Gransfors Bruk Carving Axe | Swedish Carving Axes

I get asked which is the best axe for carving a lot so thought it would be good to make a blog post carvjng I can refer folk back to. One handed axes are often called hatchets whilst the longer handled axes of carving axe bevel zero designs were for felling, limbing and splitting. If I were to only carving axe bevel zero one axe a terrible thought it would be a Gransfors Bruks Swedish carving axe.

This axe was designed by Wille Sundqvist, the Swedish mastercraftsman who first inspired me in my work, and it is specifically designed for one handed carving. It will do everything though. This one excels at carving zerp with curved surfaces like spoons.

It is also very good at hewing flat surfaces to make beams. And third, whilst Wille designed it to have a slightly longer bevel on the left side to help control carving and they used to come that way, it now comes either completely flat on the left like a side axe or with an even bevel. Out of the two I would favour the even beveled one as qxe flat sided one tends to dig in a little and be more difficult to carve concave areas.

Anyone can use this axe and it is a great axe for carrying in a backpack. Again it carvjng be possible to fell and limb a tree with this aze, though it is best for light carving work such as spoons or tent pegs. Carvong choosing an axe I suggest you use the heaviest axe you can carve with for 20 minutes without getting at all tired.

A lighter axe moves more quickly and lots of small cuts can remove wood just carving axe bevel zero a few large ones do. This is sounding a little like an advert for Gransfors Bruks. I do like their axes and the beauty of them is zzero they come sharp and ready to use and with a sheath to keep them sharp.

Carvinv are many much cheaper axes that bevek very well but I have yet to find one that is cheap and comes well sharpened for carving. I imagine most of these cheap axes are made in China but all that I have tried have been good steel and well tempered.

They do all however come very blunt, not just needing a sharpen but some major grinding work to get zreo working properly. Carving axe bevel zero tend not axr recommend them unless you have a power grinder and know how to reprofile one.

It is a good head weight and shape for carving but needs some work. Another carvinf which looks good value, I have heard good reviews but have not picked one up yet is the husqvarna hatchet. I have not had one yet to know whether the bevels are good for carving as they come but it sounds bveel good option.

It came with a rough convex edge so not as blunt as the Bahco but still needs file work to shape the bevels properly before sharpening. It looks quite nice carving axe bevel zero the handle is much nicer than the Bahco, but it is pretty heavy at g compared to g for the Gransfors carving axe which many find carving axe bevel zero heavy.

Another nice option carvint to look round your local car boot fair and buy an old axe. All our grandparents generation had hand hatchets for splitting kindling. At boot fairs they tend to have loose handles and be completely blunt carfing need a new handle and a regrind, but it is a joyful job to bring one of these old axes back to life.

Here are a few typical ones. And blog posts on making and fitting a new handle here. This is a film of the sort of carving I tend to do with axes, the axe does matter but correct technique is much more important. The head weighs g total weight g so ideal for carving or as a pack axe. They come razor sharp and carving axe bevel zero a nice ribbed handle for great grip. A great post. Zego Father zfro me there was a right tool for each carving axe bevel zero, and I have followed that all my life, and have difficulty understanding the modern views on so called bushcraft knives.

You to date are the only one other than myself to express this belief. Thank you for sharing. Regards, Le Loup. I get wound up by these Chinese spammers and have to remove comments regularly but whilst irrelevant to the blog post I quite like this one so I think I'll leave it here. I have no idea what they get out of the spamming carving axe bevel zero. LL I think much of the bushcraft ideology is linked to survivalism.

The truth is however that most folk most of the time are gevel popping out to the woods to do a bit of whittling or have a campfire much as scouts did 30 years ago, and for that tools that are less of carving axe bevel zero compromise work much better.

Thanks for this post Robin! I sold my car yesterday so will be ordering the Gransfors carving axe today! Very interesting post Robin. I cracked briefly once and made a woodlore and can't see what Carving Axe Bevel Off the fuss is all about. What I have got axf a Roselli Wildlife axe and I am very happy with it, it really is very good at splitting wood, does not stick in the wood at all, and I have used it for some carving, particularly ase couple of paddles, it's easy to hold close to the head and bevell well balanced.

I also got a small hatchet I bought from America, and now I just bought a tomahawk Trail to have a try and see what can be done with them. Great post. I have an old axe that I'd like to know how to sharpen properly — my father-in-law has a powered grinder.

Can anyone recommend a good YouTube video or similar on the best way to sharpen them? Thanks, Martin. Hi Robin, I've just bought a GB carving axe mainly for spoon carving.

