CARVING AXE

[brianbridge]

I am new to the forum as I have just started carving spoons etc. Can anyone advise me on carving axes or can anyone sell me one please. I have a supply of various green woods and would like to try with an axe. There seems to be such a wide choice in sizes and shape. Newbie...... Brian :?

 

[AndyT]

I've not done enough green woodworking to need to buy tools for it, but if I did, I would trust Robin Wood (famous bowl turner and campaigner for craftspeople) and buy one from him - http://www.robin-wood.co.uk/shop/the-robin-wood-axe/

 

[Racers]

I've not done enough green woodworking to need to buy tools for it, but if I did, I would trust Robin Wood (famous bowl turner and campaigner for craftspeople) and buy one from him - http://www.robin-wood.co.uk/shop/the-robin-wood-axe/

That's a dam good price! and it looks like a good size as well.


Pete

 

[Sheffield Tony]

Our greenwood group bought some of these for spoon carving courses, so I have hefted one. Although it says it is drop forged, the finish on the head looks to my eye like it was sand cast. According to a friend who owns one, its edge retention is sort of OK. It looks very similar in form and weight to the very cheap Bacho axes but with a finer grind, shiny bevels and a nicer handle.

If you want to carve spoons it is a good size, and it is useful if you want to have a go and decide if it is what you want to spend time doing. But if you do want to do a lot of that sort of thing, you will eventually want a decent hand forged Swedish axe, e.g.Gransfors or Wetterlings - which take and hold a fantastic edge. Whatever Robin says, they aren't really comparable. IMHO, of course.

Edited to add: if you can get to try before you buy, it is best. There's a lot of personal taste in shape and weight of axe. You should have a local group of the APTGW near enough (is Tyntesfield near ?) if you are looking for where the local like-minded gather !

 

[xraymtb]

I have a Robin Wood spoon knife that is very good. I tried one of his axes and was impressed but can't speak to the longevity of the edge. As has been said already, a Gransfors Bruks or the like is the gold standard but they aren't cheap.

Another option would be a car boot axe sharpened up and potentially reshaped to a curved edge. For getting started it will be the cheapest option (assuming you are equipped to sharpen it) - I have got them for a couple of quid before. There was even a thread last year on reshaping one to a 'carving' axe shape. Don't know how well it worked but a fun project.

Edit: viewtopic.php?t=93260

 

[AndyT]

Picking up on Tony's point about trying before you buy, if you are within reach of Bristol, don't forget that Bristol Design is that very rare thing - a retail shop stocking new and used woodworking tools, with a special interest in green woodworking tools.