Dude so many videos, I keep getting recommended new ones in my feed and I enjoy watching nearly all of them. Lots to learn and motivates me to get out and do some chopping.
It is really good of you Steve, to put time into this project to help eliminate the injuries from bucking, the Cordwood Challenge should be fun and injury free this year, all the best, Lucas.
I love Your videos. You are one of a few people who are actually very experienced in what You are showing in Your videos. That means a lot to me. Also I want to thank You for the great videos on axe sharpening - that helped me a lot. Keep the great work!
With regards to what we were just talking about regarding handle length, I think most of those are a bit too tall for handles over 30 inches. I've not really considered it, but the length definitely determines where you stand and the angle the axe is approaching the log from. You stand close and the axe comes in horizontally, so the follow through of an understrike is also horizontal, I stand back and the axe comes in diagonally, so the follow through of an understrike is usually into the ground. But that also puts the handle lower so the back of the buckstop would have to be lower.
What a lovely echo! Certainly didn't have that quiet and echo in the tree trimming video. Thanks Steven! Missed the PO today so definitely get there tomorrow. Seems they change their hours whenever. DaveyJO
I'm closer to the hillside across the creek right there so the echo is strong. I'll try to get your book shipped out when I'm shipping all of these scions and seeds.
Another thing Steven, When I was mailing your package at the PO I ran into some friends there. Zack was telling me that he was grafting some persimmon trees. I said you should tune into Skillcult. Zack said oh you mean Steven, yea, I've been watching for a while now. I don't remember if I had told him to tune in or not. But it was really cool that I ran into he and his girlfriend as I was coming out from mailing your package and Skillcult was the main topic. Thank Much Steven! DaveyJO
Hope that toe is all grown back okay. BTW, honey is amazing for that type of wound. If you can find a way to keep a lot of honey on it at all times, it heals really fast with no scabbing and can regenerate well with less scar. It's preferable to get that fear put in you by near accidents, but it too often happens the real way.
Huh, honey never occurred to me for that sort of thing although it does make perfect sense! Personally I don’t mind getting injured because I feel more confident afterwards 🤷🏻♀️
Depends on the injury I guess. Seriously, honey is awesome for wounds and burns. prevents infection, creates ideal environment for healing and possibly feeds the cells. It now has some medical recognition finally. I know someone that had a pretty bad chemical burn recently and she was officially prescribed honey by the burn unit. State insurance even paid for manuka honey.
That’s absolutely insane that state insurance paid for honey. I’ve known that honey has medicinal benefits for a longish time now, but I was always coming from the perspective of consuming the honey (yadda yadda mead, dark ages) and I always enjoy recommending people take a spoonful of local organic honey to get rid of their allergies. My life’s dream is bee and honey related weirdly enough, which is why it’s so wild to me that I never considered it as a topical treatment HAH Jeez, re reading everything and it was a CHEMICAL burn, not even a fire burn. Nature is wild
Usually Manuka is recommended. It is the most studied, but there is plenty of research and folk traditions using just any old raw honey. Manuka is super expensive, but they actually paid for it. That's the power of getting research done. Honey is also used for cataract. It will be mainstream soon I think.
Really good for beginners, and really well deliberated points on what/how&why to use it. I started off striking sideways, first for safety ofc, but I mostly still go about striking from the side now for the opposite reason. Striking sideways allows more momentum to be gathered, as well as distributing fatigue throughout your body, but getting the angle right so the swing is powerful, as well as natural, is not at all beginner-friendly (or worse, it can build false sense of security, though not as much as the Buckstop/log). It takes a bit for one to become intuitive enough with the axe to tweak methods that deals with angles, weak-spots etc. in an effective manner,, and like you said, can't really use words to hand over intuition. I particularly liked how the buckstop would be well applied in a class-setting. I've thought a few times about trying out something small, if only to eventually make a live axe-porn-orgy, but I am not sure on how to actually go about doing something like that. A buckstop (with paintmarks) seems to be a must. Supercool that you've gotten this so well presented. Also, 100th thumb. Oddly amusing when that happens
I stand on one side and strike to the side and behind-ish sometimes in special circumstances, like on really small wood, severing cuts and a few other circumstances. So basically you want to train a bunch of people so you can have an axe army to make some kind of post apocalyptic axe performance art video? I think it should be a musical too. How about an axe war between hipster lumberjacks and hipster vikings, but they have to learn to use the things first, then go to battle and they all kill each other in the end and then the last one cuts his femoral artery by accident and dies while singing an epic tragic operatic power ballad. ? Then when everyone thinks it's over, you have a surprise act that is a soap opera between all the animals that spend the next months eating their dead corpses, and then half of them die too becuase it turns out their artisanal colognes were toxic and bioaccumulative. Great eco drama.
