And it's still in one piece? Heh, good, good.


I dragged my chunks of wood out of the woods to have a nicer place to work on them, and took lots more pictures. Maybe I went overboard with the pictures. I'll just provide URLs for some of them to keep the size of the thread down. I finished my project so this is the last batch of photospam. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> By now I have a pretty good idea of what the Dogfather can do, and the images should give everybody else an idea too.

http://chapterhouse2.nhvt.net/users/momaw/dogfather3-1.jpg
http://chapterhouse2.nhvt.net/users/momaw/dogfather3-2.jpg
^ I wanted to try using the Dogfather as a draw knife. Normally you have clamps or something to hold your workpiece so that you don't end up disemboweling yourself, but that wouldn't be available in the rough. So here's my solution.


^ Dogfather being used as a drawknife. It has plenty of length to be used as such, and the blade is even wide enough that you don't get your hand on the edge, but it doesn't really do good at this because it hasn't got the right edge profile. Drawknives are only sharpened from one side, like chisels. It'll do it, but not anywhere near as good as the real thing; it likes to plow in.


^ Splitting off the other side of the log to make my plank. Using the knife together with a wedge takes more time and more whacks, but far less effort than either along. I made my wedge a better shape too. I prefer this technique. Another angle to show the size of this piece of wood in relation to the Dogfather's blade: http://chapterhouse2.nhvt.net/users/momaw/dogfather3-4.jpg


^ Pop! The thickness came out reasonably good too: http://chapterhouse2.nhvt.net/users/momaw/dogfather3-7.jpg


^ I believe I mentioned that the Dogfather has serious chopping potential.


^ Shaping my shovel...

http://chapterhouse2.nhvt.net/users/momaw/dogfather3-11.jpg
^ Splitting is a fast way to remove stock... Usually... This didn't go very well.


^ Let's try from this end instead. Usually I wouldn't try this, but the Dogfather has proven to be a total brute.


^ Shaping the handle.



^ Tada! Isn't it beautiful! ... Yeah, it's okay, it's like the worst shovel on the planet. But if you needed one, it'd get the job done.

http://chapterhouse2.nhvt.net/users/momaw/dogfather3-16.jpg
^ I always love the end of a project, the great pile of debris.

http://chapterhouse2.nhvt.net/users/momaw/dogfather3-17.jpg
^ Good dog. The blade finish is wearing smooth. I read somewhere else that somebody was having trouble with the knife getting stuck in wood, and that they believed it was due to the rough finish. I can't say the finish is making a difference either way. It will get stuck if you really SLAM it into the wood just as with an axe... Use less effort and more precision, concentrating on good chip structure, and you won't have to wrench it out after each hit.

you're really putting it to good use!
making a shovel is something I never thought of before...brilliant!

came out pretty good too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Nice.

Good field test of the DFLE. Nice on ya, letting the dog out to have some fun!

Got to get me one of those
Have a great time using it and post a few pics when you can

Nice looking shovel! And you can use it as a paddle too <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> Thanx for the pics

Just notice, what a mess you made. Are you going to clean it up, LOL?

Nice work, Momaw! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

That's one happy looking DF! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Already did. I think the lawn mower would have more trouble with hemlock chunks than the Dogfather did. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I raked around and got most of it then put over on the burn pile. The great thing about having a sawmill nearby is that piles of wood debris are already part of the landscape.


Yeah. Now that I've had a chance to play with it for a few days, I'm totally a believer in "sharpened prybars". I feel sorry for the poor fellow wandering in and asking where to get one... Been there, done that. But not sorry enough to part with mine, I'm a greedy selfish bastard like that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

We really have got to convince Mr. Busse to make more of these.

Well done Momaw - and a good example of making an emergency paddle! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Now we are talking, as a new "big" Dog owner you really did a great job of working that knife. It’s what they were made for.

On your rolled edge from hitting a stone I would take it to a leather strop to straighten the edge back inline. It usually only takes 2 to 3 strokes

Thanks for sharing your project and the pictures were great

Dan