Axe Head Geometry-Phantom Bevels and Tapered Cheeks

[@DannoCrutch]

Good video with a lot of relevant points. Have been researching Hatchets and Axes lately, and came across your website, which led me to your KZbin channel. Now I'm looking for info on refinishing an Estwing Stacked Leather Handle. The hatchet looks like it was never used, pristine head, with a nice patina. The handle appears to have been polyurethaned, and it is now half flaked off. If you can lead me in the right direction for some info, I would really appreciate it. Removing the old polyurethane, and then what to put on the leather, if anything.

[@directorofnothing6010]

Before manufactured phantom bevels, blacksmiths would recondition an axe head by pulling mass from the cheeks to make the profile of the edge like new instead of just adding new metal. Thus creating phantom bevels.

[@anachronisticon]

What a very astute observation! Marvellous.

[@Master...deBater]

I think you've hit the proverbial nail on head with this research!!! It's the only theory that takes into account all of the available facts and puts them together into a completely consistent theory!!! Clearly it was a case of axe manufacturers improving the efficiency of the tool yet retaining some of the obsolete features (phantom bevel etc.) simply because the public had grown accustom to seeing them on their axe heads, and perhaps (incorrectly) believed that the axes without those features were inferior.

[@kelseyboy2000]

what axe are you holding in the beginning of this video? it is awesome, I want to find one just like that. would you sell it? message me :)

[@Abbbb225]

Hi, I don't understand how your experiment supports your theory. You say that you found the beveled axes did not release or chip better than the wedge-axes (do you have a link to that video, btw?), yet that such bevels were originally functional, rather than aesthetic.

[@TORREX-A.D.]

Thx I learned alot

[@godzilla7382]

this is some good information. i noticed also that the bevels have effectively reduced the weight of the axe head so in theory if you aren't looking for a deep biting axe you can effectively make a axe head with a significantly longer cutting edge and cut the bevels in to reduce weight. the use of the axe would be more of a specialized tasks but it would maintain structural integrity and have a long life span may even be a nice splitting axe for small to medium size fire wood.

[@ronhargis2018]

you have made some good an valid points. if I may add to your thoughts a very salient point, production methods to reduce cost was a major consideration in making this style of axe obsolete. the power hammer die cost ,plus the steps to reduce weight, at the same time keeping the wedge-shape benefits intact drove labor cost to the higher end of the market versus the benifit, personal note, as a manufacture, we all strive to set our work an products to where they are instantly recogniziable. glto.

[@SteelCityBoilermaker]

I was still awake! Score!

[@bradlee180]

I can't believe there's over 2000 views on this. I can't believe I sat through the whole thing. "If you're still awake at this point, I commend you, and I hope you enjoyed the video." I did enjoy it, and at least now I know I'm not the only lame-oh with an interest in these things(over 2000 views.) Migwetch, Ross...

[@RossGilmore]

Thanks guys.

[@enternamehere9355]

"If you're still awake at this point" LOL No, I was thinking right before that point in the video that this is the kind of thing that interests me.

[@enternamehere9355]

So can anyone identify the axe used in Friday The 13th 1980? I would like to get one in the hopes of having it autographed by Jeannine Taylor. Did different companies make phantom bevel heads with different lug shapes, with some being pointed and others rounded, or would that be a product of modification/wear?

[@edwardleroy7648]

How thin can the bit and cheek be before there is danger of the bit breaking out chopping oak hardness woods? I am in the process of thinning some new axe bits to get less handle shock and more penetration.

[@Stonewallx39]

Very interesting! All that being said the phantom bevels look cool! Marketing at work haha. I will say one other piece of evidence that corroborates this is if we look at modern race axes specialized for chopping, which do not have phantom bevels. I do think there’s an argument that with the phantom bevels you’re able to achieve different characteristics for a given weight (better splitter, longer bit, etc) because you shaved some weight. Just not sure how much of that was actually put into practice.

[@Stonewallx39]

Slight addendum to my own comment, after looking at competition axes again, it does look like they are beveled behind the cheeks. It’s different than on the vintage axes but it does seem that some of that design is in use today.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

I recently done my own test and came up with completely different results. I have noticed a significant differnence when cutting with a modern axe and older/basque axes with a thicker middle. When it comes to splitting the difference is profound, so much that now i rarely use a modern axe for splitting

[@RossGilmore]

@Maper555 It is well worth the time learning how to put a good profile on an axe with just a file. That way you can do it in less than perfect conditions.

[@isaiahmountford5815]

I love my file set, it takes time but I can do anything i want with those files.

[@jspate61]

I'm searching for information on design characteristics for delivering optimal performance in a hatchet or small axe. You seem to know a good about this subject. What key design characteristics should I be looking for in terms of head geometry? What is the best steel for a hatchet? How does the shape and material of the handle affect performance? Is there any significant difference between fiberglass and wood? Geez, I could go on, but let's start with these. Cheers

[@RossGilmore]

@Maper555 It is well worth the time learning how to put a good profile on an axe with just a file. That way you can do it in less than perfect conditions.

[@madhatte73]

Very good information. I have puzzled over this development myself, as my collection goes back to the 1890's or so.

[@Diopterman]

I learned a lot Ross. Thank you for your hard work and willingness to share your knowledge.