I inherited an old axe head from my Grandfather. It has been a great tool through the years, but it is probably closing in on 100 years old. I took a nice big hunk out of it this Winter which is something I'd like to avoid in the future. In other words, I'd like to retire it. My finances are not healthy enough to go after the top of the line axes being sold today, but what other brand names should I look for to retain some decent performance. This axe will mainly be used as a splitter, but will also do some felling, and limbing. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
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Axe Questions
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Cliff Stamp
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Gransfors Bruks, then Wetterling, Iltis makes a decent hardwood felling axe, but it isn't suitable for splitting at all. The other two are more multi-purpose.
If you have some time check out Ebay, you will most likely have to rehaft the head. Make sure you get the profile so ask for a top down shot of the heads.
-Cliff
If you have some time check out Ebay, you will most likely have to rehaft the head. Make sure you get the profile so ask for a top down shot of the heads.
-Cliff
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- Jun 25, 2001
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- 128
My Gransfors broadaxe is beautiful, but certainly not a splitter or a feller. I'll tell you I've been using a cheap splitting maul with the fiberglass handle, and its awesome for the price. That fiberglass is really tough compared to most of tghe handles on cheap hardware store axes. I'd split with that and maybe put some dollars into the Iltis forest axe or even a few more dollars into the Gransfors felling axe.
Cliff Stamp
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They do make several highly optomized models, the American Felling axe however has a compromise profile. It isn't a dedicated falling or splitting axe, but something inbetween, slanted more towards felling.
I would agree though that you can get a pretty decent splitting axe at any hardwood store. Just get a maul wedge with a decent handle. I can't recall ever sticking one of them, but the wood I split is only at most 24" thick.
In most cases though on reall big wood you just use wedges.
-Cliff
I would agree though that you can get a pretty decent splitting axe at any hardwood store. Just get a maul wedge with a decent handle. I can't recall ever sticking one of them, but the wood I split is only at most 24" thick.
In most cases though on reall big wood you just use wedges.
-Cliff
Thanks guys, I've got a little homework to do now. The Home Depot maul I've got doesn't split as well as that big old axe head. It's going to be kind of bittersweet to park the head on a shelf, but ...
Cliff,
I'm hauling all my wood myself down a hill through ice, mud, snow, and whatever. The 24" inch type stuff can stay up there
Cliff,
I'm hauling all my wood myself down a hill through ice, mud, snow, and whatever. The 24" inch type stuff can stay up there
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- Aug 6, 2003
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Truck
I use a Craftsman splitting maul from Sears for splitting, and it works great. I did reprofile the edge slightly and polished it on a belt sander, and it splits like a dream. I can easily outsplit my dad and his hydraulic splitter, 'till I run short of breath
! I don't have any experience with falling axes, but I have a Small Forest Axe from Gransfors Bruks that is top of the line in design and quality. I'm sure their American Felling Axe is as well, though it is a bit pricey.
I saw a program on the History Channel about logging. It had some really old film of logging operations in the northwest, pre-chainsaw days. Interestingly (to me, anyway), all of the axe men were using small double bit affairs to notch the trees for the sawyers, as well as for limbing the logs.
Todd
I use a Craftsman splitting maul from Sears for splitting, and it works great. I did reprofile the edge slightly and polished it on a belt sander, and it splits like a dream. I can easily outsplit my dad and his hydraulic splitter, 'till I run short of breath
! I don't have any experience with falling axes, but I have a Small Forest Axe from Gransfors Bruks that is top of the line in design and quality. I'm sure their American Felling Axe is as well, though it is a bit pricey.I saw a program on the History Channel about logging. It had some really old film of logging operations in the northwest, pre-chainsaw days. Interestingly (to me, anyway), all of the axe men were using small double bit affairs to notch the trees for the sawyers, as well as for limbing the logs.
Todd