● With a Little Patience: An Adze

Remember the great adze shortage of 2015? It still exists in some form or other. I can tell you now that I found one by a respected tool maker. I just didn’t have it in my hands, yet.

From time to time, I scoured the interweb to see if adzes are finally on the market for all the woodworkers who are looking for one. Note that I am not obsessed with these tools! I do this to determine the state of things.

A short time ago, I decided that I still want to be alive when an adze reached my hands. Rather than waiting any longer, I made a couple of elbow adzes. I stuck to the traditional, rustic style. The entire process was enlightening. You can see what I did here and here, then here in the 3-part miniseries that I posted.

I did a little research on an adze manufacturer. They were based in Sweden. The order for that adze and a carving gouge were placed one day and the package was mailed the next.

I was not worried, just concerned. Any package coming from Europe can be held in customs for any reason. Since I had ordered and received sharp tools from there before, I was confident that there would be no problems. The seller and I were in contact with our respective postal services and each other. Five weeks later, I was waiting, still, for its arrival.

While I waited

I began working on a giveaway sticker for my blog. I do have an official logo – the purple frame saw – but I wanted a line drawing for my stickers.

Many of the woodworking and tool events feature sticker swaps.

Hmmmm. I did a lot of sketching, drafting, and rethinking about the image that would best represent my blog. More on the logo later…

Oh! Good news

The post office finally informed me that my package is on. the. way! It seems that I was going to get my adze after all. I kept watch for my mail-woman…

Me: Here she comes! I see the mail truck pull up outside. It is my little package.

The Package: Greetings and salutations. Wait for it…

Me: Opening the package.

Listen:

It is a beautiful tool.

The carving gouge that I ordered with it is in good shape too.

A gouge can be used to refine the carving work done with the adze. That is what I want it for.

After a short conditioning and honing session, both tools will provide a lifetime of use. They were worth the wait.

Neither rain nor snow

Yes. Thank you.

Baadaye

Shirley J 💝

___________

Next time: a sheath for the adze.