OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

257930 Mark Pfeifer <markpfeifer@i...> 2016‑02‑09 hewing hatchet
Gentle Galoots,

Wondering what your esteemed opinions are on hewing hatchet helves.

I’m using hatchets more and more do the second step dimensioning of green oak
for furniture. (Much faster than a scrub plane and not as hard on my hands.) I
hung my first hewing hatchet on a straight helve, and it works well for that
purpose.

In a moment of weakness I picked up another hewing hatchet on eBay. It had a
crack just where the poll meets the bit, so even at 10 cents I’d have been
overpaying, and I paid a lot more than 10 cents. But it became an opportunity to
teach my younger sons about welding, so I’m not annoyed.

Given I had to unhang and de-patinate it to weld it, for this one I wanted to
experiment with a bent helve. I boiled half of a very old old single bit hickory
axe handle for 6 hours and used an old staircase newel and a pipe clamp to put a
good side-bend in it.

Here are the questions:

1. Given I boiled this for 6 hours, how long should I let it wait before I hang
the head on it, to avoid shrinkage?
2. When bending wood sideways against the grain, have I weakened it? (It won’t
change anything about this hatchet, because it’s a slicing tool, but wondering
for knowledge’s sake)
3. Bending sideways was fairly easy; I’m wondering if bending against the
thicker dimension is any different (I can see how increasing the angle between
the bit and the helve would make slicing cuts easier)
4. Does anyone have experience using both a straight and a bent hewing, and
which use cases each fits better? I can see how the bend would definitely work a
lot better with a full sized hewing axe, for logs on the ground. I can see how
it might work better for a rough log bucked on my low horses. But the straight
seems like it will definitely work better when holding a piece of stock upright
on my chopping bench….

I’ll have a play and finish off my experiment  . . . wouldn’t be the first time
where I learned the hard way . . . but I wanted to avail myself of the group’s
collective wisdom.

Thanks in advance,

MPf.
257931 "yorkshireman@y..." <yorkshireman@y...> 2016‑02‑09 Re: hewing hatchet
Mark gets into a twist about handles… 

6 hours!  phew - quite some handle - rule of thumb is an hour an inch.  Its
mostly heat rather than damp that makes the timber pliable.

Side axes get bent handles to keep your knuckles clear of the timber - and a
straight faced grind to let you chop downwards.  I think of ‘hewing’ as being
something more joiner like, using a conventional small axe,  ground both sides,
so you work accordingly.   The straight handle is maybe easier to use, as it
lines up neatly with the spot you want to hit.

As for the bending -  its reliant on the thickness you are bending, and the
grain / pliability of the timber.  I’d start with a curved item of timber if I
could - not having steam facilities (yet)

And of course, my opinion is worth the entrance fee, and you have your answer in
your question - “ I’ll have a play and finish off my experiment  “ - th e only
man who knows what you like is you, so have at it..


Enjoy!


Richard Wilson
Yorkshireman Galoot
in a sunny Newcastle - on -Tyne
257932 paul womack <pwomack@p...> 2016‑02‑09 Re: hewing hatchet
Mark Pfeifer wrote:
>  4. Does anyone have experience using both a straight and a bent hewing, and
which use cases each fits better? I can see how the bend would definitely work a
lot better with a full sized hewing axe, for logs on the ground. I can see how
it might work better for a rough log bucked on my low horses. But the straight
seems like it will definitely work better when holding a piece of stock upright
on my chopping bench….

I'm currently making a handle (from appallingly tough hickory) for a 2 1/2 Lb
Kent Pattern
Hatchet.

But I have a 2 1/2 Lb Kent Pattern Side Axe (AKA Hewing Hatchet) waiting too.

I too would welcome advice on the use and handling (both meanings!!) of this
tool.

