BIG SPOTTED GUM WITH AN AXE!

Big Log Challenge 2023. Running a few axes through a big Spotted Gum log, wildlife encounters, the joys of heat exhaustion, and digging. And more digging.
Cheers for watching, feel free to check out the FB group for a heap of great info on working axes, axe skills and firewood processing
Axe Cordwood Challenge
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Пікірлер: 103

  • @lumberjaxe8910
    @lumberjaxe8910 Жыл бұрын

    Many overseas folk couldn't appreciate the hardness and durability and elasticity of this wood. That's why it's the one of the best for making tool handles. Great Camera clarity and sound.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks mate, tough wood for sure. Some of them chips just don't wanna let go!👍🪓

  • @LearningOfOld

    @LearningOfOld

    7 ай бұрын

    We like hickory, most used handle wood in comps and ash ofcourse

  • @bentonleach6730
    @bentonleach67309 ай бұрын

    Everything about this video is great. The photography, the axes, the wood, the chopper. Impressive work

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    9 ай бұрын

    Thanks alot mate I appreciate that! Cheers👍👍🪓

  • @mrpoopypants9586
    @mrpoopypants9586 Жыл бұрын

    You're a machine Kurt. That's hard yakka on a hot day. I felt for you when I saw then heard the axe hit that heartwood. Strange how relaxing it is to watch someone else working hard! 🙂 Always look forward to your stuff mate. You chop like a bushman. Cheers PP

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Definitely a stubborn bugger of a log! Thanks heaps mate👍👍🪓

  • @ethicalaxe
    @ethicalaxe Жыл бұрын

    You mad man. Going straight for the toughest part of a tree haha. Can really see why the tassie was made with timber like this.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Haha thanks mate. Was good being able to rotate through a few axes to find the best one for a given part of the log. Cheek geometry makes such a difference

  • @bentonleach6730
    @bentonleach67309 ай бұрын

    Awesome!

  • @Dmoriarty1993
    @Dmoriarty1993 Жыл бұрын

    Just waiting for a studio to offer you a presenter's role for documentaries in the Outback. Any time now. Another great vid with great cutting.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    I always reckoned I had a head better suited for radio 🤣🤣 thanks alot mate! 👍👍🪓

  • @Brian2bears
    @Brian2bears Жыл бұрын

    Most beautiful cuts meeting Mr. Kurt...the axe @17:00 was visually engaging for me...I thoroughly enjoy your flora and fauna both visually and audibly as well...very enjoyable sir...

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks alot mate! At 17 minutes was the Lamaca, it's still going strong! Cheers Mr B👍👍

  • @Кренгауз
    @Кренгауз8 ай бұрын

    💪💪💪

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    8 ай бұрын

    💪🪓🥵👍

  • @peterfletcher8411
    @peterfletcher8411 Жыл бұрын

    Hey Kurt, Was just saying to myself,'I wonder if Kurt has another vid up yet....and there it was. Thanks bud.... That was impressive as usual.... King of the clean notch... Looked like it was pretty fresh but still hard as....Made a bow out of some Spotty years back.... You are a fit one and thats good to see. Interesting to see a heart monitor read on your workout... I used to train/race bicycle so I know that feeling you are talking about re hot/cold blood sugar drop....not pleasant.... Mate you are an inspiration.... And your filming/editing skills are going good as gold. You are a real 'Timberman'. Keep them coming. Greatly appreciated Regards.Pete...

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks as always for the kind words mate, it means a lot. Those old school timbermen were a hard bunch. How did the Spotty bow turn out? I've done a few out of blackbutt, one was an absolute killer, it would put a field point through a piece of corro till it splintered on me. Still have it in the shed. Spotty would be crazy! Haha I did try one of those FitBit things at work a couple times, measured steps, calories etc. Was pretty cool, might try to find the thing again. I'd love to find the time to get on a mountain bike again too! Awesome fun. Thanks for watching mate, hope to get another vid up soon!👍👍🪓

  • @shaveclassy9986
    @shaveclassy9986 Жыл бұрын

    You sure are fit Bushie great chopping

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks mate!👍👍🪓

  • @ericchilver9113
    @ericchilver91133 ай бұрын

    You’ve got a good eye with your swing 👍🇦🇺 axe hits spot on

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    3 ай бұрын

    Thanks mate! 👍🪓🪓

  • @Mike_the_Machine
    @Mike_the_Machine Жыл бұрын

    Legendary, Machine

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks alot mate!👍👍🪓

  • @felixdostie9024
    @felixdostie9024 Жыл бұрын

    Nice!!!

