draw knife

The quickie custom draw knife has become the favorite for peeling logs.

That is cute as a bug's ear! <G>

Old handlebars and lawnmower blade? Nice!

Get a nice set of bike grips and you can go all day

I'm guessing they used old planer knives from the sawmills. Nice and heavy duty with great tool steel

Looks like it will do the job. The wide handles are much more ergonomic than the ones that point back at the operator. You wouldn't have to hold this one so tightly. Less fatigue. A couple of washers welded near the tips of the handles would hold rawhide handle grips from slipping off. If you were to apply the handle cover and use the tool lightly before it dries, it will conform to your hand just like wet cowboy boots develop that perfect fit. This is way easier on the inner knuckles. On cold days, you'll prefer leather to bare steel.

I saw one that was slightly curved to match the curve of the log.

Some very durable ones are made from old planer blades from sawmills. The metal is very high quality. edit--- Caleb said that already. Larger planer blades are great for making froes and barking spuds.

The almost new draw knife that I bought for $5 at a yard sale this summer, was made in Germany.

In the right hands, a barking spud is effective. It can be used to trim little branches and knots smoothly. The weight of the tool carries it through the knot.

http://diytimberframe.com/barking-spud/

That's pretty neat! What type of welder did you use?

Howdy Nate, welcome to permies!

Miles Flansburg wrote:Howdy Nate, welcome to permies!

Thanks!

That is definately a machine weld or someone at least halfway knows how to stick weld Mine is slightly curved (draw knife that is). I made it out of a piece of old leaf spring from a jeep I put new suspension on. I also used the spring eye and cut out one side of some high carbon angle to make a froe. Haven't had the chance to use either yet but should in the near future.

et al & the 'pCloud' : First the germane part, Can someone find Bill Coperthwaite's 'Democratic Axe' and post a picture complete with the pattern ?!!

Many of our Permies.com members will recognize him as the man who invented the Yurt that looks like a Pagoda, and the tapered wall Yurt !
Bill was killed in a car accident on the 26th ! R.I.P. Bill Coperthwaite ! Big AL !

allen lumley wrote:et al & the 'pCloud' : First the germane part, Can someone find Bill Coperthwaite's 'Democratic Axe' and post a picture complete with the pattern ?!!

Many of our Permies.com members will recognize him as the man who invented the Yurt that looks like a Pagoda, and the tapered wall Yurt !
Bill was killed in a car accident on the 26th ! R.I.P. Bill Coperthwaite ! Big AL !

Are any of these the one you mean?
mother earth news article


Version two

wiki page

Len Ovens : Both actually, (see our 'pCloud' works) the upper one is desined to be used much like a broad axe and is tapered on the far Side I THINK it looks like one I
saw with a handle close to 40''- 1 meter long no way were you going to chop off a toe with that !

Bill Coperthwaite might not met a lot of peoples ideas of what a Permie was, But He was a greenie before it was cool or easy ! Thank you ! R.I.P. Bill Coperthwaite Bg AL !

We are hoping to purchase one or two draw knives, if anyone has one available. I'm told that I need to go around to our suite of pawn shops here, and look for good ones, but with all of our farming and winter projects - and international projects - I just haven't had time. Someone is welcome to send me a message and the details if you have one (or two) available.

Noah

You might try connecting with these guys:

http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools

Mostly just talk but you don't have to travel to reach them and there are a fair number of members. I'd think some might be interested in somebody actually _needing_ old tools and could be something might pan out. Long shot but heck, it's over the internet and doesn't require driving...

But local would pay more dividends. Have you considered putting a small blurb in the local paper? Some country radio stations have 10 minutes or so once a day where they air telephone messages from listeners asking for stuff, selling stuff, etc... Maybe you got something around like that. Going to church a bit might be your best bet, though. Stay for the coffee and donuts and mingle and spread the word. Wudya think religion is for anyway!? <g>


Rufus