Anyone ever use a head as havy as 2 1/4 lbs on a 20" haft?

M

mobenzowner

Joined
Oct 17, 2010
Messages
462
I have a Wetterlings 20" haft I was thinking of putting a 1 1/2 lb OR 1 3/4 lb head on. I have since come across and purchased a pretty nice Hults 2 1/4 lb head. Anyone ever use a 2 1/4 lb head on a shaft as short as 20"? I also have a 1 1/2 lb no name head. My original plan was to mount the 1 1/2 lb no name axe head on the 20" handle for a "camp axe" type set up. Was going to put the Hults 2 1/4lb head on a 26" handle I have for a "boys axe".

I guess I just kind of hate to put the no name head on the Wetterlings haft, but it's probably the "practical" thing to do. Then I would go ahead and mount the Hults on the 26" haft. Any reason to NOT be practical on this one??lol

P.S. I can spell, I just cant type and "havy" in the title should be "heavy". My bad.
 
I personally like to stretch out hafts as long as reasonably possible to more efficiently leverage the head weight. In my opinion, heavy headed hatchets make good kindling splitters but are not as versatile.
 
agreed with Memphis. I prefer a lighter head on a long haft to a heavy head on a short haft. Head-heavy hatches and axes are very tiring to use.
 
Just find you an even better haft for the 2 1/4 lbs. Get one from Council Tools or Wetterlings, house handles, etc.. Council Tools mount their Boys Axe, 2 1/4 lbs head on a 28" haft. I think they end up cutting off a bit once hung, so it ends up being somewhat shorter.
 
I would defiantly go with a longer handle for the 2 1/4 head.

I checked my CT boys axe...
It's 26 3/4".
 
2 1/4 is about 1kg to thats very lite. I'd choose a haft as short as possible while maintaining the possibility of working two hands with it. When youre really tired and have to cut or chop something the weight is very small while working two hands.
 
Used to be pretty common - known as a house axe usually anywhere from 1 1/2 lbs to 3 lbs on a 19 inch handle.
 
Operator1975 said:
Used to be pretty common - known as a house axe usually anywhere from 1 1/2 lbs to 3 lbs on a 19 inch handle.
Click to expand...


This.

I have a 2 pound on a 19" handle sitting next to my fireplace right now. It gets used every night. For a hatchet it's a splitting demon.

This is either/or territory. A long handle with a light axe works well and they're fun to use - make for good choppers. Same weight axe on a short handle can be a good compact splitter. If the toe is good and fresh then make it a chopper. If the toe is worn then make it a splitter.
 
Is the Wetterlings handle even big enough to fit the eye of the 2.25lb head?

Usually house axes have a different handle style with a more substantial eye portion.
 
The House handle company lists there replacement handles for a house axe as haveing a 13/16 X 2 7/16 eye. They also state that it is for a 2 1/2# axe.
I thought this came up on another thread a while back. I think a Plumb house axe was referenced.
 
I don't know the eye dimensions but, the 20 inch wetterlings handle is designed for their 1.5 pound axe.
 
M3mphis said:
I don't know the eye dimensions but, the 20 inch wetterlings handle is designed for their 1.5 pound axe.
Click to expand...
I was just talking about the eye dimesions of the replacement handles from house. Those are full sized eyes. They are larger than hatchets, scout hatchets and boys axes. The eye dimensions must have varied with manufacturer. As did head weight for house axes.
 
Older house axe handles that had the larger heads on them, say 2 1/2 or even up to 3 lb heads(not very common but out there) those handles were generally home made jobs - as stated on here already the eye size just wasn't there to really do the job properly. If u buy house axe handles now it states on them(from do it best anyway) that they are for 2 1/2 lb heads.
 
M3mphis said:
Is the Wetterlings handle even big enough to fit the eye of the 2.25lb head?

Usually house axes have a different handle style with a more substantial eye portion.
Click to expand...

M3mphis - you are correct. I just matched them up last night and the Wetterlings haft is indeed too small for the Hults eye. Can anyone recommend me a nice 24' - 26' haft to fit the hults eye?
 
I have a Collins Legitimus 3.5 Lb Dayton on a 20" miners handle. I keep her near the the fire pit at camp. That's the way I got her. She does a great job and makes short work for splitting up firewood. Other than that she is rather heavy for any other use on that handle.

Double Ott
 
Double Ott said:
I have a Collins Legitimus 3.5 Lb Dayton on a 20" miners handle. I keep her near the the fire pit at camp. That's the way I got her. She does a great job and makes short work for splitting up firewood. Other than that she is rather heavy for any other use on that handle.

Double Ott
Click to expand...

Nice. I have a old Kelly Works dayton 3.5lb on a miner's handle. Honestly, I never even tried it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top