7:29 "One of the nicest pieces of ash I've ever seen" I know it's immature but my inner 10 year-old loved that. Fantastic work, as usual. Keep it up - you've got a great show!
Yes I was about to comments the same thing also but saw ur comment..he had like 3 different ones..i liked the R.I.P chef Mike the most...may he fest in peace.
Excellent work Alec!! To truly finish this awesome axe off you should burn in some runes into the handle, like your name or come up with a name for it like many of the Vikings did with their axes,for the rest of you reading this like if you agree :)
Alec Steele alec you should put a wood block on top of the wedge and then hammer on the block with a hammer this will make the wedge less likely to be driven in crocked and it also makes the wedge less likely to split or crack
I like to use silicon-based oils for preserving non stainless steel. They're normally used for maintaining firearms and leave behind a really nice, thin layer of silicon, thus protecting the steel.
Should definitely make yourself a nice damascus steel drawknife. It would come in handy next time you make a handle! Saves hell of a lot of grinding plus it relieves your ears for a few minutes! And by the way, outstanding craftsmanship on that one . Would have been worth two horses in norse times!
Alec what an amazing piece of deadly Damascus art to honor the Vikings and the to your area excellence in crafting such a beautiful and functional weapon. Bravo!
Alec, Avid woodworker and blacksmith here. When choosing wood for handles, like your axe handle, try and choose grain which has been rift sawn or quater sawn in order to reduce the chance of warping. Great job on the axe!
I have around 15% Scandinavian DNA that makes me a Viking descendant from there raiding party’s of the north east of England.... I blame them for my ginger beard...
Awesome job!! My grandfather taught me the following rules for applying linseed oil to handles - once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year and then just once a year for life. Your handles will last a long time with this approach.
Hey Alec, use a cheap block of wood between the butt of the handle and your hammer when pounding it in. The block will help adsorb the shock so it'll help not split the wood and also it will make it so you don't warp or do anything to the end of the handle! Just a pro tip!
Hey Alec. Greetings from Missouri, USA. I just had to say that your energy, enthusiasm and skill is just awesome, exhilarating and contagious. Although I am not a metal smith of any sort. I do enjoy watching all your videos.
Hey Alec, been watching for awhile and have loved the videos, But since this one the others have nothing on it, Wish you would do more explaining like this in more amazing videos to come!!
Greetings from across the pond Alec! I've noticed that you always grind your bevels. It would be a fantastic little challenge to pound them out. I'm told that this is a master skill, and you're always interested in learning.
Great work. Little tip for hand sanding the round handle. Clamp one end in a vise and then cut a long strip of sand paper, hold each end and use a type of shoe polishing motion back and forth. You can really round off all the facets easily and quickly.
Actually, if I recall correctly.. when hanging an axe you don't need a hammer at all. What you do is have the head up instead of down, and you raise the handle a few inches off the ground and let it drop, the shock causes the head of the axe to move down the handle into it's seat
I've discovered your stuff via the samurai carpenter and your collab. Have to say I've been enjoying the last 2 days of bingewatching your stuff! Truly inspiring! I'm a woodworker myself, but seeing your stuff really makes me wanna dive into metal a little bit more! Keep up the good work
Cheers Alec - tell your accountant to piss off ;) You'll be passing half-a-million subscribers any day soon. Your channel is awesome and I always look forward to your new content
unfortunately, Alec is not exempt from British laws and must pay his taxes or they will shut him down. Always get a second opinion from another accountant. Accountants can develop deformation in their practice. Good Luck and thank you for the entertainment.
To heck with the Viking axe, I want to go with you the next time you go shopping for wood! I'm pretty sure I started drooling when you were listing off the different options.
It acts like a fine grit sand paper and smooths out the wood. If you hold it tight enough and build enough friction you burnish it, which is like a heated friction polish. Wood turners do this a lot.
Wood is a fickle and dangerous enemy. The slightest show of weakness and it will pounce. Rubbing it down with its own shaved body parts shows that there is no limit to the violence that you are willing to inflict on it.
