BWCA Sharp tools Boundary Waters Winter Camping and Activities
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11/02/2013 07:59PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I first visited the BWCA about 12 years ago-during the softwater season. The type of trips I take have changed quite a bit over the years and the types of equipment I carry have as well. In the last few years I have taken more winter trips than softwater trips. And this years winter camping symposium really got me energized for the upcoming winter trekking season.

I should first credit hoop-Glen Hooper (coowner/operator of wintertrekking.com) for his excellent axe handling workshop followed by an impromptu axe sharpening lesson which really got me thinking about this subject. I have a healthy respect for sharp tools but it probably borders on fear. I didn't have a real mentor for my outdoorsy interests so I have had to seek out experiences like this to hone my skills and tools.

I have a couple axes; a Gransfors small forest axe used in the softwater season, and a larger (still small with a total length around 26") Husqvarna forest axe which is my winter choice. I took my Husqvarna to visit Beau Battle at Beaumont's Quality Tools in South Minneapolis. He was extremely generous with his time and knowledge and after teaching me what it takes to put a shaving sharp edge on an axe he recommended some hand tools for maintaining my axe. First was an axe file (double sided-at least 8" in length) and second was a diamond file (double sided with med and super fine grades). Glen had recommended the same tools in fact. So I now have the tools and theoretically the skills to keep my axes sharp!

I also met Ben Piersma of Bensbackwoods.com at the WCS and we talked a little bit about saws. While I am a believer in the Irwin saw and Ragged sheath I am always on the lookout for lighter gear. I talked to Ben about the Silky line of saws and the Bahco Laplander which has a cult following among the UL and bushcraft crowds. I really wanted something with a bright colored handle as I lost one saw sheath in the woods/snow last winter. Lucky for me-Ben had some of the coveted Bahco saws in safety orange-so I added one to my quiver. This saw is almost a full pound lighter than the Irwin/sheath combo.

I post this just to say thanks to Hoop, Beau and Ben! Now you know where to go for good advice/sharp tools!

tg

 
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11/03/2013 09:56AM  
Your posting got me to thinking.

I've attended the Winter Camping Symposium twice. Hopefully it will continue to be held for many years to come. It is a unique and intimate gathering and a wonderful way to gather an education into a fascinating and rewarding undertaking. The ability to meet and learn from the likes of such knowledgeable and friendly people is very rewarding.

I wish they had a similar gathering where the focus was the soft water season........
11/03/2013 11:21AM  
I've never made it but isn't canoecopia close to what you're looking for? maybe its a little too commercial and less focused on education. the Midwest mountaineering spring expo always has a few talks on the bwca and paddling in general but it is also a trade show of sorts. the far north symposium in the spring might be the closest thing we have. maybe one of the wingnight campouts could evolve into more of an educational opportunity?
Minnesotian
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01/26/2014 09:55AM  
quote tg: I took my Husqvarna to visit Beau Battle at Beaumont's Quality Tools in South Minneapolis. He was extremely generous with his time and knowledge and after teaching me what it takes to put a shaving sharp edge on an axe he recommended some hand tools for maintaining my axe. First was an axe file (double sided-at least 8" in length) and second was a diamond file (double sided with med and super fine grades). Glen had recommended the same tools in fact. So I now have the tools and theoretically the skills to keep my axes sharp!
tg

"


Hey Rich, thanks for posting the info about Beau. Went and visited him yesterday and got a lot of info as well. He also put a mirror finish on my buddies axe that I had borrowed. Wowza, does it look and feel like a million bucks now. Great guy.

Also, where did you get your Husqvarna axe? Any place local?
PortageKeeper
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01/26/2014 10:23AM  
Always good to pick peoples brains about tools, both new and old, and hearing about THEIR sharpening techniques. As for sharpening an axe, I am old school (file and axe stone), because that's what I was taught, and what has worked well for me through the years. My father was a craftsman, as was his father. They had to sharpen their own tools to make a living. Having someone take the time to physically show you from start to finish takes away a lot of frustration during the learning process.
What's bigger than all that, is learning to use the tool in a fashion that you seldom have to do more than touch up your axe with a stone. Taking a nick out of the edge of an axe should only be done at home, and only NEED to be done at home. Consider getting an axe stone, and learning to use it. It is small, light and reasonably inexpensive. Different types of steel require different stones, but for regular carbon steel I am stuck on the old Carborundum two sided round axe stones. You can still find these old stones on Ebay in near new condition. A Norton would be my second choice and they are much more available, though not as good as the Carborundum. The Gransfors stones are just too expensive for what they do for you and as I recall, are smaller diameter and harder to control.
As for saws, I have saws that range from six foot 2 man crosscuts all the way down to the fold out blade on my Leatherman. Obviously for portage clearing a folding saw is not the answer. But on a lightweight backpacking trip, a saw with a slide-out blade or folding blade is enough to make small cuts in a piece of wood so I can break it without injury to myself. While backpacking solo, one shouldn't be breaking sticks over his knee, or jumping on one to get it to snap. There is just no one around to help after an injury.

Lonelake
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01/26/2014 02:29PM  
Ben and Glen sure know their way around an axe! Great to meet you, Tg, and AwBrown. The WCS was glad to have you! Both Bensbackwoods and Gken have goid videos on line. Safety, maintenance, and proper use are all covered well! I heart wood processing!

LL

www.wintercampingsymposium.com

01/27/2014 10:20AM  
quote Minnesotian: "
quote tg: I took my Husqvarna to visit Beau Battle at Beaumont's Quality Tools in South Minneapolis. He was extremely generous with his time and knowledge and after teaching me what it takes to put a shaving sharp edge on an axe he recommended some hand tools for maintaining my axe. First was an axe file (double sided-at least 8" in length) and second was a diamond file (double sided with med and super fine grades). Glen had recommended the same tools in fact. So I now have the tools and theoretically the skills to keep my axes sharp!
tg


"



Hey Rich, thanks for posting the info about Beau. Went and visited him yesterday and got a lot of info as well. He also put a mirror finish on my buddies axe that I had borrowed. Wowza, does it look and feel like a million bucks now. Great guy.


Also, where did you get your Husqvarna axe? Any place local?"

Hey Craig-i got the axe from a yard equipment dealer in st cloud. He had them posted for sale on ebay and will ship but i drove up there and picked one out. This was a couple years ago. Ill see if i can find the name...
 
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