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Felix, cheers mate!👍👍🪓

  • @peterperigrino1403
    @peterperigrino1403 Жыл бұрын

    I watched your traffic hazard blackbutt gum video about an hour ago. I couldn't believe how the axes were bouncing out of the cuts you put in. Then i started this video. Holy smokes when you were marking out your cut lines. Im thinking that is a monster looking tree. Its good to see axes put to work. Thanks for the hard work you put into your videos.

  • @aussiehardwood6196

    @aussiehardwood6196

    Жыл бұрын

    Most all of these species will sink in water like concrete does, many are close in weight for size. I don't laugh at oak being a hardwood...but.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Gday Peter, cheers mate! Cheers for watchin the older vids, the Traffic Hazard was a fun one. That Jersey will be back soon! No worries mate, thanks for watching👍👍🪓

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@aussiehardwood6196 cheers mate, yep it's some dense stuff!

  • @chimmy4244
    @chimmy4244 Жыл бұрын

    Nicely done Kurt and nice prep work as well! Beautiful line up of axes. Heat stroke ain't nothing to play with glad to see you take a break.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Chimmy!👍👍🪓

  • @Hank_Scorpio__Globex_CEO
    @Hank_Scorpio__Globex_CEO Жыл бұрын

    WOW Kurt, that was some impressive chopping. Great video!

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Cheers Hank! Much appreciated mate!👍👍🪓

  • @aussieaxedude154
    @aussieaxedude154 Жыл бұрын

    That was a beast of a chop my dude!!! that was an epic lizard at the start 🤙🤙🤙good pointers on knowing the early signs of heat exhaustion as well. Love the spotted gum plenty of good handles waiting to be let out in that log👌👌👌.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Gday mate, cheers! Haha yeah that monitor was pretty keen, thought he was gunna go at me for a sec 🤣👍👍🪓

  • @aussieaxedude154

    @aussieaxedude154

    Жыл бұрын

    @@kurts64 Almost a grilled goanna lunch 🤣🤣🤣mad critter.

  • @KevinsDisobedience
    @KevinsDisobedience Жыл бұрын

    The outside of the spotted gum looks like our sycamore and the inside like our white oak.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah I've thought that about sycamore, looks really similar

  • @davidwyby
    @davidwyby Жыл бұрын

    Good show. Thanks from Aussie tree land in CA

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks alot mate. Is it blue gums you've got over there? I think there's a few species been planted in different parts of the world, apparently they take over a bit?

  • @davidwyby

    @davidwyby

    Жыл бұрын

    @@kurts64 over on the coast in San Diego they have more blues I think. There are small wild “forests” of them over there. Straighter trunks that crown at the top. I’m in the imperial valley, large agriculture area in the desert 2 hours east. Lot of river red gums here, they get big. Some several meters in diameter. They are in rows of a few here and there between the fields, and yard trees. Plenty of vids of them on my channel. My challenge lately has been getting them to hinge when felling. Got off into axes because of wedge banging axes and splitters, like doing my limbing with axes.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    @@davidwyby From what I've seen and read it's beaut country out your way, by the sounds of it the River Reds would love that area. Open-grown, sprawling gums like that can be a bugger to fall for sure. Make some nice timber though if your into milling. I'll check out your channel!👍👍🪓

  • @davidwyby

    @davidwyby

    Жыл бұрын

    @@kurts64 problem is it’s so hot and dry, the gum checks big and fast

  • @davidwyby

    @davidwyby

    Жыл бұрын

    @@kurts64 I saw an aussie somewhere mention red gum for axe handles. I figured it would be too brittle, what ya think?

  • @timbarry5080
    @timbarry5080Ай бұрын

    Not only is that hardwood, but it looks like it's been laying there awhile. So it's gotta be super hard. You are a strong axeman

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks alot mate, much appreciated! But this was actually a fresh fallen tree, down less than a week at that point, so was probably about as soft as Spotted gum gets. Aussie hardwood, makes ya work for it that's for sure! 🥵 Cheers Tim 👍👍🪓

  • @timbarry5080

    @timbarry5080

    Ай бұрын

    @@kurts64 wow. I should be used to being wrong by now, but it looked like it's been there a while..Either way it's hard work and I appreciate your ability.

  • @rogerrobinson4446
    @rogerrobinson4446 Жыл бұрын

    Nice work, great video!

