One of my favorite Homestead Hand Tools
Whenever I have come across an antique hand tool, I’ am always flooded with the amazement of the quality and craftsmanship that went into making the tool itself. The drawknife is one of these tools.
I found my drawknife at a local antique mall, where my favorite vendor finds, and restores forgotten tools. I confess I walk very slowly through his booth. Running my hands across the wooden handled tools that have been brought back to life, flooding my senses with a revere of the craftsmanship of old.
On our off grid homestead, the drawknife is by far my favorite to use. The first job the drawknife was used for, was building a bunk bed out of the trees on our undeveloped property. Upon selling our RV, I quickly built a 10’ x 14’ cabin. Made from two salvaged Costco carports covered with sheet metal. Real estate within this castle was most precious, hence the bunk bed. The children helped cut down many of the trees needed for the project. Because the drawknife requires the user to use both hands, it’s difficult to secure the wood being knifed. With time pressing hard, I turned over a wheelbarrow and wedged the poles in the legs of this homestead dump truck. My boys were happy to learn the trade of pole sitting. Now of course this is not a long-term solution, the shaving horse is. The material for the horse came from the framing leftovers from our saltbox home.
Whenever I have come across an antique hand tool, I’ am always flooded with the amazement of the quality and craftsmanship that went into making the tool itself. The drawknife is one of these tools.
I found my drawknife at a local antique mall, where my favorite vendor finds, and restores forgotten tools. I confess I walk very slowly through his booth. Running my hands across the wooden handled tools that have been brought back to life, flooding my senses with a revere of the craftsmanship of old.
On our off grid homestead, the drawknife is by far my favorite to use. The first job the drawknife was used for, was building a bunk bed out of the trees on our undeveloped property. Upon selling our RV, I quickly built a 10’ x 14’ cabin. Made from two salvaged Costco carports covered with sheet metal. Real estate within this castle was most precious, hence the bunk bed. The children helped cut down many of the trees needed for the project. Because the drawknife requires the user to use both hands, it’s difficult to secure the wood being knifed. With time pressing hard, I turned over a wheelbarrow and wedged the poles in the legs of this homestead dump truck. My boys were happy to learn the trade of pole sitting. Now of course this is not a long-term solution, the shaving horse is. The material for the horse came from the framing leftovers from our saltbox home.
Another project that saw the drawknife was the logs used for the deck in front of the cabin. It’s always important to remove the bark from logs used for building. This allows for the logs to dry, and become more bug resistant.
When inspiration came to build the “Wattle” or as we like to call it “Wicket”. The shaving horse and the drawknife, worked perfect.
It’s satisfying to see these projects find their necessary materials from our property, and even more so, to use an old forgotten standby like the drawknife.
It’s satisfying to see these projects find their necessary materials from our property, and even more so, to use an old forgotten standby like the drawknife.
Speaking of favorite tools .. Check out this forgotten find on our product page Campfire Cooker "Grandpa Jakes." A homesteaders dream.
Grandpa Jakes
