# Sovereignty Module: Edge the Wood

## Complete Woodworking Hand Tools: From Axe to Plane

Hand tools are the interface between human skill and raw material. This campaign covers tool types, sharpening, maintenance, and the techniques that make wood obey.

### Chapter 1: Essential Woodworking Tools

| Tool | Function | Priority | Difficulty to Use | Difficulty to Make |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axe (felling) | Fell trees, rough shaping | Critical | Moderate | High (forged head) |
| Hatchet | Light chopping, carving | High | Low | High |
| Drawknife | Shaping, bark removal | High | Low | Moderate |
| Saw (crosscut) | Cut across grain | Critical | Low | Very high |
| Saw (rip) | Cut along grain | High | Moderate | Very high |
| Chisel (set) | Joinery, carving, mortises | Critical | Moderate | Moderate |
| Mallet | Drive chisels, assemble joints | High | Very low | Very low (wood) |
| Hand plane | Smooth surfaces, thickness | High | Moderate-high | Moderate |
| Brace and bit | Drill holes | High | Low | Moderate |
| Marking gauge | Layout lines parallel to edge | Moderate | Very low | Very low |
| Square (try square) | Check and mark 90 degrees | High | Very low | Low |
| Spokeshave | Shape curves, round stock | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Froe | Split wood (shingles, staves) | Moderate | Low | Moderate |
| Adze | Shape concave surfaces, hew timber | Moderate | Moderate-high | High |

### Chapter 2: Axe Craft

| Axe Type | Weight | Handle Length | Use | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felling axe | 3-5 lbs | 28-36 inches | Fell trees, buck logs | Full swing, alternating angles |
| Broad axe | 4-7 lbs | 18-24 inches (offset) | Hew flat surfaces | Short, controlled strokes |
| Hatchet | 1-2 lbs | 12-16 inches | Light work, carving | One-hand, controlled |
| Splitting maul | 6-8 lbs | 30-36 inches | Split firewood | Overhead, follow grain |
| Carving axe | 1-2 lbs | 14-18 inches | Fine shaping | Short, precise strokes |

Axe sharpening: 1) Examine edge: nicks, rolls, or dull spots. 2) File: use bastard file, push strokes only (file into the edge, not away). 3) Maintain original bevel angle (25-30 degrees for felling, 35-40 for splitting). 4) File both sides equally (count strokes). 5) Whetstone: follow with medium stone (circular motions on bevel). 6) Finish with fine stone or strop. 7) Test: should shave arm hair or slice paper. 8) A sharp axe is safer than a dull one (dull axes bounce and glance).

### Chapter 3: Chisel Work

| Chisel Type | Width | Use | Bevel Angle | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firmer chisel | 1/4-1 inch | General purpose | 25-30° | Mallet or hand pressure |
| Mortise chisel | 1/4-1/2 inch | Cut mortises (deep holes) | 30-35° | Heavy mallet work |
| Paring chisel | 1/2-1.5 inch | Trim, fit joints | 15-20° | Hand pressure only |
| Gouge | Various | Concave cuts, carving | 25-30° | Mallet or hand |
| Skew chisel | Various | Angled cuts, corners | 25-30° | Hand pressure |

Mortise cutting: 1) Mark mortise outline on wood (marking gauge + square). 2) Select mortise chisel (width matches mortise width). 3) Start in center of mortise (not at the ends). 4) Place chisel bevel-side toward center, strike with mallet. 5) Move chisel 1/8 inch, strike again (working toward one end). 6) Lever out waste chips. 7) Work from center to other end. 8) Repeat, going deeper each pass. 9) Clean ends last (precise, square cuts). 10) Check depth with ruler or matching tenon. 11) Pare walls smooth with paring chisel.

### Chapter 4: Hand Planes

| Plane Type | Length | Use | When to Use | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Block plane | 6-7 inches | End grain, chamfers, small work | Trimming, fitting | One hand, low angle |
| Smoothing plane | 8-10 inches | Final smooth surface | After jointing/thicknessing | Light cuts, with grain |
| Jack plane | 14-15 inches | Rough flattening, dimensioning | First plane on rough wood | Medium cuts |
| Jointer plane | 22-24 inches | Flatten long boards, joint edges | Making edges straight | Long, overlapping strokes |
| Scrub plane | 9-10 inches | Rapid wood removal | Rough stock, heavy removal | Diagonal or across grain |

Plane setup: 1) Sharpen iron (blade) to mirror polish on bevel and back. 2) Set iron in plane body (bevel down for bench planes). 3) Advance iron until it barely protrudes below sole. 4) Sight down sole: iron should appear as thin, even line. 5) Adjust lateral lever: iron must be parallel to sole (even shaving). 6) Test cut: should produce thin, continuous shaving (not dust, not chunks). 7) Adjust depth: deeper for rough work, shallower for finish. 8) Wax sole periodically (reduces friction).

### Chapter 5: Joinery

| Joint | Strength | Difficulty | Tools Needed | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butt joint | Low (needs fasteners) | Very low | Saw | Simple boxes, rough work |
| Dado/housing | Moderate | Low | Saw, chisel | Shelves, dividers |
| Mortise and tenon | Very high | Moderate-high | Chisel, saw, mallet | Frames, furniture, timber |
| Dovetail | Very high (mechanical lock) | High | Saw, chisel | Drawers, boxes, casework |
| Lap joint | Moderate | Low | Saw, chisel | Frames, simple joints |
| Tongue and groove | Moderate | Moderate | Plane (special), saw | Flooring, paneling |
| Bridle joint | High | Moderate | Saw, chisel | Frames, gates |
| Finger joint (box joint) | High | Moderate | Saw, chisel | Boxes, corners |

### Reference Card

1. Sharp tools are safe tools (dull tools require force, slip, and cause injuries; sharp tools cut where you aim). 2. Let the tool do the work (proper technique uses tool weight and geometry, not brute force). 3. Work with the grain (cutting with grain is smooth; against grain tears and chips; read the grain first). 4. Measure twice, cut once (layout accuracy determines joint quality; rushing layout wastes wood). 5. Flat reference surfaces first (flatten one face, then one edge; everything else references from these). 6. Mortise and tenon is king (the strongest traditional joint; learn it well and you can build anything). 7. Sharpen often (a few strokes on the stone every 15 minutes beats a major resharpening session). 8. Wood moves (wood expands and contracts with humidity; design joints that accommodate movement).