspiring: just have a go 😃
Thumper you thumped it into submission, and what a beauty 😊 you no heal be watchin, from Steve near Chester England 🏴 where the Roman's once lived. Atb.
Thank you for two lovely videos. I had never seen or heard of a flypress until your recent videos restoring and using one. And then, yesterday on TV, was a "wheeler dealers" car restoration programme where a guy made some replacement hubcaps for a car out of turned aluminium. And then cut some brake cooling slots into them. Using a flypress....
Well Max I think you've done it again. It must be really satisfying to take essentially a pile of scrap materials and make a really useful and rather efficient tool out of it. I hope you get many many many years good service out of it 👍
I commented on part one saying stick with it, you might end up with an axe that you'll treasue for the rest of your life I think that was minutes before you posted part 2. I was right! (don't remember the last time I was right about something, maybe never... I need to lie down). Beautiful axe, well worth all the hard work!
That is a beautiful little axe! One reason I see the patterns changing is that a simple shape is much easier to make into a die for mass production. It's a shame but understandable.
Would adding an additional handle on the flypress be beneficial? I noticed how you was pushing the ball on the opposite side of the handle on occasions. Condolences regarding your Grandad, what a legend of a real bloke.
I subscribed many years ago where you sat down and explained about how to claim a piece of land. I've never really watched a video since but have stayed subscribed 🤷 lol
It always makes me wince when I see someone using a file without a handle, having seen a tang go through a hand. But perseverance was the key, and walking away when things are not going how you want. The final axe looks awesome though.
What a marvelous piece of work Max. That was a piece of old leaf spring and a piece of timber and you have made an amazing useful axe. Just goes to show how much effort that went into making these in the past before mass production. I have a nice dry piece of Ash and you have inspired me to re-handle an old Blacksmiths hammer that was my Dads. Marvelous content!
Great to show that the path to completing a vision takes character. Well done. You technical explanations and reasons for you decision are appreciated by many I’m sure. Keep going
Something I learned quite early in my computer programming journey (not exactly the same, but we both build things of a fashion...) is that if I'm getting annoyed with something, the solution will be really obvious to me in the morning. :D
So true ,almost anyone can start a project and everyone enjoys the home straight but it’s the slog in the middle where success lies . As Bear Grills said “ in a funny way it’s the lows that make the highs in life”
Loved this. The time you must have spent and the effort - top work! Never seen a hardness testing kit before. Have you ever made an axe with convex cheeks? It seems to be a quality that a lot of old felling axes and camp hatchets had but modern production models lack.
This is the only real axe I've made so no! From what I've seen, the Kent pattern axes tend to have a fairly flat taper towards the ground bevel, I have seen one with convex cheeks but that was a big heavy axe. I suppose it depends on the application, convex cheeks would be better for splitting wood, flat or concave better for cutting.
@@maximusironthumper Convex as in with a high centre line. It helps to prevent sticking and pop chips when bucking or felling. You'll see it with American axes but also perhaps with English felling and mining patterns too. It does make a big difference I think.
Thank you for the offer but I've just found a very old and beaten up one in the same pipe of stuff I got the old axe head from. I'm going to have a go at restoring it!
Goes to show why tools were generally passed from one generation to the next or the apprentice as the work and time that went into tools was huge. Not cheap and cheerful stuff is disposable 😔 that’ll be a nice hedge laying axe 👌👍
I've been black smithing. Making horse shoe and parts you can't buy anymore for years. On your first attempt you just didn't have enough material to get what you wanted. I would of cut off twice the length of spring you did ,then heated it half way cut halfway thru it folded it over and forge welded the two pieces togeather. Now you have enough material to shape the eye and plenty to draw out to any shape you want .Draw the blade out to the shape you want and cut or grind off the material you don't need. Heat harden the cutting edge and alls left is cleaning up and sharpening. Good luck it's a lot of work but very satisfying. Add date and initials for your future generations. If you know someone who has a wood planer ask them for the planer knives that can't be sharpened anymore. I make great draw knives from old planer knives.
It's all the same axe head! I just took a break and came back to it the following day. A folded axe always has an inherent weakness at the weld (as shown on the old one I used as a pattern), if I'd wanted a folded axe I'd have chosen a different steel to start with as the chromium content in 5160 makes if reluctant to weld to itself. The usual way is to forge the body from mild steel or wrought iron and weld in a high carbon steel insert. Forming the body of a folded axe from high carbon steel would be (pointlessly) hard work.
