Axe Files

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Going way back into the Axe Files archives for this one. 😂🪓 This was one of the first splitting videos I ever made, back when my editing skills were nonexistent and my confidence was completely unjustified. First swing? Absolutely beautiful. Big round, clean split, one shot. Basically a professional. Second swing? Split the other half AND the splitting block underneath it. 💀 Apparently I was so impressed with myself that I decided to start processing the equipment too. I like to think I’ve gotten a lot better at splitting wood since then, but looking back, I was already pretty damn good at turning one piece of firewood into several pieces of firewood that weren’t supposed to be firewood. The splitting block had one job. Unfortunately, so did my axe. And my axe was better at its job. 😂 #AxeFiles #WoodSplitting #Firewood #AxeHumor #SplittingWood

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Another oversized black walnut spoon because apparently I’ve forgotten what normal-sized silverware looks like. 😂🪵🥄 There’s a reason black walnut is one of the most sought-after domestic hardwoods for woodworking, furniture making, and carving. And a lot of that comes down to its absolutely gorgeous grain. Black walnut heartwood can range from a lighter chocolate brown to a deep, almost purplish brown, sometimes with streaks of gray, black, and even reddish tones running through it. No two pieces are exactly alike, which is part of what makes working with it so interesting. One of my favorite things about walnut is how much the grain can change throughout a single piece. You might have perfectly straight, uniform grain in one section and then run into beautiful waves, curls, or swirling patterns around knots and where branches once grew. Those irregular grain patterns can make carving more challenging because the wood fibers change direction, increasing the chances of tear-out. But they’re also responsible for some of the most beautiful figuring you’ll find in a finished piece. Walnut is also a fantastic carving wood because it hits a nice middle ground. It’s hard enough to make a durable spoon, but generally workable enough to carve without fighting you every step of the way. It also tends to finish beautifully, especially when you apply oil. And that’s probably my favorite part of the whole process. Watching that first coat of oil soak in and bring out all the colors, grain, and character that were hiding in the wood. You can spend hours carving something, but those last 30 seconds of oiling are when it really comes to life. Plus, if I’m going to spend that much time making a spoon, I might as well make one big enough to stir a bathtub full of soup. 😂 #BlackWalnut #SpoonCarving #Woodworking #HandCarved #AxeFiles

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