In this installment of My Favorite Farm Tool, Pa Mac takes time to explain and demonstrate the use and restoration of the broad axe, which is chiefly used in the square hewing of round timbers. There are basically two ways to hew the side of a log square. One way is to chop chunks of wood off every 4 or 5 inches down the log with a felling axe, and then to smooth over or "dress up" those cuts with a broad axe. The second way (demonstrated in this video) is to "score" the log every 5 or 6 inches down the log, followed by taking the "in-betweens" out with a broad axe. These methods are the choice ways of hewing logs for making beams or wall logs for log cabin building or for timber frame construction.
Check back often for future episodes of "My Favorite Farm Tool" with Pa Mac. Most episodes will feature an explanation and description of various antique farm hand tools, along with helpful tips for restoring, maintaining, and using them.
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I'm IT person living in S. Cal, I do have a tiny hobby farm, a cow, few goats, chickens and bees. But I don't think I ever use or need a broad axe (or any other of your favorite farm tools). But I found your videos so interesting. Love the info, the jokes, the demonstration of how to use it - everything. Thank you for your time and knowledge.
A broad axe is probably the most utilized tool anyone could have. Great video as always, cheers :)
Whoa...I obviously haven't visited this channel in ages but... l don't ever remember seeing a video in which I heard you talking... this is refreshing! 😃
Thanks for sharing "The Broad Axe" with us today Pa ! I had a friend from Pennsylvania go back and visit some family and he had a friend there that got into AXE Making and he gave my friend several different axes and my friend in turn gave me a broad axe and a smaller camp axe. I will display and use them and when it comes time I will pass them on to other family members. Stay safe and keep up the great videos and fun around there. Fred.
Thank you for the broad axe education!.. I have a very nice old one with a hex carved handle that was my grandfathers. Now I need to go look at it to see where the bevel is. He was born in 1896, right handed and used it a lot. I remember him telling me he acquired it while still a young man right after WW1
I've never used a broad axe. Interesting episode, thanks for making these!
Hello friend you shared the video we have to learn a lot from you
I have my grandpas broad axe , he kept it razor sharp and talking about a workout! You would save a fortune in gym fees just by putting a couple hours a day with one of these!
Thanks for a very good video. I would like to share this with a like minded person, but honestly Pa Mac, I have never met a person with a mind like mine. 😀
Haha I know what you mean, but I've been blessed to live in a 2 story wormy chestnut log house built in 1820. I never knew about the notching and how the broadaxe was used but I've looked at the beautiful axe work on the interior walls for 24 years.
There is just something about a broad axe that just draws ya too them! When I do heritage days at schools everyone goes to the broad axe and pit saw! Love your tool videos!
Over here, I can't get kids to get off the drawknife and shaving horse. But it'd probably be hard for you to get me off your pit saw. Thanks for watchin', FlutyLickHomestead!
Howdy Jared- blessings to y’all
@@TheBeardedCarpenter y’all too! Hope y’all are well! I was hoping you watched this! I know your a broad axe master
Howdy- enjoyed your video on broad axes. I have several that are tuned up and useable. The handles I’ve made and use are more of an S shaped handle for hand and knuckle clearance. There can be quite a bit of work restoring old tools in a way that the temper isn’t lost. Hewing a log is the most therapeutic thing I have ever done. They are my favorite tool to use. Thank you so much for sharing the information about broad axes. God bless you
Thank you, Bearded Carpenter. Keep up the great work with your channel (I love your videos). Perhaps we'll run into one another in these Ouachita Mountains one day!
@@farmhandscompanion You are about an hour and half away from me. I just found your channel and really enjoy it. We need to meet up sometime. Blessings
It would be my pleasure! Look forward to meetin' you@@TheBeardedCarpenter
Very, very interesting and informative!
Outstanding video. Thanks for sharing.
Pa Mac, Would you a video or two on the jointing on the corners of the log buildings, and emphasize the how-to.
You the Man
I think Dan Dustin had it right in "tree to beam". All the concave marks in vintage timbers would indicate the bevel side was traditionally used toward the work piece
You would love Roskild Museum here in Danmark. They have recovered Viking ships and also make them there, the skill and craftsmanship is amazing and the broadaxes are many and varied. I like the offset handle broadaxe.
