90 SECOND AXE BUILD: HYTEST CRAFTSMAN!

Building up one of Australia's classic Tassie patterns, the legendary green Hytest Craftsman!
There were a few different variants of all the major models in the Hytest line-up over the years as the designs were adapted and refined. This one in particular is a "square, short-poll" model, probably from the 60's. The grinder work in the vid is mainly deepening the "wings" and adding a bit of a hollow to the centreline. Quite hard steel, but workable with a sharp file, a diamond stone and a strop.
Was a bit of an axeperiment with the paint. I'm not usually one for painting an axe, but figured we'd try to replicate the worn-in look of the red Kelly shown in the intro shots. There was still a bit of the factory green on it so I just added a single coat. Even just in building the axe and moving it round the shed its started to wear already, so with use I reckon it'll turn out pretty cool.
Specs:
Hytest Craftsman 4lb; 12.7 degree cheek, 20degree edge, 30degree microbevel. Engineered For Axemen 750mm handle, finished length 700mm.
engineeredforaxemen.com.au/

[@Murls]

Great video Kurt, I went to my dad's for Christmas and he had his craftsman in the shed. and it still has some green on it under the rust, I've cleaned it up with a drill bit wire brush, but left the bits with green paint, ive noticed that it has a metal or aluminum wedge to it, original. cheers

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate, that's awesome you cleaned up your dads ol axe, good stuff. Craftsman's gotta be one of the best allrounders ever made I reckon👍👍🪓

[@chimmy4244]

Nice hang and leather work! You know Killinger's gonna be all over that sheath!!

[@kurts64]

🤣🤣 Cheers Chimmy!👍👍🪓

[@bsenalaska]

Beautiful craftsmanship

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate! 👍👍🪓

[@ervintaylor6508]

Been watching from the start they just keep getting better and better, love the green man keep up the good work

[@kurts64]

I really appreciate that mate, thanks a lot! 🤝👍👍🪓

[@MattKeevil]

That turned out great! Every choice was the right one.

[@kurts64]

Cheers Matt! 👍👍🪓

[@peterfletcher8411]

Craftsman......Both Axe and Artist.... Must be some work in that editing. Nice attention on some of the old tools. You can still find some gems at local markets if you have a sharp eye and are quick. Nice work Kurt....Well done.🙂

[@kurts64]

Gday mate, cheers! It's always good to find some old beauties hey. Thanks for watching man!👍👍🪓

[@lucaslucaz]

Great work 👍 Best axe video iv seen in a while

[@kurts64]

Thanks a lot mate 👍👍🪓

[@joeguinand4622]

Amazing work. I always look forward to your next video 👏👏

[@kurts64]

Gday Joe, thanks a lot mate! 👍👍🪓

[@Brian2bears]

Excellence Mr. Kurt, you do fine work...all of it sir...

[@kurts64]

Thanks Mr B, much appreciated mate👍👍🪓

[@brettbrown9814]

Had to treat myself to a re-watch of this one. Awesome build! Have a wonderful Christmas Kurt and a great New Year!

[@kurts64]

Haha cheers mate! Hope yours is all good too👍👍🪓

[@jaskiniamestwa]

Absolutely great work!

[@kurts64]

Thanks a lot mate!👍👍🪓

[@robertlowen873]

Sweet- that looks great

[@kurts64]

Thanks a lot mate!👍👍🪓

[@mrpoopypants9586]

Beaut job Kurt. Looks great. The colours really add to it. Be careful not to scratch it. 🙂 Cheers PP

[@kurts64]

Oh it's gunna get scratched! 😂Tested it yesterday, vid out soon. Cheers mate👍👍🪓

[@mrpoopypants9586]

@@kurts64 Ha ha. I'm sure it will. And yes, we did notice the new Agdor sitting on the bench. Keen to hear what you think of it, too. Always enjoy your stuff Kurt. Stay well, mate. PP

[@aussieaxedude154]

What an axe build 👌👌👌the leather work looked insanely good dude very impressive. Nothing like a good axe restoration to keep you occupied super satisfying. Really like the green paint for an authentic Hytest finish and the old tools were sick as man🤙🤙🤙

[@kurts64]

Thanks alot mate! 👍👍🪓

[@kurts64]

Mate, you gotta check out the new Victorinox fixed blade, I reckon it'd be right up your alley👍👍🔪

[@ivanlyons5277]

As always, a cut above the rest both in content and filming. Love ya work Kurt .

