What’s an Adze? The Adze tool is an ancient woodworking item that’s similar to an axe and utilized as a wood shaping tool adze have been utilized since the stone age. The Adze tool is similar to an axe, but it's long handled and mounted horizontally rather than vertically and used as a wood shaping aide. the Adze tool scoops out wood (think bowls) and are used horizontally, opposite of the vertically mounted axe they are cousins to. The Adze tool are very often used as wood shaving tools for car