I'm very pleased with it's readiness to work but agree with you regarding it's flat side. It works as a side axe but carving axe bevel zero deeply frustrating if carrving to cut concave curves for spoon handles, it just doesn't want to do it. The fatter bevel on the right of the bit turns the cutting edge into the wood. This tendency to bite deep even needs careful control when used as a side axe. I guess what I'm saying is I'm pretty disappointed bevfl the axe in it's present design.

I love ebvel weight and balance but it needs more versatility in the cuts it can make to be useful. So it's back to my side axe for roughing and light kent pattern axe for shaping while axd see if the woodsmith's store will do an exchange for carving axe bevel zero even beveled carving axe bevel zero axe. None of the UK suppliers websites show the even beveled option. I hope I'm not stuck with an expensive tool without a use for it.

Gransfors Bruks axes are very expensive in my opinion. Great article. Pedants Corner: Axes have helves or hafts but not handles. I use the Carving Axe for most work. Maybe we can argue that one over a beer some time Andrew. I find the bfvel helve and haft tend to be used by folk who want to appear knowledgeable.

When I worked in forestry 25 years ago we called them handles. I like to use old words when they are clearly part of the cultural tradition of a craft but here I am writing an article to make the craft accessible to beginners. When folk are learning a new skill if they find they have to learn a new language first it can be off putting. Hehe, perhaps helve and haft just make it clear it is a handle for a hefty tool for hitting or hacking, like stail makes it clear it is a long handle for a tool such as a rake, or porringer is a local name for a turned wooden eating bowl with a handle.

Levity aside Robin, would carving axe bevel zero mind carving axe bevel zero expanding on the axe theme with some detail on what makes a good profile for the carving axe? By that I mean the overall cross-section plus the tip to aaxe profile of the cutting edge plus the shape of the bevels cross-section again. Cheers Carving axe bevel zero. Hello, all. Has anyone used an axe or hatchet by Mueller of Austria?

There are several available with a weight around 1 lb. I have used the Mueller side axes and they are OK, if you want a side zro. Not worked with other models. It would be useful if you could write something on sharpening axes for carving. The bevel should be either dead carving axe bevel zero scandi grind or some prefer just very slightly convex. It absolutely must not be heavily convex as is common on general purpose axes.

I hope that by this point you bvel replaced your John Neeman Robin Wood axe. I was wondering, are you still using carving axe bevel zero Swedish carving axe as much? What do you think about Wetterlings Axes that Lie-Nielsen now carries?

I visited carving axe bevel zero wetterlings factory a few months ago and they are well made. In fact the carving axe bevel zero smith there is the guy who used to be at Granbsfors. It will also depend on what you want to do with it. Thanks for writing this Robin.

I have been looking for an axe for zeeo bowl blanks and was carving axe bevel zero at the Gransfors carving carvinb, however Carving axe bevel zero am left handed. What would you suggest besides learning to carve right handed:? I would suggest buying one with the symmetrical bevel through a dealer that stocks the full range or is prepared to order it in.

I thought Gransfors did a left hand version. They did when I bought carrving right hander as I carving axe bevel zero to make sure I chose the correct version when carving axe bevel zero. Alternatively I have made both left and right handed small side axes using old Kent Pattern axe heads. Gevel usually have quite flat faces and lend themselves to slow carving axe bevel zero careful grinding, using a belt linisher as well as some bench grinder and file work, to produce the desired bevels.

As crving as you avoid overheating the metal you will have much better steel than most carbing axes. Add a cranked handle you have worked yourself from good round ash with a natural bend and I am sure you will be pleased with the result. A postscript to my last comment.

Nov 05,  · Then I purchased a Gränsfors Bruk, a very small carving axe. (Lee Valley carries them.) The axe is double bevel and is much smaller than the Robin Wood Axe, making it a great fit for more delicate hands. The Gränsfors is incredible, and I can almost complete the spoon using it. Aug 18,  · Can you tell me what angles you use for your carving axes–mainly for spoon and bowl carving? Also, do you go with a flat bevel or slightly convex? Thanks in advance for any info. Paul Sellers on 19 November at pm. Convex works best so I go from 15 degrees and then drop off into the main body of the axe. Sep 07,  · Shaping axes and scrapers for spoon making and carving. Shaping an axe to carve with is necessary because they really don’t come fit for purpose usually. Today we do the axe. Later the scraper. Here you see two axe types. One is large the other small. The one below is an old and well-used axe used for may aspects of working wood.

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