[@kurts64]

Thanks alot Ivan, much appreciated mate!👍👍🪓

[@Codi_Clapper]

Hi Kurt! Lovely vid mate😁. Really admire all the work you put in to bring her back to life! I enjoyed seeing all your workshop tools as well👍. Wouldn’t mind seeing that cyclone maul fixed-up either. Really cool collection😎. Looking forward to part 2, Cheers!

[@kurts64]

Codi, how are ya mate! Glad you enjoyed, the ol' Cyclone will be up and running soon! 👍👍🪓

[@shaveclassy9986]

Great hope to see it chop!

[@kurts64]

Cheers, tester vid out soon! 👍👍🪓

[@Joey-L]

Love the leather work and the green paint turned out great. p.s. I have the same hat

[@kurts64]

Cheers Joey! 👍👍🪓

[@vintagefurness]

Nice work mate!

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate!👍👍🪓

[@pascalstolz2901]

Nice axe! Top axe sheath!

[@kurts64]

Thanks a lot mate!👍👍🪓

[@KillingerUSA]

Awesome!

[@kurts64]

Cheers Chris!👍👍🪓

[@emmanuel.belanger]

Man I just found your channel! 😮 amazing things happening in here. Thank you and Happy New year!

[@kurts64]

Hey mate, thanks a lot! Same to you, take it easy!👍👍🪓

[@emmanuel.belanger]

Man, that axe is a beauty! I think I watch that video at least 5 times 😍

[@tristanburns82]

I've got axe hammer chisel set tool problems too. Great to see aussie content

[@kurts64]

Haha it's a good problem to have! Cheers mate👍👍🪓

[@tristanburns82]

@@kurts64 yeah just have to limit the gumtree searching. Where do you score the leather?

[@kurts64]

@@tristanburns82 yeah gumtree and Aussie ebay are dangerous to the bank account 🤣 This leather is from Birdsall leather, they got a good range, pretty decent prices and quick delivery👍👍

[@tristanburns82]

@@kurts64 cheers. Hope your make sheaths for customers if not you should be. 🤙

[@simjai1000]

Wow. Awesome video please do a axe collection video!

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate, I'll keep that in mind. Cheers for watching!👍👍🪓

[@mickaeldeguil5924]

Perfect👍

[@kurts64]

Thanks a lot mate! 👍👍🪓

[@MidwestFirecraft]

I would have liked to have seen it in real time!

[@kurts64]

This build stretched out over a month or so, just grinding the bevels was about 4 hours! Cheers mate👍👍🪓

[@MidwestFirecraft]

@@kurts64 Wow, I just really like seeing how someone who knows what they are doing from start to finish, but that would be a lot of video:)

[@kurts64]

@@MidwestFirecraft thanks mate, there's a few other builds on the cards, I might be able to shoot a bit from those. I appreciate the feedback too, cheers!

[@MidCoastAdventures]

Skills Kurt 😎👍

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate!👍👍🪓

[@ethicalaxe]

Good work and nice editing. I assume we'll see this axe in the wood soon!

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate, yep she's been swung already😁👍👍🪓

[@axesofoz717]

Looks awesome Kurt! You brought it back to life.

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate!👍👍🪓

[@bundufundi]

Mate your work is always such a high standard, the leather work was flawless. Nice hat! 🙂

[@brettbrown9814]

Very nice hat!

[@kurts64]

Thanks a lot mate!! 👍👍🪓

[@imyahuckl3b3rry26]

Phowarrr what a ripper! Love that green colour, need to show us her in use 🔥🪓🤙

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate, testing vid on the way!👍👍🪓

[@urbanlumberjack]

Beautiful work! Love the green on the sheath

[@kurts64]

Cheers! 👍👍🪓

[@townieoutdoors8121]

You should do a sharpening video ! Touch ups and reprofiles

[@kurts64]

Thanks for watching mate. Should have one on some grind testing pretty soon, and get a restore/reprofile in the next month or two hopefully. Cheers!👍👍🪓

[@taztaz6539]

That looks beautiful Now can we see you swing it please 😊

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate, tester vid out soon! 👍👍🪓

[@glenurquhart2300]

I got to watch it all 👍👍 I'm glad you showed the flap disc. ! It came out Beautiful !! Is it a 4 lb or 4 1/2 ?