I visited that musuem this summer. That shop by the log yard was amazing. Hard to leave due to visualizing all the hand tools.
Also handy in the hatchet variety.
Now you’re speaking my language….on my bucket list is to forge my own….
Excellent
When I was just a kid I was given the job of cutting and splitting wood for the cook stove from slabs from the sawmill. My uncle put a kid sized straight handle in an old broad hatchet for my splitting ax. It worked great and helped me learn the flip splitting technique.
I really like this video, the broad ax is a great tool
Thank you, Michael
Thankyou and blessings
When I was a boy we would hew crossties out of oak for the railroad co. And we would use the waste for firewood.
I just recently got a broad axe. It is in very rough shape because it was used to square up graves. Love all your videos and would like to see one on a fodder saw.
Squarin' up graves! Never thought of that. Fodder saw's on the list, Greg.
Lol, when I first saw it I thought "Halloween edition, of with their heads! "
Around here in West Virginia alot of the old log cabins kept getting added onto as the family grew. After the modern sawmill made lumber more affordable many of them got sided over with clapboard siding. Its hard to tell how many are still in use today because theyre kinda a hidden treasure. From what i can tell,many of the unsided examples have the bottom logs,floor joists,and rafters made of hewn oak,while tulip poplar makes up the bulk of the rest. Around here it was found that a stone pier foundation was imployed for the sill logs to rest on to keep bugs out of the wood and to allow for ventilation.
@ciphercode2298 - My uncle's cabin in SW Arkansas was such a cabin. It was covered over at one point. When he died my father built a house on the land for his daughter. they reclaimed the old cabin, removed all the old siding, and refurbished it inside.
@@nealwright5630 my sister bought one here close to me that according to tax records was built in 1860. It's been empty for some time and they're refurbishing it for new flooring downstairs and some electrical work.
I had one that I bought with 5 other axe heads for 50.00 total . I removed a lot of the pitting with a puck grinding stone , it took me over 40 hours restoring it including getting it razor sharp since I planned on using it. Last month my cabin was broken into and of course they stole 3 of my axes including my broad axe .
I am wondering if the reason for the ol'timers making the logs flat like that .. isn't because it helped make them last longer by cutting the pith away from the center resin filled heartwood. When things like termites, beetle grubs, etc. work on the log it's mostly the pith .. so cutting it off on the sides might interrupt the protective layer? Passing thought as I watched this. Great Broad Axe Story!
Absolutely right, Merwin!
Interesting insight .. never heard that before!
Holy Moly ! same minds ! I just got a brood ax in the mail but the guy cut the handle (to ship it ) ???? andy way it in nice shape ! need handle ?? ya got one ? since my back won't be able to handle one any more it goes on the wall, unless someone wants one ? Ya want me to drop it off for ya to look at ?? mabey sell it for me ?
That grandson of yours is gonna need it one day. Better hang on to it for his sake!
From slc utah where can I find an axe like this, I assume online? Thx
I recommend using a "flap disc" on a grinder to remove rust and some pitting without the risk of overheating the metal and losing the temper. Flap duscs come in different grits, like sandpaper, and a person has the ability, if desired, to bring the tool to a mirror finish. If the pitting is too deep, you'll never get it all out, and at that point, it becomes a wall hanger.
That's a good word, Tom. I've used flap discs (especially 120 grit) with much success
I’ve found more than one that someone went and double beveled
They would be really great for splitting stove wood with two bevels
@@farmhandscompanion true
My dental hygeinist has one.
Before old tools became so popular as decorations, I would buy broadaxe heads at flea markets and on ebay for $20 or less. I checked prices the other day and about cried. 🤦
Hacker....as in "Tie Hack".... Thank You.
Pa Mac. That's what you say about all of your tools. 😂
You realize you're inflating the prices by suggesting everyone buy 2!
Have a question for keeping humidity down in the woodshop and outbuilding
Tips from a shipwright steams in a plastic bag in place an old 5 gallon steel gas can a hoze and a lobster pot cooker some tape you have ca steam set up like a macaroni noodle shape any eay you like Lewis is an expert at this !!
My handle is more offset than yours and a little longer. I like the size of yours. I might cut mine down some.