ITS ON THE WAY STEVEN! I mailed it today and it will be there Monday or Tuesday they told me. I included some things I know you can use. The 19th century sole leather from my GGGrandfathers shoe shop is included with copies from his ledgers I thought you'd find interesting. I also included copies of Joseph and His wife. And one of the things I am certain you can use very well. So next week you will have it. I am egar to hear what you think. I also included a receite from my grandfathers uncle, a tannery etc. you'll see. Thanks for everything! DaveyJO
The snap is an interesting phenomenon. I tend to think that most axes don’t cut well at the angle most people would swing them. The snap fixes that problem by turning the axe to a shallower angle more natural to it as it cuts into the wood.
Neat. That name came up. I know there is a wagon part called a buckboard, I just don't know exactly what it is. Thanks. That's really neat. It makes me feel even more like it's a good idea.
@@jbshomestead7694 on I see. I thought it was a part of a wagon. I'll have to look that up. it's probably a wagon with no suspension from the name lol.
You mean like a pit house basically? I've been thinking about that for a long time. Saw the cool vid of that guy in the midwest that grows citrus. Very cool. It's on the list. I'd like to work some water into that scenario too for growing crawfish maybe. I have a couple of sites in mind. Probably won't ever be able to get to that project tho.
This is great, wish I had thought of it. I definitely developed some unorthodox and poor techniques to put my shins out of the flight path. Never too late to change I suppose, and always room for improvement.
I think you should review and possibly modify the cold steel trail boss. Used one this weekend and it's great for the price, but far from perfect. Has a straight handle, which I have heard you say you like, but it's a bit round, the sides could use flattening. Also the head is seated a good two inches high, and the swell at the bottom a bit too big. All I can find on UA-cam is the usual "strip the paint and add a paracord overstrike collar" stuff. You could help a lot of beginners get an affordable pack axe that really performs. If I had a workshop I'd make the video myself, I have one ordered but I have to use my Dremel and some sandpaper to do my mods, not ideal.
Forget all this buck bulshit! My request to you, is to try a new snow and nealley manufactured 3.5 pound axe. The head is precisely forged and machined. And , the handle is slim!!! sleek!! the slimmest and most whip like handle out of the box I ever saw. If anyone can exploit this, you are the one . american made...snow and nealley...3.5 pound buddy. The handle is varnished hickory....some sort of varnish. But, the handle is so slim and well shaped. I love it. I found it the absolute best out of box axe handle. I did have to file amd stone my way to a proper edge. I'd love to see you whipping around a new snow axe with its slim whip like handle. Im sure you will agree dude.
Yeah, I know buying new axes is much more popular than actually using them. it's like it's own activity. Maybe they actually watched my review of their boy's axe and my handle videos and made adjustments. I'm broke, but maybe I'll just get it, review it and resell it like I did the last one.
I don't really know, but mabye as a place to start, 30 inches? I'm 5' 10" I can use as low as 26 pretty comfortably and 30 inches is always a tad long and slightly annoying, but I can do it and sort of get used to it. You might try buying a 32" handle and just setting the head as far down as possible. 30" handles are not common.
@@SkillCult what do you think of the Council Tool 3.5 lb Dayton Pattern Single Bit Axe with 36 Inch Curved Wooden Handle. Seems like a bigger version. Longer handle than suggested.
that is the council tool forest service boy's axe. They have four different versions of that axe, but they are all pretty much the same I think once you get them set up as far as the form goes. there may be differences in steel and quality control though.
@@SkillCult cool thanks man. I just picked up the council boys axe sport utility version 28 ". Had a big gap in the back of the eye towards the pole. I had to knock the head down a bit further and re set the wedges. The materials used seem to be of good quality but the QC on mine was a bit lacking with the head fit. I'm still learning, basically a rookie. I would be curious to see the way you profiled your edge.
