Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

i88CAMPING AND WOODCRAFT113-114) other reasons why a light single-bitt is thebest axe for a camper, and have told how to selectsuch a tool and care for it.Grinding Axes.—A new axe must be ground beforeit is fit for use. Do this on a grindstone (or haveit done where they have a power grindstone) usingwater freely so the steel will not overheat. Theaverage **cutler and grinder" in a city would make aquick job of it on an emery wheel, and ruin thetemper. Since you will do much more choppingthan splitting, you want the blade thin. Startgrinding w^ell back on the blade, and work out tothe edge until most of the bevel has been groundoft, but leave a little of it between the center andthe outside corner ; that is, the blade should be thickestat a point a little beyond the center, so it willnot "bind" (stick fast in wood) and so that it willspring a chip loose. Then whet off the wire edgewith a stone. Make or buy a leather sheath for theaxe-head, riveted to prevent cutting through (seeillustrations in outfitters' catalogues).Fitting Axe-Helves.—A broken axe-helve isnot an uncommon accident in the woods, and it is avery serious one until a new helve is made and fitted.Now itsometimes happens that the stub of the oldhandle cannot be removed by ordinary means: itmust be burnt out. To do this without drawingthe temper of the steel might seem impracticable;but the thing is as simple as rolling off a log, whenyou see it done. Pick out a spot where the earth isfree from pebbles, and drive the blade of the axeinto the ground up to the eye. Then build a firearound the axe-head—that is all. If the axe isdouble-bitted, dig a little trench about six inchesdeep and the width of the axe-eye, or a little more.Lay the axe flat over it, cover both blades withtwo inches of earth, and build a small fire on top.In making a new axe-helve, do not bother to makea crooked one like the store pattern. Thousandsof expert axemen use, from preference, straighthandles in their axes—single-bitted axes at that-