Refurbishing My Most HATED Broad Axe

Broad axes are special. For splitting wood and dropping trees, even the worst felling or splitting axe will eventually do the job. Broad axes, designed specifically for hewing timber, must be well-balanced, hung just right to a good handle, and sharp to an almost razor edge. The handle and sharpening can be altered. A badly-balanced axe, however, is utterly useless. The precision required by most hewn timbers totally precludes the use of a badly crafted axe.
We tried to bring this formerly useless broad axe back to a useful life. Until we throw it in the forge, it will remain nothing more than a wall hanger. The poll is much too heavy and causes the bit to wobble far too much for precision slicing.
Carving axe handles takes time. Too much time for most of us. In the field, however, when pressed by time, I occasionally need to create an axe handle from nature using little more than a hatchet and drawknife.
The fate of this broad axe remains unknown.

[@urbanlumberjack]

My favorite handle is on an "R. King" Broad axe. It's hickory, and minimally shaped. The upper end of the handle is shaped, but they barely rounded the bottom half of the axe. I can still see the saw marks from cutting the handle to length. They didn't even bother to wedge it, they just jammed it in the eye. I tried hewing with it and surprisingly it was quite functional, even without a wedge. It is a good reminder that sometimes in the old days people just needed to get the job done.

[@incontraincontra9310]

Finally! A true-to-life UA-cam video! Fantastic!

[@user-um3mn2cr2d]

Love it
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve thrown shit tools out the door 😂😂just happy to see that it’s not just me😅

[@kevinconey5547]

love your fence.

[@HiraethRestorations]

Just wait until I’ve got this place all fenced in! A bunch of years from now lol

[@williemills2657]

@@HiraethRestorations Then start replacing them with dry stacked stone walls 😉 time and purpose on earth 🤔

[@HiraethRestorations]

@@williemills2657 Don’t tempt me, brother! There was originally a long stone wall at this place a hundred years ago. Foundation is still there just under the grass and have been toying with the idea of restoring it.

[@xxfaction6xx]

Great as usual

[@HiraethRestorations]

I’d not say “great” but watchable, I reckon lol

[@davidreed2135]

lmao !!