Making a Bushcraft Axe
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- Опубліковано 26 січ 2019
- In this video I show you my step by step processes of modifying a half hatchet/riggers hatchet into a lighter and more ergonomic bushcrafting axe. I use a straight handle, repurposed from an old double bit, to give this one a tomahawk style throwing handle. It’s turns out really well and we have a good time getting together with some friend to celebrate my birthday with an evening of axe throwing. We hope you enjoy.
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They are "Carpenter's Hatchets." They are very useful tools if you learned "Old Scool Carperntry." A "Roofer's Hatchet" is completely different style which is very useful for adjust cedar shakes. "Carpenter's Hatchets are useful for trimming studs and rafters. Adjusting doors to fit etc. When I was a youngster back in the 1950's all of the "Old Carpenters carried a Hatchet in the hammer loop of their Bibs. They used them for sinking nails but also trimming wood. 2x4's were real 2"x4" in those days. Rough lumber. I vegan learning carpentry with those "old time tools."
Would love to hear your story!
I’ve got a 1857 Germantown head. Carpenters hatchet. I just cold blued and rehandled it . It’s my absolute favorite.
I’ve had it since 1980. When I started in the scouts from my grandfather.
That's an old box hatchet... Or crate hammer. The hex head gave it away.
Rigging axe round hammer head hardened for nail driving 28oz. Plus
Roofers hatcher square head with shingle stop holes hardened for driving nails. 16 - 20oz
Box hatchet \ crate hammer hex head smooth or light waffling only hardened slightly more than a regular hatchet various weights usually 32 oz and less
I cut my teeth same as you rigging axe framing.
what about 2x6s and gypsum lath hammers or horse shoe cawk hammers? i bet ur not that old lol
My grampa, a former carpenter has one and I use one for bushcraft that was an old family friend's. I've been taught they can also be called cowboy killers
Wow a restoration UA-camr who doesn’t just turn their axes into mirrors, and uses them👍👍
This may sound strange, but I'm really happy to see that a big chunk of your tools are from harbor freight. Its nice to see that someone can make/restore something really nice without 20k worth of woodworking tools
At first I was like...that grinder....then i saw the blue anvil... and was like....oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh coool. I feel like I can do things on a budget now
I concur. I'm a proffessional bladesmith and a close 85 percent of my electric tools are from the dump or from harbour freight and i make almost 200 becks a blade in my little town so good on him hes doing a great job what minimalist tools
Warren, thanks for the comment. I agree, HF tools are tools. They are as good as any other, which is only what the user imparts to them. I’m sure we would all love to have a 100,000 dollar shop with all the best tools, but craftsmanship is in the hand of the maker, no mater the tool used. Thanks again!
@Hoosier Hell Hawk Harbor Freight is red chinese and a BIG no-no post Wuhan Virus... Should be driven from the country!
@Hoosier76 Yes, perhaps some parts are from Germany :-)
thankfully i found this. no mirror polishing, no painting, no huge head modifications but attention to details like the wedge and all the chamfering.
Bruh, turning that $15 HF grinder into a small bench grinder with a jig is pure genius
Right?
Gotta hand it to you brother. A few things I truly appreciate about your videos are that you do not need to own a machine shop to do what you are doing, you give very straightforward explanations, and you have innovative ideas that usually include something regular people have laying around their shed or garage.
Great repurpose, I've modified a few diff tools, and Come across the same type you converted frequently, probably have a couple, if not I'll be picking a couple up to convert. Thanks for the great video...
This has to be the most beautiful and instructive video about a hatchet or axe restoration ! You seldom see people push the love for detail and chamfer the part of the handle that sticks out of the head.
Hats off !
Thank you Samuel. I find the Art lies in the craftsmanship when making a tool. (Not trying to sound cliché but that the exact reason I named the channel that)
Thanks for the tip about marking the depth on the wedge. Beautiful work.
I remember my Dad having that Stanley framing axe in his bags when I was a kid. It never felt right, it looks like you fixed the design.
Thanks for the inspiration. Just finished mine this evening.
I've always been intimidated about the strength of metal and how to work with it, but you make it look relatively easy and achievable. Thanks for these videos. They are awesome!
I love that you keep in the parts where you have to troubleshoot on the fly. That’s how life happens. It’s very helpful.
Never saw such a video before ,even with my endly supply of old axes here in Norway. Have a 300 year old log house I have been rebuilding for years. Axes and me are no strangers.You did a great job. I learned a lot and got some great ideas.
