Whenever I watch Mr Chickadee's videos, I realise that over and above his use of lost arts and tools, he uses something far more essential that we seem to have lost, he uses patience.
Time, much like money is a means to an end. Pay for that end with your money, or pay for it with your time. Just remember the former comes with caveats, strings and parasites. Time in traffic, the repair shop, the tire shop, more time in traffic, grocery store, doctors office, the bank, the courthouse, the HR department, more time in traffic, the bowling alley, ball field, theatre, shopping mall, amusement park, barber shop, gym, track.... all of this and yet no one is satisfied the latter is more direct and the only means to the experience this man has had. Nothing here could have been bought except the product, time is the only currency that pays for this experience.
When I was a kid, I worked in my father's sawmill. That beast could have made your 6x6 in about a minute. I cannot tell you how much more I admire your method. No giant V-8 diesel motor roaring away, no huge wheel of death screaming its way through logs. I can still hear the birds singing while you are working.
Hard working and highly skilled to say the least. I also give him extremely high points for having natural sounds only, no blabbering about it constantly, and even more important, NO MUSIC! I hate the stupid music most put on these videos. Hats off for a great all around how to video.
Lot`s of dedication, skills and a perfect background music. The steady rhythm of an axe hitting solid wood, a woodpecker minding his own business, some birds singing their songs and raindrops falling on the tarp. Just perfect. Thanks for sharing!
Possibly not the reaction you're hoping for but this video was utterly relaxing, even when you were chopping. The birds singing and then the gentle patter of rain. Oh my, I could have gone to sleep. It was a pleasure to watch someone of skill performing their task with care and not with haste.
RU-vid taught me to fell a tree, maintain my saws, make my own hand tools, now with a full wood pile, it's time for boards. This has to be the best side of RU-vid!
I imagine all ax murderers hold the same expressionless face you do while doing this incredibly skillful task. Very impressive how you make a radial motion create such an incredibly flat surface. Determination is not even close to the beginning of a description of what it takes to master this skill. Bravo. You impressed me today sir.
I love these videos, and my sons do too. We try to limit their TV time, but these videos don't "count" because they have a calming effect. The fact that you don't talk makes me watch more closely. Thank you!
Thank you for not adding god awful music.. the sounds are so amazing.. thank you... The sounds are those of our forefathers who carved out homes in the wilderness 200 years ago.. Love the video
Man, you're a real artist! I didn't even know this still existed. I like this ability to make such an impressive work with simple tools and efforts and talent. In this world of speed and mechanization you look like a hero, and your ways are so in line with Nature's pace, so respectful. And for all of it, hats off. I am really impressed.
There is just something so cathartic about the "thunk... thunk... thunk..." of wood being hewn with the sound of birds and rain in the background. And being able to watch the method at the same time is SO COOL!
I cannot get enough of these videos. I love that there's only the sounds of the forest and the woodworking. Such skill has me spellbound. Thank you so much for doing these videos. I am blown away by your skill and inspired to do things with patience and reverence to the material.
got to be the best series of videos since youtube was invented, your skills with hand tools and the sheer hard work you both put in is fascinating, (no talking no music, absolute genius) what we building next.
Mr. Chickadee, your patience and perseverance rise to the level of a superpower. You have my admiration and respect (and envy). The wood thrush's song in the background is liquid music. It's the sweetest birdsong of all. One that I know so well from my childhood in the woods of Eastern Pennsylvania.
My hat is off to you Sir. Being from Alabama and the best wood we have is oak and hickory, and I've worked many timbers I applaud you on your diligence, determination and craftsmanship. Fine work your doing and am looking forward to watching and keeping up with your progress. Good luck my friend ! DL
At 4:00, that is my favorite pencil to use for almost anything. My First Ticonderoga. Also, very nice work. Good to see someone keeping the hand tool skills alive.
