Category Archives: adze

Long Handled Adze

Although I rarely use it, I do have a hollowing adze meant to be swung with two hands. For large bowls, it can help to hog out material a little faster. It was looking lonely, so I pulled it off … Continue reading

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Perico the Bowlmaker

I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. How could I know? I could die right now, or maybe I’ll die tomorrow. When will it be? In the meantime, I’ll keep making bowls for as long as I can. … Continue reading

Posted in adze, axe, bowls, historical reference, Persons, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized, video | Tagged | 4 Comments

Carving American Chestnut 2: A Full Hollow

Following up on this post about carving a bowl in American chestnut, I’ll share some photos and thoughts on the hollowing process. That cross grain trench in the photo above is something I’ve discussed in more detail before. It establishes … Continue reading

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Another Bowl Beginning

Why does this never get old? As I was roughing out this big cherry bowl, I thought about how I’ve gone through this process so many times over the years, and yet it remains completely engaging, even thrilling. I suppose … Continue reading

Posted in adze, cherry, green woodworking, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Patience

As I was using my adze to rough out some spoons this weekend, I was reminded by a few emails that folks are still having a tough time getting their hands on a good adze. This can be seen as … Continue reading

Posted in adze, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged | 15 Comments

Adze Article

Fine Woodworking Magazine gave me a chance to write about adzes and the article is in the current issue, just out, in case you’re interested. I focused on the concepts, as I understand them based on my experience, that allow … Continue reading

Posted in adze, tools, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Elbow Adze

I intended to do this over three years ago — make an elbow adze.  My intentions were so sincere that I purchased the iron from Kestrel Tool.  I even found a branch junction that would work well for the haft … Continue reading

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Knotty Story

This tale from my isolated workshop is actually quite tame compared to Boccaccio’s famous ones from the 14th Century told by a group of friends isolating themselves in an Italian villa; unfortunately timely circumstances. Amid the adjustments to the ever … Continue reading

Posted in adze, bowls, layout, nature, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Fluted Walnut Bowl

After making many bowls, I’m still thrilled by the prospect of shaping a rough chunk of log into a finished bowl.  The just-finished walnut bowl in the two photos above began with flattening the bottom and fairing the upper surface … Continue reading

Posted in adze, axe, quotes and excerpts, tools, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

Thoreau and the Wooden Tray

Not long ago, a friend referred me to an unabridged entry in Henry David Thoreau’s journal.  Here’s the first paragraph: October 19, 1858: Barrett’s apprentice, it seems, makes trays of black birch and of red maple, in a dark room … Continue reading

Posted in adze, axe, green woodworking, historical reference, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 11 Comments