90 Second Axe RE-BUILD! Keech Timberman KC23

After fair bit of use and abuse, time to make some changes to the KC23! Re-shaping the bit to a more symmetrical curve, a new more aggressive cheek profile and an Engineered for Axemen race handle hung short at just over 700mm or 28.5 inches.
Thanks for watching!
For more Keech/Keesteel vids, check out:
My original build: • 90 second axe build- K...
The Vintage Axe Hoarder: / @matthewamsbaugh
Chimmy42: • Video
Owen Jarvis: / elemental4rce
Life Behind The Axe: / @lifebehindtheaxe3835
For a truckload of info on woodchopping and working axes, check out:
/ axecordwoodchallenge

[@aguineapig1]

Satisfying vid. After 10 years of no power tools I "allowed" myself an angle grinder for axe reprofiling, only work bare handed and no barley sodas prior to using. So much time saved!!

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate, I reckon that's a pretty good allowance, easily the most versatile tool for any axe or knife stuff. Absolutely a time saver! 👍👍

[@ianallenw]

Dood! Inspirational view into the dark arts of steel meets wood. I just scored a 40 year old virgin timberman, along with my first shpotted gum handle! So cool to find your vids! These axes are so rare here, I’m hesitant to even touch it with a file! It’s a beast of a splitter just with factory shine job. I live in Northern California redwood coastal rainforest. Insured climber and timberfaller. Big respects to down under axes and bush life. Thanks for putting this stuff up, boss editing skillz too chief. Hope you continue to create great axes and document the journey. -Ian

[@kurts64]

Gday Ian, cheers for watchin mate! Beaut part of the world your in up there, those redwoods are crazy. Awesome that you scored a Keech and are putting it to use, as a splitter they make pretty short work of most woods. It's a real shame they're not made anymore, they really are worthy of the name "Timberman" in my opinion. Thanks again for watchin mate, hope to get some new vids up soon👍👍🪓🌲

[@jamesgroves5294]

Great job my friend! Look forward to seeing swing that beauty 🙏🏿🇺🇸🪓

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate!👍👍

[@KillingerUSA]

Freaking awesome ! Lov the short film!

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate!

[@urbanlumberjack]

So many great tricks in this video!

[@kurts64]

That's awesome mate, cheers for checkin it out!👍👍🪓

[@MatthewAmsbaugh]

Now THATS an Aussie axe! Nice! Very cool build! I like that keech.

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate, she's a beast! 👍

[@bundufundi]

Lovely work there mate, top notch as usual!!

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate, thanks for checking it out! Looking forward to your next one👍👍

[@940joey2]

Hell yeah Kurt this was awesome !! Like the quick axe builds !! Great job man it came out beautiful 🤙

[@kurts64]

Cheers Joey! How's that beaut Jersey of yours goin?

[@thefellingfella9886]

Wow, that thing is a monster! Good build sir!

[@kurts64]

I appreciate that mate, thanks for watching!👍

[@Joey-L]

Love the mini-builds. That wedge work was damn sexy

[@kurts64]

Cheers Joey! Knew we'd get it tuned up proper one day😁

[@Codi_Clapper]

Wow, what a cool axe!! Super fun to watch this build. Despite only seeing 90 seconds of it, I can tell you put a lot of work into that axe. Great job!

[@kurts64]

Cheers Codi, still so much rain around, was perfect excuse to get stuck into it! Thanks mate!

[@LumberjackSmokestack]

Very nice work. Great looking piece.

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate, thanks for checking out the vid!👍👍

[@chimmy4244]

Can't wait to see that in action! Someday I'd love to run across one of those in an antique shop.

[@kurts64]

Testing vid up soon! They do turn up in antique shops occasionally, and if Keech does another run of these new I'm gunna send myself broke😁

[@lifebehindtheaxe3835]

I like and appreciate how you use the modern power tools. Very deliberate and delicate at the same time, to achieve a finish that would rival that of strictly using hand tools.

[@kurts64]

Gday mate, cheers for watching! It's definitely easy to over do it when using the angle grinder, I'd be lost without it though! Thanks for the compliment man hope your all good, lookin forward to your next one👍👍

[@Brian2bears]

Super job Mr. Kurt...I like the triangular file work on the kerf...your editing is off the charts as well....

[@kurts64]

Thanks Brian, I appreciate it mate!

[@skinnybearthedogs2654]

beautiful !

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate, hope all's good up your way. Waiting for your next vid, that Helko vid was insane!

[@MichelleMakesStuff]

That looks nice!

[@kurts64]

Cheers Michelle!👍👍

[@MiloKolb]

great looking axe

[@kurts64]

Cheers Milo! Thanks for watching mate👍

[@Jesusiskingamen7]

Glad to see another one on here it’s my favorite axe she cuts and spits chips like no other

[@kurts64]

Thanks for watching mate, gotta love a Keech!