As a fellow axe restorer, I see the results of experience in your work -- patience and attention to detail; not rushing the grinding; cooling the metal repeatedly so you don't ruin the temper; taking the time to size the kerf and wedge perfectly (very satisfying); marking the depth of the wedge (great tip) -- excellent work and a pleasure to watch. These kinds of videos are how I relax. Everyone is always in such a rush these days... you get criticized for long videos because people have short attention spans -- ridiculous. Mastery in any craft takes long hours and years of patient pursuit. Nothing worth knowing is learned in 60 seconds. The one piece of the handle debate I don't see mentioned is the bit about there being a necessary performance balance needed between handle shape and the weight of the head. All the best old school loggers' axes had thin handles because a certain amount of flex is crucial to the power of the swing and the resilience of the handle on impact. Wood type and grain alignment are also key. Too hard / too thick in the handle gets brittle and is actually more likely to break. That said, that'is all more important for full length felling axes than it is for hatchets and hybrids under 20". You're not going to need much flex in a tool that short. It's also a function of how big your hands are. You look like a good sized dude, so I'm sure that handle fits your hand nicely. For my own part, I hit the bare wood that's going inside the eye of the axe with a very light rub of linseed oil before I drive it home -- just on the outside, as you want the kerf cut and wedge dry so the glue takes hold. The best part by far is the beer drinkin' buddy axe tossing contest at the end. Loved it when you all threw at once and not one stuck. ;-) The process of building it is reward unto itself and you can't be afraid to risk a little damage -- USE the damn things -- that's what they're for! You got a new sub from me -- keep up the quality work.
Thanks for this great comment. You hit the nail right on the head!
I bet im one of the few ppl who ever read this whole thing and its great
I want to get started on axe restoration and forging but i dont post vids on you tube all i have is the tik tok app btw i think your comment is one of the best and most true comments here
I was sad when it was over. I wanted to see more....I think I have watched every video now
BS - Take a perfectly good AMERICAN made hatchet and ruin it with the "bushcraft" syndrome .
you need to cool the metal better, just pour a little water on it. and you should not have cut the original cutting grind.
Great craftsmanship with a relaxed, non-tactical attitude. And recovering something beautiful from junk headed for a landfill is just damn cool.
Thanks for watching Aaron!
those small angle grinders are one the most versatile tools you can own..i like the bench holder you made for yours
Looks good! 👍 you did a great job, thanks for sharing! I think I might try to make one for myself , you made look easy.
Love the project, explanations and videography. Thanks for sharing, what is obviously, your passion!
Tip: instead of using a pencil, use a candle. The soot is perfect for marking. An old gunsmithing trick. Thanks for posting.
Another trick for marking compound (@16:35) is to hold it above a lit candle. The smoke that comes off about 4 inches above the flame works wonderfully for marking compound.
Thanks for these 35 minutes ! It was a pleasure to watch you working on the hatchet. I have an old Klauenbeil (German, translates to Claw hatchet) and now I know what to do with it.
I like to take old junk tools and turn them into other things and I as yourself love axes grew up using them, I find a lot of them at junk shops and auctions very cheap and modify them. Great video thank you very much for your ideas and time.
This reminds me of This Old House, but more relatable for me personally.
Subbed
You have a good eye for angles! I can see you have had a lot of time on a bastard to a key file. keep showing us cool stuff please!
We used rig axes framing back in 70s early 80s. Main use for chopping out door plates and bent nail. Waffle the head you'll hqve a good nail driver.
I have broken more axe handles than most folks have seen. Now I know why. I've been sawing to deep. Thank you for great content. Been fixing them wrong for 50 plus years😁
Got this half hatchet, belonged to my Dad. Cut many sticks of kindling with that hatchet. Dad made a handle for it, and his Mother's double bladed axe, several years before his passing in '89. Yep! I do treasure them both.
I just found your channel and immediately knew I was gonna love it. Love the axe!! Keep up the awesome work!!
Sweet axe! I'm looking for an old carpenters hatchet with the broad face and the hammer pole on the back to play around with. I'll run across one at an Antique Store sooner or later. You do great work! Thanks for sharing!
I have just done the same, but left the hammer poll length but slimmed it down by tapering it so it still had a hardened tip. Looks wicked! Thanks for the idea. Working on 4 more now!