I haven't had a council boy's axe yet that doesn't need rehanging or at least tightening. Best to take out the plastic wedge on those and put in a wooden one, and yeah, get it down on the shoulder good and snug. That is filled like a wedge axe basically. Set the file from eye to edge and start filing to within about less than 1/8" from the edge, then sharpen the end to 25 to 30 degrees. That is a good reference grind for an axe that cuts deep, then you can compare others to it. Stay safe. A sharp axe ground like that will cut through you like a watermelon and let the red stuff out.
@@SkillCult thanks Steve, this one came with a wood wedge and a steel circular wedge. I will try a wedge pattern for this head and see how it goes. I made a typical newbie move and bought a GB forest axe which has been really nice to use but it's small. I thinned out the handle a lot and it cuts very well. I like the convex grind on it but I want to be able to chop wood as well so I got the boys axe. I appreciate your advice man. Stay safe
Honestly, I'd rather see all axes shipped with a wooden wedge that is still sticking out 1/4 inch and no steel wedge, or a steel wedge as an accessory. By the time the things are warehoused and move to different climates, then add a little use, they almost always need some kind of tightening.
Dude so many videos, I keep getting recommended new ones in my feed and I enjoy watching nearly all of them. Lots to learn and motivates me to get out and do some chopping.
A Great Teacher/Professor....
It is really good of you Steve, to put time into this project to help eliminate the injuries from bucking, the Cordwood Challenge should be fun and injury free this year, all the best, Lucas.
I love Your videos. You are one of a few people who are actually very experienced in what You are showing in Your videos. That means a lot to me. Also I want to thank You for the great videos on axe sharpening - that helped me a lot. Keep the great work!
With regards to what we were just talking about regarding handle length, I think most of those are a bit too tall for handles over 30 inches. I've not really considered it, but the length definitely determines where you stand and the angle the axe is approaching the log from. You stand close and the axe comes in horizontally, so the follow through of an understrike is also horizontal, I stand back and the axe comes in diagonally, so the follow through of an understrike is usually into the ground. But that also puts the handle lower so the back of the buckstop would have to be lower.
Yeah, agreed. Like I said, I think just try it and adjust. Maybe I'll grab a 32" and test it out sometime. 10" might even be okay.
Great, Great!
And a nice videoquality!
What a lovely echo! Certainly didn't have that quiet and echo in the tree trimming video. Thanks Steven! Missed the PO today so definitely get there tomorrow. Seems they change their hours whenever. DaveyJO
I'm closer to the hillside across the creek right there so the echo is strong. I'll try to get your book shipped out when I'm shipping all of these scions and seeds.
Another thing Steven, When I was mailing your package at the PO I ran into some friends there. Zack was telling me that he was grafting some persimmon trees. I said you should tune into Skillcult. Zack said oh you mean Steven, yea, I've been watching for a while now. I don't remember if I had told him to tune in or not. But it was really cool that I ran into he and his girlfriend as I was coming out from mailing your package and Skillcult was the main topic. Thank Much Steven! DaveyJO
That's cool. I haven't had any luck grafting persimmons so far. I was going to try summer budding next.
love the name and device
I took a scallop off the side of my big toe ~4 months ago doing some bucking. It was unironically a great learning experience for me though haha.
Hope that toe is all grown back okay. BTW, honey is amazing for that type of wound. If you can find a way to keep a lot of honey on it at all times, it heals really fast with no scabbing and can regenerate well with less scar. It's preferable to get that fear put in you by near accidents, but it too often happens the real way.
Huh, honey never occurred to me for that sort of thing although it does make perfect sense! Personally I don’t mind getting injured because I feel more confident afterwards 🤷🏻♀️
Depends on the injury I guess. Seriously, honey is awesome for wounds and burns. prevents infection, creates ideal environment for healing and possibly feeds the cells. It now has some medical recognition finally. I know someone that had a pretty bad chemical burn recently and she was officially prescribed honey by the burn unit. State insurance even paid for manuka honey.
That’s absolutely insane that state insurance paid for honey. I’ve known that honey has medicinal benefits for a longish time now, but I was always coming from the perspective of consuming the honey (yadda yadda mead, dark ages) and I always enjoy recommending people take a spoonful of local organic honey to get rid of their allergies.
My life’s dream is bee and honey related weirdly enough, which is why it’s so wild to me that I never considered it as a topical treatment HAH
Jeez, re reading everything and it was a CHEMICAL burn, not even a fire burn. Nature is wild
Usually Manuka is recommended. It is the most studied, but there is plenty of research and folk traditions using just any old raw honey. Manuka is super expensive, but they actually paid for it. That's the power of getting research done. Honey is also used for cataract. It will be mainstream soon I think.
