Hand Hewn Logs Part 3

Broad Axe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6kDK2ioE9Y&feature=user
2008 Barn Tour, Ontario County Historical Society. Kevin Holtz explains how to hand hew a log.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• scarf
• chop
• hand
• hew
• log
• timber
• frame
• holtz

[yugandali]

Wonderful skill. I like the ring of the ax, too. Thanks for posting.

[boredism07]

something i learned a couple years back... when you're doing time consuming tasks such as this. it's best not to go over your head with the axe, purely because it wastes energy. you can actually get more power and yet conserve your energy by throwing the axe forward and up only about 6 inches above your head and bringing it back down at an angle towards you and the log

[DLBBAM]

Also, the fact that your axe hits the dirt a lot is a sign that it is too dull anyway. You must put more force behind a dull axe in order to sever the grain, and so the axe will exit faster and find the dirt. Sharp tools are simply more efficient, and it is best to keep your tools sharp so you can rely on their weight to make the swing and carry them through, allowing you to hew longer. But good work! It's great to see others doing this! Just thought I'f offer some tips if you'd like them!

[DLBBAM]

The broadaxe is a finishing tool, and should be used as such. It should be kept "razor sharp" failing to do so not only slows your work, but it is exceedingly dangerous. A dull broadaxe likes to skip around, maybe into your leg or foot.

I'm not going to tell you you are hewing wrong, because there are literally thousands of variations and different ways to do it, but it might be quicker to use the narrow bitted axe to split off the juggles. Usually I just use the broadaxe for the final passes

[AugustusLarch]

Loosing what wood, the slab? What's it for anyway other than firewood. The way I hew logs the slab is easy to gather, stack, and burn in a trash burner. Those little chips are just a mess.

Good luck with your operations.  Your back is more likely to get sore than your arms. Loading and unlaoding gravel by hand will build your abs and your back. It's good training for hewing.

[ksprad72]

And your loosing a lot of your wood. But I KNOW it's a lot harder than it looks. I thought I was going to break my arms off trying to hew. Going to try it again with someone who knows how tis summer. Great effort!

[bogmarsh]

Yes, I think starting at the other end is easier for a right-hander, and go lengthwise. Hardwood splits better along the grain than across as you're doing here. If the grain is isn't straight along the log, you can cut down on the diagonal. Then dress with broad-axe, ground on one side and sharp.

[AugustusLarch]

You are chopping vertically. God help you that's slow. You should try blocking the end and chopping length-wise. I don't 'try' it that way, I do it. It does volume work. You are too delibrate. Get spinal with the task, and you'll be buried in chips.

[TimberGeek]

Mostly I've seen hewers knock off the juggles before turning the log. I think it's a difference of two easy passes (one w/ the broad axe) vs one deep pass w/ the broad axe.

At my age I'll opt for the two easy passes. ;)