I really like cradle for the grinder, very simple, I will attempt to make one and make sure I get a grinder with a switch that locks the trigger on. Outstanding video , thank you.
Just found your Art!....
Thank you for a super video AND the peace of mind to know there are other TAS-maniac (tool acquisition syndrome) craftsmen !
this Re-purpose will be great for a Carving Hatchet that works well as a throwing axe (if evildoers steal my carved Spoons!)
Look forward to discovering all your Videos!...Thank you Again. Brian
I’m enough of a craftsman to know that you’re a very talented craftsman who knows his way around the shop and you’re articulate too! Good job, man!
Appreciate your video - great to see old tools brought back to life
Love this project. I have a half hatchet on an 18" handle as a camp axe and wish I had seen this video before hanging it.
in two minutes into your vid and I've subscribed. I love your explanations and your attitude. You have a nice and calm channel and I really appreciate that.
Nice work!
For your information, those are shingling hatchets which we used to shingle all buildings before asphalt shingles were introduced.
Some times the shingles came in bundles sawed or split to size but some times the carpenter split each shingle from a block of wood and applied it to the roof.
Western red cedar was a favorite for shingles but many other rot resistant local woods were used as well.
Just thought you might like to know what those tools were originally designed for.
Thanks once again for the great video.
Dick Hyde
Same thought here. I can even forgive him for using a screwdriver in that fashion. :)
compition axes
@@richardbhyde7186 they were used to cut to width, weren't they?
High, i'ver thought the same. Now i will see other videos from him. Kindly Fiete
I have a hatchet just like your original, I love what you did with it. Good job! 👍🏻
Beautiful job, beautiful work!! So nice to see a craftsman at work. Thanks for sharing and letting us watch. Beautiful!!
What you have there is an early drywall hatchet. Roofer's hatchets have a longer axe bit.
My family always bugs me about my knowledge of old tools,
George it's 2022, you have to catch up to the modern times.
This one time my former spouse and brother in law were garage saling and they were looking at this barrel set up on stands and they couldn't figure it out.
Oh that's an old butter churn.
The old guy looked at me and asked how I knew that and I told him I grew up on a farm where we use to do things with old tools and such. He was very impressed.
Awesome!
I have been watching you-tubes for months as I get into tool referb and knife making. Yours is the first I have written to. Your work is beautiful and seems to be achievable. I see many of the tools I've been collecting in your shop. The techniques you use seem to be things I can develop with practice. Thank you for your work I will be watching. 62 and starting!!
Thanks for watching and the kind words. Our goal was to make a channel that could teach and encourage people to make things. I love hearing from viewers who have been encouraged. Please send pics of the work you do and I’ll try to get them up on the channel.
Grant Parlier Hay, 62 isn’t old.
@Grant Parlier Never too "old" to learn something new!
Respect Robert! Enjoy yourself..
@Grant Parlier . Your old what??
Very very nice video. The only bad part is seeing the beautiful art you've created getting smudged in the dirt and that gnarly bullseye. Your great presentation has inspired me to go right into my workshop and work on some axes I've scrounged over the years.
Thanks a million and carry on.
I think it gives it character
I REALLY LIKE THE TIME AND ENERGY YOU PUT IN A PROGET. YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE AX IS GOOD TO. I LIKE BUYING OLD HEADS AND PUTTING HANDLES IN THEM. ENJOYED WATCHING.
I love hatchets and axes too. Agree with a lot of comments about your abilities and attention to detail. Learned a lot. Love the finished product.
Excellent job! Nothing feels better in your hand than a tool you've built or customized! I really enjoyed watching and look forward to more!
I have been looking for this exact restore/mod. I haven’t watched it all yet but thank you for this!!!!! Liked and subbed off your first video!
I knew that there is a reason that I have a barrel in the barn with handles and heads. recently I put a handle on a pick, now I know what I did right and wrong. excellent teacher !! I subscribed Keep up the good work!
modifying the heads is a brilliant idea. I had two pretty boring kind of beaten up heads lying around and immediately took the angle grinder to it. Thanks for the tips - you never stop learning!
I've seen a lot of axe hanging videos. This is the best. Thanks!
OBTW: I like what you did with the head too.
Shinglers hatchet.
I did not modify the profile, but did add a longer handle.....20"
Has been my long handled trappers hatchet for 45 years...
🤠. Nice work.
Found a Norland Hachette in the bottom of my fathers toobox thats been sitting in my garage for 35-40 years. You have inspired me to clean up the hachette and hang a handle. I only have hand tools so it takes me a little longer to get it in shape. But watching your video keeps me going. Thank you!
