About Green Tools
These tools are intended for Greenwood workers, but they are also Green in another way; instead of using fossil fuels, my hearth burns locally produced charcoal. Each tool is carefully forged by hand, no power hammers with shaped dies are used, then they are slowly annealed to ensure they will not break or chip in use. I harden my tools in oil, and then temper them back over the fire. Tempering by hand means you can get a graded temper, this leaves the tang or eye un-hardened and so resilient, while the cutting edge is just the right hardness to stay sharp. Mass produced tools are hardened and tempered all together in a furnace, so they are the same hardness all over. My tools do actually look hand forged, the hammer marks are not obliterated by grinding or sanding (except for the cutting edge). Keep them well oiled to prevent rust.
The catalogue
I now keep my hot forge work for the cooler months only, doing woodwork in the summer. This means that tool orders must be placed before April, or you face a wait of six months until I start work again in October. There will be a new catalogue at least every year, but I don’t send them out automatically to past customers. To get the new catalogue please send me a stamped, self-addressed A5 envelope, or visit my web site.
Handles
I make my tool handles from local hardwoods, either turned on a pole lathe or hand carved, with the tool marks left showing. Axe, froe and adze handles are of ash, and the heads are secured with an oak wedge. If you order tools without handles they will come with detailed instructions for making and fitting your own. These instructions are also available on a separate page of my web site. Ordering yout tools without handles is your chance to save some money, and also end up with some truly unique tools. I have been very excited to see some of the homemade handles that my customers have made, some have beautiful carved designs, clearly labours of love.
Finishing
After the tool has been tempered I clean it up with a wire brush and hone the edge by hand, using diamond stones. This is a “finished” tool. As all tools need sharpening when they dull with use, you will need the equipment (and skill) anyway, you may be happy to do this part of the work yourself - also here is another chance to save money! So I am offering my tools“unfinished” as an option. The bevel has been carefully ground before tempering, so there’s not so much work to be done on them. Tools with handles are finished.
Historical Re enacting
I can supply wood and leather working tools for any historical period. If ordering from this list for Historical reenacting make sure you tell me the period, so I can make any changes needed.
I also make a range of domestic ironware (cooking and lighting) for historical reenactors, and sell these at the Templar’s Faire - for details of this excellent market phone 01304381699.
I do not make armour or weapons.
Demonstrations and courses
I can bring my mobile forge to your gathering and make tools or other ironware while the crowd watches. I can even keep up a running commentary all the while! Phone or e mail me for details.
I run one day courses in Blacksmithing for total beginners, details on the Courses page of this site.
Froe with blade approx 10” long, and eye welded closed. The bottom of the eye is hammered thin to allow the wedge to expand the end of the handle, so holding it on firmly. Traditionally, froes were made from wrought iron without a steel edge because they are used to split wood, not cut it. I make mine from mild steel, so they are not tempered. The “unfinished” froe has no bevels ground at all, as this is easy to do with an electric grinder.
Finished head £24. Unfinished head £17. Handle fitted £37.
Small froe about 5” long, otherwise as above.
Finished head £16. Unfinished head £12. Handle fitted £26.
Side axe (pictured with curved handle) weighing just over one and a half pounds. State left or right handed. Can be fitted with a short curved handle (a “turner’s axe”) or straight one.
Finished head £33. Unfinished head £26.
Straight handle fitted £46.
Curved handle (like a banana) fitted £51.
Small side axe barely a pound in weight. I originally made these for children, but they have proved to be easier to use for those adults who are new to greenwood working, as well as for delicate tasks, such as making wedges. State left or right handed.
Finished head £27. Unfinished head £22.
Straight handle fitted £40. Curved handle fitted £45.
Small Viking axe(pictured on the left) (well I’ve got to call it something, and it reminds me of the Vikings) weighing about a pound. If I was only allowed one axe, it would be this one. Ideal for carving, splitting, and general tidying up, it also looks good hanging from your belt.
Finished head £43. Unfinished head £34.
Finished, and handle fitted £56.
Bearded axe (pictured to the right) a heavier axe, good for carving work. Can be made as a side axe for the same money, but note that a suitably cranked handle costs more, (if you will be hewing wide timbers this is necessary to keep your knuckles intact.)
Finished head £69. Unfinished head £49.
Finished, straight handle fitted £84.
Finished, cranked handle fitted £90.
