Recommendation? Hatchet Redesign

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watkins

Joined
Oct 23, 2019
Messages
3
Hi BladeForums!

My name is Watkins. I am an industrial design student looking for some advice and insight into wood chopping and hand tools, specifically kindling and hatchets. A lot of my classmates are going out into the professional world to get information about the tools they want to redesign. The only problem for me is that my school is located in a big city and I don't have the time nor means of transportation to leave. The city lacks expert hatchet users, if that, trees.

I have been researching techniques and ergonomics for the past few days, however watching YouTube videos and taking notes isn't enough to make a successful product.

If possible, I'd like for you to walk me through your wood/kindling chopping experience. At what points do you experience discomfort/satisfaction/irritation?

Cheers,
Watkins.
 
That could be difficult. You'll need to very narrowly define your context of use before we can provide a thorough breakdown of the techniques, processes, ergonomics, and design features/benefits. As a designer in this field, my suggestions are to think deeply about the context of use. What is/are the task(s)? Where and when is/are the task(s) being performed? How does that task or range of tasks work from a physics standpoint, and what features provide what benefits, and at what costs? What is the frequency, intensity, and duration of each task in the range of tasks the tool will be called on to perform? How will the tool be stored and transported to the work site? What is the expected skill level of the operator--are they a pro, or a novice? Are there ways to performing this range of tasks that takes a radically different approach from the usual method while still being pragmatic and effective? Above all else, strive to be different for the sake of being useful, not for the sake of being novel. And try not to cram too many features into a single tool to the point where it becomes cluttered and awkward. As the saying goes, "the main thing is to make sure the main thing stays the main thing." Focus on a specific user/market segment, and design for their needs.

In general, axe/hatchet theory peaked in the 1880's-1950's. Everything since then has mostly been a matter of applying those concepts to novel contexts rather than coming up with industry-shattering innovations. Innovations in wood processing itself would be more likely to see true innovations in methodology, but even that is pretty mature as a field.
 
watkins said:
Hi BladeForums!

My name is Watkins. I am an industrial design student looking for some advice and insight into wood chopping and hand tools, specifically kindling and hatchets. A lot of my classmates are going out into the professional world to get information about the tools they want to redesign. The only problem for me is that my school is located in a big city and I don't have the time nor means of transportation to leave. The city lacks expert hatchet users, if that, trees.

I have been researching techniques and ergonomics for the past few days, however watching YouTube videos and taking notes isn't enough to make a successful product.

If possible, I'd like for you to walk me through your wood/kindling chopping experience. At what points do you experience discomfort/satisfaction/irritation?

Cheers,
Watkins.
Click to expand...
The worst hatchet I have ever used was Coleman Camp Axe. I am usually happy with wooden handles.
2000016377_Hero


If you are located in big city I would find closest Axe Throwing venue. Those place usually replace target boards very often and beg to take them away for free. I would try to find part time or volunteer position as long they allow you shred in pieces(kindling) those throw away wooden boards. Nothing will give you more insights than actual use of hatchet. Before using an axe you still need pointers how to safely use such a tool.
 
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Most good experiences with a hatchet will involve two factors:
- good ratio of the head weight to the length of the handle, and
-Bit geometry that allows for the blade to penetrate well into seasoned wood.

Secondary considerations but not by much are that it is ergonomic to choke up on and use for detail work, and that it function OK for splitting smaller rounds.

Most of my "good" hatchets have a head weight between 1.25 and 1.5 lbs, a handle length of 14-16 inches, and a bit length of 3-3.5 inches. The shape of the handle at the bottom is also pretty important as is the angle of the edge to the handle - eg my Fiskars X7 is good hatchet and a lot of people really like it, but I cannot stand the shape of the handle and so never use it anymore. A traditional fawn's foot shape is, for me, a lot more comfortable.

To be fair, if only using it for kindling the first consideration should be how inexpensively you can make it. If using it more for chopping in a variety of environments, the ergos will become increasingly important.

For me, overall the thing needs to be heavy enough to do real chopping, balanced OK for choking up and doing smaller chores like making tent stakes and such. To that end the bottom edges of the bit should be rounded and the grip just under the head needs to be comfortable- the handle/hatchet should be thought of as having two gripping locations.

Interesting thought experiment - you've got a tough job improving on what's already out there. I recently rehung a 1944 Mann hatchet head on a Link replacement handle, cannot imagine anything better...
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
That could be difficult. You'll need to very narrowly define your context of use before we can provide a thorough breakdown of the techniques, processes, ergonomics, and design features/benefits. As a designer in this field, my suggestions are to think deeply about the context of use. What is/are the task(s)? Where and when is/are the task(s) being performed? How does that task or range of tasks work from a physics standpoint, and what features provide what benefits, and at what costs? What is the frequency, intensity, and duration of each task in the range of tasks the tool will be called on to perform? How will the tool be stored and transported to the work site? What is the expected skill level of the operator--are they a pro, or a novice? Are there ways to performing this range of tasks that takes a radically different approach from the usual method while still being pragmatic and effective? Above all else, strive to be different for the sake of being useful, not for the sake of being novel. And try not to cram too many features into a single tool to the point where it becomes cluttered and awkward. As the saying goes, "the main thing is to make sure the main thing stays the main thing." Focus on a specific user/market segment, and design for their needs.

In general, axe/hatchet theory peaked in the 1880's-1950's. Everything since then has mostly been a matter of applying those concepts to novel contexts rather than coming up with industry-shattering innovations. Innovations in wood processing itself would be more likely to see true innovations in methodology, but even that is pretty mature as a field.
Click to expand...

