BIG SPOTTED GUM WITH AN AXE!

Big Log Challenge 2023. Running a few axes through a big Spotted Gum log, wildlife encounters, the joys of heat exhaustion, and digging. And more digging.
Cheers for watching, feel free to check out the FB group for a heap of great info on working axes, axe skills and firewood processing
Axe Cordwood Challenge
groups/axeco...

[@bentonleach6730]

Everything about this video is great. The photography, the axes, the wood, the chopper. Impressive work

[@kurts64]

Thanks alot mate I appreciate that! Cheers👍👍🪓

[@Dmoriarty1993]

Just waiting for a studio to offer you a presenter's role for documentaries in the Outback. Any time now. Another great vid with great cutting.

[@kurts64]

I always reckoned I had a head better suited for radio 🤣🤣 thanks alot mate! 👍👍🪓

[@Brian2bears]

Most beautiful cuts meeting Mr. Kurt...the axe @17:00 was visually engaging for me...I thoroughly enjoy your flora and fauna both visually and audibly as well...very enjoyable sir...

[@kurts64]

Thanks alot mate! At 17 minutes was the Lamaca, it's still going strong! Cheers Mr B👍👍

[@ethicalaxe]

You mad man. Going straight for the toughest part of a tree haha. Can really see why the tassie was made with timber like this.

[@kurts64]

Haha thanks mate. Was good being able to rotate through a few axes to find the best one for a given part of the log. Cheek geometry makes such a difference

[@lumberjaxe8910]

Many overseas folk couldn't appreciate the hardness and durability and elasticity of this wood. That's why it's the one of the best for making tool handles. Great Camera clarity and sound.

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate, tough wood for sure. Some of them chips just don't wanna let go!👍🪓

[@LearningOfOld]

We like hickory, most used handle wood in comps and ash ofcourse

[@mrpoopypants9586]

You're a machine Kurt. That's hard yakka on a hot day. I felt for you when I saw then heard the axe hit that heartwood. Strange how relaxing it is to watch someone else working hard! 🙂 Always look forward to your stuff mate. You chop like a bushman. Cheers PP

[@kurts64]

Definitely a stubborn bugger of a log! Thanks heaps mate👍👍🪓

[@shaveclassy9986]

You sure are fit Bushie great chopping

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate!👍👍🪓

[@peterfletcher8411]

Hey Kurt, Was just saying to myself,'I wonder if Kurt has another vid up yet....and there it was. Thanks bud.... That was impressive as usual.... King of the clean notch... Looked like it was pretty fresh but still hard as....Made a bow out of some Spotty years back.... You are a fit one and thats good to see. Interesting to see a heart monitor read on your workout... I used to train/race bicycle so I know that feeling you are talking about re hot/cold blood sugar drop....not pleasant.... Mate you are an inspiration.... And your filming/editing skills are going good as gold. You are a real 'Timberman'. Keep them coming. Greatly appreciated Regards.Pete...

[@kurts64]

Thanks as always for the kind words mate, it means a lot. Those old school timbermen were a hard bunch. How did the Spotty bow turn out? I've done a few out of blackbutt, one was an absolute killer, it would put a field point through a piece of corro till it splintered on me. Still have it in the shed. Spotty would be crazy! Haha I did try one of those FitBit things at work a couple times, measured steps, calories etc. Was pretty cool, might try to find the thing again. I'd love to find the time to get on a mountain bike again too! Awesome fun. Thanks for watching mate, hope to get another vid up soon!👍👍🪓

[@bentonleach6730]

Awesome!

[@ericchilver9113]

You’ve got a good eye with your swing 👍🇦🇺 axe hits spot on

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate! 👍🪓🪓

[@Mike_the_Machine]

Legendary, Machine

[@kurts64]

Thanks alot mate!👍👍🪓

[@aussieaxedude154]

That was a beast of a chop my dude!!! that was an epic lizard at the start 🤙🤙🤙good pointers on knowing the early signs of heat exhaustion as well. Love the spotted gum plenty of good handles waiting to be let out in that log👌👌👌.

[@kurts64]

Gday mate, cheers! Haha yeah that monitor was pretty keen, thought he was gunna go at me for a sec 🤣👍👍🪓

[@aussieaxedude154]

@@kurts64 Almost a grilled goanna lunch 🤣🤣🤣mad critter.

[@felixdostie9024]

Nice!!!

[@kurts64]

Felix, cheers mate!👍👍🪓

[@Кренгауз]

💪💪💪

[@kurts64]

💪🪓🥵👍

[@KevinsDisobedience]

The outside of the spotted gum looks like our sycamore and the inside like our white oak.

[@kurts64]

Yeah I've thought that about sycamore, looks really similar

[@timbarry5080]

Not only is that hardwood, but it looks like it's been laying there awhile. So it's gotta be super hard. You are a strong axeman

[@kurts64]

Thanks alot mate, much appreciated! But this was actually a fresh fallen tree, down less than a week at that point, so was probably about as soft as Spotted gum gets. Aussie hardwood, makes ya work for it that's for sure! 🥵 Cheers Tim 👍👍🪓

[@timbarry5080]

@@kurts64 wow. I should be used to being wrong by now, but it looked like it's been there a while..Either way it's hard work and I appreciate your ability.