When I saw you holding the bowl of food throughout the intro I thought you were auditioning to double for Brad Pitt in Oceans (part whatever) as he is eating in almost every scene...
Actually that’s more myth than reality. The person would be given a name other than their birth name but not their weapon. And yes I know what I’m talking about as my masters is in Scandinavian folklore and history. My doctorate will be in the same.
How does this kid not have 1M subs? Alec is incredible! Your energy is infectious and extremely motivational. I watch your vids before I go to work everyday to hit the grind hard as ever. Cheers from Illinois, USA bro! Love your work.
God :-O libs wouldn't work.... steel bends, fiberglass and wood return to the shape you want. Bows are under a whole bunch of tension, so metal limbs (Damascus in particular) would crack and/or bend out of shape pretty quickly. As a previous poster said, a riser would totally work, but limbs are wood and fiberglass for a reason.
"pillage some villagers" I rewound it a few times and I'm pretty certain that's what he said. Vikings are associated with pillaging villages...and doing something else to villagers.
Mac Kent - big sword. Btw as for the Irish Claymore comment above, you will find strictly there isn't really such a thing. The claidheamh-mòr, which means Great sword was medieval and to be honest no one can really lay claim to it. There's also a whole array of double handled swords in Germany etc. The basket hilt which the Jacobites was also called Claymore, maybe this is where the confusion is.
Hey Alec! I would love to see you do something like this, or a smaller dagger or something, but done entirely(or close to, maybe using your modern forge) with period techniques and tooling. That would make for a fantastic build series, especially getting to see the amount of work and craftsmanship that ancient blacksmiths put into their trade! Just a suggestion, keep up the good work!
Alec Steele oh my gosh! I can't believe you commented on my comment! I'm 14 and just starting to make handles of axes and I would like to make RUclips videos but I can't afford a camera. Thank you so much you literally just made my week.
That would not look out of place in the royal armoury. but before you make any more Knives, axes or weapons of war, learn how to make some Toast for those beans, regards
By far one of my favourite builds so far, that pattern is stunning! Loving seeing more of how you make everything compared to the old video format Keep up the epic work!
Oh my god alec.. this is amazing. You are definitely becoming closer and closer to a master blacksmith. An artist even.. very nice job. You are an inspiration to us all
inSIDDious this is technically impossible as a bow flexes whilst pulling the string. this would not happen if you make it from metal, a crossbow however, with a wooden arm is definitly doable.
hello Alec, great job ! the pattern is awesome and I could only imagine it being carried into battle back in the day. it would have been worthy of a king to be sure!
12:51 Its always good to lubricate the shaft before driving it in.
Life is sooo much more fun when you have a dirty mind! ^_^
Goddamnit
tecnui heck, he pretty much started the video "getting wood", then went on to lubrcating his shaft and stickine his shat in the eye... LOL
tecnui You can have too much lubrication. Lol
clearly you live in a very DRY enviroment......if you need to help nature.....you are doing something wrong.
7:29 "One of the nicest pieces of ash I've ever seen"
I know it's immature but my inner 10 year-old loved that.
Fantastic work, as usual. Keep it up - you've got a great show!
Anyone else notice the number of shirt changes during wet sanding? Exception as always Alec!
The4cp right? Haha great way to showcase them though
Yes I was about to comments the same thing also but saw ur comment..he had like 3 different ones..i liked the R.I.P chef Mike the most...may he fest in peace.
Excellent work Alec!! To truly finish this awesome axe off you should burn in some runes into the handle, like your name or come up with a name for it like many of the Vikings did with their axes,for the rest of you reading this like if you agree :)
The ash will not break Alec. Long bows were made from it. Looking amazing and nice to see it all fitted up.
It's fabulous to have you here, Alec!
Notification squad KILLED it again! WOOP!!
Alec Steele yup notification squad always going at it hard
Alec Steele the notification squad has arrived!