Good to see someone working at a sensible relaxed pace. Too often now individuals go at a task like a bull at a gate. Working sedately will allow you to work like this all day........just like the old timers used to do. It's surprising how much can be done in a relatively short time working this way. Too many live their liVes at a hundred miles an hour an wonder why they burn themselves out and or things go wrong. I hope that guy owns the woods, otherwise the owner may have a few choice words. Well done.
Awesome work. My grandfather would cut down trees on his place and hew out cross ties during the Great Depression for .10 cents a piece. Love a person with patience and the "where there's a will, there's a way" attitude.
Don't let let people who feel obliged to be critical of everything rain on your parade. I enjoyed the video. You looked like you were enjoying the work, and the final product looked great. I was in the trades and can tell you that there are many good journeymen out there who have their own ways of doing things. Keep on doing what your doing until it stops working for you.
+dismayed Thank you for the comment, I did greatly enjoy the work. Timber framing is such an ancient and varied craft with so many different traditional techniques practiced throughout the world, the idea that anyone would believe there is one way to go about it is shocking, also shocking is the fact anyone would proclaim their ignorance and hubris by rudely and offensively criticizing another's technique.
People wondering what he smeared on the ends. My guess is that he is sealing the ends so the log dries more evenly. Unsealed, the ends dry much faster than the inside causing large cracks.
Mr. Chickadee, I appreciate your skill and craftsmanship and I certainly was not trying to paint you in a negative way in the least. I am a forester and avid woodworker who will never, ever make a comment on a website again. Sorry for the negative comments.
Its understandable that anyone not familiar with traditional framing modalities would find the sapwood removal shocking, most of the knowledge is not in mainstream anymore. We are sorry we didnt explain better the reasoning behind this and the usage of the split off pieces to warm our house.
Joggling with an axe is heroic. I used a saw instead, and knocked the joggles out with the adz. To each his own, your technique is flawless but I was 65+ when I was doing this and wound up getting an Alaska chain saw mill from Granberg. These are wonderful videos, paced just right. I'm watching back to front.
Thank you, I tried a hand saw and found the axe a bit faster, and quicker to sharpen, but does lead to some sore mornings! We have a new hewing video, much better quality and showing other styles...ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FN77cAd5EAc.html
I've always assumed the adze was a rough tool, but you trued that end up pretty nicely. Another enjoyable video that reminds me why I'm thankful for electricity... thanks!
For the first few seconds of the video, I was wondering why you weren't using a broad axe. After watching a while longer, I can see you're pretty darn good with the axe you're using. Nice work, you almost make it look easy. That obviously takes patience, great skill, and sharp tools. Thanks for posting.
Mr. Chicadee, I have watched most of your vids, the apparent lack of narration is right on target, Your skills just show the point with out any talking. I also like how you show the needed tool maintenance, so important to make the job easier and more accurate, Well Done Sir.
I totally enjoyed watching this video. Something about it was very relaxing. Incredible focus, patience and craftsmanship. I tend to go towards power tools for everything I make, but this video was about a man, an axe, his dog, and fallen tree. Zen like... Great video to watch...
Also, you've got some skill there on this hew, I tried my first one a couple days ago with an awesome antique double edge Kelly true temper I bought off eBay. I spent a couple days sharpening it to a mirror, razor sharp edge (both sides) and about two minutes into the job I somehow mis swong it and it hit me hard in the shin, luckily somehow the side of it hit me and I didn't get cut, I'm done until I find some shin guard chaps.
Shane K I hope you also get the right axe. Double bit aces are for felling, you need a hewing and/or broad axe... Of course... sometimes we are stuck working with the tools we have. I have seen an Afghani remove a nut from a Toyota hilux using a rock and a stick. Good luck with your build.
Upon closer examination, I see you switched to a white oak at 5:00. Great skills and patience. Its amazing to me what it took to build structures in the past when it was all done by hand, and the expertise you possess.
Ah! So that’s how that’s done. Very cool wow I was wondering how you did that in a previous video I watched. Can’t wait to see the rest of the process.
Ha ha! You made me lol. That dog has been genetically engineered for life in a penthouse, but cruel fate has landed him/her in a backwoods Kentucky homestead.
