The Working Axe

Just a short follow up video to my last post on the history of the Kelly Dandenong axe. This time I am discussing my favourite working axe for all chopping tasks, my 4 lb Australian Kelly Dandie. I've had this one for years and used it more than any other chopping axe. When I got it it was covered in engine oil and the edge was rounded right over from bad sharpening. Took a lot of work to reprofile the bevel but once I took it out to the farm and used it, I realised it was a keeper. She's a bit rough around the edges but works like a dream!

[@MattKeevil]

A well-appreciated and well-used work axe is the best kind!

[@axesofoz717]

For sure. Cheers mate.

[@Ivonyakson]

Hello. Great axe. You have interesting and beautiful trees. Thanks for the video and have a nice day!

[@axesofoz717]

Thanks, cheers mate!

[@Joey-L]

Something about a good user axe that makes it a favourite. Especially the cosmetically challenged ones !

[@axesofoz717]

Yes, like a well broken-in pair of shoes.

[@gumboot65]

Great vid Mark ! I have a worn Kelly St Catharines. . I think it was a 4 1/2 but now weighs 3 1/2 . Its my woodstove axe. I hung it on a 20" handles. I havent invested in a Dandenong due to the prices they fetch nowadays.

[@axesofoz717]

Thanks mate. No doubt it does the job well, I love my 4 lb Canadian Kelly as a splitter, also has a bit of wear on it. The Dandenong axes have become so sought after now, it is quite amazing to see. I suppose they have some mystique to them.

[@aussiehardwood6196]

After using 4.5lb ax's for a good while, its easy to fall in love with a 4lb ax.

[@axesofoz717]

Yes exactly, it feels effortless to use it after the heavy ones.

[@brettbrown9814]

Beautiful axe and great guitar!

[@axesofoz717]

Cheers mate!

[@Roqjoru]

Use a poly cord on the handle by ax head to protect from over strikes.

[@axesofoz717]

Cheers. To tell the truth I shouldn't have been using my chopping axe as a splitter!

[@Murls]

You were lucky to get yours for under$100.00 , I picked up a 4lb for just over $300.00 in January this year , they are a lovely axe.

[@axesofoz717]

Yes this was a few years back now, but it was still a bargain at the time. Hard to find now too.

[@Running-with-skizers]

Beautiful old axe very nice user great video man keep up the great work

[@axesofoz717]

Cheers mate.

[@FJ40Brian]

I like the axe. I've got a Dandenong that was made in Canada. Great splitter!

[@axesofoz717]

Yes the Canadian ones are great splitters!

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

A beautiful old Kelly! Are those eucalyptus chips you're throwing?

[@axesofoz717]

Thanks mate, yes the wood is snow gum.

[@simjai1000]

Did a half day clearing around a dam in exchange for one

[@axesofoz717]

A day well spent!

[@_BigLife_]

Really nice axe. I have one sitting on my work bench. Unfortunately it's a customers. I will find one some day.

[@axesofoz717]

They are great axes. Cheers.

[@chadmcdougle9341]

I have the same head - an Australian 4lb that I still need to hang. I see yours has an eye that is crooked inside the head. At 2:30 can see more steel on one side of the eye than the other. Mine is the same - do you know if this is common? It'll make the hang a little more challenging I think.

[@axesofoz717]

G'day mate. The eye on mine is actually straight but that dark area you noticed near the front of the eye is where someone has drilled some steel when they were removing a previous handle and the steel there has darkened. But under that dark area is still steel. I have quite a few Dandies made in Australia and haven't had one yet with a crooked eye but no doubt they exist. Cheers.

[@TomsTenterfieldTimbers]

It's fairly common and not too hard for an experienced axe fitter to deal with, probably why they didn't worry about it back in the day. I have a plumb that is so bad its almost comical. It needs a better handle - I should make a video as it would be a good one to show the process on. Most are not that bad and it's barely noticeable though.

[@chadmcdougle9341]

​@TomsTenterfieldTimbers I'd say you're right on all points. I've seen enough listed on various online sites to realize it can't be too uncommon. I've hung a few, but am by no means experienced, so the prospect is a bit intimidating to me! I have a Whiskey River 32C for my head - it has plenty of "meat" to work with. I'll just have to take my time and work more wood off the back on one side and off the front on the other. I would be interested to see a video of someone more experienced going through the process though! Please link it here if you make one. Thanks!

[@TomsTenterfieldTimbers]

@@chadmcdougle9341 I should say that I wouldn't call myself especially 'experienced' (I have done a few dozen at this point and have got fairly good at making them go the way I want). But I did get the opportunity to be shown axe fitting by someone who used to finish the Timberman axes. He made a point of saying that forged axe eyes are never 100% right and its up to the fitter to fix it. I can let you know if I make a video - might be a while as I have a lot on at the moment. Probably the biggest thing to be mindful of is that extra "meat" can be a blessing and a curse. It is better than not enough material but until you get 1" or so in the eye you can not control anything. It's best to just follow the existing taper (evenly) until this point before trying anything to correct misalignment. Hope that helps, Tom

[@KevinsDisobedience]

Best hardwood axe I’ve used, eh

[@axesofoz717]

Probably not the best, but my favourite so far.

[@davidstone986]

What angle do you sharpen to on a general user like this?

[@axesofoz717]

For a Tassie I sharpen to about 17-20 degrees. I hold the file low enough as I am sharpening so that it almost scrapes against the top of the axe near the eye. After that I sometimes add a microbevel of about 25 degrees.

[@davidstone986]

@@axesofoz717 nice thanks for that!

[@KevinsDisobedience]

Do you ever have the pleasure of chopping green wood lol

[@axesofoz717]

Haha yeah sometimes I do when a tree falls over in the wind or something. But we don't cut down the living trees on our farm because so many have already been cleared in the past.

[@kurts64]

Nice vid! Gotta have an "Ol' Reliable" do all work axe, and that ones a beauty. Pretty cool that its a 4lber too. 👍👍🪓

[@axesofoz717]

Yeah mate. Love the 4 pound Tassies.