forginhill Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 This is the first time I've posted on this forum. I am a novice to say the least. I grew up in the Amazon jungle of Brazil with Indian people. They made and still make dugout canoes. My dad went down to visit these same people last week and took with him one of the most sought after items for these people--an adze. He paid over $70 for it and it was hard to find. It was a very large adze. They use them to make their dugout canoes. While he was down there he received orders (with pleading and begging) for five more. On a previous trip he had tried to take down a smaller carpenter's adze and the Indians just laughed. They can only use the really big ones. It's kind of sad to me that they actually depend on the tools we stick on our walls as artifacts. Anyway, I really want to try making some of these adzes, but I'm not sure where to start. My first thought is to drift a hole in some large stock and go from there, rather than the wrap around and weld that people do for 'hawks. I have some one inch round re-bar, but I'm not sure if that would be big enough. I was wondering if you guys could give me some direction on this. I know adzes typically have rectangular eyes. Is there a good reason for this? Could they have an oval and round eye? Thanks, Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 Hi, I'm afraid I can't really help you much as far as the ins and outs of how and why Adze's are made the way they are but I can certainly point you in the direction of an expert. The gentleman you should try to speak to is called Jon Dahlmo, he's one of (if not the) best wood working toolsmiths in Norway and Scandinavia. He will certainly be able to tell you how to make the tool you want, he speaks fair English but his wife is fluent so write him an email. His website and email address are:smia@dahlmo.no (email adress)http://www.dahlmo.no/ (web site) If you explain why your writing and tell him that 'Ian from England' said he was THE guy to talk to he might just help you out. hope this helps till others chip in. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 If you are not skilled in making these perhaps modifying a pickaxe would be the fastest way to go. Most old pickaxes will be of an appropriate steel at least here in the USA. The eye is rectangular so that the head will not want to turn on the handle during use. The heads and handles are also tapered so that the head seats itself more firmlly during use rather than coming off. BTW do they use the flat adze or the gutter adze? Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forginhill Posted February 22, 2006 Author Share Posted February 22, 2006 Thanks, I'll email Jon Dahlmo and see what he tells me. It's not a flat adze so I assume it's a gutter adze. I've seen adzes where just the edges turn up but it's not like that either. The whole cutting edge is curved. These people are desperate for them as they rely so heavily on their dugout canoes. If I could make some for them, they would be forever grateful. I might try modifying a pickaxe. Thanks again for the advice. Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 ...or start with what we used to call a "grubbing hoe". Might be the same thing Thomas is referring to but the ones I've owned had an ax on one side and a mattock on the other. Seems it would be pretty easy to make an adze from one of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolano Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 There are a few books about making woodworking tools, you might see what you can dig up on that. I need to ask a friend what the books he has are called. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GobblerForge Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Where to start. The eye is squared, as Thomas said, to keep the head aligned during use. The eye is tapered so it stays tight during use and the helve (handle) can be removed to sharpen. This is because the edge is ground on the inside. The curve is to allow the arc of swing to bring the bit to the work more flat. Your basic adze is called a foot adze. The cuved lips on the sides make it a shipwright's adze. And if it is half pipe shaped it is a gutter adze. If you get a handle, you can make a rectangular drift to match the shape. Take a piece of 1 1/2" square stock, split and drift the eye first. Then fuller and draw the rest. They are not horrably complicated but can be some work. Gobbler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forginhill Posted February 23, 2006 Author Share Posted February 23, 2006 It's definitely a gutter adze (half-pipe shaped). I have some picks and mattocks I can modify, but I have to try making one too. The thickest stock I have is one inch square. I'll have to look around to see if I can find some 1 1/2 inch stock. Slitting and drifting that eye will be a challenge. Might need to cheat and drill some holes first. Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lflj Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 I really want to try making some of these adzes You might want o consider making a traditional Japanese adze. They would scale up easily to the size needed by ythe Brazilian canoe makers. The ones made in Japan are usually laminated forge-welded blades, heavy and durable with a square socket for a curved or straight handle. If you are interested in following up on this here is a small collection of links:http://dougukan.jp/eng/dougu-e/e07chona.html Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museumhttp://dougukan.jp/http://www.hidatool.com/woodpage/axe,adze/adze.html Traditional Crafts of Japanhttp://www.kougei.or.jp/english/metal.htmlhttp://www.japanesetools.com/tools/adzesandaxes/adzesandaxes.phphttp://www.fine-tools.com/G310632.htm Tools of Canoe Carvinghttp://www.uoregon.edu/~mspp/kapingamarangi/k10-too.htm Echigo Yoita forged bladeshttp://www.b-zenjapan.com/crafts/niigata_11.phtml Lawrence North Carolina, USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quenchcrack Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 Woodcraft carries both hand and foot adzes. You might consider a more traditional adze that binds a flat or curved blade to an L-shaped hardwood handle. Another popular method is to bind the blade to a D-shaped handle, with the blade along the straight part of the D. Do an internet search for adze and I am sure you will get some good ideas that do not involve complex forging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forginhill Posted February 25, 2006 Author Share Posted February 25, 2006 Thanks for the links, Lawrence. I have seen a few pics of Japanese adzes and they look well made. I just don't know how they make them but I now have some ideas to try. I will look up the pages you posted. Thanks too, Quenchcrack. Those are some good ideas. The Indians tend to be pretty traditional and inflexibe. I'm not sure they would like the alternative styles. Not to mention it seems like those other styles wouldn't have as much weight in the head. These guys want heavy adzes. The ones my dad has been taking down are the largest ones Woodcraft sells. They're made in Germany. The Indians say the steel holds up on them better than any of the others they've tried. These adzes have a small poll(?) on the other side that increases the head weight and maybe was meant to serve as a hammer head. I was just talking to my dad and he couldn't put into words how much these people want adzes. The guy who got the one he took down came three times to visit and thank him. Then made a bow and arrow set for my dad as a thank you. They're desperate for them. Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lflj Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 The ones my dad has been taking down are the largest ones Woodcraft sells. Lee Valley Tools and Garrett Wade will also have adze's worth looking at, probably Scandinavian made. The Japanese adzes would probably be the easiest to make and you could make laminated forge welded blades - just mig or tig weld an eye for the handle onto the adze - use square tube stock. LL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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