Apologies for the vagueness. I am in the very early stages of this project and I lack a full grasp of this field and the problem I am trying to fix. I am set on hatchets as opposed to axes due to their portability and use for casual camping. I used to camp a lot with my dad and the wood he bought at the campsites was too large to use as kindling. I want to design a camping hatchet for novice and experienced campers who need to quickly and efficiently chop a log. The kick is that the hand tools we are designing have to have at least one moving component.
 
watkins said:
Apologies for the vagueness. I am in the very early stages of this project and I lack a full grasp of this field and the problem I am trying to fix. I am set on hatchets as opposed to axes due to their portability and use for casual camping. I used to camp a lot with my dad and the wood he bought at the campsites was too large to use as kindling. I want to design a camping hatchet for novice and experienced campers who need to quickly and efficiently chop a log. The kick is that the hand tools we are designing have to have at least one moving component.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum, Watkins.

Camping hatchets are neither designed, nor capable of "quickly and efficiently chop a log". That's axe territory, if you insist on the chopping, and saw work, if your emphasis is on the quickness and efficiency of the processing.
Hatchets are efficient to process kindling and split small to medium-sized wood. They can split large trunks by creating and tapping in wedges, but that won't be very quick.

As FortyTwoBlades has pointed out above, you have to have at least some specific ideas and even better, some hands-on experience regarding the contexts of the tool's usage you want to "redesign".
You can ask people about their preferences, but that is something which may or may not be helpful, since your goal is not a marketing survey, but a study in design.
Most tool designs today are put on the market primarily based on (perceived) appeal and cost of materials, manufacture and storage.
True ergonomic features are frequently neglected, and visual gimmicks are frequently advertised as "ergonomic" features.
Maybe you can quiz members here regarding their preferences in ergonomics and the efficiency of the tool, and use that as a starting point for your design.
As FortyTwoBlades frankly pointed it out, camping, or even woodworking hatchets will be very difficult to redesign.

Good luck with your project!
 
Perhaps you could make something like this as it has a removable head which might qualify as a moving part. Or you could design a haft for this that has a threaded end so you could screw on an extension to make it a walking stick. Maybe make a fawns foot that could screw onto the end of the haft so it would cover up the threads.
rinaldi-american-boy-s-axe-8.gif
 
If a tool has movable parts it is prone to break.
However the requirement of movable parts in your project got me thinking.
There comes "Securis The WingNut" (axe/maul variable geometry transformer). Regular axe shape when felling or limbing. When maul is needed just keep turning the wheel/nut on top of the poll and spread side bars apart . The design could probably work with 3lbs axe head
 
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watkins said:
Apologies for the vagueness. I am in the very early stages of this project and I lack a full grasp of this field and the problem I am trying to fix. I am set on hatchets as opposed to axes due to their portability and use for casual camping. I used to camp a lot with my dad and the wood he bought at the campsites was too large to use as kindling. I want to design a camping hatchet for novice and experienced campers who need to quickly and efficiently chop a log. The kick is that the hand tools we are designing have to have at least one moving component.
Click to expand...

To get a little terminology out of the way, chopping is usually used to describe cutting the wood as opposed to splitting it. It will be easier to design moving parts into a handy kindling-splitting tool than it will be to incorporate such a thing into a hatchet. And honestly, that's a weird requirement for your professor to have. Generally minimizing moving parts, especially in hand tools, tends to be a goal of good design. For novice-friendly splitting tools, have a look at stuff like the Kindling Cracker, or maybe slide-hammer wedges. Müller of Austria makes this unusual (and expensive) fellow.

triffix-02d.jpg


But ultimately, a kindling tool should be compact, cost-effective, and hopefully simple. In its simplest form, a good wedge and a hammer are all that it takes. If designing for novices, consider taking as many steps as possible to keep sharp edges directed away from the user in such a way that they can't glance off or result in part of the body being in the path of the edge, or trip and land on it, etc. I'd also consider the needs of people who perhaps have physical disabilities or impairments, as it may enable them to safely generate kindling that would otherwise be dangerous or overly difficult for them with more typical equipment.
 
crbnSteeladdict said:
If a tool has movable parts it is prone to break.
However the requirement of movable parts in your project got me thinking.
There comes "Securis The WingNut" (axe/maul variable geometry transformer). Regular axe shape when felling or limbing. When maul is needed just turn the wheel/nut on top of the poll and spread side bars apart . The design could probably work with 3lbs axe head
lbs
Click to expand...
Like a jersey Chopper 1?
 
watkins said:
The kick is that the hand tools we are designing have to have at least one moving component.
Click to expand...

You could design an interesting and marketable hatchet or heavy, short bladed chopper, but by spec'ing a moving part in the design is a poison pill. Imagine a hammer with a moving part - "design must have one highly breakable element that won't effect overall utility".

The Marbles #6 "safety axe" is the first and only useful existing design that comes to mind. Any other moving parts are just gimmicky and prone to break.

I guess you could have a hollow handle with a small splitting wedge inside or a small file to sharpen it. As stupid as it sounds, a ruler marked on the handle would remind folks to use a proper width when starting a cut to chop a log in half. A flashlight, wire saw, fire starter, USB charger, in the handle also not a bad idea.

A removable blade cover that doubles as something useful would be a nice safe element, maybe a diamond sharpener built into the front curved edge would actually be helpful, with the rest of the cover doubling as somewhat ergonomic handle. You could even include some integral profile templates so people know how dull they're making their hatchet.
 
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