Brilliant, you are definitely a master forger. I like your initiative design of the power hammer you should make video about it. However, I consider your comment that wrought iron head with cabin steel cutting edge failed because it was wrought iron would not apply to mild steel as you stated. The clew is the name. Wrought iron is very pure iron, a noble metal which is why it does not oxidise away like mild steel. Unfortunately the manufacturer process in the early 1800’s left a lot of inclusions in the iron that I suspect was the reason for failure. Mild steel is an alloy this causes the atomic space lattice structure to stressed which gives it strength and toughness. Therefore a mild steel head with a forge welded cabin steel cutting edge would not fail as you suggested.👍
There's a reason why forging is such a powerful word in the language. You forge friendships, pathways, careers and bonds; all through effort and endeavour. It was a pleasure to see you produce this thing through your pure hard graft and skill. A unique implement that is full of you Max, may it serve you well. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Sorry to reply on this thread, unable to comment, max can you tell me please why you don’t use an oil stone to sharpen tooling edges, thank you
@@24vince1 I find an oilstone to be slow and inaccurate, but that's just me, I know many swear by it and good for them. There's many ways to get a sharp edge!
Thank you for expressing that so beautifully.
Max I am so sorry to learn about your Grandad, he seemed like a very gentle and kind man, each video he was in made me smile 🙏🙏🇬🇧🇬🇧
I must have missed this news. :(
Missed this news. So sorry Max, your grandad was one of a kind.
I think that I watched Grand-dad in all of the videos he was in.... it is no exaggeration to say that we (speaking for all of us) fell in love with that lovely Gentleman. Fair winds and following seas, Grand-dad! Rest your oars sailor, we have the watch....
I love watching you work, you are so talented. Your axe turned out fantastic.
The smiles on all our faces when the job was done was worth the wait. Beautiful shape and practical use for years to come. Thank you.
Im in awe of the skill, knowledge and persistence it takes to make a tool like this -- and the result is something to treasure.
Really enjoyed this pair of videos. I found a small Kent pattern head amongst some family "junk" and liked the shape so I cleaned it up in strong vinegar, fitted a new handle and ground a new bevel on it. Very satisfying and nice in the hand. For you to manufacture what I merely renovated is staggering to me, Max. I doff my cap in awe. 👍
Really enjoyed that. Have watched every one of your videos and that was the best. Lovely to see how you were so pleased with the final result. An axe head that will no doubt outlive both you and me. Salute. Roy and Tanya NYorks
Awesome effort mate. The axe look absolutely stunning!
Superb axe Max, well done for seeing it through 😊👍
One could go out and work, feel the man. And use some of these money to buy an axe. Or one could do life a favour and lay a piece of your personality into your work like this.
I am so impressed by your way of living. ❤ - thank you for sharing your knowledge and a view into this - i am sure (just as frustrating as the rest of us) but wonderful life.
Great little series Max. I’m glad you put Part 2 so quickly. I was genuinely anxious at the end of Part 1.
Well done, Max. Per ardua, ad astra.
I knew you'd get there in the end.
your videos are such a joy. i have only very basic knowledge of wood working and none of metals. You explain things with modesty and with interest for all levels incl the most basic. you are not afraid of failure. it is inspiring: just have a go 😃
Fantastic entertainment Max. My grandad had an axe like that. As a kid it always looked to me like someone had flattened a large ball pein hammer.
Thumper you thumped it into submission, and what a beauty 😊 you no heal be watchin, from Steve near Chester England 🏴 where the Roman's once lived. Atb.
Nice looking axe. There used to be one about that size in each home in the town where I grew up for chopping kindling wood for the range.
I've got an old axe the Kent shape that I inherited. Thanks for the education!
Think I'll dig it out and give it some tlc!
Superb result and hugely educational. Many thanks.
You are in the position where you can make new tools using tools that you also made. This is very satisfying. 🙂
The jacket spud really made me laugh! Great work Max.
Might as well pop a potato in ! Most English thing i've heard in a while 😃
That's a beautiful axe 👍
Great work Max your skills, tenacity and commitment to the project is an example to us all.