Thanks again....
Really good for beginners, and really well deliberated points on what/how&why to use it. I started off striking sideways, first for safety ofc, but I mostly still go about striking from the side now for the opposite reason.
Striking sideways allows more momentum to be gathered, as well as distributing fatigue throughout your body, but getting the angle right so the swing is powerful, as well as natural, is not at all beginner-friendly (or worse, it can build false sense of security, though not as much as the Buckstop/log).
It takes a bit for one to become intuitive enough with the axe to tweak methods that deals with angles, weak-spots etc. in an effective manner,, and like you said, can't really use words to hand over intuition.
I particularly liked how the buckstop would be well applied in a class-setting. I've thought a few times about trying out something small, if only to eventually make a live axe-porn-orgy, but I am not sure on how to actually go about doing something like that. A buckstop (with paintmarks) seems to be a must. Supercool that you've gotten this so well presented.
Also, 100th thumb. Oddly amusing when that happens
I stand on one side and strike to the side and behind-ish sometimes in special circumstances, like on really small wood, severing cuts and a few other circumstances. So basically you want to train a bunch of people so you can have an axe army to make some kind of post apocalyptic axe performance art video? I think it should be a musical too. How about an axe war between hipster lumberjacks and hipster vikings, but they have to learn to use the things first, then go to battle and they all kill each other in the end and then the last one cuts his femoral artery by accident and dies while singing an epic tragic operatic power ballad. ? Then when everyone thinks it's over, you have a surprise act that is a soap opera between all the animals that spend the next months eating their dead corpses, and then half of them die too becuase it turns out their artisanal colognes were toxic and bioaccumulative. Great eco drama.
@@SkillCult Dude! What kind of drugs have you stumbled across!? ,,,, script noted :D
aw damn,,,,,,, my ass just fell off
I don't need drugs lol.
ITS ON THE WAY STEVEN! I mailed it today and it will be there Monday or Tuesday they told me. I included some things I know you can use. The 19th century sole leather from my GGGrandfathers shoe shop is included with copies from his ledgers I thought you'd find interesting. I also included copies of Joseph and His wife. And one of the things I am certain you can use very well. So next week you will have it. I am egar to hear what you think. I also included a receite from my grandfathers uncle, a tannery etc. you'll see. Thanks for everything! DaveyJO
Awesome, sounds exciting :)
The buck stops here.
this is definitely a great way to get over that initial fear of cutting towards your feet
The snap is an interesting phenomenon. I tend to think that most axes don’t cut well at the angle most people would swing them.
The snap fixes that problem by turning the axe to a shallower angle more natural to it as it cuts into the wood.
my grandfather had this and showed us when we was growing up. This is the first time Ive seen sombody use this method in like forever
super cool. did he call it anything?
@@SkillCult he just called it a buckboard
Neat. That name came up. I know there is a wagon part called a buckboard, I just don't know exactly what it is. Thanks. That's really neat. It makes me feel even more like it's a good idea.
@@SkillCult yeah after growing up I found out that they are a wagon that's called a Buckboard, But yea it is pretty awesome
@@jbshomestead7694 on I see. I thought it was a part of a wagon. I'll have to look that up. it's probably a wagon with no suspension from the name lol.
Excellent
very cool idea, very cool beard too!
You should get into geothermal greenhouses for your homestead, they are super cool, and all year round!
You mean like a pit house basically? I've been thinking about that for a long time. Saw the cool vid of that guy in the midwest that grows citrus. Very cool. It's on the list. I'd like to work some water into that scenario too for growing crawfish maybe. I have a couple of sites in mind. Probably won't ever be able to get to that project tho.
A safe axe-tivity? I like the ritual burning idea for training kids!
Yeah, I like that idea too. Transitions.
It shows kids the result of work. Buck that log, then it makes heat and fire for cooking or enjoying or whatever other use you need for it.
Better yet, burn the board using all the wood they cut, to take more emphasis off of the product and onto the process and skills and knowledge gained.
This is great, wish I had thought of it. I definitely developed some unorthodox and poor techniques to put my shins out of the flight path. Never too late to change I suppose, and always room for improvement.
I don't do it the way anyone told, I just do it the way it seems to work for me and follow my instincts and observations.