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks mate!👍👍🪓

  • @axesofoz717
    @axesofoz717 Жыл бұрын

    Some great audio coming from that log. Great work :)

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks alot mate!👍👍🪓

  • @bundufundi
    @bundufundi Жыл бұрын

    Man, you were putting in some effort there in that heat, good effort mate!

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks mate!👍👍🪓

  • @PencilProper
    @PencilProper Жыл бұрын

    I don't think many people could appreciate how hard this would have been. Well done Kurt, best Axeman on YT!

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks alot Chris, much appreciated mate! 👍 👍🪓

  • @mjztw
    @mjztw Жыл бұрын

    Fuckin epic mate!! 👍

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Haha cheers mate!👍👍🪓

  • @3rtk2
    @3rtk2 Жыл бұрын

    I wonder what people think driving past that....only really see it in old photo's, well done.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Haha I've wondered the same thing, would be pretty funny I reckon. Thanks alot mate👍👍🪓

  • @mytimbersportsjourney
    @mytimbersportsjourney Жыл бұрын

    What a chop!!! Looks like you brought the right axes for this job. Call me biased but that camp axe seemed to do well! Although the timberman is a tough axe to stack anything up against.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks mate! That camp axe was a handy thing to have on this one, light and fast, fat little wedgie thing🤣

  • @MidCoastAdventures
    @MidCoastAdventures Жыл бұрын

    Damn, Kurt! Solid log, bloody hot- legend 💪😎

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks mate! Turned out I'd picked Kempsey's hottest day of the year to go choppin🤣🤣

  • @Joey-L
    @Joey-L Жыл бұрын

    Damn that was impressive, add the heat and man-eating dragons and it was down right insane ! Some great axes and axemanship, super clean notches.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Cheers Joey! That lace monitor was a curious bugger, I caught him sussing out the tripod at one point haha

  • @brettbrown9814
    @brettbrown9814 Жыл бұрын

    Well this one had something for everyone mate. Beautifully filmed and excellent axe work. Thanks for putting it together.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Cheers Brett, shot this one a while back but took a while to get to it. Next ones a camping vid, haha somethin a bit different😬🤪 no worries mate, thanks for watching it!👍👍🪓

  • @brettbrown9814

    @brettbrown9814

    Жыл бұрын

    @@kurts64 Looking forward to the next vid. Glad you took a good break to cool down in this one. Man wasn't designed to swing an axe inside a pizza oven. Take care mate.

  • @mattoster0994
    @mattoster0994 Жыл бұрын

    Great vid mate 🤙

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Cheers mate!👍👍🪓

  • @MattKeevil
    @MattKeevil Жыл бұрын

    Loved the appearance by Joanna the (Tree) Goanna! And you are a machine; If I run my Big Log challenge footage at 1.5x speed I could almost keep up 😅

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Haha yeah she was a funny one, thought she was gunna climb the tripod at one point! Your big log was some serious choppin too!👍👍🪓

  • @KillingerUSA
    @KillingerUSA Жыл бұрын

    First!

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks mate!

  • @waynejorgensen4433
    @waynejorgensen4433 Жыл бұрын

    Hi Kurt. Good to see you cockroaches can approach our temperature and humidity. Good chopping and nice to see the accuracy. The northern hemisphere has little idea of what is involved.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    🤣🪳 thanks mate! Yeah she can get a bit warm, this summer was relatively decent compared to the last couple! I must know how to pick the days, its funny the tuatahi/spotted gum falling vid from a while back was on one of the hottest days of 2021! 🥵🪓

  • @aussiehardwood6196
    @aussiehardwood6196 Жыл бұрын

    There's just something about being out in the Aussie Bush.

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Absolutely mate, nuthin better!👍👍🪓

  • @KevinsDisobedience
    @KevinsDisobedience Жыл бұрын

    I wonder if someone will wonder across that log and see someone chopped it in half and think wtf!

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Haha I reckon they did! The forestry crew came through and graded the road a few weeks later, would have loved to have been there. I gotta stop doing their work for em haha

  • @williefick
    @williefick Жыл бұрын

    Good grief! When was this? Here its mostly under 20°C now during the day. Good size. That would keep me in firewood for some time. You should keep some of it for handles. Well done.👏

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Gday mate, this was back in late summer, took me a while to get to the vid. I was hoping to slab up this log for a few different projects but unfortunately State Forests came thru a few weeks later to grade the road, and rolled my log down the hill 😡😡not happy! I gotta start pinning invoices to these logs 🤣

  • @williefick

    @williefick

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, government have a way of messing things up. Putting an invoice is not such a bad idea. Maybe just write on the log " logging in process, do not disturb" or something like that.