In-shave. Mine is a good shape for Windsor chair seats, two slightly different curves with a flattish bit in between. A relaxed angle for the tangs keeps your knuckles clear of the work.
Finished, no handles £36. Unfinished, no handles £26.
Finished, with handles fitted £48.
Draw knife the blade is approx 8” long.
Finished no handles £36. Unfinished, no handles £26.
Handles fitted £48.
Small drawknife for delicate carving, 4” blade; splayed-out handles so it’s comfortable to use.
Finished no handles £26. Unfinished, no handles £19.
Handles fitted £38.
Small hollowing adze weighing about one pound.
Finished head £41. Unfinished head £34.
Finished, and handle fitted £51.
Rumanian adze based on one a friend brough back from that Country. The head weighs one and a half pounds, and is very extremely curved for rapid hollowing work. Can be used for surprisingly small bowls. The handle goes on from the base, like a pick-axe.
Finished, no handle £58. Unfinished, no handle £48.
Finished with handle fitted £72.
Hurdle maker’s twybill
Finished, no handle £30. Unfinished, no handle £26.
Finished with handle fitted £38.
Bill hook basic model
Finished, no handle £39. Unfinished, no handle £29.
Finished, and fitted with a handle £58.
Heavy billhook this one has a blade the shape of a horse’s belly, without a hook at the end, rather like a meat cleaver. On the back there’s a picking up hook which is blunt, the end is a generouse V shape which can be used for packing down the ethers on the top of a newly laid hedge. Socketed handle for maximum strength.
Can be supplied with the bevel on one side only, like a side axe.
Finished, no handle £53. Unfinished, no handle £43.
Finished, with handle £66.
Framer’s slick 3” wide, with socket. If you know what it is, chances are you’ll be wanting one! For those who don’t, this is a giant chisel for building timber framed houses. At least 30” long, with handle.
Finished, without handle £38. Unfinished, without handle £30.
Finished, with handle £52.
Knives
Hand forged, not cut out of sheet.
Small carving and whittling knife double bevelled blade about an inch and a half long, with a flat top to brace your thumb against.
Finished blade £16. Unfinished blade £10.
Finished blade with handle £22.
Small crooked knife (in use in the photo to the right) for hollowing the bowls of wooden spoons. Endorsed by Eric Rogers, the spoon carver. Left or right handed.
Finished blade £16. Unfinished £8.
Finished blade with handle £22.
Large crooked knife as used by the indigenous North American Peoples. It’s held with the blade coming from the bottom of the hand, and can serve instead of a draw knife - leaving the other hand free to hold the work. Useful for general shaving and carving, as well as hollowing out canoes. Left or right handed. Finished blade£24. Unfinished blade £14. Finished blade with handle £34.
Domestic knife the blade is thin, and triangular in cross section (the bevels go all the way up to the top.) This is the very sharp kitchen knife you’ve always wanted, stainless steel can’t hold an edge like real carbon steel. The blade is about as long as a finger. An ideal eating knife for Historical Re- enactors, in which case you may prefere a filed finish, (the marks of the file are not removed) it’s the same price, just ask for filed finish.
Finished blade £19. Un finished £13.
Finished blade with hardwood handle £25.
Turning tools for a pole lathe
(I don’t supply handles for these, that’s what your pole lathe is for! )
Large gouge for roughing out. Finished £23. Unfinished £17.
Fingernail gouge a small gouge with a fingernail grind. Made from a round bar, so can’t dig into the tool rest.
Finished £17. Unfinished £12.
Cut-off tool not usually used on green wood, but I find it’s a great confidence-giver for the novice when used as a mini chisel. The cutting edge is just a little wider then the rest of the tool, so it won’t jam when plunge cutting. Round stem as above.
Finished £14. Unfinished £11.
Skew chisel another one with a round stem, which becomes oval towards the business end.
Finished £15. Unfinished £11.
Hook tool, a tiny hook which is sharp all around and on both sides. Used for turning bowls plates and goblets, but not nests of bowls. Give it a long handle for leverage.
Finished £26. Unfinished £16
Captive-ring releasing tool does just what it says. Choose whether you want the tiny blade in line (like an axe) or at a right angle (like an adze). The in line one scrapes not cuts, but is easier for the beginner. Both are the same price.
Finished £14. Unfinished £11.
