Adzes
Adzes
EXPERT KNOWLEDGE ADZES
What types of exchange are available?
One-handed Gouge-shaped adzes
One-handed Gouge-shaped adzes are ideal for close-up or detailed work such as hollowing out Shawls, for shaping in sculpture or for working chair seat surfaces on the workbench. These tools are used for rough moulding similar to axes, hatchets or Drawknives.
Two-handed Gouge-shaped adzes
Gouge-shaped adzes have a wide range of applications and are suitable for hollowing out chair surfaces and boats as well as for sculpting. Sizeable workpieces can be worked on while attached to the floor thanks to the Length of the handle. Two-handed Adzes are preferably used for slightly tiring work, with the second hand providing support. This also provides more power.
Flat adzes
Their shape resembles a transverse axe. Flat adzes are used to straighten and smooth surfaces. These surfaces are later reworked or retain their characteristic axe-like surface. For this reason, they are usually ground on the inside. Flat adzes are also available in one-handed and two-handed versions. Common blade widths for the one-handed Flat adzes are 60 - 75 mm. The large two-handed Flat adzes have blade widths of 75 - 90 mm. Gränsfors Bruks produces such a model. (Gränsfors Large Straight Adze)
Trough-maker's adzes
Mollenhauer adzes are suitable for the precise carving of deep moulds and shawls. Their low weight also makes them ideal for sculpting.
What makes a good Adzes?
The most important feature of a good Adzes is the right combination of Shape and Length of the handle and the shape of the head. But the Bevel must also be adapted to the intended use.
The Adzes is a relatively little-known but unique and very versatile tool in terms of its function.
Unlike an axe or hatchet, the blade of an Adzes is orientated at right angles to the handle. This allows large quantities of chips to be peeled out of the wood. Axes are also used for finishing and smoothing surfaces. Depending on the size of your workpieces, you can choose between one-handed and two-handed adzes.
The success or failure of working with this tool is closely linked to its design. A good Adzes allows precise positioning and ergonomic working during woodworking. In the case of an Adzes, the cheaper model is often a bad investment, as little value is placed on the ergonomics of the handle, the quality of the steel and the function of the tool in mass production. Since it is a little-known tool, the serious difference in use is often not clear.
There are 3 main criteria for the optimal function of an Adzes:
- Correct swing
- Insertion of the cutting edge
- Type of Bevel
What is the right swing with an Adzes?
The Adzes is moved via the wrist, so this is also the centre of rotation of the tool. If an arc is drawn around the centre of the wrist (marked by crosses in the drawings), which lies against the upper side of the cutting edge, the swing curve of the Adzes results. see Figures 1 and 4.
The back of the Adzes, which lies against this curve, serves as a support surface, similar to the sole of a Planes. Figure 5 shows how an Adzes works if it does not follow this radius or does not have a round contact surface. This Adzes cannot grip with the wrist movement alone.
The hands must also perform a pulling movement (as when hoeing a bed). This movement does not allow precise strokes and is not ergonomic. In addition, the Adzes is immediately driven out of the workpiece again, as the elevation in the back acts as a kind of lever.
Figure 3 shows a Mollenhauer adze that was made according to this principle and works excellently.
How is the cutting edge used?
In the sketches, the radius is marked by a red line. As it shapes the radius, this line is almost at a right Angle to the back of the Adzes. Its cutting edge therefore makes full contact with the workpiece, similar to a plane iron.
In both Fig. 2 and Fig. 5, the cutting edge does not lie on this line. This means that the sides of the curved cutting edge of the Adzes in Fig. 2 penetrate the workpiece first. This makes precise positioning almost impossible, as it is not possible to calculate when the tip will hit the workpiece. Conversely, with the Adzes in Fig. 5, the tip engages first, which makes precise positioning of the sides more difficult.
What types of Bevel are there?
External grinding:
This type of grinding changes the geometry of the Adzes. This can be seen in exaggerated Shape in Figure 5. Similar to this curved back, the external grinding also changes the Angle of the contact surface. Material removal can only be achieved by additional "hook movement" (see above). One advantage of this version is that the cutting edge cannot penetrate the workpiece unhindered, as it is quickly driven out of the workpiece again by the back. This type of sharpening is particularly suitable for coarse material removal. It is also easy to sharpen, similar to an axe.
Internal grinding:
The more elaborate internal bevelling allows precise positioning and, with the correct swing of the back, enables ergonomic working from the wrist. The internal grinding is a must wherever the highest precision is required, e.g. in sculpting.
Combined external and internal bevelling:
If the external angle is only slightly altered by a very flat grind, this enables a combination with all the advantages of both types of grind: Internal grinding for precise positioning, external grinding to prevent unintentional hooking of the adzes.
All Adzes bearing our DICTUM signet are designed according to the criteria explained above. The heads are forged by experienced master blacksmiths and hand-set by a wainwright or by our own sculpture course instructors. The handles are made of ash or robinia. You can find a wide range of high-quality Adzes in our online shop.
Leather sheaths for Adzes
We also carry the matching Leather sheath made of Nappa cowhide for your Adzes. This Leather is soft enough to follow the contour of the blade.
