James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Wood Carving Axe Tool by Gransfors Bruks | Curved Handle, Swedish Design
1 min read
When craftsmen of today try to recreate the work of previous generations, there’s a good chance they’ll just end up wondering how those old-timers did that. Modern tools were designed for modern materials and often don’t fare well on traditional challenges. The Gransfors Bruks Swedish Carving Axe is one of the old secrets you probably wouldn’t consider, but it works amazingly well.
One of the first steps in a simple traditional project — like making a bread bowl the old way, out of green wood — is to round up the outer shape of the block. The Swedish Carving Axe makes that work short and simple. Wille Sundqvist and Onni Linnanheimo designed this sculptor’s axe based on the tools used in the Swedish wood carving trade. The wide flare of the 4-1/3-inch cutting edge rises above the head of the axe, and the slightly curved 14-inch-long American hickory handle lifts the knuckles clear of the work surface. Chopping with the two-pound carving axe requires a short curved stroke with a shearing action. In most types of wood, it’s possible to make large changes very quickly with this tool — and in awkward hands, the mistakes are equally large. Study some of the old techniques before tackling anything important. Gransfors Bruks includes a manual on axe craft with every product.
Handles are a sore point with me, since many wooden tool handles today are not the best quality. From Gransfors Bruks, expect good handles that fit. The wood will be lightly rubbed with linseed oil and beeswax, not lacquer that hides flaws in the wood.
The smiths of Gransfors Bruks are not pressured to produce high quantities of ordinary tools. Instead, these artisans are expected to take their time and do things right. There are no touch-up tricks involved. If it’s Gransfors Bruks it has to be right, and when the smith is satisfied that the axe meets his standards, he punches his initials in the axehead. You’ll be able to tell who made this axe — the company publishes a list.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
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When craftsmen of today try to recreate the work of previous generations, there’s a good chance they’ll just end up wondering how those old-timers did that. Modern tools were designed for modern materials and often don’t fare well on traditional challenges. The Gransfors Bruks Swedish Carving Axe is one of the old secrets you probably wouldn’t consider, but it works amazingly well.
