Finding My Way with the Bearded Axe
So, sit down with your coffee for a sec, ‘cause I’d like to tell you about my latest adventure in woodworking. It all started one rainy evening—well, most of my best projects do, don’t they? Anyway, I was scrolling through a woodworking forum, procrastinating on my kitchen remodel like any sane person would do. And there it was, a picture that literally stopped me in my tracks: a bearded axe.
Now, if you don’t know what a bearded axe is, it’s an old-school kind of thing, kind of a blend between an axe and a hatchet, with this funny swooping curve to the blade. And let me tell you, my eyes lit up. I knew I had to try making my own version—for no other reason than it just looked cool.
So, armed with the image burned in my imagination and a cup of coffee long gone cold, I threw caution to the wind and decided to get myself a blank piece of hickory. Hickory’s got a nice hardness to it, perfect for an axe that I intended to swing with a bit of gusto. I scored a 2×4 at Lowe’s—just a cheap piece, mind you—and I figured that with a little elbow grease, I could carve something that would impress even my buddy Kyle who’s been swinging axes longer than I’ve been making things out of wood.
The First Cut
Ah, the smell of freshly cut wood. There’s nothing like it, is there? I drew out my design with some cheap charcoal pencils, trying to get that swoop just right, while my dog, Max, looked on with that confused expression he gets when I start talking to myself.
Well, I picked up my trusty old carving knife. It’s one of those hand-me-downs from my grandfather. I thought, "How hard could it be?" Man, now that’s a question I should’ve never asked.
I’d probably gotten about halfway through when I realized I was doing everything wrong. I mean, I was trying to get fancy with the curves, and out came the knife! Next thing I knew, I had gouged too deep in one spot, and there was a hefty chunk of hickory just sitting there, looking like I’d got mad at it. At that point, if I’d had a dime for every mistake I made so far, I could’ve bought a brand new bearded axe. I almost gave up then, really. I was just staring at it, thinking maybe I should leave woodworking to the professionals who make pretty things.
The Moment of Doubt
Instead of giving up, I took a step back. After a long, deep breath—like it was some kind of Zen moment—I grabbed a piece of sandpaper. The idea hit me: maybe I could mask the mistake with a new design. I mean, if nothing else, it would be my "character mark,” right? So, I sanded down that botched part and decided to curve the handle differently.
And you know what? It actually started to come together. The blade looked kinda fierce, like something you’d want to hang above a fireplace but never actually use, you know? I imagined myself wielding it against imaginary woodland monsters while Kyle would, of course, roll his eyes.
Finishing Touches
As the evening progressed, the whole workshop filled with that familiar woody aroma, compliments of some linseed oil I’d splurged on. Just a drizzle of that stuff made the hickory shine. Man, I thought my hard work would pay off if I could just keep from messing it up further. I really believe that’s when I got attached to my little bearded axe project. It went from being some overly ambitious mistake to something I’d actually want to use.
Then came the moment of truth—sharp as it was pretty, but could it actually chop? I took my creation outside and found a couple of logs from last winter’s stash. With a bit of hesitation—I swear I held my breath—I swung that bearded axe down like I was channeling some Viking ancestor, and man! The sound! That satisfying thwack as the blade hit wood was music to my ears.
And here’s the kicker: every swing was a little different. I thought I was gonna lose my grip a couple of times, but that’s when it actually clicked—a rustic dance of sorts, finding its rhythm as the blade dug in. I had a laugh thinking of how I almost tossed this aside, and yet here I was.
The Warm Takeaway
If there’s one thing I learned through all this, it’s that sometimes you gotta mess it all up to make something great. That bearded axe? Sure, it’s got its quirks, jagged marks of my mistakes, but you know what? It’s mine. Nothing fancy about it, just a reminder that with a bit of patience—and even a few blunders—something beautiful can come from even the worst missteps.
So, if you’ve been thinking about taking that leap into some woodworking—bearded axe or not—just go for it. Don’t let that fear of messing up keep you from making something special. Trust me, it’s worth every swing. Now, about that coffee refill… I think I’ll pour another cup and let Max back in ’cause he’s probably tired of guarding the front porch from all those imaginary monsters.
