The Spotted Gum Pt. 2 (Tuatahi Camp Axe, Lamaca Work Axe)

After nearly getting heatstroke in Part 1, we return to the Spotty a few weeks later- in the Aussie summer, when its even hotter- and give the Tui in particular a good beating, bucking and splitting down the rest of the Spotty and finishing off the Cordwood Challenge for 2021.
Thanks to everyone for watching, commenting, liking, and disliking throughout the year. Its been awesome to be involved in the Challenge, and getting to know folks from all over the world. For anyone with an interest in working axes, self reliance, or bushmanship in general, its a great way to build skills and a perfect excuse to get out there.
Stay safe out there!
Check out these links for more info:
Lamaca Handmade Axes: lamacaaxes.com/
Tuatahi Racing Axes: www.tuatahiaxes.com/
Cordwood Facebook Group: / axecordwoodchallenge
Kevins Disobedience: • Cordwood Challenge Wra...
Skillcult: / skillcult
Ben Scott: / benthenoobernator
Skinny Bear and the Dogs: / @skinnybearthedogs2654
Life Behind the Axe: / @lifebehindtheaxe3835
Samuli Kilpinen: / @samulikilpinen1233
Michelle Makes Stuff: / @michellemakesstuff
The Vintage Axe Hoarder: / @matthewamsbaugh
Owen Jarvis: / elemental4rce
Milo Kolb: / milokolb
Brian2Bears: / brian2bears
940Joey: / @940joey2
WoodlandBushcraftUK: / mrdesmostylus
Andrew Steimer: / 581andy
Chimmy42: • Video
SouthAfricanAxeEnthusiast: • Cordwood 2022- So it b...
BunduFundi: • Axe Stuff
Killinger: • Video
EthicalAxe: • Splitting Black Walnut...
Codi Clapper: • 2021 One-Tree Challeng...
AussieAxeDude: / @aussieaxedude154

[@skinnybearthedogs2654]

That one really was a piece of work from the fell to the split, it didn't want to be chopped at all. Really massive job Kurt, I'm amazed at the amount of logs you had to go through.

[@kurts64]

Thanks for watching mate! She was definitely a stubborn bugger, and the tallest tree I've ever done with an axe. I'll know better next time😆

[@KevinsDisobedience]

Love the juxtaposition between truck and foliage cuts. Nicely done.

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate!👍👍 rattley ol' girl in her natural environment 😆

[@MidCoastAdventures]

Oh the skills with both axe and camera- awesome work again Kurt! 😎👍

[@kurts64]

Haha thanks mate, I appreciate it 😁👍

[@Iliketobeactive]

This channel rules

[@kurts64]

Haha thanks mate! Much appreciated! 👍👍🪓

[@tedmartin5402]

Two good axes I must own one day.

[@kurts64]

Highly recommended! Cheers mate👍👍🪓

[@KevinsDisobedience]

Gotta love the long notched shots, eh. Impressive work there!

[@KillingerUSA]

Good job man! Video, edit, axmenship, everything! Well done!

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate!

[@aussieaxedude154]

Mate them cuts were super clean!!! I bet you slept like a log that night excuse the pun lol. Like your wood stacking method at the end man awesome scenery shots as well. Sweet video.

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate! I reckon I slept like a log for about a week!🤣

[@southafricanaxeenthusiast9144]

Great stuff, as usual. Always a viewing pleasure. That lamaca really is a good looking axe.

[@kurts64]

Cheers Neil! There is something about the Lammy, just a cool axe.👍👍

[@joeguinand4622]

Wow amazing video , again! That camp axe sure gets the work done!

[@kurts64]

She's a beast! Thanks mate!👍👍

[@3chim7noi4lenden]

Beautiful works! Love your video.

[@kurts64]

Thanks a lot mate! 👍 👍🪓

[@timwatsonphotography]

That looks like a hard day’s work. Well done for sticking to your plan mate.

[@kurts64]

Thanks man, I appreciate that👍👍 cheers for watching Tim!

[@guyvanderveken5595]

Loving it, you are back at it, not slowing down. Spectacular cinematography as always. Your technique of rolling the log to finish the buck is awesome, saving the toe of the axe. That Tui is a beast and you make it sing. Thank you for the awesome content from Down Under plus the inspiration, Take care Brother.

[@kurts64]

Thanks heaps mate, no worries, take it easy!👍👍

[@chimmy4244]

Another great one! I can't believe how hard that wood sounds. It pays to bring the right axes and it showed they were the perfect combo.