[@kurts64]

Thanks a lot Glen! This one's marked 4lb but was a bit overweight, I'd say after all the grinding it'd be at 4 or just under. On the short handle it feels nimble but still a solid worker. Cheers mate!👍👍🪓

[@KevinsDisobedience]

Truly a work of art! I like that Hytest wedge setter. Where the hell’s ya find that?

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate! Found it it an old tool sale, I think it started life as a cold chisel but it makes a perfect punch. I've never seen another one like it though 👍👍🪓

[@aussiehardwood6196]

Really nice Kurt. I often frustrate at the lack of traditional style handles we have access to in Oz, do u import your from the States or use local companies like Sneddons etc? Your handy with the leather work, impressive. BTW I too like Hytest tools like cold chisels, sledgehammers, miners picks blacksmith hammers, mattocks, big picks etc. I've got a NOS unused little cross pein hammer. Hytest knew a thing or two about striking tools.

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate. I try to use local, really love the EFA handles from Victoria and lately found some Aussie makers as well. Krugers, Cattle Dog, and Emu are decent hardware handles, Van Diemen Handles in Tasmania seem great too. I'd love to get my hands on their shingling hatchet. Gotta love Hytest !👍👍🪓

[@aussiehardwood6196]

I missed some NOS cattle dog handles a good while back they looked nice.

[@mikkelbjerkmann6856]

One bit of nice work! What really cought my eye was that Tasssie from Mustad, would love to have one of those. Haven't seen one in Norway where they once where made. Are they rare to come by in Australia?

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate, you got a good eye. The Mustads do pop up here occasionally online. I found this one in an antique store and was in great condition. Seems like really good steel to the file. If you keep your eye on Aussie ebay or join World's Greatest Tasmanian Patterns group on FB you might be able to find one. Cheers for watching 👍👍🪓

[@polderfischer8565]

My adresse is: 😊 Nice Work and also greetings from cold germany

[@kurts64]

🤣 Cheers mate! 🇩🇪👍👍🪓

[@peterpeterson7665]

Hi mate. Great channel. Just wondering what brand handles you use? Cheers

[@kurts64]

Gday mate, cheers. Most of my axes, including this one, have Engineered For Axemen hickory handles. They've just started producing handles in beech and spotted gum as well I believe. Some other brands worth checking out are Van Diemen/Chris Hadley, and Bush Skills Australia/Jimmy Findlay as well. Should be able to find these guys on Facebook. Cheers mate👍👍🪓🇦🇺

[@peterpeterson7665]

@@kurts64 thanks Kurt. I will check them out.

[@Bigcountry_littlelegs]

Nice, did you thin down the handle between the head and grip as it looked like you did?

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate, no the EFA handles are an ideal thickness and don't really need any work, but they come with a lathe pattern along the shaft, which is awesome for grip with heavy heads but on this fairly light, short axe I smoothed it out. It only takes a few light passes with the flap disc. Cheers for watching mate👍👍🪓

[@Bigcountry_littlelegs]

@kurts64 cool thanks for the reply, thought ya might have thinned it down to reduce vibration, been doing that for mine but also don't pick up an axe a lot so helps keep swinging for longer

[@outdoors5352]

Nice axe and leather work 🪓 Same as my axe 😁 Do you sell the sheaths? 🤔

[@kurts64]

Thanks a lot! No sorry mate, it seems to take me forever to get around to leather work unfortunately. Much appreciated though! 🤝👍🪓

[@outdoors5352]

@@kurts64 Have you got any suggestions for metal files? I currently only use a Lansky puck which is ok. Cheers 👍

[@kurts64]

@@outdoors5352 I like Pferd brand files, should be able to get em from engineering and tool stores. From rough to fine cuts in a few different sizes, the 12 inch "3rd Cut" -basically a fine- is a good finish file before stoning. If you can find vintage Wiltshire or Nicholson they're usually pretty good 👍

[@outdoors5352]

@@kurts64 Awesome thanks mate, I really appreciate it. I think my Hytest still has a factory profile on it 😬 I'll give them a whirl 🪓

[@brettbrown9814]

Awesome video Kurt! I changed the playback speed to 0.25x and rewatched 3 times to be sure I didn't miss anything. Good stuff and a really beautiful build. 🪓🪚

[@kurts64]

Haha thanks mate! 👍👍🪓