Category Archives: axe

Fluted Walnut Bowl

Posted on October 26, 2019 by Dave Fisher

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

Axe Sheath of Wood

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Dave Fisher

At last month’s Plymouth CRAFT Spoon Day, I saw Oliver Pratt’s cool wooden axe sheath.  It worked by pinning a wedge in place that secured the sheath.  Oliver had seen the concept somewhere and had created his sheath by chopping … Continue reading →

Posted in axe, green woodworking, layout, Lettering, patterns, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Thoreau and the Wooden Tray

Posted on May 11, 2019 by Dave Fisher

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Posted in adze, axe, green woodworking, historical reference, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Three Bears’ Bowls

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Dave Fisher

Among the projects I’ve got underway are these three bowls that Goldilocks might find just right for pilfered porridge.  I made use of a central section of the big cherry log I split up a few weeks ago.  I wrote … Continue reading →

Posted in axe, bowls, cherry, holding, layout, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged | 7 Comments

Getting Started

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Dave Fisher

For those interested in starting to carve bowls and spoons from green wood, the unfamiliarity and variety of the tools can be a little intimidating and confusing, especially when they see the large kits built up over many years by … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, axe, carving, green woodworking, tools, Uncategorized | 15 Comments

Der Mollenhauer

Posted on January 22, 2017 by Dave Fisher

I should have paid more attention in my high school German classes.  I do remember singing a song in German about a three-cornered hat or something — and I can still count.  It would be nice to sit and watch … Continue reading →

Posted in axe, bowls, finding wood, historical reference, tools, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Axe Work

Posted on September 18, 2016 by Dave Fisher

I’ve been roughing out a couple walnut bowls, which means plenty of fun axe work.  One of the more challenging aspects is shaping the end grain area S curve; the bowl will be convex as it leaves the bottom, then return in … Continue reading →

Posted in axe, classes, green woodworking, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Back in the Swing

Posted on June 23, 2016 by Dave Fisher

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. — Abraham Lincoln Although this is a widely known quote attributed to Lincoln, he probably never said it. Besides, Lincoln wouldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in axe, bird bowls, quotes and excerpts, sharpening, teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged | 3 Comments

Chips

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Dave Fisher

  Wood chips have a lot to reveal if you look closely.  I think they have a beauty and fascination all their own, a feeling that is shared especially by children.  At demonstrations, kids always pick up chips.  It seems … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, axe, green woodworking, tools, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

“Turning” Without a Lathe

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Dave Fisher

Months ago, I had a certain passage of poetry tumbling around in my head, and I envisioned it on a bowl.  But the bowl had to be round, and here I sat without a lathe — sort of. Actually, I do have a … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, axe, bowls, holding, layout, Lettering, tools, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 7 Comments