[@rogerrobinson4446]

Nice work, great video!

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate!👍👍🪓

[@chimmy4244]

Nicely done Kurt and nice prep work as well! Beautiful line up of axes. Heat stroke ain't nothing to play with glad to see you take a break.

[@kurts64]

Thanks Chimmy!👍👍🪓

[@Hank_Scorpio__Globex_CEO]

WOW Kurt, that was some impressive chopping. Great video!

[@kurts64]

Cheers Hank! Much appreciated mate!👍👍🪓

[@peterperigrino1403]

I watched your traffic hazard blackbutt gum video about an hour ago. I couldn't believe how the axes were bouncing out of the cuts you put in. Then i started this video. Holy smokes when you were marking out your cut lines. Im thinking that is a monster looking tree. Its good to see axes put to work. Thanks for the hard work you put into your videos.

[@aussiehardwood6196]

Most all of these species will sink in water like concrete does, many are close in weight for size. I don't laugh at oak being a hardwood...but.

[@kurts64]

Gday Peter, cheers mate! Cheers for watchin the older vids, the Traffic Hazard was a fun one. That Jersey will be back soon! No worries mate, thanks for watching👍👍🪓

[@kurts64]

​@@aussiehardwood6196 cheers mate, yep it's some dense stuff!

[@axesofoz717]

Some great audio coming from that log. Great work :)

[@kurts64]

Thanks alot mate!👍👍🪓

[@bundufundi]

Man, you were putting in some effort there in that heat, good effort mate!

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate!👍👍🪓

[@PencilProper]

I don't think many people could appreciate how hard this would have been. Well done Kurt, best Axeman on YT!

[@kurts64]

Thanks alot Chris, much appreciated mate! 👍 👍🪓

[@3rtk2]

I wonder what people think driving past that....only really see it in old photo's, well done.

[@kurts64]

Haha I've wondered the same thing, would be pretty funny I reckon. Thanks alot mate👍👍🪓

[@mjztw]

Fuckin epic mate!! 👍

[@kurts64]

Haha cheers mate!👍👍🪓

[@davidwyby]

Good show. Thanks from Aussie tree land in CA

[@kurts64]

Thanks alot mate. Is it blue gums you've got over there? I think there's a few species been planted in different parts of the world, apparently they take over a bit?

[@davidwyby]

@@kurts64 over on the coast in San Diego they have more blues I think. There are small wild “forests” of them over there. Straighter trunks that crown at the top. I’m in the imperial valley, large agriculture area in the desert 2 hours east. Lot of river red gums here, they get big. Some several meters in diameter. They are in rows of a few here and there between the fields, and yard trees. Plenty of vids of them on my channel. My challenge lately has been getting them to hinge when felling. Got off into axes because of wedge banging axes and splitters, like doing my limbing with axes.

[@kurts64]

@@davidwyby From what I've seen and read it's beaut country out your way, by the sounds of it the River Reds would love that area. Open-grown, sprawling gums like that can be a bugger to fall for sure. Make some nice timber though if your into milling. I'll check out your channel!👍👍🪓

[@davidwyby]

@@kurts64 problem is it’s so hot and dry, the gum checks big and fast

[@davidwyby]

@@kurts64 I saw an aussie somewhere mention red gum for axe handles. I figured it would be too brittle, what ya think?

[@mytimbersportsjourney]

What a chop!!! Looks like you brought the right axes for this job. Call me biased but that camp axe seemed to do well! Although the timberman is a tough axe to stack anything up against.

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate! That camp axe was a handy thing to have on this one, light and fast, fat little wedgie thing🤣

[@Joey-L]

Damn that was impressive, add the heat and man-eating dragons and it was down right insane ! Some great axes and axemanship, super clean notches.

[@kurts64]

Cheers Joey! That lace monitor was a curious bugger, I caught him sussing out the tripod at one point haha

[@brettbrown9814]

Well this one had something for everyone mate. Beautifully filmed and excellent axe work. Thanks for putting it together.

[@kurts64]

Cheers Brett, shot this one a while back but took a while to get to it. Next ones a camping vid, haha somethin a bit different😬🤪 no worries mate, thanks for watching it!👍👍🪓

[@brettbrown9814]

@@kurts64 Looking forward to the next vid. Glad you took a good break to cool down in this one. Man wasn't designed to swing an axe inside a pizza oven. Take care mate.

[@MidCoastAdventures]

Damn, Kurt! Solid log, bloody hot- legend 💪😎

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate! Turned out I'd picked Kempsey's hottest day of the year to go choppin🤣🤣

[@waynejorgensen4433]

Hi Kurt. Good to see you cockroaches can approach our temperature and humidity. Good chopping and nice to see the accuracy. The northern hemisphere has little idea of what is involved.