[@aussieaxedude154]

Mate looks like a beaut!!! Nothing like a bit of fine axe tuning keep them comin big shooter.

[@kurts64]

Hey mate! Cheers for watching, test vid up soon!

[@KevinsDisobedience]

Bloody great video! That thing is going to bust wood now!

[@kurts64]

Cheers, testing vid up soon!

[@casterman2]

I have this same head. It’s sat for a few years. May have to put a stick on it. Nice video

[@kurts64]

Go for it! They're an exceptional axe. Cheers for watching mate!👍

[@elemental4rce]

interesting idea on the reprofiling, i'd like to get another one of these one day too. Personally prefer the kc20 over the kc23 but they're hard to find. Those race handles look great! wish we had handles like that here

[@kurts64]

This things been through alot of reprofiling for sure. Between removing the edge voids back when I got it and then this round, I reckon there'd be close to a centimetre off the bit. Super wedgy now. I will find a 20 one day! I've definitely become a fan of these handles, they cost a bit more but for most people would be good to go straight from factory

[@JKSawShop]

I use a marker when I sharpen mine too. It just makes sense.

[@kurts64]

Yup, makes it heaps easier, especially with thick axes like this.Cheers for watching mate!

[@skaagkaal2613]

Great stuff man. 👏 I clap another round for the work done to the edge of that beast of an axe. I don't have anything with that much working edge at that kind of head weight.

[@kurts64]

Haha thanks mate. Between the first shaping and then this re-grind, there's a fair bit of time in it, but was definitely worth it!👍

[@henryhenry7170]

That'll perform!

[@kurts64]

It's a beast! Thanks for watching!👍

[@KevinsDisobedience]

Just watched again. Didn’t see the disclaimer the first time through. 🤣 I love it. Why are people so worried about that. I’m not sure you could get an axe to heat treat temps with power tools. Maybe? But definitely not if you’re careful.

[@kurts64]

🤣🤣yeah as long as your using a very light touch and checking the edge regularly for heat or colour change it's no problem. 1 careful minute with the angle grinder probably saved me an hour with a file shaping that edge I reckon

[@aussiehardwood6196]

Haha...we use a similar ax drift, old ex-handle eye wood. Its works!

[@kurts64]

And they're free! Haha👍👍

[@MidCoastAdventures]

Skilz Kurt 💪😎

[@kurts64]

Haha cheers mate, happy Easter 👍👍

[@brettbrown9814]

I love your mini build videos! I think the shorter handle really suits this beast. What wood do you use for your wedges?

[@kurts64]

Cheers Brett, happy Easter mate! For this one I used Tassie Oak, it's a type of eucalypt but makes a more forgiving wedge than some of my local species like spotted or blackbutt. Cheers!

[@brettbrown9814]

@@kurts64 Happy Easter to you as well mate! Hope it's not raining there. Wet here today.

[@breadbaconcheese]

more!

[@kurts64]

Haha it's coming! First test up soon!👍

[@kangsankim8563]

Do they produce this axe yet? Can I find the ax somewhere other than eBay??

[@kurts64]

Gday mate, unfortunately these are no longer made, so collectors groups, ebay, and yard sales are the go👍👍🪓

[@tristanburns82]

How do you determine the length of you handle?

[@kurts64]

It mostly depends on the axes use. Standard lengths would usually be a 32inch/80cm for a full size chopping axe, and 36inch/90cm for a splitter. Another way, for a more personalised fit is to measure the length of your inner arm from the base of your fingers to your underarm. For most people this measurement would be somewhere between 27-32 inches. This usually gives an ideal length. Most of my chopping axes are between 28.5 to 30. Cheers for watching mate👍👍 🪓

[@tristanburns82]

How deep do you cut your slot for the wedge mate?

[@kurts64]

Gday mate, about 2/3rds the length of the axe eye does the trick👍👍🪓

[@tristanburns82]

@@kurts64 cheers

[@mattoster0994]

What handle length?

[@kurts64]

Gday mate, this is the 3/4 length, same as I put on the Tui. It's 760mm from the factory and has a long eye so you can adjust overall lenght a fair bit. I got this one down to 728mm or about 28.5 inch. BTW, I took your advice and grabbed a Husky A2400😁

[@KevinsDisobedience]

First

[@kurts64]

Yes!

[@MDR-hn2yz]

Nicely done. That angle grinder and marker gave me an idea for an old Belknap Bluegrass Jersey that I just won on Ebay. Subscribed🪓👍

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate, love Jersey's, good luck with it! Hope that weather's warming up for you up there. Cheers for the sub !🪓 😁