Large Round-Eye IMACASA Axe

[FortyTwoBlades]

Got my hands on this 4-1/2lb "ojo redondo" (round eye) fellow and rasped down a hickory pick handle to fit. What a beast! Almost comical looking at the volume of wood in the eye compared to in the rest of the handle once thinned out. Had to take a LOT of wood off to get it there.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Looks pretty cool.
Is it a good worker, too?

 

[catspa]

Nice work, man.

Parker

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Looks pretty cool.
Is it a good worker, too?

They're a simple design with certain drawbacks to them, but they're very well-suited to their intended context of use. Basically these excel at being hafted by finding any ol' sapling of appropriate size and jamming it in the eye as a suitable handle. The squat teardrop shape of the eye gives enough of a pinch to the wood that it prevents rolling in the hands. It's bit-heavy, but it basically has to be poll-less to get the proportional bit depth/width ratio it has (the depth being necessary to keep the thick eye from interfering with the cut) and having broad flats on the handle help minimize wobble in horizontal use. So they're a very good "low-tech" axe style in many respects.

 

[Wild Willie]

So after seeing this when first posted I haven't stopped thinking I needed one. Finally pulled the trigger and it showed up yesterday. In my infinite wisdom I decided I'd put the edge on myself, so after a couple of hours vigorous file and angle grinder work it was time for a handle. Found a suitable ash sapling and went to work. Used my imacasa machete to rough everything in as I decided was fitting. Should be fun to use, I busted up some odds and ends firewood pieces for kindling. As a notorious handle breaker, being able to make a quick and dirty handle is something I appreciate.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Heck yeah! I really like the blue paint they use on the heads 'cause the inside of the eye leaves a nice mark on the wood that makes fitting super easy.

 

[Wild Willie]

I found that to be helpful. There was more that I sanded off, but it did indeed make it pretty obvious where material could use a bit of a shave.

 

[Square_peg]

So after seeing this when first posted I haven't stopped thinking I needed one. Finally pulled the trigger and it showed up yesterday. In my infinite wisdom I decided I'd put the edge on myself, so after a couple of hours vigorous file and angle grinder work it was time for a handle.

I received mine Imacasa axe today. I elected to let 42Blades put an edge on it for me. That extra was a bargain for $7.

This is a big sumgun! 8-3/4" x 6-1/8" and 4-5/8 lbs. I liked the idea of having another slip-fit axe in my collection. I plan to do like 42 did and slim a pick handle to fit it. I'm interested to see how it performs but it will likely have to wait until after the holidays.

 

[Wild Willie]

Awesome! I've found mine enjoyable to have around. It's one of those rugged tools I don't worry about banging around.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I plan on getting my hands on one of House's old-style grub hoe handles soon to see if it makes a good curved option, as well. The eye on that style of grub hoe was like a "single bit" equivalent of a pick eye much like these are so I reckon it may work; I just haven't had the chance to test the hypothesis yet.

 

[Square_peg]

I plan on getting my hands on one of House's old-style grub hoe handles soon to see if it makes a good curved option, as well.

Let us know how that goes if you do it. At 2" x 3" it should fit the bill. It may not have much meat for a swell. Pick handles tend to be fat at the handle end.

 

[Wild Willie]

Bought 2 more for my old man and brother as Christmas gifts. I opted out of the sharpening on these so the jokers will understand why I get upset when the want to use my axe to grub roots while stump grinding or knock dirt out of pins before we buck them up...

 

[catspa]

“The axe he gave me is too dull to get through this root. Hand me his, willya?”

Parker