@@SkillCult me too, but I don't think it's as effective at times. Lol
I'm still deciding ;)
nice idea Skill and easy to make good good
I think it's a great idea. I'm sure it has little appeal to your average macho adult male, but it should.
@@SkillCult your channel is good skill thx for your good work ✌️
I think you should review and possibly modify the cold steel trail boss. Used one this weekend and it's great for the price, but far from perfect. Has a straight handle, which I have heard you say you like, but it's a bit round, the sides could use flattening. Also the head is seated a good two inches high, and the swell at the bottom a bit too big. All I can find on UA-cam is the usual "strip the paint and add a paracord overstrike collar" stuff. You could help a lot of beginners get an affordable pack axe that really performs. If I had a workshop I'd make the video myself, I have one ordered but I have to use my Dremel and some sandpaper to do my mods, not ideal.
How is the Trail Boss treating you? I have one being delivered today, they are $24 on amazon right now, couldn’t pass it up.
Forget all this buck bulshit!
My request to you, is to try a new snow and nealley manufactured 3.5 pound axe.
The head is precisely forged and machined.
And , the handle is slim!!! sleek!!
the slimmest and most whip like handle out of the box I ever saw.
If anyone can exploit this, you are the one . american made...snow and nealley...3.5 pound buddy.
The handle is varnished hickory....some sort of varnish.
But, the handle is so slim and well shaped. I love it. I found it the absolute best out of box axe handle.
I did have to file amd stone my way to a proper edge.
I'd love to see you whipping around a new snow axe with its slim whip like handle.
Im sure you will agree dude.
Yeah, I know buying new axes is much more popular than actually using them. it's like it's own activity. Maybe they actually watched my review of their boy's axe and my handle videos and made adjustments. I'm broke, but maybe I'll just get it, review it and resell it like I did the last one.
How long would you recommend for someone the is 6'5"
I don't really know, but mabye as a place to start, 30 inches? I'm 5' 10" I can use as low as 26 pretty comfortably and 30 inches is always a tad long and slightly annoying, but I can do it and sort of get used to it. You might try buying a 32" handle and just setting the head as far down as possible. 30" handles are not common.
@@SkillCult what do you think of the Council Tool 3.5 lb Dayton Pattern Single Bit Axe with 36 Inch Curved Wooden Handle. Seems like a bigger version. Longer handle than suggested.
@@bpack88 Seems huge. Thats a really long handle.
axe-ident-alchemy---late to the party
glad that name stuck!
Wait, are you that instagram user?
@@SkillCult if theres a ton of sheep photos - yeah
Yep!
Or, you know, just don’t do it like that to begin with.
No comprende
This is a great idea thanks Steve. By the way, what axe are you using here ?
that is the council tool forest service boy's axe. They have four different versions of that axe, but they are all pretty much the same I think once you get them set up as far as the form goes. there may be differences in steel and quality control though.
@@SkillCult cool thanks man. I just picked up the council boys axe sport utility version 28 ". Had a big gap in the back of the eye towards the pole. I had to knock the head down a bit further and re set the wedges. The materials used seem to be of good quality but the QC on mine was a bit lacking with the head fit. I'm still learning, basically a rookie. I would be curious to see the way you profiled your edge.
I haven't had a council boy's axe yet that doesn't need rehanging or at least tightening. Best to take out the plastic wedge on those and put in a wooden one, and yeah, get it down on the shoulder good and snug. That is filled like a wedge axe basically. Set the file from eye to edge and start filing to within about less than 1/8" from the edge, then sharpen the end to 25 to 30 degrees. That is a good reference grind for an axe that cuts deep, then you can compare others to it. Stay safe. A sharp axe ground like that will cut through you like a watermelon and let the red stuff out.
@@SkillCult thanks Steve, this one came with a wood wedge and a steel circular wedge. I will try a wedge pattern for this head and see how it goes. I made a typical newbie move and bought a GB forest axe which has been really nice to use but it's small. I thinned out the handle a lot and it cuts very well. I like the convex grind on it but I want to be able to chop wood as well so I got the boys axe. I appreciate your advice man. Stay safe
Honestly, I'd rather see all axes shipped with a wooden wedge that is still sticking out 1/4 inch and no steel wedge, or a steel wedge as an accessory. By the time the things are warehoused and move to different climates, then add a little use, they almost always need some kind of tightening.
sissy board