A little more fancy axe work
I thought that everyone might enjoy seeing Roald and his associates doing a little more axework. Here’s a video of them beveling a beam:
It’s quick, leaves a great surface and can be done where there’s no electricity or gasoline. Roald tells me that the axe he is using is a replica of a medieval Norwegian type made by a local smith. They are working in a manner that allows them to duplicate the tool marks found in Scandinavian stave churches. This finished section of the beam was oval and it was used in a reconstructed house in Stiklestad.
Just in case you might think that these guys are working in the shop all day long, watch how Roald drops a tree right where he wants it. Watch the entire 4 minutes and pay close attention to his technique.
Roald has a number of other videos on YouTube that are well worth watching. And, I’m going to encourage him to put more videos up of the work they’re doing at the University.
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A Woodworker's Musings 
May 4, 2014 at 1:57 am
Oh man I wish I’d bought that hewing axe I saw last week…
May 4, 2014 at 9:49 pm
There are plenty more out there, Matt. Believe me. Once I started letting friends, relations and associates know that I wanted to do a little research, they started turning up out of nowhere. (Now, I must admit, I have bought a few.) I must say, that if planing is therapy, working with an axe is “treatment x 2”. And it’s just another way to build your skills. Be sure to follow Roald. You’ll have to do some translating, etc. But it’s well worth the effort.
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