A Cheap Alternative to the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

EngrSorenson said:
Time for this Zombie to live again.

Cool thread- lots of talk of blade geometry, steel quality and Wranglerstar; really everything you need to get a thread boiling.

I'm not very interested in blade geometry beyond the basics, and axe performance is impossible to judge: we'd need some kind of chopping machine to take out the human element, and some very consistent samples of wood.

I suspect that individual chopping technique plays more in what axe we prefer. Axe durability/edge retention is fairly quantifiable because at some point it's a practical thing- anyone who uses an axe can best determine what is "durable enough".

I think the essence of this thread, and what makes it really interesting, is to put together (or find) a small forest axe on the cheap, and have it be effective.

OP did a cool thing and it seems to work just great, Kudos on that. The relatively new (and inexpensive!) Council Tools Flying Fox comes in at 1 lb 10 oz, which is right in the sweet spot for this small forest axe weight class. Who's got a CT FF hung on a 20" handle? I'm considering doing something similar on a 19" house axe handle. (probably more than considering- the handle is ordered).
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I've got a couple of heads kicking around that may fit that need.
 
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The bottom head is 1.8 lbs. Should we do a project?
 
I present the Council Tool Small Forest Axe. I hung it on a modified House Handle Company 19 inch “house axe” haft. For better or worse, it’s 95% heartwood but the grain has a good orientation. I kept a pronounced shoulder on it merely because I like the aesthetic. It tapers to the head, and at the knob is essentially its original thickness. I get less hand fatigue with thicker handles. I carved a notch for my pinky into the knob so I can give two handing this one a shot. I can’t wait to get out and use it.
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Okay I'm going to play devil's advocate here. This thread was started 10 year ago. Right now the SFA is around $170 so I'm going to guess they were some where around$140 10 years ago. If you subtract the $23 of his completed axe that leaves $117 he said he had 5 hours in doing his mods . 5 hours of overtime easily covers the the difference .
Now that being said I can't imagine taking 5 hours to remove a handle replace it and reprofile the bit. I personally don't care for the the head shape of the SFA . I much prefer Michigan or Dayton pattern axes
 
plumberroy said:
Now that being said I -can't imagine taking 5 hours to remove a handle replace it and reprofile the bit.
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It probably took me 9 hours just to do the handle on mine, but since OT is a mythical thing to most engineers, my time is free. ;)

But seriously, you have a good point- time has value. I just think it’s akin to any other hobby; time spent doing it is kinda the point. If we were really worried about the price of our time, we’d all probably just buy a chainsaw and hydraulic splitter and not bother with the forum, right? :D

besides, what’s more satisfying than doing something yourself? :thumbsup:
 
EngrSorenson said:
It probably took me 9 hours just to do the handle on mine, but since OT is a mythical thing to most engineers, my time is free. ;)

But seriously, you have a good point- time has value. I just think it’s akin to any other hobby; time spent doing it is kinda the point. If we were really worried about the price of our time, we’d all probably just buy a chainsaw and hydraulic splitter and not bother with the forum, right? :D

besides, what’s more satisfying than doing something yourself? :thumbsup:
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As I said I was playing Devil's advocate. The O.P. premise was saving money


Took 9 hours to hang an axe ? Of course you're an engineer you guys overthink everything :D LOL just kidding. I am a tradesmen I use tools daily so I am probably a little faster than most with tools


I have been known to spend a little time on an axe but I pick a nice vintage axe something that I can't just go buy I am on the lookout for a vintage michigan pattern single bit boys axe head to finish my Michigan pattern collection.

My last project a true temper Flint Edge boys axe on a 24 in handle

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plumberroy said:
Took 9 hours to hang an axe ? Of course you're an engineer you guys overthink everything :D LOL just kidding. I am a tradesmen I use tools daily so I am probably a little faster than most with tools
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Nice job on that boy's axe!

Haha, well engineers over-thinking things is definitely true, but in this particular instance I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and I'm also including the time it took to remove the previous haft. At this stage of the game (my fourth hanging) I'm still using tools which don't remove much wood; a sloyd knife and a spokeshave (on previous hangings, I only used a knife). I have rasps, but I'd want to practice with one before I have a go at a 10-15 dollar axe handle which I could quickly turn into something merely suitable for firewood. I was also shaving a handle intended for a 2 1/4 axe head down to hatchet size, so there was a lot of work to be done there. I also had to correct for a little bit of twist and lean in this particular specimen to ensure that the bit ran parallel to the haft.

Partly to blame is my goal, which is to remove as little wood as I have to for a super tight fit. I watch some of these guys do a test fit and then tap the handle out with a drift like it's nothing. When I do it I end up really having at it to get the handle free. It's probably unnecessary, but it seems to me that having more wood to wedge is the key to a successful and tight fit.

And then I always cut my own wedges out of rock maple or oak. I don't know why- I just like the quality of wedge I seem to make more than what comes with the handle, which is sometimes undersized to boot.

If I had a handle that was approximately the right size, an axe head that was already off the previous handle, the new handle came with a decent enough wedge, I didn't particularly feel compelled to get the bit set on just right, and I wasn't worried about how long the hang would last, I'd bet I could get an axe hung in 45-60 minutes.
 
I have an axe here that I have rehandled at least 4 times. That axe has been in my family for 80 years I have no idea how many tools I have put handles in. I use 40 grit belt on my 1x 30 belt sander to remove wood off a handle when fitting.
 
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