You got this.
Here I am,watching you again.This whole process is relaxing me./ mental therapy?/ Don't laugh! Thanks.
My friend I second that emotion. 😂
Thanks guys! It’s my pleasure.
Alcohol and sharp cutting tools ,my kind of party looks like y'all had alot of fun.I really enjoy watching your videos I've learned alot from them.Please keep them coming.
"You can always cut off more wood but you can never put it back on" this could have saved me 2 hours of searching for the board stretcher in one of my first jobs.
Chris Sproles ... and it is for this reason I chose blacksmithing. I can almost always forge weld on more steel!
Everybody knows the board stretcher is right next to the striped paint Sherlock
My grandfather made me look for the board stretcher while working in his wood shop with him as a kid, classic woodworking bit, brought back memories.
@@mytchroy1821 ever been snipe hunting lol
As I new hire I was sent off for black/yellow safety spray paint;
said sure, as soon as you can get me a fallopian tube bender,..
Got a raise @nd a ton of knowledge from that "crazy old man"!
I love the great detail and effort you put into your work. Love your axes.
I enjoy watching somebody that knows the craft well enough to make particular axes and hatchets. As long as you don't want to get into zombie killers, I'm in. I want to watch I'll let you know what I think
Great level of attention to detail. Professional editing and commentary, what more could you ask for? So satisfying
Great to watch your very accomplished work. It is great to see your generation celebrate the practice of repairing and rebuilding vs.a throw-away mentality. Loved the video. Subbed.
love the modification to that carpenters hatchet, appreciate the HF tools
I really liked your grinder support / brace. The wooden jig aids a simple and effective solution for grinding scenarios.
Great job. I just did the same thing with a new "carpenter's hatchet". I chose to make my "camp hatchet" more of a bearded style so I can use it more easily for carving and "hanging on a limb". You lost the heat treatment on the hammer side when you cut if off. I am not saying that is wrong, it is just a choice. The pattern of heat treatment became obvious on mine when I "antiqued" it with a mustard treatment (three times, thin, and fully dry between treatments). The antiquing on the heat treated steel is different on the front heat treated edge (about an inch) and on the hammer side (about 5/8 of an inch). The entire hatchet is not heat treated the same, it is softer. You did great. I like mine of course.
Vcxybbuf
You've got skills... great restoration ~~so cool to watch, definitely have a new found appreciation for half hatchet
You are my motivation for making metal recycling videos. Glad to see the result after completion
Great way to give new life to old forgotten tools! I subscribed a few minutes in, the moment I saw that clever tabletop angle grinder rig. I run a 2x72 belt grinder and sometimes you just need to nibble away at those funky angles and inside radii. I’ll be installing one of those rigs on my workbench this weekend!
Thanks for the great videos, you’ve got a lot to offer
This video is MINT!!! Love the restoration work. Bringing old tools back to life. Great job man. Can't wait to go through your other videos to pick up tips.
Thanks so much Bold!
A knifemaking friend made me two little hatchets dang near identical to yours for wood bowmaking. Wonderful little tools, they're easy to control for fine wood removal but can really hog off the excess wood on a stave.
would also be nice for handles for hammers and other hatchets (:
Love the high level of craftsmanship you display...
*Subscribed*
You did a great job.👍 lot's of work you put in to axe
A person that shows that much attention to detail is also showing respect to the project at hand. sub...like...bell
The nails in the handle where to measure from the top of the eye down to each nail that measures different size logs most of the time for fireplaces in woodstoves
I really like how you shaped the hammer head. Looks really well thought out. Thanks for sharing 👍.
It's pitch black outside, it's pouring down with rain and we're in lockdown. That was a very pleasant way of spending 35.18 on an otherwise boring evening. Thanks.
Great video, the explanation of everything you did is so far out in front of other Channels of this nature. Lookin forward to the other's you have. Small pile of roofing hammers, hmm what should I do. New sub and thanks for sharing this with us. 🇺🇸
Beautiful job. Broke my heart to see you throwing it though!
if you can make it,
you can fix it 😉
I did the same with an old, rusty half-hatchet I found when I was fifteen, except I couldn't shorten the hammer head. It had the narrowed, faceted rebate seen on claw hammers, & wouldn't have worked if shortened, so I left it alone. Used it for years, until, while chopping a limb at a bankside camp & fishing spot, the handle split, the head flew off, & sailed about thirty yards out into the middle of the river. But it did great service all the time I had it.
