Homestead mailing list

[Roy Morgan <k1lky AT earthlink.net>]

On Jun 14, 2008, at 7:30 PM, Don Bowen wrote:

> Tools are my interest.  For a minimal tool set I would suggest the
> following.
....
> Firewood
>    Crosscut saw
>    Double bitted ax

Don,

I have used a number of different axes.  My favorite for limbing  
downed trees and such is a hatchet head I put on a boys ax handle in  
about 1958 while I was a junior leader at scout camp.  I have here a  
hudson's bay style ax that needs de-rusting, sharpening and some  
smoothing of the handle. I think it may be as handy for light work as  
the boys-handled hatchet head.

But I've never used a double bitted ax.  They seem intimidating  
somehow, and I suspect they are a bit heavy.  I remember hearing that  
they were used by lumberjacks because they could be sharpened and  
shaped for two different kinds of cutting.  Issat so?

Roy


PS: Were/What is the antique tractor repair/restoration mailing list?   
It looks like we are going to own the 1950 International Harvester  
W-4.  I talked with our neighbor, a lifetime farmer, about the 1944  
H-4 he was turning hay with.  Just about the same tractor, he  
reported. Also, he converted his to a 12 volt system after some years  
of trouble.  He guessed that the asking price of the seller was about  
right, and said that very few W-4's were to be found around here in  
Virginia/Maryland.

I'm hoping I can download at least an owners manual from online  
somewhere.


Roy Morgan
k1lky AT earthlink.net
Lovettsville, VA 20180