Alec Steele alec you should put a wood block on top of the wedge and then hammer on the block with a hammer this will make the wedge less likely to be driven in crocked and it also makes the wedge less likely to split or crack
Alec Steele hi
When you brighten our day and inspire us to pursue the hobby. we jump to watch the vid.
No fruit or shanks of meat cut... I feel robbed! Love the axe Alec, keep up the great work!
It's really cool that you take the time to read our comments and actually use some of the tips in here!
Alec's enthusiasm never stops. I cannot wait until he hits millions of sub and views.
hey Alec. I just thought you should know. those weird triangle shaped pieces of African Blackwood are blanks for a clarinet bell.
I like to use silicon-based oils for preserving non stainless steel. They're normally used for maintaining firearms and leave behind a really nice, thin layer of silicon, thus protecting the steel.
Should definitely make yourself a nice damascus steel drawknife. It would come in handy next time you make a handle! Saves hell of a lot of grinding plus it relieves your ears for a few minutes!
And by the way, outstanding craftsmanship on that one . Would have been worth two horses in norse times!
Hey just saw you made one already lol sorry...
So now is time make the first damascus steel spokeshave EVER seriously, that would be silly
Rémi Bédard , not to mention how therapeutic and satisfying it is to shave wood off versus grinding or sanding it off
Would be awsome
Damascus drawknife with some exotic wood handles would be great! I've made wenge wood handle for old russian sickle.
Alec what an amazing piece of deadly Damascus art to honor the Vikings and the to your area excellence in crafting such a beautiful and functional weapon. Bravo!
Alec,
Avid woodworker and blacksmith here. When choosing wood for handles, like your axe handle, try and choose grain which has been rift sawn or quater sawn in order to reduce the chance of warping. Great job on the axe!
Dude, you are insane!! Crazy good work man! I love your content.
BIG thank you Curt!
Love the new shop, it's beautiful. Can't wait to see what you create there.
we need a shirt with the axe that says "Let's go pillage some villages!"
+92NUKE might give the wrong impression 😂
I'd buy it...it would be pretty awesome
I have around 15% Scandinavian DNA that makes me a Viking descendant from there raiding party’s of the north east of England.... I blame them for my ginger beard...
Chop something, Alec! Come on! Chop Chop!
I've been blacksmithing a little bit for around five years now and I have learned a ton of stuff from you. Thanks and keep up the awesome work!!!
Awesome job!! My grandfather taught me the following rules for applying linseed oil to handles - once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year and then just once a year for life. Your handles will last a long time with this approach.
Hey Alec, use a cheap block of wood between the butt of the handle and your hammer when pounding it in. The block will help adsorb the shock so it'll help not split the wood and also it will make it so you don't warp or do anything to the end of the handle! Just a pro tip!
Make a mjolnir out of Damascus steel. That would be cool.
TDMZZ it's Mjölnir ;-)
thats gonna weigh 10kilos. So i doubth its any fun to work with
It would be awesome but very very heavy. Remember Thor is a god
Alec you should just put a loft on the shop and build a little apartment-like area to live in
I was thinking the same thing. If I had a shop like that I would never leave.
Or at least put a cot in one of the back rooms to take a nap for those late nights. Hate to see him fall asleep at the wheel trying to get home.
Or at any of the machinery. Remember, in a blacksmith shop, everything wants to cut, burn, poison, or kill you.
That would be cool, but definitely not legal in most places :(
Alec, I loved how you bent down, grabbed a handful of Sawdust from the floor and started rubbing it on the Axe handle!
Hey Alec. Greetings from Missouri, USA.
I just had to say that your energy, enthusiasm and skill is just awesome, exhilarating and contagious. Although I am not a metal smith of any sort. I do enjoy watching all your videos.
Hey Alec, been watching for awhile and have loved the videos, But since this one the others have nothing on it, Wish you would do more explaining like this in more amazing videos to come!!
Heck yes! Cant wait.
