The adze was used for planing and carving. It was made of a wooden handle, often fashioned from a branch cut at its ramification, to which a blade was fitted. These were made of stone to begin with and later of metal. The stone used was often diorite or basalt, which was ground rather than knapped in order to create a sharp, lasting edge. Meteoric iron was also sharpened by grinding. Adzes of various sizes were used. The bigger adzes were employed for removing bark, branches and in boat and house construction, smaller adzes for delicate carving and planing.