That was nice. I think more hatchets have or will end up being converted into axes or tomahawks. So many people neglect their old tools. Good thing for some of us, is they're always available and usually very cheap. A little rust removal and sharpening and viola!
Beer and Tomahawk throwing..my kind of party !
Love it.
I do the same with old axes and hatchets.
Usually pick them up at flea markets.
My favorite is a old plumb boys axe.
That came out really nice. Great job and thanks for sharing your videos.
That grinder jig tho! Lol OSHA approved!
Saftey third.
First off, I almost never have a palm swell or fawns foot at the end of my small - medium axes. Its never been a problem! And good god, art of craftsmanship is an understatement. Fantastic instructions! Super creative ideas! Your videos are quite the wealth of knowledge!
A beer in one hand, throwing axe in the other. What could go wrong?!? 🤣 Great video. I have an old, double edge axe, probably 50 yrs old, plus, I've wanted to refinish. Picked up some great tips from you. Thanks for sharing. Roger
Great video! I have 1 of these hatchets in my shop. I am definitely going to try this project
I appreciate your use of Harbor Freight tools. Proves that you don't have to be a tool snob to get wonderful results.
Love your videos!
I want a basement like this! Greetings from Germany! :-)
Nice work. Take care.
I have watched 3 of your videos so far and have learned so much. You explain things very well. Thank you so much.
Really enjoyed this. Many thanks for sharing!
Cool project! I've really wanted a camp axe/tomahawk like this for a while but I've been having a hard time finding one that strikes the balance between practical and looking good at the same time. I really like the profile you used, I think I'm gonna try this myself! Nice work.
Target)...it worked & Ibsplitbthr Target tomahawk handle from 15 yards,!!
This reminds me of when my brother taught me how to throw...He said U needed a Target ( handle of another tomahawk stuck in the target from 15 yards
thats real nice mate, as soon as you marked where you were going to cut her i was thinking that'd be fun to throw. cheers for sharing
I really enjoyed this film, will be giving this a try when i find a suitable head.Thanks for posting.
That was a fun video. Loved the customizing of the hatchet. And the friends and family fun. Very cool
this is a beautiful project buddy. very well done. and your shop looks really cool too. it has a very nice lived in feel to it. i believe your channel is gonna blow up very soon with this quality of video you're putting out. =) Those japanese saws are awesome. always wondered what the fuss was about until i got one for myself. fine teeth for cross cut and coarse teeth for rip cuts and teeth designed for pulling so they can thin the kerf, they seem to think of everything! and that handle, man. if i'll be honest, it was hard to see you cut into it. from the patina and the nails put into it to measure length, it must have been the work tool of someone for awhile. but of course, it turned out really well. looking forward to more videos soon bud!
This is the second time I’ve seen this. 😐 love it.
Cynical Texas Dad ... Ditto; had to refresh my memory as I’m preparing to refurbish an old single broad head I dug up while excavating wife’s fish pond. It’s got just enough good metal left to repurpose it for my tool belt.
Well done - beautiful axe!
Subscribed within 5 minutes of watching. Improvise, adapt and overcome. Gave new life to a old tool, enjoy your methods and the explanation of why you do it. The jig for your side grinder is excellent and I'll be making one for myself....
Man, you have some serious skills!!! You sure as hell know what you are doing!!!
Thanks for the video!!! God bless you!!!
Kudos to the person running the camera
My brother was pumped to see this comment. Thanks!
Thank you for mentioning to take your time and keep it cool so as to not ruin the temper. That's all I was thinking when you were putting on that cutoff wheel. Lots of "Bushcraft experts" on youtube fail to realize that heat is the enemy to a blade. i.e. they sharpen with high speed bench grinders etc. etc. they also use knives like hatchets and whatnot. silly.
That end piece you cut off makes a beautiful knife handle that fits the hand really well
My Father who is now 81 use to carry a Carpenters Half Hatchet when he was a boy. He made cabins in the woods, and bushcraft with one. He swears by them over a regular hatchet. I like them as well.
i enjoyed every second of this one. i really love the shape and the handle is gorgeous. i have no mechanical ability, but i've always wanted to work with metal and wood. this is the kind of project i'd love to try. i notice how relaxed you were throughout the job. do you have any other advice for newbs like me? thanks again for posting.