   BugBear
257933 paul womack <pwomack@p...> 2016‑02‑09 Re: hewing hatchet
paul womack wrote:
> Mark Pfeifer wrote:
>>  4. Does anyone have experience using both a straight and a bent hewing, and
which use cases each fits better? I can see how the bend would definitely work a
lot better with a full sized hewing axe, for logs on the ground. I can see how
it might work better for a rough log bucked on my low horses. But the straight
seems like it will definitely work better when holding a piece of stock upright
on my chopping bench….
>
> I'm currently making a handle (from appallingly tough hickory) for a 2 1/2 Lb
Kent Pattern
> Hatchet.
>
> But I have a 2 1/2 Lb Kent Pattern Side Axe (AKA Hewing Hatchet) waiting too.
>
> I too would welcome advice on the use and handling (both meanings!!) of this
tool.

PS; it's the one discussed 4 years ago!!

http://swingleydev.com/ot/get/234842/single/

   BugBear
257934 Cliff <rohrabacher@e...> 2016‑02‑09 Re: hewing hatchet
rather than a crooked handle, ( even if they do  have a cool aspect to 
them) I'd prefer a straight handle and  one  just that much longer  so 
that my hand cleared  the work.
257937 branson <branson2@s...> 2016‑02‑09 Re: hewing hatchet
>rather than a crooked handle, ( even if they do  have a cool aspect to 
them) I'd prefer a straight handle and  one  just that much longer  so 
that my hand cleared the work.

Handle length might be the thing here.  But as for the crooked handles, 
they are imperative for squaring logs, not to keep your fingers safe, 
but because you are standing next to the log.  They make it possible to 
easily make cuts parallel to the log.

Hatchets are a different issue.  With the exception of cooper's side 
axes, all that I have seen and/or used have straight helves. The 
earliest drawing I recall of a carpenter's broad hatchet has a straight 
helve.  Because of the way one addresses the work with a hatchet, the 
offset is unnecessary.

Now most of the cooper's side axes have an offset eye with a straight 
handle.  It allows you to sight down the blade while you are listing the 
staves.  Anglo-American side axes are all made this way.  The French 
"doloire" that I have, however, has both an offset eye and a slightly 
curved handle that sweeps away from the blade.  It works nicely -- once 
you adjust to the weight falling off to the side.  A cooper trained up 
on the Anglo-American side ax would curse the doloire dead and blind 
because the balance is distinct and awkward.  The blade wants to twist 
in your hand, away from the line you wish to cut.  I 'spect the same 
awkwardness will be found in a regular broad hatchet handled this way.

Mike in Woodland
257939 Mark Pfeifer <markpfeifer@i...> 2016‑02‑09 Re: hewing hatchet
SNIP
> On Feb 9, 2016, at 1:00 PM, branson  wrote:
> 
> Hatchets are a different issue.

Thanks to all for the replies. I find myself doubting the wisdom of using the
bent helve, and not because I overcooked it, as Richard pointed out, but because
the description of the French hatchet makes me thing I might use this for an
hour then throw it into the woods. But I do give my knuckles a holy hell of a
beating every time…..so maybe the knuckle saving offsets torque that pulls off
the line of the cut. I’ll know soon enough I guess.

I should’ve been clearer in my original post as I’m afraid my word choice wasn’t
very good.

I do intend to use it for hewing wood, and I have a similar hatchet today that I
use for that purpose. But based on the replies I think “hewing” may imply
different heads to different heads.

I use a double beveled “carpenters hatchet” very differently, and my ‘bearded’
hatchet was probably more accurately called a “hewing” hatchet than this one.
The hatchet in question is technically and correctly a “broad hatchet”.

The item in question has a blade that is <7” from tip to tip. The head is flat
on one side. The eye is offset. While technically double beveled, it has a
minimal bevel on the flat side and a normal one on the other. Similar to the
“back bevel” some put on other edge tools.

I have a similar Plumb hatchet, with a straight helve, which I do use for
squaring logs. The Plumb has a very square edge, whereas this new one has a
slight curve to it. As I look at the new one it looks like it will shear better,
in which case I’ll round off the Plumb….

Experiment continues . . .  .results published for peer review soon.
257963 Michael Blair <branson2@s...> 2016‑02‑11 Re: hewing hatchet
> I use a double beveled “carpenters hatchet” very differently, and
> my ‘bearded’ hatchet was probably more accurately called a
> “hewing” hatchet than this one. The hatchet in question is
> technically and correctly a “BROAD HATCHET”.

