The Ax Book: The Lore and Science of the Woodcutter

By Dudley Cook

The ax is an indispensable tool for every woodsman. The Ax Book is a thorough guide to cutting wood with hand tools. Even those who use chainsaws and other power equipment need to be familiar with the hand tools of their craft. An ideal resource for anyone who wants to fell trees and take lumber or firewood from the wood lot or forest.

The author explains how to use various types of axes, hatchets, mauls, saws, and wedges, and their use and care to take down trees, section and split and prepare firewood. In addition he shows every aspect of dealing with wood from the forest right to the hearth or stove.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811739058
• ISBN13: 9780811739054
• Release Date: April 2020
• Publisher: Stackpole Books
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Excellent info for ax and crosscut saw

I spent my youth chopping wood - and wish I'd had this book to read back then. As a collector who enjoys finding old axes and re-handling them, the material on handle geometry and fitting provides a detailed assessment that I don't think I've ever seen anywhere else. I believe that the modern reader is inclined to disbelief of some of Cooks claims when comparing speed of work between axes and chain saws. However, I suspect that Cook's claims are based on skill and fitness levels only seen nowadays in Lumberjack contest racers... Thinking about how fast those racers get through logs - I begin to think that Cook's statements may be legitimate, and if contest racers can do it, then with dedication (and a lot of calories) a person can actually get there, if they desire to. But overall, this is a book written by a person who enjoys and has developed a significant understanding of axemanship, at the far end of a lifetime of ax use. It is very seldom indeed that such a level of understanding for such an obscure and and mostly forgotten craft, is recorded in print. As such, it is a great read, some of which is opinion (this is a craft, not a science, after all), but also provides a thought provoking and very thorough dissection of the tools. If you desire to do more than just "go chop wood" - this book will help you to make decisions about the size and shape of the ax, how the edge is shaped and sharpened, possible install or replacement of the handle, with consideration of handle length and shape - and then provides detailed coverage of how to go about getting the wood itself from a tree into the needed size and shape for your stove. And, lest I forget, it also provides a thorough and clear instruction on how to use and maintain crosscut saws.

The ax and more

This book is packed with information.You learn about the care and use of the ax, along with proper tree felling, limbing and splitting techniques. And a little ax history. There is information on tree characteristics, other tools needed in the forest and some info on saws. If you are a woodsman or just cut and split your own firewood the knowledge gained will help you in your task. The book is easy to read and understand with diagrams that are well done and informative.

Axes A to Z

The text along with S.L. Whipple's illustrations (I wish there were more) is concise and informative. Every page has something new. Mr. Cook details the hazards as well as the benefits of using this powerful tool. To summarize, the titles on the cover: 1) The Lore and Science of the Woodcutter and 2) A guide to axmanship, wood and the hand tools of a woodsman say exactly what is contained in the book.

The Owners Manual for the ax

I have used an ax for years, and have heard stories from my family that included the ax, but I learned so much from this book I couldn't believe it. any one who uses a ax should have this owners manual.

The best introduction to the subject currently available.

Throughout recorded time, the ax has been a principle tool for carving out from the wilderness the homes, farms, and roads so necessary to the advance of civilization. Even today, those who use chainsaws and other power equipment still need to be familiar with the hand tools of their craft. In many situations, only a hand-ax will suffice for the felling of trees, the rough shaping of lumber, the creation of firewood, and clearing out the nooks and crannies of forested areas for other purposes -- including the planting of new trees. Cook's The Ax Book is an ideal "how to" manual of instruction enhanced with the illustrations of Whipple to provide what is simply the best introductory guide to the subject available to readers today. The Ax Book is a "must" for anyone needing to use a hand ax for any purpose, under any circumstances.