Rinaldi Axe edge profile. Upgrade an axe by adjusting the edge with file. Make the axe cut better

In my second video of the Rinaldi Calabria axe, I change the edge profile by filing the cheeks to a flatter shape. I use a medium coarse file, after that an axe puck, which is a double sided sharpening stone.
When the axe is finished and sharpened, although I could have spent a lot more time on it, I take it out and try it on another small tree, to compare the result from my last attempt of using it for felling and bucking lumber.

[@davidemarchesi9292]

Congratulations, I live a few kilometers from Rinaldi and I think you have captured the true spirit of the tools they build, created to work honestly without many frills. Congratulations again and hello from Italy

[@myableways]

Thank you. I will be making more videos of Rinaldi tools. I hope you will enjoy the rest of my videos as well in the meantime.

[@TheBrifors]

There you go. Keep those tools sharp and never settle for factory standards. Nice work as always

[@myableways]

It’s even better now. I did some more work on it today, and now I can take down a tree as the one in the video with maybe half the effort. A 2” trunk comes clean off in one chop. So there was some more reshaping to be done on it still. I’ll shoot another axe video again pretty soon.

[@sarabackman6921]

That sound of woodchopping- lovely!

[@myableways]

Isn’t it!

[@petertiffney4413]

Great bucking axe to light for a felling axe .Great content love the carpentry videos

[@myableways]

Thanks a lot. Yes, I will get another axe more suitable for felling pretty soon. But this small Rinaldi has more to offer than you might expect, if you just get the edge sorted out. I did some more work on the profile today, as I said in the video I just did a little reshaping. And now the small trees almost fall down by themselves. A 2” diameter trunk comes clean off in one chop. And a 6” in half the time compared to the video. So I guess I’ll have to shoot some more axe work pretty soon … But before that, I’ll finish part 3 in the series of my workshop doors. I’m glad you enjoy those carpentry videos too.

[@christopherbootz6533]

Great video! I have one of these axes and really like it. Keep chopping for fun, exercise and productive work.

[@myableways]

Thanks. I like it for felling small trees, but especially for limbing. I’ll probably get another axe eventually and compare felling with both axes.

[@mountain_man_7626]

I just found your channel recently. I enjoy your videos. You're very knowledgeable and make interesting & helpful videos. They are also quite relaxing to watch as well. I hope you make more axe videos in the future. Best of luck! Subscribed!

[@myableways]

Thanks a lot! I’ll try to make more axe videos, I have some ideas for that.

[@timclements2473]

Great video

[@myableways]

Thanks! But follow my other channel for more axerelated videos, I’ve separated that sort of content from this channel. youtube.com/@myoutdoorways?si=nPLy_bhNZxch9ZMF

[@dennisobrien3618]

I have the Calabria heavy duty, which has a significantly heavier head (I thnk it's 1300 or 1500g). I like its cutting performance, but I neead to rework the handle to give it some flex and reduce shock. I like the way the steel "rings" on these axes. I would offer some critiques, but it sounds like you're learning quickly on your own. There is a whole community of axe lovers out there, and plenty of people sharing knowledge on KZbin.

[@myableways]

I got another Calabria after my first axe videos, that one’s a bit heavier too. And the handle that came with it was way too thick, of course … Thanks for your support, I hope to make some more axe videos now during the winter.

[@gumboot65]

I like the Calabria shape , as it thickens out to the eye. . In a 1800 gram version , wirh a meter long handle . It would really be something. Not sure what, but something !!

[@myableways]

I like it too, apart from the eye dictating a somewhat uncomfortable handle shape.

[@johanfahlberg3778]

Yes! We wanted this! Well, I did, at least. My axes gets sharp, but not... Sharp with a capital S! I will grind down the hand-axe a lot, as there is way too much material in the tip. I'll try your way with that axe, then.

[@myableways]

Try it. But it’s not really an improvement for splitting, only if you’re doing cutting work. I should add that I really didn’t do a lot of reshaping in the video, I went back and did some more work on it today, and you should see the results now … there will be another video of this pretty soon, I have to shoot it quickly, when there are small trees left on our slope. With the edge I got on it today they drop almost by themselves.