  • @glenurquhart2300
    @glenurquhart2300 Жыл бұрын

    I think you wanted one to dig out out of sympathy for all the shoveling I did this past winter 😆😆 Most excellent job ! Have you thought about setting an axe up with a full 800 mm handle for bottoming out those big bucks ? I know that back in the day many of the Tassies were offered with 32 and 36 inch handles.i would imagine that any that used the 36" were in Big wood. But 32 seemed to be the norm for back then. ? Granted an 800 would be a good bit too long for small stuff. And you do Great with your 28s . Just curious .

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Cheers Glen, haha sympathy shovelling! I do have one set up on a 33inch (the no-name from the axes n steak vid) but never seem to have it with me, I remembered to put it in the truck after this one though 😆 Yeah 32s seemed to be most common, I've only ever picked up one old tas on a 36 but removed it pretty quick. Surprisingly I find a fair few on 30s, they must have been more common back in the day

  • @tedmartin5402
    @tedmartin540211 ай бұрын

    Mate cut down the middle of that scarf wood and the chips come out easier.

  • @benscottwoodchopper
    @benscottwoodchopper Жыл бұрын

    Really impressive effort, which axe do you think worked best fot that wood?

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Cheers Ben, the keech was probably the best for this log overall, a good compromise between deep cuts and wedginess. Was handy to have the Tui as well though, to use as a wedge to throw stubborn blocks after being cut by the others, with no sticking

  • @Supwisebs
    @Supwisebs Жыл бұрын

    Kurt, it’s amazing to me that your lower back can stand up to chopping so far below your toes. Any tips?

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Gday mate, thanks for checkin it out👍 Tbh I hadn't really thought about it, I guess though it gets to a point where you can't bend any lower and you've gotta start bending the knees out to get those extra inches to the swing. This does rob power though, usually you'd be trying to "snap" the legs straight to gain power in a swing. A longer handle definitely would be beneficial. A fellow named Codi has a big log vid where he uses both a short and long handle and discusses the pros and cons , I'll see if I can link the vid kzread.info/dash/bejne/g55tqKWjYZW5hKw.html

  • @ervintaylor6508
    @ervintaylor6508 Жыл бұрын

    Obviously a blowdown Kurt are you able to keep and salvage timber?

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Gday mate, i do use firewood and in the past on the farm I had stacks of slabs, burls and handle billets kept but not so much any more. Every now and then I'll grab some billets to season up. I had actually planned on slabbing this log but the forestry guys cleared it before I got back to it! Would have made some awesome lumber. Cheers for watching mate!

  • @FatboyAussie
    @FatboyAussie Жыл бұрын

    That’s hard yakka. What sort of axe heads?

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Gday mate, this was a Plumb tassie 4.5lb, Keech Timberman, Tuatahi camp axe, and Lamaca Work axe. Just checked out your Yeti and Norco builds and one of your trail rides, nice!👍👍🪓

  • @FatboyAussie

    @FatboyAussie

    Жыл бұрын

    @@kurts64 nice. Been looking at the engineered for axemen WA190. Have you got to swing one of those?

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    @@FatboyAussie cool, nah not yet. A mates got an EFA and loves it. I've been eyeing off the 2kg and the hatchet, good gear

  • @jonholliday5166
    @jonholliday5166 Жыл бұрын

    Which axe Mate?

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    Gday mate, in this one was the 4.5 Plumb tassie, Keech Timberman kc23, Tui camp axe, and Lamaca work axe. All did the job pretty well I reckon. Cheers for watching!👍👍🪓

  • @lifebehindtheaxe3835
    @lifebehindtheaxe3835 Жыл бұрын

    I bet your lower back felt amazing the next day! "Good on ya"

  • @kurts64

    @kurts64

    Жыл бұрын

    🤣🤣 Sure did mate! Great to hear from ya, hope your all good !👍👍 How's things been goin over your way?

  • @lifebehindtheaxe3835

    @lifebehindtheaxe3835

    Жыл бұрын

    @@kurts64 everything is going good this year for me so far, my least favorite season is looming... summer. But I'll be using the heat to my advantage and try and drop some weight while I train. Keep posting