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An Ax to Grind: Part 1 of A Practical Ax Manual
The woodsman's indispensable manual for ax maintenance, care, and sharpening, courtesy of the USDA Forest Service. December 22, 2006
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Brief History of the Ax
- Evolution of the Ax in America
- Ax Types, Patterns, and Uses
- American Felling Ax
- Double-Bit Ax
- Broad Ax
- Other Axes and Hatchets
- Adzes
- Decline of the American Ax
Getting the Hang of It
- Basics of Handle Selection
- Hanging Procedure
- Sharpening
Using Axes
- A Most Versatile Tool
- Using an Ax Safely
- Chopping Technique
- Felling Trees
- Limbing
- Cutting Pinned-Down Saplings
- Bucking
- Splitting
- Hewing
Buying an Ax
- New and Used Axes
- Manufacturers
- Distributors
- Organizations
Selected References
Acknowledgments
From the time this manuscript began as a series of audio tapes, An Ax to Grind: A Practical Ax Manual has benefited from a lot of assistance. I would like to thank the following Missoula Technology and Development Center staff and other Forest Service employees for their major contributions.
John Alley (Northern Region), Printing
Bob Beckley, Photography
Michelle Beneitone, Text processing
Ted J. Cote, Design and layout
Gary Hoshide, Review
Jim Kautz, Photography
Bert Lindler, Editing
David Michael (Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest), Review
Brian Vachowski, Project Leader, research,writing, editing
Gloria Weisgerber (Northern Region), Review
Mark Wiggins, Photography
Jerry Taylor Wolf, Research, editing
I would also invite you to look at the companion video program, An Ax to Grind. Parts 1 and 2 of the program are each 30 minutes long. Copies are available from MTDC at the following address:
USDA Forest Service
Missoula Technology and Development Center
5785 Highway 10 West
Missoula, MT 59808
Many of the photographs are of axes from Bernie Weisgerber's personal collection. Many of the illustrations were drawn by Frederic H. Kock for Bernard S. Mason's book, Woodsmanship (1954). The illustrations are used here by permission of Mrs. Frederic H. Kock.
View the next part in this series
Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?
KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base
KnowledgeBase: Forestry
KnowledgeBase: Forestry: Timber Harvesting
KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing
KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing: Woodlot Management
KnowledgeBase: Woodworking Miscellaneous
KnowledgeBase: Woodworking Miscellaneous: Tool Maintenance
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