Editing Adze (section)

=== Northwest Coastal America ===
[[File: Native Alaskan boat builder.jpg|thumb|Native Alaskan boat builder using an adze]]
American Northwest coast native peoples traditionally used adzes for both functional construction (from bowls to canoes) and art (from masks to totem poles).  Northwest coast adzes take two forms: hafted and D-handle.  The hafted form is similar in form to a European adze with the haft constructed from a natural crooked branch which approximately forms a 60% angle.  The thin end is used as the handle and the thick end is flattened and notched such that an adze iron can be lashed to it. Modern hafts are sometimes constructed from a sawed blank with a dowel added for strength at the crook.  The second form is the D-handle adze which is basically an adze iron with a directly attached handle.  The D-handle, therefore, provides no mechanical leverage.  Northwest coast adzes are often classified by size and iron shape vs. role.  As with European adzes, iron shapes include straight, gutter and lipped.  Where larger Northwest adzes are similar in size to their European counterparts, the smaller sizes are typically much lighter such that they can be used for the detailed smoothing, shaping and surface texturing required for figure carving.  Final surfacing is sometimes performed with a [[crooked knife]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}