Category Archives: axe

Koa Bowl

The wood for most of what I make comes from trees that grow within a few miles of my house, which is more than enough to make me happy. I’m fortunate to live in an area with so many diverse … Continue reading

Posted in axe, bowls, carving, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged | 12 Comments

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Posted in adze, axe, bowls, historical reference, Persons, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized, video | Tagged | 4 Comments

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

Axe Sheath of Wood

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 , , | 10 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Posted in adze, axe, green woodworking, historical reference, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Three Bears’ Bowls

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

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

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

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

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