One of the highlights of the Woodworking in America conference in November 2008 was Roy Underhill's keynote address. Underhill, the hero to many hand-tool woodworkers, touched on a lot of subjects. But one of the best parts of the speech was about his own personal history with the ax.

Two personal notes. Roy had been drinking (Red Bull) this night, which helps explains his particularly animated delivery. And my only disappointment with the speech was that Roy didn't decimate that podium with the ax. That thing was a piece of press-wood junk! 

You can read a lot more about the Woodworking in America conference on this special page.