An adze is an ancient carpenter’s tool resembling an axe, but with the blade set across the handle rather than in line with it, so that the wood is cut toward the user. Before the rise of planing machines, the adze was *the* tool for trimming beams, purlins, ship timbers and logs.
Shape and types
An adze consists of:
- A curved or pointed blade — usually steel, 50–150 mm wide, sharpened on the underside
- A wooden handle — straight or slightly curved, 30 cm to 1 m long
- A joint where the blade sits perpendicular to the handle — with the cutting edge facing the user’s foot
Main variants are:
- Flat adze — straight, wide blade, for trimming beams and plank surfaces
- Hollow adze (gutter adze) — bowl-shaped blade, for hollowing troughs, clogs, bowls and boat-hull parts
- Shipwright’s adze — longer, for working large frames
- Short hand-adze — handy for fine work, often used in restoration
Application
The adze was — and still is — used for:
- Traditional timber framing — beams, bents and rafters were profiled by hand
- Boat- and shipbuilding — especially on wooden vessels
- Clog-making and wood carving — for hollowing
- Heritage restoration — replacement parts require the same tool as the original; adze marks are typical of old work
- Reconstruction of historical technique — in archaeological experiments and open-air museums
Recognising adze marks
A timber from the Middle Ages or early modern period often shows clear adze marks:
- Curved, scale-shaped facets in the surface
- 1–3 mm depth per stroke
- Irregular patterns of overlapping strokes
- Slight skew relative to the wood grain
A sawn or planed beam, on the other hand, has straight parallel tracks or a smooth surface.
How to use one
The carpenter stands with one foot on the beam and chops short strokes towards himself. The adze cuts under its own weight and is guided by the wrist. A skilled craftsman can finish a rough beam smoother than a beginner can with a hand-plane.
Related terms
- Woodworking
- Axe
- Beam
- Timber framing
- Restoration
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