Axe: Difference between revisions
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Shaping and sharpening the axe head; starting writing, adjusting to prevent copyvios |
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== Crafting instructions == | == Crafting instructions == | ||
=== Shaping and sharpening the axe head === | |||
To craft the axe head, hit off a piece of the source rock for the head with a hammering rock that can be held comfortably in your hand and with an even rock face. | |||
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that you can hold comfortably in your hand, with an even rock face | |||
Before you can shape the axe head, you will need to hit source rock that will become your axe head. Strike the upper edge of the source rock with the large hammer. | |||
Focus on striking off flakes and slabs of rock as you hit the source rock. Use short, swift hits against the source rock, lifting your arm a few feet from the source rock and coming down steadily with the hammering rock. | |||
You can attempt to hit off a large slab that can be used as your axe head or hit down the source rock until it becomes the right size for the axe head. | |||
Be careful as you hit the source rock, as shards of rock will likely fly around. | |||
It is better to work slow and steady here so you do not have chunks of rock flying around you. | |||
You might want to wear safety eye and hand protection for safety to protect yourself from flying rock shards. | |||
The goal is to have an axe head that is the size of your palm or a bit larger. Be patient, as it may take several hours to hit down the source rock until it is the ideal size for the axe head. | |||
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Peck the river rock with the hammering rock. If you are using a river rock, you will need to take your time when pecking it down with the hammering rock. The grains of the river rock must be removed slowly as you can damage or split the rock if you are not careful. Work on one small area of the rock at a time and use short, swift strokes to carefully peck away at the river rock.[6] | |||
It can take several hours to peck away at the river rock. You should work outdoors in a comfortable area. | |||
Be careful of small pieces of river rock flying toward you as you peck the rock. If you work slow and steady, they should not be a major hazard. | |||
Image titled Make a Stone Axe Step 7 | |||
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Form the cutting edge of the axe head. Once you have hit or pecked down the rock until it is about the size of your palm, you will need to form the cutting edge of the axe head so it is sharp. The axe head should taper down toward the cutting edge. The cutting edge should be a similar thickness to a steel axe, with a narrow edge.[7] | |||
Hold the axe head so it is vertical, resting on the wide side of the rock. Use the hammering rock to form a narrow end of the axe head by hitting the rock in small, short movements. You want this end to dip down so it forms a narrow edge. This edge will become the cutting edge of the axe head. | |||
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Polish and sharpen the axe head on a stone with water. Polishing the rock will help it to stay durable and sharp. You can use the leftover source rock if there is a slab that is thick enough and wide enough to rub the axe head against it. Alternatively, you can look for a large flat piece of rock that has an even surface, as this will act as your polishing rock.[8] | |||
Pour a handful of water on the stone and start to rub the wide, flat side of the axe head against the stone. Use both hands to rub the stone back and forth, making sure to keep the polish rock wet with water. | |||
Polish down all sides of the axe head so it appears even and smooth on all sides. This could take a couple of hours so be patient and take your time. | |||
You may also want to use a smaller rock to polish the cutting edge of the rock. Make sure the axe head is wet as you use the small rock along the cutting edge of the rock, rubbing until the cutting edge appears smooth and even. This will mean it is also sharp enough to chop through wood and other plant matter. | |||
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Attaching the Axe Head to the Axe HandleDownload Article | |||
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Split the axe handle and insert the axe head. One method of attaching the axe head to the handle is to split the handle down the middle, forming a gap large enough to fit the axe head. You should try to create a split that is symmetrical and not leaning to one side. You can do this using a knife or using a sharp stone.[9] | |||
You may want to try to knock or hit away at the top of the handle slowly with the sharp stone, making sure the wood is soft and "green" so it does not break. | |||
If you are using a knife, you can carve out a symmetrical split in the handle, making sure the width of one both sides of the handle are the same. | |||
Once the split is large enough to fit the axe head, gently slide the axe head into the split. | |||
2 | |||
Soak the top of the handle and wrap it around the axe head. Another method is to soak the top of the handle in water so it is soft and pliable. Then, you can bend the wood around the axe head so it is attached to the handle.[10] | |||
If the top of the handle is very thick, you may want to thin it out using a knife or a sharp stone. This can then make it easier to bend the wood. | |||
You will need to ensure the wood is very soft and flexible to use this method of attachment. You may want to work slowly and bend the top of the handle in increments so it does not break. | |||
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Use cord made of bark or wet rawhide to secure the axe head. Whether you use the split method or the wrap method, you will need to secure the axe head to the handle so it does not fall out when you use the axe. You can use cord made of bark, such as hibiscus bark, or wet rawhide, if you have access to rawhide.[11] | |||
You should twist the cord so it is strong and durable. Do this by looping one piece of cord over the other to form a twisted cord. The twisted cord should be long enough to wrap around the axe head several times. | |||
Wrap the cord tightly around the axe head, crossing the cord over so it forms an "X" shape on the axe head. Do this twice and then tie the cord around the handle several times. | |||
4 | |||
Burn a hole through the axe handle and insert the axe head. This method requires access to a fire, but it does not involve cord and can be a useful way to secure the axe head well in the axe handle.[12] | |||
To use this method, you will need to use a sharp rock and a piece of wood to hammer in a hole a few inches from the top of the handle. You can also use a knife if you have access to one. You want a hole that is wide enough to fit the axe head. You can measure this by holding the axe head against the side of the handle and marking the width of the axe head on the handle. | |||
You will then need to heat up a long piece of wood in a fire until it is burning and smoking. Blow on it until you have a hot point on the wood. Run the hot point around the hole on the handle to smooth out the hole and shape it so it fits the axe head well. | |||
Once you have a well shaped hole, place the axe head into the hole, sharpened edge facing upward. Use a piece of wood to knock the axe head into the handle. Hold the axe head with one hand and make a few swift knocks on the axe head with the piece of wood until the axe head is in place. | |||
You should check that there are small gaps of space between the sides of the axe head and the hole in the handle. Small gaps are good, as this will prevent the handle from splitting when you use the axe. | |||
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== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 14:06, 27 March 2022
An axe is a tool used to shape, split or cut wood, and as a weapon. The axe has many forms and specialised uses but generally consists of an axe head with a handle, or helve.
Materials needed
- Large rock with perpendicular edges or a river rock
- Green wood, meaning that it that has been recently harvested and therefore has not had an opportunity to dry, or from a young or small tree. This will ensure the wood can be bent and shaped without breaking.
- Cord, made of bark or wet rawhide.
Crafting instructions
Shaping and sharpening the axe head
To craft the axe head, hit off a piece of the source rock for the head with a hammering rock that can be held comfortably in your hand and with an even rock face.
References
| This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Axe, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (view authors). | 
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External links
- How to craft a stone axe - Wikihow