[@kurts64]

🤣🪳 thanks mate! Yeah she can get a bit warm, this summer was relatively decent compared to the last couple! I must know how to pick the days, its funny the tuatahi/spotted gum falling vid from a while back was on one of the hottest days of 2021! 🥵🪓

[@MattKeevil]

Loved the appearance by Joanna the (Tree) Goanna! And you are a machine; If I run my Big Log challenge footage at 1.5x speed I could almost keep up 😅

[@kurts64]

Haha yeah she was a funny one, thought she was gunna climb the tripod at one point! Your big log was some serious choppin too!👍👍🪓

[@williefick]

Good grief! When was this? Here its mostly under 20°C now during the day. Good size. That would keep me in firewood for some time. You should keep some of it for handles. Well done.👏

[@kurts64]

Gday mate, this was back in late summer, took me a while to get to the vid. I was hoping to slab up this log for a few different projects but unfortunately State Forests came thru a few weeks later to grade the road, and rolled my log down the hill 😡😡not happy! I gotta start pinning invoices to these logs 🤣

[@williefick]

Yeah, government have a way of messing things up. Putting an invoice is not such a bad idea. Maybe just write on the log " logging in process, do not disturb" or something like that.

[@mattoster0994]

Great vid mate 🤙

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate!👍👍🪓

[@aussiehardwood6196]

There's just something about being out in the Aussie Bush.

[@kurts64]

Absolutely mate, nuthin better!👍👍🪓

[@glenurquhart2300]

I think you wanted one to dig out out of sympathy for all the shoveling I did this past winter 😆😆 Most excellent job ! Have you thought about setting an axe up with a full 800 mm handle for bottoming out those big bucks ? I know that back in the day many of the Tassies were offered with 32 and 36 inch handles.i would imagine that any that used the 36" were in Big wood. But 32 seemed to be the norm for back then. ? Granted an 800 would be a good bit too long for small stuff. And you do Great with your 28s . Just curious .

[@kurts64]

Cheers Glen, haha sympathy shovelling! I do have one set up on a 33inch (the no-name from the axes n steak vid) but never seem to have it with me, I remembered to put it in the truck after this one though 😆 Yeah 32s seemed to be most common, I've only ever picked up one old tas on a 36 but removed it pretty quick. Surprisingly I find a fair few on 30s, they must have been more common back in the day

[@KillingerUSA]

First!

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate!

[@KevinsDisobedience]

I wonder if someone will wonder across that log and see someone chopped it in half and think wtf!

[@kurts64]

Haha I reckon they did! The forestry crew came through and graded the road a few weeks later, would have loved to have been there. I gotta stop doing their work for em haha

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Really impressive effort, which axe do you think worked best fot that wood?

[@kurts64]

Cheers Ben, the keech was probably the best for this log overall, a good compromise between deep cuts and wedginess. Was handy to have the Tui as well though, to use as a wedge to throw stubborn blocks after being cut by the others, with no sticking

[@tedmartin5402]

Mate cut down the middle of that scarf wood and the chips come out easier.

[@ervintaylor6508]

Obviously a blowdown Kurt are you able to keep and salvage timber?

[@kurts64]

Gday mate, i do use firewood and in the past on the farm I had stacks of slabs, burls and handle billets kept but not so much any more. Every now and then I'll grab some billets to season up. I had actually planned on slabbing this log but the forestry guys cleared it before I got back to it! Would have made some awesome lumber. Cheers for watching mate!

[@Supwisebs]

Kurt, it’s amazing to me that your lower back can stand up to chopping so far below your toes. Any tips?

[@kurts64]

Gday mate, thanks for checkin it out👍 Tbh I hadn't really thought about it, I guess though it gets to a point where you can't bend any lower and you've gotta start bending the knees out to get those extra inches to the swing. This does rob power though, usually you'd be trying to "snap" the legs straight to gain power in a swing. A longer handle definitely would be beneficial. A fellow named Codi has a big log vid where he uses both a short and long handle and discusses the pros and cons , I'll see if I can link the vid kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5ucd3agZpeGiqs

[@FatboyAussie]

That’s hard yakka. What sort of axe heads?

[@kurts64]

Gday mate, this was a Plumb tassie 4.5lb, Keech Timberman, Tuatahi camp axe, and Lamaca Work axe. Just checked out your Yeti and Norco builds and one of your trail rides, nice!👍👍🪓

[@FatboyAussie]

@@kurts64 nice. Been looking at the engineered for axemen WA190. Have you got to swing one of those?

[@kurts64]

@@FatboyAussie cool, nah not yet. A mates got an EFA and loves it. I've been eyeing off the 2kg and the hatchet, good gear

[@jonholliday5166]

Which axe Mate?

[@kurts64]

Gday mate, in this one was the 4.5 Plumb tassie, Keech Timberman kc23, Tui camp axe, and Lamaca work axe. All did the job pretty well I reckon. Cheers for watching!👍👍🪓

[@lifebehindtheaxe3835]

I bet your lower back felt amazing the next day! "Good on ya"

[@kurts64]

🤣🤣 Sure did mate! Great to hear from ya, hope your all good !👍👍 How's things been goin over your way?

[@lifebehindtheaxe3835]

@@kurts64 everything is going good this year for me so far, my least favorite season is looming... summer. But I'll be using the heat to my advantage and try and drop some weight while I train. Keep posting