Another excellent outcome Max 👍. A very enjoyable watch, thank you.
That axe is a thing of beauty.
My late father had an axe of that shape, no idea where it went.
I didn’t appreciate what it actually was 😞
There is something satisfying about making something but to make something with something you made takes it to another level.
What a great set of videos. Respect Max. For sharing the knowledge, process and mental stuff.
Thank you.
Whoever used to own that press would be delighted to see it being used. Lovely axe. I'll try it as a topping on my next baked potato.
That's an Axe to be proud of well done Kev Mandy Devon👍👍
Brilliant ,nothing nicer than a cold day a hot fire a pile of brush to get rid of and........a sharp axe
Thank you for two lovely videos.
I had never seen or heard of a flypress until your recent videos restoring and using one. And then, yesterday on TV, was a "wheeler dealers" car restoration programme where a guy made some replacement hubcaps for a car out of turned aluminium. And then cut some brake cooling slots into them. Using a flypress....
Great recovery, and great build.
Great work max! You’re a very talented man. 🥰
Love the shape of the handle! You did an excellent job there Max!
Well done max makes you respect old fashion smithies😊
Lovely piece 👌
Yes sir. Inspirational, fun to watch and a tool to keep for life in the end. I might have a crack myself.
Always very satisfying to watch a craftsman at work. Outstanding Max.
Well Max I think you've done it again. It must be really satisfying to take essentially a pile of scrap materials and make a really useful and rather efficient tool out of it. I hope you get many many many years good service out of it 👍
Every time I watch your videos I get work shop envy, great video Max as always, and the end result was great, all the very best to you mate.
I commented on part one saying stick with it, you might end up with an axe that you'll treasue for the rest of your life I think that was minutes before you posted part 2. I was right! (don't remember the last time I was right about something, maybe never... I need to lie down). Beautiful axe, well worth all the hard work!
Well done Max. Great job.👍
Your right about the mind vision to make. That's what I tell people . 👍👍👍
Very satisfying watching the whole process. Although it tested you a little the end product was awesome!
It's so nice to see Big Mac feeling happy in his work and life.
Birdy
An exelent example of perseverance , i truely believe the harder the struggle the bigger sence of achievement!! Well done sir!.
Persevere with the spelling lessons, you'll get there.
@@japersjolly8763 could you explain please?,
Fabulous work as ever Max
That is a beautiful little axe!
One reason I see the patterns changing is that a simple shape is much easier to make into a die for mass production. It's a shame but understandable.
Well done sir
Awesome couple of videos, and a jolly nice axe!
You should do a series on what you make from the food you grow yourself
Would adding an additional handle on the flypress be beneficial? I noticed how you was pushing the ball on the opposite side of the handle on occasions. Condolences regarding your Grandad, what a legend of a real bloke.
Simplistic beauty.
Mad skills, loved to watch this come together.
I subscribed many years ago where you sat down and explained about how to claim a piece of land. I've never really watched a video since but have stayed subscribed 🤷 lol
Go back and watch!
It always makes me wince when I see someone using a file without a handle, having seen a tang go through a hand. But perseverance was the key, and walking away when things are not going how you want. The final axe looks awesome though.
What a marvelous piece of work Max. That was a piece of old leaf spring and a piece of timber and you have made an amazing useful axe. Just goes to show how much effort that went into making these in the past before mass production. I have a nice dry piece of Ash and you have inspired me to re-handle an old Blacksmiths hammer that was my Dads. Marvelous content!
great work thanks for the vid you do on channel
good grief Max .. you could probably shave with that axe , that is some edge you got & i love the idea of the big swell at the end of the shaft
Nice work!
👍👍👍. Thanks Max
I'm pleased that you didn't need to go back to square one. A lovely tool for many years to come. Best wishes.
Fantastic project and outstanding craftsmanship. 👍🏻👌🏻
Yep . Enjoyed that film buddy . There was a lot in there . Keep it up .
Great to show that the path to completing a vision takes character. Well done. You technical explanations and reasons for you decision are appreciated by many I’m sure. Keep going
The Fly press is Awesome.
Brilliant.
Enjoyed this project Max , very interesting
Awesome! You must be proud of the result! after so much work! ;)
hi max try cheap flap discs on your grinder to remove excess material on your handles. saves time .respect jim the garage doors.