[@donscottvansandt4139]

Great advice bud ... I've got some used up cheapo files too . I was wondering about building a small forge and seeing what kind of blades I could make... I'd like to see a video about this...

[@myableways]

I don’t make blades myself, so I can’t make a video about it. But one of my friends is a bladesmith, maybe he could do one. Problem is that he’s far too busy with his orders to have time to shoot videos. But maybe I’ll pay him a visit and shoot what he does.

[@donscottvansandt4139]

@@myableways that'd be awesome!

[@jawalakhel4606]

Super video. Could you teach us how to profile a handle? I hear their handles as well a hultafors axes are too thick. Is that a hultafors sharpening puck? Are they worth it? Thanks

[@myableways]

Thanks for your appreciation! I’m planning to shoot a video or two on handle making and how to thin down an existing handle to better working thickness. So it will come eventually. Yes, it’s a Hultafors axe puck. I think it’s alright to bring out in the forest, but in the workshop I prefer my double sided diamond stone. And a large strop with a good honing medium. I think the axe puck wears away pretty quickly and doesn’t work as well as the diamond stone.

[@donscottvansandt4139]

I'm not very skilled with a ax either lol ... but that view let's you see just how much deeper the ax sinks into the wood when you hit at a slight scew... when you hit flat against the grain it almost just bounces off ...

[@myableways]

Yes, that’s right. I still need some practice. When felling, the cuts that go in at an angle are the ones loosening up the wood. The horizontal cuts are supposed to sever the fibers where the crack from the angled cuts end. But because of my lack of skill I hit too low at some times. When bucking, on the other hand, you cut at an angle from both sides. I’ll shoot another video when I’ve gotten slightly better at wielding this axe.

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

Damn with the bucking that long handle really seems to give it leverage no? I got a Bellota Biscayne style recently should be coming in the post soon its around a 1200G head.

[@myableways]

I’ve found the 90 cm handle to be too long for bucking, so I’ll make a shorter one. And one that actually fits properly in the eye, the handles Rinaldi sends with their axes seem to be below any reasonable standard.

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

​@@myableways Aye they seem to be a little lacking haha I have the American boys axe on a 60cm handle on a 7 shape handle I made from ash from the first large tree job I worked on been felling and bucking quite a few silver Birch with it at a wildlife rehab center as the pollen affects their eyes. That and its been a good chance to open up the wood and help the other species to grow such as the Hazel and Sweet chestnut.

[@myableways]

Sounds like a nice job. I mostly fell birch for firewood myself.

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

@@myableways It's next to a seal pool I've been saying to the woodland manager they should seel it for firewood or get some charcoal going Birch is probably my favourite firewood all told.

[@myableways]

Nice to have seals nearby when working. And I like your idea of making charcoal. But what do they do with the wood you’re cutting now? Just dumping it or what? We traditionally use birch for firewood in Sweden because it’s everywhere. Cuts and splits easily, and the oil in the bark of course is a great advantage for lighting fires … but as to the energy value it’s actually somewhere in the middle, compared to other wood species. Our german neighbour told me they burned mostly beech when he grew up there. But that’s probably for the same reason as we burn birch, they have a lot of it … maybe I should do a video talking a bit about different kinds of firewood. We’ll see about that.

[@johanfahlberg3778]

"Shocker" 😆

[@myableways]

😊

[@mazenmusaed7460]

Is the handle with axe head when you bought it?

[@myableways]

I ordered a handle separatly. It didn’t fit that well though. I had to wedge the top and it still wasn’t that good. I’ll make a new one myself in time.

[@mazenmusaed7460]

@myableways3438 please give me the link of this handle

[@myableways]

I bought it from inferramenta.it. I can’t find the product page now, I think the webshop is temporarily down.

[@mazenmusaed7460]

@myableways3438 thank you very much

[@myableways]

👍🏽

[@Jesusiskingamen7]

Bro what I’m the world are you doing!!! You got the wrong hand on the bottom of the axe to swing right handles

[@myableways]

Correct. But if you check my following videos you’ll see I eventually stopped doing that.