Thanks Andy!
Axe-tastic!
I stayed awake for this
Rick Huitenga same bro
hahaha me too
Rick Huitenga same it's now 11
Rick Huitenga so did I. But this is a great bed time story.
It's 3 pm here
Greetings from across the pond Alec! I've noticed that you always grind your bevels. It would be a fantastic little challenge to pound them out. I'm told that this is a master skill, and you're always interested in learning.
Extremely cool effect, perching the axe on the tongs like that. Gave it an elegant look!
you should make a skythe out of Damascus
mr. fox that would be cool !!
mr. fox yesss
mr. fox this would be the best thing on RUclips
mr. fox alec I think you should do this
Agreed100%
You need to make a halberd next
He obviously needs to make ags to spec all dem noobs
SebOrigami abby whip plus dragon defender, overload pot pls
He should make a Naginata, a Halberd wouldnt be too challenging after having made something like this.
I need a link to that wood shop.
Alec, you are a force of nature &... you continue to get better & better!
Great work. Little tip for hand sanding the round handle. Clamp one end in a vise and then cut a long strip of sand paper, hold each end and use a type of shoe polishing motion back and forth. You can really round off all the facets easily and quickly.
Just an unsolicited piece of advice but when hammering wood like the handle if you use a spacer of wood you can prevent hammer marks.
Foster Langford and perhaps a wood mallet
I think he wasn't concerned this time, because he was trimming down the wedge, and sanding the handle base so the marks were removed.
Actually, if I recall correctly.. when hanging an axe you don't need a hammer at all. What you do is have the head up instead of down, and you raise the handle a few inches off the ground and let it drop, the shock causes the head of the axe to move down the handle into it's seat
much love from Texas!! ur more Texan than some people i know!!!!
Tabasco 59 ain't that the truth. Fellow Texan here
7th generation Texan here, and I 100% agree!
What exactly makes him Texan?
another Texan dropping in to join the train.
Easy there no insulting please
you should really use some wenge wood for handles it is beautiful
I've discovered your stuff via the samurai carpenter and your collab. Have to say I've been enjoying the last 2 days of bingewatching your stuff! Truly inspiring! I'm a woodworker myself, but seeing your stuff really makes me wanna dive into metal a little bit more! Keep up the good work
That's the most gorgeous axe I've ever seen! I'm hopelessly in love with it
Now for a double headed battle axe!!!!!!
Xenon And Friends no such thing has ever existed in history
Who cares? Do it anyway!
Matt Dickson two sided axes exist
Matt Dickson
www.medievalcollectibles.com/images/Product/large/MA-8651S.png
Ryan Brewer yes but they are ALL woodsman's axes
anyone else think Sam kinda looks like Podrick on Game of Thrones
You hitting that wood with that steel hammer made me anxious. Get a softer hammer next time man. lol
I was feeling the same. Definitely in need of a wooden mallet me thinks. Any chippies disagree feel free to correct me.
Wouldn’t a rubber mallet be better? We’d use them often in the stair shop I used to work at
That blade is just gorgeous, love the contrast of the big edge pattern vs the rest.
your finest weapon project yet, absolutely fantastic
Can u plz make a test vid of The axe
Make something from I famous film like hobbit or lord of the rings your choice what item you make
TheGaming Wizard orcrist would be a big challenge
Alec really seemed to enjoy making an axe. Maybe Gimli's walking or battle axe!
Cheers Alec - tell your accountant to piss off ;) You'll be passing half-a-million subscribers any day soon. Your channel is awesome and I always look forward to your new content
unfortunately, Alec is not exempt from British laws and must pay his taxes or they will shut him down. Always get a second opinion from another accountant. Accountants can develop deformation in their practice. Good Luck and thank you for the entertainment.
To heck with the Viking axe, I want to go with you the next time you go shopping for wood! I'm pretty sure I started drooling when you were listing off the different options.
My favorite of all your builds. True badassery at its finest. Well done, had to buy the t-shirt.