That's a great axe. Well worth the effort.
Truly a thing of both utility and beauty!
Nice work, man
Brilliant stuff. Enjoyed every moment.
I'm proud to own a fire poker forged by you Max.
That came out beautifully! Well done! 👍🏻
Thanks Dom!
Something I learned quite early in my computer programming journey (not exactly the same, but we both build things of a fashion...) is that if I'm getting annoyed with something, the solution will be really obvious to me in the morning. :D
Brilliant stuff. Could watch this stuff all day
Just goes to show that the end product is always satisfying when it all works out... :)
Lovely
So true ,almost anyone can start a project and everyone enjoys the home straight but it’s the slog in the middle where success lies . As Bear Grills said “ in a funny way it’s the lows that make the highs in life”
We love watching you! Not you need to make a leather sheath 😊
Thanks for the great videos!
Excellent and inspiring as always!😎.
Love it 👍
Wonderful job, mate! Nice one.
Awesome
very enjoyable watch
Nicely Done.
Great vids max, would love to make an axe like that one day.
Great vid, really appreciated.
The axe has turned out beautifully. Great job.
Your philosophy about hard work is something I can agree with, too.
BTW, how was the spud?
Loved this. The time you must have spent and the effort - top work! Never seen a hardness testing kit before. Have you ever made an axe with convex cheeks? It seems to be a quality that a lot of old felling axes and camp hatchets had but modern production models lack.
This is the only real axe I've made so no! From what I've seen, the Kent pattern axes tend to have a fairly flat taper towards the ground bevel, I have seen one with convex cheeks but that was a big heavy axe. I suppose it depends on the application, convex cheeks would be better for splitting wood, flat or concave better for cutting.
@@maximusironthumper Convex as in with a high centre line. It helps to prevent sticking and pop chips when bucking or felling. You'll see it with American axes but also perhaps with English felling and mining patterns too. It does make a big difference I think.
It's a beautifull axe.
Cracking axe Max!!
I've got a second draw knife gathering dust if you want one Max. Just near Langport.
Thank you for the offer but I've just found a very old and beaten up one in the same pipe of stuff I got the old axe head from. I'm going to have a go at restoring it!
Brilliant series of videos, your Kent axe looks amazing, may you have many many years of use with it
Great stuff Max.
Goes to show why tools were generally passed from one generation to the next or the apprentice as the work and time that went into tools was huge. Not cheap and cheerful stuff is disposable 😔 that’ll be a nice hedge laying axe 👌👍
I've been black smithing. Making horse shoe and parts you can't buy anymore for years. On your first attempt you just didn't have enough material to get what you wanted. I would of cut off twice the length of spring you did ,then heated it half way cut halfway thru it folded it over and forge welded the two pieces togeather. Now you have enough material to shape the eye and plenty to draw out to any shape you want .Draw the blade out to the shape you want and cut or grind off the material you don't need. Heat harden the cutting edge and alls left is cleaning up and sharpening. Good luck it's a lot of work but very satisfying.
Add date and initials for your future generations.
If you know someone who has a wood planer ask them for the planer knives that can't be sharpened anymore. I make great draw knives from old planer knives.
It's all the same axe head! I just took a break and came back to it the following day. A folded axe always has an inherent weakness at the weld (as shown on the old one I used as a pattern), if I'd wanted a folded axe I'd have chosen a different steel to start with as the chromium content in 5160 makes if reluctant to weld to itself. The usual way is to forge the body from mild steel or wrought iron and weld in a high carbon steel insert. Forming the body of a folded axe from high carbon steel would be (pointlessly) hard work.
Brilliant, you are definitely a master forger. I like your initiative design of the power hammer you should make video about it. However, I consider your comment that wrought iron head with cabin steel cutting edge failed because it was wrought iron would not apply to mild steel as you stated. The clew is the name. Wrought iron is very pure iron, a noble metal which is why it does not oxidise away like mild steel. Unfortunately the manufacturer process in the early 1800’s left a lot of inclusions in the iron that I suspect was the reason for failure. Mild steel is an alloy this causes the atomic space lattice structure to stressed which gives it strength and toughness. Therefore a mild steel head with a forge welded cabin steel cutting edge would not fail as you suggested.👍
I like the blacksmithing videos alot