I believe that hewing hatchet and broad hatchet are synonyms.

> The item in question has a blade that is <7” from tip to tip. The
> head is flat on one side. The eye is offset.

I think a photo is in order here.  7 inches is quite wide for a hatchet.
It might be a wheelwright's hatchet, which larger than a standard broad
hatchet.  Off set can also be vague; broad hatchets, as well as the
wheelwright's hatchet have eyes set off to the side, but cooper's are
off set to the side, but also angled away from the edge.

Mike in Woodland
257965 Mark Pfeifer <markpfeifer@i...> 2016‑02‑11 Re: hewing hatchet
http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/Markpfeifer/media/IMG_1754_zpskznthmk
q.jpg.html">http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/Markpfeifer/media/IMG_1754_zpskznt
hmkq.jpg.html <http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/Markpfeifer/media/
IMG_1754_zpskznthmkq.jpg.html">http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/Markpfeifer/med
ia/IMG_1754_zpskznthmkq.jpg.html>

The hatchet in question. It’s closer to 5.5” than 7”. I was estimating.
257966 Michael Blair <branson2@s...> 2016‑02‑11 Re: hewing hatchet
I have one this size myself.  It's a Collins Red Seal.  The factory 
handle is
straight.

Mike in Woodland
257967 scott grandstaff <scottg@s...> 2016‑02‑12 Re: hewing hatchet
My old Stilletto is about this size.
  My old friend for decades.  I carved the Christmas manger in about 77 
for the first time, with it.  Did it again every year for a number of 
years. Each different. Something for the local kids. I was kind of 
instrumental in "public christmas" during that time. Nobody was doing 
much (of the town merchants) and the local kids didn't have so much 
magic to look forward to. So I took a job of ordering goods to make sure 
there were cool presents available cheap, and then large scale 
decorating.  Happy Camp Rexall drug store threw down the glitter and 
cranked up the music, and I was part of it.

   Anyway, my old friend ax.  A simple straight handle. I think I carved it.
Can't remember anymore.
    Long years of acquaintanceship.

  Then, I have a Century ax from old Sacramanto. Its a little bigger 
than this, but still a hatchet.  This one has a slightly front curved 
helm. I carved the poles on my portico with it.
http://users.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/images/house/rafters1.jpg

   Its more about practice than the handle really. I suspect a guy can 
get used to just about anything. Its the stroke and the strike, and the 
angle.
And what part of the edge you are contacting.
   It's a little like dancing.

  General ax talk
      I failed to buy an ax today. A fine "boys" single edge ax. About 
24 or 26" long is all, and a 2 pound ax on top. It might have been the 
first time I ever knowingly passed on an otherwise good ax.
  5 bucks, but the handle was pretty rotten.
  I have too many ax projects already.

   yours Scott


-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html



-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2016.0.7357 / Virus Database: 4522/11606 - Release Date: 02/11/16
257969 Michael Blair <branson2@s...> 2016‑02‑12 Re: hewing hatchet
Well Scott, I'm a little jealous that you have a Stiletto.  I just can't
pass up a Stiletto anything.

> Its more about practice than the handle really. I suspect a guy can get 
> used to just about anything. Its the stroke and the strike, and the 
> angle. And what part of the edge you are contacting. It's a little like 
> dancing.

Yep.  And a bit about how the ax is sharpened. I have a Russian ax that 
has a thin blade, and is sharpened to 20 degrees.  Not so useful for 
felling, but it will do things unimaginable.  You can list staves with 
it.

About that boy's ax.  My grandfather and his brother used to make yearly 
trips to the mountains for fire wood.  They'd fill the back of a flatbed 
Ford with rounds, and split them at home.  My grandfather had two axes 
(which I still have!)  One is your usual single bit ax, but the other is 
a 2 1/2 pound head Plumb.  Different jobs.

Mike in Sacto

Recent Bios FAQ