Bowl of baked beans? Blazing Saddles in the UK?
Why did you run the wood dust on it?
Shadi Nachat rubbing the handles own guts on it let's it know who the boss is and not to try any funny business.
It acts like a fine grit sand paper and smooths out the wood. If you hold it tight enough and build enough friction you burnish it, which is like a heated friction polish. Wood turners do this a lot.
D Duff ehhhh I'm pretty certain it's just an intimidation tactic.
Wood is a fickle and dangerous enemy. The slightest show of weakness and it will pounce. Rubbing it down with its own shaved body parts shows that there is no limit to the violence that you are willing to inflict on it.
D Duff Yessss, YESSSSSS! We construct buildings with the bones of their brothers and must not underestimate their willingness to strike back.
When I saw you holding the bowl of food throughout the intro
I thought you were auditioning to double for Brad Pitt in Oceans (part
whatever) as he is eating in almost every scene...
Always look forward to speaking with my accountant. This is how I know I am on the right path, or where I need to change course.
I'm so glad you were able to get wood today. You seem super excited about getting wood.
I also enjoy getting wood.
You should cut flaming melons with the axe
4eversnowboard can you light a melon on fire??
why not use a spokeshave or woodworking plane, less dust, and nice pretty smooth surface XD.
Subscriber from Taiwan
you should name your pieces, just like vikings did when they made a master weapon!
Actually that’s more myth than reality. The person would be given a name other than their birth name but not their weapon. And yes I know what I’m talking about as my masters is in Scandinavian folklore and history. My doctorate will be in the same.
How does this kid not have 1M subs? Alec is incredible! Your energy is infectious and extremely motivational. I watch your vids before I go to work everyday to hit the grind hard as ever. Cheers from Illinois, USA bro! Love your work.
What a beautiful job Alex. Your skills are expanding exponentially. So few do overs. You must congratulate yourself! I'm very happy for you man!
RIP Chef Mic shirt lol
Damascus Bow Limbs???
(Sorry for the spam)
God :-O one day he'll say something, I think Damascus bow limbs would be epic, just keep spamming :)
damascus bow riser would work, if not a tad heavy but would love awesome!
If you want steel limbs then why not make a crossbow, with Damascus trigger and other hardware?
God :-O libs wouldn't work.... steel bends, fiberglass and wood return to the shape you want. Bows are under a whole bunch of tension, so metal limbs (Damascus in particular) would crack and/or bend out of shape pretty quickly. As a previous poster said, a riser would totally work, but limbs are wood and fiberglass for a reason.
Danzig Rulze
That would work too but that requires more moving parts, and bow are a lot more fun.
Yaa
YEEE
YIIII
YOO
Alec Steele , yahhh yeeeee are you secret Logang?
I would love to see the videos where you work the lignum and the padauk. Wonderful woods, in such different ways.
Truly one of the most beautiful pieces I have ever seen!! Congrats on the build!!
"pillage some villagers"
I rewound it a few times and I'm pretty certain that's what he said.
Vikings are associated with pillaging villages...and doing something else to villagers.
DO A VIDEO OF CLEAVING WATERMELON AND OTHER STUFF!!!!!
should have moved the new shop next door to a butcher
Mace or morning star?
Yes, one of my favorite weapons, i second this motion.
M.Alec, please take note.
another beautiful creation, the axe is gorgeous. congratulations on completing another Fantastic! project!!
The nicest piece of work you have done! That says a lot. You've done some brilliant work, but this is brillianter!
Bro you should make an IRISH Clay more
kingwilly1000 an up-to-size claymore would probably be difficult but very very cool
i like how someone on the web knows of the irish hilted 2 handers, and yeah seconding this idea...
Mac Kent - big sword. Btw as for the Irish Claymore comment above, you will find strictly there isn't really such a thing. The claidheamh-mòr, which means Great sword was medieval and to be honest no one can really lay claim to it. There's also a whole array of double handled swords in Germany etc. The basket hilt which the Jacobites was also called Claymore, maybe this is where the confusion is.
kingwilly1000 Oi claymores are Scottish not Irish get it right
Make a damascus puukko or a sami knife.
