Viking - cutting down big tree with axe - how to

I am cutting down a dying spruce tree the old way with axes and are using a technique that most likely was one of the most common doing the viking age. Open the full video description and the website for more information.

This is the first video from a property I bought specific for making youtube videos - very tiny, 0.2 acres, hard wood forrest next to big lake. I will turn it into a home and show all of it.

Here can you see all videos from the property https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDtPsl7EwYM&list=PLwMRed9dogc7w4VqdhN22cJJ_DURywWmP

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Date: 18-11-2019 to 22-11-2019

Day: 8°C (46.4°F)
Night: 4°C (39.2°F)

Location: Denmark - hard wood forrest, sea and clay etc. A lot of wildlife - no bears, only a few wolves and in genereal noting dangerous. A lot of people in Denmark, so limited how remote it gets. If you want to do the same in Denmark do you need to be the owner or get the owners permission first. I am on my own tiny property somewhere in North Jutland.

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The tree was leaning in the wrong direction and because of that did I take all precautions - rope and off camera cutting off the side branches (the side branches was mainly pulling the tree in the wrong direction). Free climbing.

Of course safest to keep clear from where the tree is suppose to fall at all times and to use a rope that is a lot longer than the tree, especially if you want to pull the tree into falling like I am doing it in this case.

First time I try this technique and in general first time I cut this size tree with an axe... Worked out alright but in case of a next time will I cut the hole for the wedges a lot longer (as long as possible without risking the tree falling) so I can place the wedges a lot closer to the edge of the stump - making the wedges a lot more powerfull and giving me more control.

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A few questions:

1. Why remove the bark?
Trees with thick bark and a lot of gabs have offen collected dirt and it can dull your cutting edge… Removing the bak can be time well spend - though not a big deal.

2. What axes are you using?
Homemade - designs dating back to at least the viking age. The cutting edges is recycled leaf springs and the handles ash from Denmark.

3. Why use rope?
It gives you a lot of control and also a bit more safety. The key is to get the rope as high up the tree as possible creating a lot of leverage. You don’t need to use a rope, but it is very useful especially in a case like this with a tree leaning in the wrong direction. You can throw or shoot the rope up in a tree - though did I in this case just free climb to the top for attaching the rope.

4. Why cut down the tree? And what to turn the wood into?
Safety - This is going to be my home and you don't want a dying tree so close - sooner or later will it fall in a storm, damage a house or people, too dangerous. All the other a lot smaller trees on the tiny property will also benefit from the extra sunlight and also will I for growing food. The tree is not dead standing yet - only dead in the top section and the rest is mainly fresh though a few rotten parts... The log has way too many knots/side branches to be ideal for most viking crafting projects and because of that did I off camera turn most of the log into fire wood - I will find other more ideal trees for the future crafting projects. The stump will be used as a table for now and later be used as a fundation for a tiny log cabin - similar to the “njalla” used by the Sami people for storagre food and other things.

5. Why not use bigger axe?
I don't own one. Relative light axes makes the job take a bit longer but also make you able to work for more hours before getting tired arms. Takes less energi to make a short cutting edge go deep enough into the tree to split out chunks. I currently only own two homemade axes, so limited options - though do I personally find the collared axe in the video fine for this kind of work, but a bit longer handle would be an improvement. All kinds of felling axes and general purpose axes will get the job done just fine.

6. Is it tree sap collecting on the stump while you're chopping?
No - just rain water.

7. How long did it take to cut down the tree?
About 6 hours of chopping I guess if not counting breaks and time spend on camera stuff. Including all of it about 4 days because of bad camera weather and in general short days this time of year in Denmark.

8. How offen did you resharpen the axes?
Only one time.

9. Why write 78?
The tree is 78 years old - each growth ring is one year.

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Website including gear list, most asked questions and all other basic information https://www.runemaltebertramnielsen.com

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Video gear: Canon EOS RP, Canon 50 1.8, Røde videomicpro+, Zoom h2n, iMovie.

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