Peter Hutter

You bet Andy! They rock. Was introduced to both the saw and GB axes by the Northwoods guide and author Cliff Jacobson years ago. His favorites as well.

Thank you Jay!

Hello,

Yesterday I cut 2 large somewhat wet (it had been down for a time all ready) red oak trunk sections, one of which I intend to use for a new ironwork anvil stand, and the other for doing copper and silver work right on the wood. I'm wondering if it would be a good idea for me to linseed oil the cut ends so the logs don't dry out too fast to help reduce cracking. I'm in SW Wisconsin and they'll likely be closer to outdoor temps sitting in an unheated building for a while until I bring them into the heated shop in a few weeks. Any advice here would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
Peter.

I have to chime in here about GB axes. I think they are superb for a small scale mass produced tool, and personally well worth the cost. I have 2 of their hatchets, the small splitting maul, and the Scando Forest Axe, all superb tools and much better for my purposes than any mass produced American axes I have used. I do think hand made tools are often best, and being an apprentice blacksmith I plan to make my own soon. The Swedes have been making fine axes for a long time, and Lars Enander, a master axe maker and 5th generation smith who I believe designs and teaches for GB has an excellent book out on the subject. As an adjunct, an excellent bucksaw you all may know about is the Fast Bucksaw made in Hastings, MN. Another amazing tool very well thought out.
My 2 cents.
~Peter.

Greetings!

My family and I live on an organic farm we manage in SW Wisconsin. We just finished refurbishing a 100+ year old tobacco barn. At the end of the day, we have many many 15-20' poles that are 4-6" diameter, mostly elm, I think, and some ironwood. Most if not all of the elm? has tiny holes here and there from what may be anobiid beetles. We have been offered the wood if we want it, otherwise it will likely be cut for firewood. Even with the beetle holes it all seems very stout. Since we don't own property, and don't know when/where we will, we are debating keeping/storing the wood. We know it could be excellent for making various animal shelters, an Iron Age era dwelling, a cool SHELTER (book) style shop, etc. Not knowing the potential issues of how older wood of this kind will be in the long run with beetles inside, and having heard there's not much to do about it once they're there, and the potential cost of harvesting new logs, we are weighing all these things and wonder if anyone might have some advice for us?

Thank you all!
Peter.