DMT Diamonds for sharpening
I do a lot of sharpening! Over the years I’ve tried out many different methods, and used all kinds of abrasives. I’ve spent money on stuff that wears out quickly, and is slow to use. Since I have discovered these diamonds they have replaced almost everything else.
* Use with a little water, or even spit.
* Not brittle, like oil stones.
* No need to make complicated figure eight patterns while honing,
as the surface stays flat forever.
* Diamonds cut so efficiently, they are much quicker to use; but
without the danger of overheating and so damaging the tools
temper.
I make my money by forging tools, so I see selling these DMT products more as supplying a service to my customers. I am therefore offering the entire DMT range at 10% less than their before VAT recommended retail price. I do not charge VAT, or postage. I’ve shown the recommended retail price in brackets, for comparison only.
I have described below some of what I consider to be the most useful diamond sharpening products. (If you want only one, get the double diafold in fine and course.) But I can also supply any of the DMT range. Each is available in a choice of four grades, unless otherwise stated. When ordering, please remember to say which grade you want: Extra coarse, Coarse, Fine or Extra fine.
Diafold The plastic handles fold to protect the diamond surface, so it can be tossed in a tool bag with no worries.
Diamonds on one side. £23.67. (RRP £30.90)
Double sided, in these combinations: Ex fine & Fine, Fine & Coarse, Coarse & Ex coarse. £31.50. (RRP £41.13)
Diafold flat file Same folding handles, but the “blade” is a flat, tapering shape, just 1/16” thick, with diamonds on one side. Particularly useful for sharpening drill bits and large saws. Not available in Ex fine. £23.67. (RRP £30.90)
Honing cones The outside is coated with Fine grade (only) diamonds, for homing the insides of gouges, in-shaves and crooked knives.
Large tapers from 31.8mm to 19mm. £31.05. (RRP £40.54)
Medium tapers from 19mm to 9.5mm. £26.42. (RRP £34.49)
Small (with fixed plastic handle) tapers from 9.5mm to 3mm. £24.57. (RRP £32.08)
All three in a hardwood box £87.57. (RRP £114.33)
Bench stones
6” whetstone in plastic case £42.75. (RRP £55.81)
6” whetstone in hardwood box £49.50. (RRP £64.63)
8” whetstone - no case £73.80. (RRP £96.35)
8” whetstone in hardwood box £81.00. (RRP £105.75)
12” whetstone in hardwood box £114.03. (RRP £148.87)
Mini whetstones almost 3” long. £8.30. (RRP £10.81) Key ring a mini whetstone on plastic key ring mounting, the handle folds with diamonds safely inside. £10.22. (RRP £13.34)
Diamond shim has diamonds on one side of a flexible brass sheet. Cut, bend, glue - make your own special honing shapes. It’s tempting to hold it in the hand like sandpaper, but you’ll cut yourself if you do! Not available in Extra fine.
1” X 2” £6.10. (RRP £7.93)
2” X 3” £15.26. (RRP £19.95)
Odds and Ends
Pole lathe centres the only part of the lathe you might have trouble making yourself, one end is just an iron spike, the other is made with threaded rod to screw into the poppets and has a cranked handle for adjustments.
£8 a pair.
Starting wedge ordinary fat iron wedges from a shop will do for splitting firewood, but if you want two perfect halves from an entire tree then this wide, long wedge with it’s shallow angled edge is indispensable. Drive the starting wedge in first, then open the split with a normal fat wedge, which will release your starting wedge for re-use further along. And so on.
£30 each.
Sizing plate this is a thick steel plate with two holes drilled in it. Roughly shape a stick then hammer it through one of the holes to make perfect 10mm dowels and 13mm rake tines.The holes are counter-sunk underneath so it won’t get stuck. If you want other sized holes, add £4 per hole.
£18.
Dogs for holding a tree trunk while hewing it for building timbers or similar. Knock one end into the log, and the other into the bearer or trestle it rests on. The ends are shaped to go with the grain of each.
£23 a pair.
That’s it folks! But don’t forget, these are all handmade just for you, after I get your order. It’s therefore hardly any trouble at all to make something which is exactly what you need - so long as you know what that is, and can communicate it to me....
On the same note, please understand that I am not able to offer quantity discounts, or to supply your retail business. I don’t have all this stuff stacked up on pallets in some warehouse - so be patient, if my kids get ill, I’ll not be in the forge making tools until they’re better. (But I will tell you if this sort of thing happens.)