[@kurts64]

Thanks Chimmy! Definitely tough wood. They did well as a team, both the same weight class but each had it's strong points. Love the feel of the Lamaca.👍

[@Brian2bears]

Artful work Mr. Kurt. Having read the comments thus far, I can only echo them. From the camera to the edit, to the chopping, masterfully done sir....

[@kurts64]

Thanks Brian that means a lot mate, cheers! Hope all's well up your way👍

[@greenfaring2501]

Great two-parter. Scenery, work, and the axes. Bloody brilliant axes! I was looking for more stuff on the Tuatahi camp (as most folks would, right...!) and there you go and produce an excellent video. And you let the axe do the talkin’. Thanks

[@kurts64]

That's awesome mate, thanks a lot!👍👍

[@gumboot65]

Wonderful video Bushy ! Tremendous amount of work ! Great axe and video work ! Very impressive the accordion chips 👍👍 your in great shape for sure

[@kurts64]

Thanks a lot mate, happy new year!🪓👍👍

[@deancooke513]

Good axe skills mate and you obviously love doing it. I'd rather mill them and use them for building on the farm and do. Cheers

[@kurts64]

Thanks a lot mate, yep this one would have been pretty decent to mill, long, straight and clear. Cheers for checkin out the vid!👍👍🪓

[@theowiththeo]

Nice video! You’re a beast! Canadian but spent 8 months in and around NSW and loved every minute! sub-ed!

[@kurts64]

Thanks for the kind words and the sub, mate! Glad you enjoyed your time here, I'd love to spend 8 months gettin around those Canadian lakes and snow and conifers! Beautiful landscape. Cheers!👍👍

[@peterfletcher8411]

Love your work Kurt. Admirable skills. One tuff bloke.🙂 You also have a talent for putting together a video that offers good contrast to just axes/chopping by some of your landscape/bush footage. Keep it up if you enjoy to produce it.

[@kurts64]

Gday Peter, I appreciate that mate! Glad you enjoy the landscape type stuff, for me the "where" is as much a motivator as the activity. Definitely some more vids on the way! Thanks again!

[@KevinsDisobedience]

That stuff fought all the way, did it.

[@Codi_Clapper]

Love it! Camerawork, axemanship, the scenery and all. That wood sounded really tough. I like your stacking method at the end. Are those your favorite axes? Great content, very impressive!

[@kurts64]

Thanks a lot mate! I like both of these axes, I'd rate them both a good 9.5, but they worked really well as a combo. Yep, spotted gum is pretty unforgiving! Cheers for watching, and commenting 👍

[@ethicalaxe]

Oh boy, the way that stick looks right before you're done bucking is beautiful. You can tell that is some tough timber. I'm sure you've split worse but I can imagine how brutal that would be if it was big wood. It was already an ironman feat just processing that one. It's amazing what a man used to do with an axe. There's a documentary about the tie hacks of Wyoming where it was said you'd fell and hew 10-40 trees a day. I believe it's called the Brotherhood Of The Broad axe. I have so little stamina compared to these men it's embarrassing.

[@kurts64]

Cheers mate👍 I have seen that one, they were tough buggers for sure. Definitely a different world back then. Thanks for watching man!

[@Dmoriarty1993]

That's incredible!

[@shaveclassy9986]

Good work Bushie

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate!👍👍

[@benthompson1562]

Nice mini European Holz Housen style stack at the end, i've not got round to trying one of those yet

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate, I'd never done a stack like that before either, kind of organic looking. Cheers for watching, and commenting!👍

[@silverback4434]

Tuatahi camp axe is a beast axe ! But dont forget , safety first : Be careful of yours feets ✌️

[@kurts64]

It's definitely a beast axe! Hope your liking yours. Did you end up going with the stock handle? Cheers mate!👍

[@silverback4434]

@@kurts64 yeah i take mine with the stock handle for the moment . Its perfect to put in a backpack and going making fire in the wood . Have a good day .

[@GoLongboardBroseph]

stuff looks tough as nails!

[@kurts64]

The Tui got it done though! Cheers👍

[@williefick]

Great stuff mate. I feel like I should come over there and do a chopping vacation. Summer here in South Africa is also a hot one this year. I bit the bullet and order another camp axe. Tuatahi is going the extra mile by putting a 5inch longer handle on for me. So between the work, the short and the longer camp axes I am ready for any gum tree out there. Your videos rock!

[@kurts64]

Cheers Willie! Haha somewhere with some nice clean poplar would be alright! Good on Tui for sorting out a handle, are they putting their full-size one on it? Will get my hands on the Work axe one day, how does it go on the gums over there?