Hello Alec
YOU ARE FIRST!
Hey Alec! I would love to see you do something like this, or a smaller dagger or something, but done entirely(or close to, maybe using your modern forge) with period techniques and tooling. That would make for a fantastic build series, especially getting to see the amount of work and craftsmanship that ancient blacksmiths put into their trade!
Just a suggestion, keep up the good work!
Loved the Viking Axe build, Addictive to say the least, Thanks Alec and your team.
#NotificationSquad Where ya at?
They right here! Reppin hard tonight!
Alec Steele oh my gosh! I can't believe you commented on my comment! I'm 14 and just starting to make handles of axes and I would like to make RUclips videos but I can't afford a camera. Thank you so much you literally just made my week.
Here sir !!!
That would not look out of place in the royal armoury.
but before you make any more Knives, axes or weapons of war, learn how to make some Toast for those beans, regards
ME: The type of guy to turn notifications off then on again, just so I can say TURNED NOTIFICATIONS ON!!!
By far one of my favourite builds so far, that pattern is stunning!
Loving seeing more of how you make everything compared to the old video format
Keep up the epic work!
Oh my god alec.. this is amazing. You are definitely becoming closer and closer to a master blacksmith. An artist even.. very nice job. You are an inspiration to us all
a leather grip???
of sorts
Eli Enge definitely!
Eli Enge No axes should not have leather grips. You want your hands to slide on the handle.
Kevin Noll I know but still. It isn't worth the effort for a slightly better grip at most. And many would argue it goes against the axes aesthetic.
Sorry but no. It's a Dane axe and NOT a battle axe. Twohanded viking axes are named Dane axes.
you still want to be able to slide your hands, this is real life not skyrim
Make a Damascus bow and arrows :) Like this so he can see it !!
inSIDDious this is technically impossible as a bow flexes whilst pulling the string.
this would not happen if you make it from metal, a crossbow however, with a wooden arm is definitly doable.
You can definitely make a bow from steel. The problem would come from having the raw power to draw that bow.
oh yeah i didnt thought of that, nevermind !! wooden bow and Damascus arrows then
you could have a very thin steel laminate on the back of the limbs, still wouldnt be the best, but you could draw it. i like the idea of a cross bow
He could make the riser out of damascus
Arkansas toothpick would be cool
jrs_ 2000 it would be cool to see one
You make a good point about the hourglass eye... would be nice to see axes like that more often.
That is an incredibly beautiful axe.
Not impressed how long you dragged it out, but still like watching you (for now).
thats sweet dude u should make a damascus steel drum
Your enthusiasm is infectious. Keep it up!
Your work just gets better and better Alec, a newcomer to your channel but enjoying every moment .
+RicTic66 thrilled to have you here!
Man! That etching looks beautiful! Nice detail with that wedge!
Two words mate. Draw knife. Brilliantly useful wood working tool and one you can make yourself!
awesome! it looks like a cartoon axe painted into the video. surreal! love it
The pattern on the axe is beautiful. Great job Alec.
I don't know what all tools you'd need to make but I think a Damascus morning star or one handed mace would be awesome!
Beautiful ax Alec! You should make a damascus glaive next. I think the broad blade would show off the pattern nicely.
Love seeing that beautiful New Mexico Zia flag in the background. Another nice piece and fun series to watch.
Absolutely Beautiful piece!! Brilliant work Alex!! Excited for another series!!
Hello Alec! After etching you may use a fine steel carding wheel, is much faster than sand paper.
What a stunning piece of work. I've really enjoyed watching you create this masterpiece.
The damascus looks like a finger print. So unique
hello Alec,
great job ! the pattern is awesome and I could only imagine it being carried into battle back in the day. it would have been worthy of a king to be sure!