A Stump for Hewing

[@swimrski]

I'm glad you said you were making all that up because I was starting to laugh at you! But instead I got to laugh with you

[@tomservojr]

I'll admit it, you briefly had me going.

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

Sorry... We have way too much fun around here. Gotcha, Jeff! 😂

[@Nurk0m0rath]

Me too man ... I was starting to think this whole video would be a long list of all the factors you have to consider. Got a good laugh though when he did the whole "gotcha!" moment.

[@tolbaszy8067]

I have carved spoons for the past forty-five years and my best stump is a two foot x 16 inch sycamore chunk with three 2x6 legs that raise the work surface to just below my waist. I cut a step in the top to brace the end of the spoon I am carving or for sawing the ends. It's worked well for thirty-five years. Newer versions have been lowered to a height good for seated carving, as a back saving feature, with a back leg extended above the cutting surface to act as the stop for chopping and sawing. It has been reinforced with a sacrificial block that can be notched or undercut for better control.

[@makenchips]

Good video, and the introduction was good! So many good points! 😊

[@gizanked]

The original end grain cutting board.

[@downeastprimitiveskills7688]

Stumps are great, if you do end up with a gritty top or in my case I drilled a bunch of holes in a metal plate then stood there and said what did I just do? it can be trimmed if its a favorite stump. Bill Copperthwaite had some nice blocks, one with a sweet block knife attached to it. he loved it for his bowl work and other task. One of mine has a step in it to push the stock to when chopping. keeps it from moving kind of. One is a yellow birch cut close to the stump, it must have some funky grain as most axes just don't want to stick into it, bounces out. unless you really drive it.

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

Doh! I've done things that have made me say the same thing! Bill's place is wonderful. So much inspiration there. We'd love to go back again one day soon.

[@downeastprimitiveskills7688]

@@mortisetenonmagazine I worked with Bill on a few yurts and he would often stay at my place if he returned late and didn't feel like the walk in to his place. If your up this way and get the urge to visit his place I would happily go a long. Not sure of the status with interns but know who to ask.

[@danwolfgang6382]

“Available anywhere there are trees.” 🤣

[@kent5400]

Like many traditional hand tools, the stump is known by different names at different times and in different places. For instance, I learned that it was called a shop log. Mine is a smaller diameter than yours, making it easier to move around my smaller, modern multi-purpose workspace, but I can also relate to the benefits of the added heft of yours.

[@vanessakitty8867]

Love the initial setup.

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

😂

[@davidclark9086]

Good video.

[@JourneyNorthAK]

I damn near exited this video when he started talking angles of the axe..I was like...b.s... haha

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

Ha! Gotcha! 😂

[@peterellis4262]

Chuckle. I have three, distributed about our property . The one in my shop is up on legs and has a step in the top surface for bracing the bottom of a piece (like when carving a spoon. Another one is just a low stump rolled out of the collection of wood it sits by, and it gets used for rough cleaving and hewing pieces I'm pulling out of that pile. I'll do gross break downs there, rather than dragging the log to the shop ;) And the last one is right by the house construction site and it's a table and a mortice chopping platform, a saw bench - yeah ;) And they're all transient.

[@makenchips]

What is the ideal height? In hewing why are there no discussion on pins to help stop the wood from moving when shaping a piece.

[@makenchips]

Ps I like the bench behind you! Is there a bid or plans on that. I saw the other bid on your double bench and enjoyed the discussion very much.you guys are spotted on! Ste cfc en Columbus Michigan

[@juliuslehnhardt7267]

Really like these kind of videos. What about drilling a hole in the end of your handle and hang it on a nail? No kid will ever reach it... Greetings from Germany, keep on going.

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

Could do that, but there is something that freaks me out about an axe hanging overhead of anyone.

[@BeachsideHank]

"...you have to take a lot of factors into consideration when choosing your stump uh one of the things you have to think about is the bevel angles of your hatchets that you're going to be using at the stump..." Another factor I consider to be extremely important is to make sure the stump you are using is free of forest demons that have taken up residence inside. How do we determine this? Toss the stump in the pond, if it floats that is a sure sign it is possessed, if it sinks then it is free of evilness and thus fit for use in the shop. Thank me later.

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

That is a really good point, Hank. I'm embarrassed to admit that we've neglected ever doing that test.

[@bigal6667]

Next week woodcraft will be selling stumps for $300.

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

Ha! I bet there'd be a market for that.

[@raymondcava4669]

available wherever there are trees😆