[@williefick]

We here in the South are like our land and trees...tough. Poplar and pine is for those softies with snow up north. We chop gum in 30 plus degrees in the bush where there is dangerous animals and poisonous snakes. 🤣🤣🤣 I asked them if they can do a longer handle and I told them my ideal handle for felling, bucking is a 30inch. Stu then said they will make one thats 26inch from the bottom of the eye down. With the head it then comes to almost 30inch. Slightly shorter than the working axe. The working is a killer on gum. Even gum thaths been lying outside for more then a year and it stay sharp. I just use my strops to touch it up. Its the only axe that I keep shaving sharp and then have no damage on dry gum. Engineered for axemen axes also look nice. I like that chopper of them. Shipping here just kill it for me. I wanted to order handles from them. With shipping it cost Aus$186.50 for one. Thats why I asked Stu at Tuatahi if they could not help. Good guys. Will be a long four to five months before I have it. They are busy over there. I got me red river gum I want to take down and use the wood for floor planks. Keep swinging.

[@kurts64]

@@williefick 🤣🤣snakes aplenty round here! Man that's some good service from Tui. It's funny I was gunna mention to you the EFA Choppa, crazy lookin thing. I like their 2kg work axe and the hatchet. Good to hear about the edge holding of the Tui. River red make beaut looking flooring. Cheers mate!

[@Joey-L]

Another great video Kurt. Love the camera work and the chopping. Watching these videos helps me get my axe fix while I wait for the snow to melt. You gonna attempt the big log challenge this year ?

[@kurts64]

Cheers Joey, sorry it took so long to get this one out, but glad it helped the fix a bit! Yep, big log coming up soon (ish!), had a few attempts last year (they're on the Cordwood page) but all came up a bit short. It's redemption time haha!

[@four4bman979]

Great job! Need a Tuatahi to split some tough oak here in mid Atlantic USA.

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate! The camp axe does make for a great splitter. Good luck with that oak!🪓🪵

[@four4bman979]

@@kurts64 You're welcome mate! Maybe Santa will bring me a Tuatahi!

[@breadbaconcheese]

peacee!!

[@kurts64]

Hahaha🤣👍

[@KillingerUSA]

What in the world was that bug? It looked animated!!

[@kurts64]

No clue! I'm always finding weird stuff out there!

[@bundufundi]

Another accuracy master class there Kurt!! Do you do this professionally or have you raced in the past? Incredible.

[@kurts64]

Thanks Trev! Are you watching this from SA?👍👍Never done any racing but do a lot of chopping at work, with axes hatchets and machetes. My arms were jelly by the end of this though 😆

[@bundufundi]

@@kurts64 Yes in SA so the connection is not always that good so I had to watch it in stages. Man, that was impressive chopping and with such a heavy axe I’m not surprised that it was tiring!

[@kurts64]

@@bundufundi I appreciate the effort mate! Have fun over there!

[@ShelleyRaskin]

So you you added like 4 and a half inches to the stock length right? Seems to make it a right handy little work horse, I have the full sized tuatahi and it’s a great axe, but it is heavy, no way I want to swing it all day or carry it far, been thinking the camp axe may be a good addition, although not sure I want to handle it myself, might give it a whirl at its stock handle length, if I don’t like that I can always change I guess, don’t think I’m as tall as you either.

[@kurts64]

Gday, yep about 4 and a half. If you like the full size but want something lighter, this will fit the bill. I have heard that tui can arrange a longer handle on it if you let them know. If you decide to hang it yourself, the eye shape is a bit different to most regular axes but is very precise and should give you no problems. I'm about 5 foot 6, if that helps. Cheers for watching, and leaving a comment, always appreciated!👍

[@MatthewAmsbaugh]

This is my second time watching. Man that was a big tree! How long did it take you?

[@kurts64]

I think there was about 15 hours, maybe a bit more spread out over the couple of days, but a fair bit of that was mucking around with the cameras. Ended up around 400 vid clips all up, before editing. The original idea was to get there Saturday morn and cut a cord over the weekend, but the wind and rain stopped any felling on the Saturday, and the heat cut Sunday short. Probably a good thing, if I had of tried to do 2 or 3 of this size in 2 days I probably wouldn't have been standing by the end of it😆 Thanks again for watching mate

[@MatthewAmsbaugh]

@@kurts64 a cord in a weekend? I spent 2 days chopping until my hands gave out and only got a rick. Lol And I feel you. Filming seems to double the time spent in the field. We have some snow coming tomorrow, but I’m going to get out and do some chopping after it quits. Need to get myself one of those camp axes, and a lamaca. I’ve wanted em for a while but haven’t pulled the trigger on one just yet.

