Category Archives: sharpening

Bright Shrink Pot

Posted on July 8, 2019 by

Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.” The light flows from their branches. —Mary Oliver, from the poem “When I am Among the Trees” That poetry excerpt may look familiar.  I shared it last … Continue reading →

Posted in paint, patterns, quotes and excerpts, sharpening, shrink box, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Adze Adjustments

Posted on March 10, 2018 by

I’ve been getting a lot of good questions from people that, unable to find a good bowl adze, wish to make the most out of a less-than-ideal adze or refurbish an antique adze head.  I’ve written about adzes in several … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Sam Understands V-tools

Posted on September 22, 2017 by

As I was watching my buddy, Sam, poke his head into the kitchen through the cat door as he often does, I got to thinking about v-tools.  Sam’s problem is also the problem of many v-tools: his bottom is too … Continue reading →

Posted in books, bowls, sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 14 Comments

“Fish Say…” Shrink Pot

Posted on March 19, 2017 by

As I was shaving down the walls of this cherry shrink pot, I couldn’t help but notice a few small tight pin knots, mostly because the swirling grain direction around them was causing me fits.  Then I thought they might … Continue reading →

Posted in cherry, Lettering, quotes and excerpts, sharpening, shrink box, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

The T-Handle Auger

Posted on October 12, 2016 by

To bore the initial hole in a shrink pot, I use an auger, typically this two-inch diameter T-handle auger.  I found mine at flea market years ago.  Large augers like this aren’t rare, but there are a few things to … Continue reading →

Posted in sharpening, tools, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

What’s Wrong with this Edge?

Posted on July 28, 2016 by

Look at the lines of reflection on the beautiful polished surface.  The polish is good.  The fact that the lines of reflection take a bit of a nosedive as they reach the cutting edge is a problem, and a very … Continue reading →

Posted in sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged | 12 Comments

Back in the Swing

Posted on June 23, 2016 by

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

Sharpening an Adze

Posted on May 7, 2016 by

I took some photos tonight while I sharpened my adze.  I wrote about my general sharpening procedure for an axe in this post a while back.  The general idea is the same, but sharpening an adze can be more intimidating … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged | 6 Comments

What Thumbnails Are For

Posted on December 19, 2015 by

Sharp makes everything better; less force is required to cut, control is gained, and the surface left from the tool is superior.  As obvious as that is, it is easily forgotten in the midst of a project and the haste … Continue reading →

Posted in sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The Apple of His Eye

Posted on June 19, 2015 by

Near the end of March 1845, I borrowed an axe and went down to the woods by Walden Pond nearest to where I intended to build my house…. The owner of the axe, as he released his hold on it, … Continue reading →

Posted in axe, carving, quotes and excerpts, sharpening, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments