felling axe

Hello Stockmanlover ,

What is reasonable price for you? For me Cdn$ 200 is reasonable for a quality tool like the Gransfors 35" American felling axe.

Jozsef
 
If you are actually taking down trees with the axe, I'd look at either the Gransfors or Snow and Nealley double bits. They'll swing alot truer than a single bit and you can run two different bevels on them.
If you're looking for a pounder to compliment your chainsaw or crosscut kit, look into something with a 4-5# head for driving wedges in the bigger stuff. The felling axes from Wetterlings and GB run a little light in the head for that. They make good backcountry tools, but if you're close to the truck, go for something with a little more heft.
 
stockmanlover said:
i will be downing trees i will look into Snow and Nealley im thinking about an axe with a 5 pound head
thanks
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http://www.helko.de/products.php?PID=4&PHPSESSID=33af06f23ee824cce3845e018edb059c

If you look for a cheap but still useable felling axe, try to handpick a Helko Hunter brand 4 1/2 lb felling axe with American hickory handle at your local Harbor Freight Tools store.

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa...o?itemid=46845&CategoryName=&SubCategoryName=

These are made in Germany and are of better quality and 1 lb heavier than any of the generic Mexican or Chinese hardware store axes.
Harbor Freight started to replace those with made in India ones, but the Helko should be still available in many stores. Look for the Helko sticker on the handle and the red painted handle end.
They are very variable as balance, grind and handle grain goes, so hand selecting is essential, but the nice ones are worth every penny of the $25 they are priced in my neck of the woods.

Good luck!
littleknife
 
If you've got any antique shops around, it's not a bad idea to take a look for old axes in working shape. This way you can often get much higher quality than the modern hardware store brands for much cheaper. If you're not really familiar with what to look for in an axe, maybe do some research first so you don't end up with one that's worn out with too thick of a bit/edge.
 
there has a been a lot of Helco talk lately, but no one has put one through the paces. I think someone needs to chop some wood and hit some concrete with one and see if it is just a shiny turd or actually worth while.

The Gentleman who recommended the antique store gave the best advise. I don't know if any forum member would want to sell you one with a new handle in it, but several guys here compulsively buy axes and heads.
 
Snow & Neallys are now made in china. From all reports they are of much lower quality than before and of much softer steel.

Council Tool amke a number of excellent quality American Made axes. They are the supplier to the Forest Service etc.

They make several in the Dayton type head and several in the Jersey Pattern as well.

Iltis/Oxhead are supposed to be good quality but they have to be extensively reprofiled before they cut well.

check out counciltool.com. If you have any questions or concerns they respond to emails in a timely manner.


Their new Velvicut premium line is designed to compete head to head with Gransfors Bruks. From the one review I've read their 4# Velvicut Dayton was equal to the Gransfors Bruks American Felling axe in both finish and performance. However it is also nearly equal in price.

Councils Standard line will perform just as well with a little work with a file and puck.

Happy Axe hunting.
 
Iltis Oxhead. It is a true fallers axe. Not much else on the market has the correct bit. You might also consider the working grade competition axe from Bailey's.
 
wildmike said:
Their new Velvicut premium line is designed to compete head to head with Gransfors Bruks. From the one review I've read their 4# Velvicut Dayton was equal to the Gransfors Bruks American Felling axe in both finish and performance. However it is also nearly equal in price.
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I'm quite skeptical about this.
I'm mean there's a lot to be said about GB pricing and design, that Velvicut really looks like a lame marketing stunt.
The GB is largely done by hand, using power hammers and dies.
The Velvicut is, from what I can gather, mostly machine done with some hand polishing (on a wheel in the end).

I don't know if "hand making" is better performance wise, but I know drop forging should be cheaper.

You know what I actually don't mind about drop forging. I get GBs mostly because they have designs not available from others and, until recently, I didn't have the power tools to put in a reasonable amount of time a decent edge on the blunt things most makers sell as axes. But give me a drop forged axe with the same performance level I'm sold... Well unless it is th same price as the hand made one, in which case I hardly see why I should change maker.
 
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