- Joined
- May 7, 2006
- Messages
- 3,338
My father in law had a 5 inch round tree trunk he needed removed from his yard. I took a FBMCG and a Bark River Mini Axe up there just to see how they would do.
I slightly modded the FBM by poishing the factory edge, which is pretty obtuse and course. I followed the original edge bevel but polished the edge to 2000 grit Sandpaper and then thoroughly stropped it on 2.5 micron Abrasive on leather.
Its pretty thoroughly proven that highly polished edges last longer during heavy chopping. The bark River was nicely polished from the factory but I took it to the same level just for consistency.
First up was some limbing. The FBM dominated the little Bark River in this task. The larger blade made it way easier to sweep small branches from the tree trunk. The little Bark river had such a small cutting surface it was difficult to strike as accurately.
Next I started cutting through the trunk of the tree. I just kept cutting off six inch chunks so I could get several runs at the trunk with each blade.
Let me tell you something that Little Bark River Mini Axe is a AMAZEING! It weighs almost nothing and is a JOY to chop with. The Blade Geometry is BRILLIANT and this thing chops so well that it is just SHOCKING how deep it bites and how it just flings chips of wood. Little or no binding .and it just chews through the tree. Each strike took out only about half the wood the FBM did but it is so easy to swing and so light you can really speed through some wood. Seriously this little thing will hang with many axes TWICE its size.
The FBM is an impressive chopper. It got through the tree trunk in about half the strikes the mini axe did but it is MUCH heavier and more tiring to use. So it was nearly a wash! I would give the slight edge to the FBM. No binding to speak of and very easy to make accurate strikes. The standard G10 handles were comfortable to use. Each strike produced nice satisfying chunks of wood flying off the tree. I REALLY THINK the fairly blunt edge of the FBM is killing its performance. I am going to thin this one behind the edge and retest. I dont know how I know but it feels like it could really come alive with a more acute and highly polished edge with a smoother transition to the primary bevel all the way up to the groves.
I got them back home and did an Edge inspection on each tool. Each tool took three trips through the 5-6 inch tree trunk and did some limbing for about 5 mins each.
The BRK&T Mini Axe was still VERY sharp and it was chopping as well at the end of the test as it did at the start. Once AGAIN Brilliant Edge geometry!! I could not SEE any rolling or chips at all. But the fingernail test indicated some edge degradation. Also when slicing paper the edge now catches and tears. Dragging your finger across the edge it still felt very sharp. I was able to completely restore the edge with 10 passes on 1500 grit paper then 10 more passes on 2000 grit followed by a quick strop. I am not sure what more somebody could ask of a small axe. Its a damn shame BRK&T does not make this any more.
The FBM was still quite sharp, but I was a bit freaked out that it seemed to have a little more edge blunting than the mini axe. The finger nail test felt a little rougher than the mini axe. However I did three passes on each side of the edge with Smooth Hand-American steel. The edge was TOTALLY restored. Seriously, it was EXACTLY like it was before I started using it. I did a quick Strop just to make sure everything stayed crisp and it was slicing free standing paper tubes and shaving belly hair! Very impressive after smacking Hard dirty wood for 30-45 mins. The blade finish Urban grey held up really well. Some smoothing at the edge but no new metal was exposed by my usage and it cleaned up nicely! You can tell the knife has been used but that is it. The finish remains completely intact.
Anyway it was a interesting afternoon. The FBM is going to be a better chopper in my hand one day. I need to get used to it, develop my skills with this knife and reprofile that edge some. I am pleased. I look forward to testing the LE.
I slightly modded the FBM by poishing the factory edge, which is pretty obtuse and course. I followed the original edge bevel but polished the edge to 2000 grit Sandpaper and then thoroughly stropped it on 2.5 micron Abrasive on leather.
Its pretty thoroughly proven that highly polished edges last longer during heavy chopping. The bark River was nicely polished from the factory but I took it to the same level just for consistency.
First up was some limbing. The FBM dominated the little Bark River in this task. The larger blade made it way easier to sweep small branches from the tree trunk. The little Bark river had such a small cutting surface it was difficult to strike as accurately.
Next I started cutting through the trunk of the tree. I just kept cutting off six inch chunks so I could get several runs at the trunk with each blade.
Let me tell you something that Little Bark River Mini Axe is a AMAZEING! It weighs almost nothing and is a JOY to chop with. The Blade Geometry is BRILLIANT and this thing chops so well that it is just SHOCKING how deep it bites and how it just flings chips of wood. Little or no binding .and it just chews through the tree. Each strike took out only about half the wood the FBM did but it is so easy to swing and so light you can really speed through some wood. Seriously this little thing will hang with many axes TWICE its size.
The FBM is an impressive chopper. It got through the tree trunk in about half the strikes the mini axe did but it is MUCH heavier and more tiring to use. So it was nearly a wash! I would give the slight edge to the FBM. No binding to speak of and very easy to make accurate strikes. The standard G10 handles were comfortable to use. Each strike produced nice satisfying chunks of wood flying off the tree. I REALLY THINK the fairly blunt edge of the FBM is killing its performance. I am going to thin this one behind the edge and retest. I dont know how I know but it feels like it could really come alive with a more acute and highly polished edge with a smoother transition to the primary bevel all the way up to the groves.
I got them back home and did an Edge inspection on each tool. Each tool took three trips through the 5-6 inch tree trunk and did some limbing for about 5 mins each.
The BRK&T Mini Axe was still VERY sharp and it was chopping as well at the end of the test as it did at the start. Once AGAIN Brilliant Edge geometry!! I could not SEE any rolling or chips at all. But the fingernail test indicated some edge degradation. Also when slicing paper the edge now catches and tears. Dragging your finger across the edge it still felt very sharp. I was able to completely restore the edge with 10 passes on 1500 grit paper then 10 more passes on 2000 grit followed by a quick strop. I am not sure what more somebody could ask of a small axe. Its a damn shame BRK&T does not make this any more.
The FBM was still quite sharp, but I was a bit freaked out that it seemed to have a little more edge blunting than the mini axe. The finger nail test felt a little rougher than the mini axe. However I did three passes on each side of the edge with Smooth Hand-American steel. The edge was TOTALLY restored. Seriously, it was EXACTLY like it was before I started using it. I did a quick Strop just to make sure everything stayed crisp and it was slicing free standing paper tubes and shaving belly hair! Very impressive after smacking Hard dirty wood for 30-45 mins. The blade finish Urban grey held up really well. Some smoothing at the edge but no new metal was exposed by my usage and it cleaned up nicely! You can tell the knife has been used but that is it. The finish remains completely intact.
Anyway it was a interesting afternoon. The FBM is going to be a better chopper in my hand one day. I need to get used to it, develop my skills with this knife and reprofile that edge some. I am pleased. I look forward to testing the LE.