[@kurts64]

@@MatthewAmsbaugh A Rick in 2 days is an awesome effort! Have no idea if I could have finished a cord, but it seemed like a good idea at the time😆 Was wondering about snow at your place, seems like a lot of it goin on in the US at the moment. If you do get the chance to grab either the Lamaca or the camp axe, grab one. They're both pretty unique axes from a design pov and I reckon you'd enjoy building up a camp axe. Glad your healing up and getting back out there man

[@PencilProper]

Another great video as usual! That looks like some tough wood, I've got a Tuatahi work axe on order. Can't wait to swing it! How do you like yours?

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate! The camp axe is cool. Just a fun axe to belt around! Hoping to grab the Tui work axe soon, or maybe a China head for a build up. What timber are you cutting?

[@PencilProper]

@@kurts64 I was considering the camp axe but I heard the handles are pretty short and I'm relatively tall so opted for the longer handle with the work axe. I'll mainly be cutting and splitting Marri, Jarrah and white gum for firewood. Would make a good video for an axe build with a china head!

[@kurts64]

@@PencilProper are you over in WA? I hear you about the short handle on the camp axe. I get what they were going for, and it would certainly have a place as a tool, but after using it with this longer handle I reckon they should offer a longer version as an option. Keep us updated on the work axe!👍

[@PencilProper]

@@kurts64 That's right I am in WA. I have heard a few people say the same thing about the handle... As the head on the camp axe is still pretty hefty (3.5lb I think?) But it may lend itself better to splitting with wider cheeks? Still looks far more capable than what I can do with it though. Hopefully the axe lasts me a lifetime. For sure, I will let you know when it arrives. In a few months.

[@fujitakazuhisa4581]

How long is your Tuatahi camp axe handle? 60cm(standard handle of camp axe) or 80cm(handle of racing axe)?

[@kurts64]

This one is a 750mm long Engineered for Axemen handle 👍

[@fujitakazuhisa4581]

Thank you for reply and useful information!

[@davidstrevens9170]

Great display of the Tuatahi's capacity. If I'm not mistaken the Lamaca did about 10% of the work? And that was more or less simply finishing off what the Tuatahi had already done? The Lamaca is a pretty looking axe. I guess you wanna include it since they cost over Usd $500.00. However, I know which one I would buy. Thanks. A great post.

[@kurts64]

Thanks mate! Yep in this vid the lamaca really just did backup for the tui. I've used the lamaca alot in other vids and it's proven it's worth (for me anyway), but they're very different axes from a design point of view. The tui is definitely the more affordable, but I'm not sure I prefer one over the other, it mainly comes down to the job at hand. Cheers!👍

[@davidstrevens9170]

Yeah. As far as I know the Lamaca axe head is hand forged in Latvia. I don't know if that makes it more functional but it certainly makes it more expensive. I guess like with most things there is the 'designer label option'. The great thing about your posts is that they speak for themselves. Call a spade a spade and an axe an axe. Thanks for sharing. Take care.

[@ianmoone2359]

Dear God, someone buy that man a Stihl 500i with the light weight bar & carbide chain. I love hard work & I can sit and watch it all day long - but dammit I worked up a sweat & and was dry as a camels phart after just watching that. I been flat out like a lizard drinking trying to stay hydrated just watching that. It’s well past time this guy learned the benefits of man glitter & a 500i is the best way to do that. 😜😂😂😉👍🇦🇺

[@kurts64]

🤣🤣 thanks mate! I did run a saw yesterday- a 60 odd year old, blunt, Rusty crosscut saw! Was pretty decent though. Having said that, I wouldn't complain about a 500i! 👍👍🪓

[@MatthewAmsbaugh]

First!

[@KillingerUSA]

Gurrrrr

[@kurts64]

😆cheers mates!

[@brettbrown9814]

Second!

[@kurts64]

Cheers Brett!

[@brettbrown9814]

@@kurts64 an all around great video Kurt!

[@hamedizzy5137]

Wich one is the better axe over all?

[@kurts64]

Honestly it comes down to preference I think. Both are awesome at what they do. There's more setup time in the tui, and it splits better, but the high toe can be a hindrance at times. The lamaca feels like a bush samurai sword but is expensive. Still not sure! Love em both👍👍

[@hamedizzy5137]

I guess I'll have to buy them both as well lol. I have a Brantford bruks "American" felling axe and love it was thinking of getting a Lamaca, if they respond lol, thanks gor all your awsome videos.

[@kurts64]

@@hamedizzy5137 I've always been curious about the granfors American. No worries mate, thanks for watching!

[@hamedizzy5137]

Gransfors bruks*** sorry that was auto correct....