HiYole! That's a new word I learned today it's Southernese. I just got in from an overnight fishing campout and I heard that term spoken a few times while there.
SO I packed up and decided to take a trip to a localish park that has good fishing, kayaking, and camping. One of the toughest decisions was which axe do I take. I didn't want to go to big because I was just overnighting it and only needed something for kindling. So I picked up the Gransfors, the Council tool HB and threw them in the pack.
.
At check in the big guy taking my money says all out of wood. Son of a b*tch I exclaimed. So I left and set up camp, then decided to drive back into town to pick up some grocery store bundled firewood. Gotta have wood when camping right. Checked two stores and they were out too, so I started looking for side of the road bar ditch wood. Nothing then I saw the yard waste collection center and pulled in and scavenged a heap for the night. This is landscaper waste.
Mixed hardwoods oak,and I think some cedar or bottlebrush.
Here it is at camp. Thats my dog zoom.
The Council was sharpened before the task and I sharpened it paper cutting sharp. More on that later. I think this is a piece of cedar.
This looked like a butterfly so I snapped a shot. Plus I was about an hour in and was working on technique and really getting a feel for this ax. All chopping was done from a kneeling position which was actually comfortable and no strain on the back. During this point in chopping two red heads
woodpeckers that is stopped by to see what all the fuss was about. No picture of them but they were curious and I didn't see them the rest of the trip.
Here it is all chopped up, the pile on the left was easy to chop, the right was harder to chop.
After about two hours solid chopping the blade was still sharp enough to shave this bark a little. I actually used the waxed jute twine wrapped around the handle to start the fire.
When I got home I cut the same paper with the axe and although not as quick or cleanly cut as when fresh it still has a decent edge on it and cut thru the paper.
Overall I am happy with the ax and the head did not budge in the slightest kept a good edge and the handle was comfortable no blisters. The handle size is great for tripping like this.
I also learned the limits with this ax, they are what is shown in the photos for scale. You could chop bigger wood but only if you had to. This 2lb head packs a good wallop on the wood. I did use the GB a little but it was like a woodpecker compared to the heavier tool. I didn't need to split anything, but I already know this is an excellent splitter. I think I'm good on axes for awhile so I will use the ones I have for now. Next time I will take that 3lber along just in case.
EDIT: During the time I was chopping the blade not once got stuck into the wood. That was great not having to tug the blade out to rewind and swing. On my Swedish axes I know that would have happened. It kept a good rhythm and threw chips crazy good.:thumbup:
I am a lanyard fan and put a leather one on this axe. It worked great and was not in the way at all, at one point it was good for some more grip. I had an idea I am going to work on about that.
SO I packed up and decided to take a trip to a localish park that has good fishing, kayaking, and camping. One of the toughest decisions was which axe do I take. I didn't want to go to big because I was just overnighting it and only needed something for kindling. So I picked up the Gransfors, the Council tool HB and threw them in the pack.
.
At check in the big guy taking my money says all out of wood. Son of a b*tch I exclaimed. So I left and set up camp, then decided to drive back into town to pick up some grocery store bundled firewood. Gotta have wood when camping right. Checked two stores and they were out too, so I started looking for side of the road bar ditch wood. Nothing then I saw the yard waste collection center and pulled in and scavenged a heap for the night. This is landscaper waste.
Mixed hardwoods oak,and I think some cedar or bottlebrush.
Here it is at camp. Thats my dog zoom.
The Council was sharpened before the task and I sharpened it paper cutting sharp. More on that later. I think this is a piece of cedar.
This looked like a butterfly so I snapped a shot. Plus I was about an hour in and was working on technique and really getting a feel for this ax. All chopping was done from a kneeling position which was actually comfortable and no strain on the back. During this point in chopping two red heads
woodpeckers that is stopped by to see what all the fuss was about. No picture of them but they were curious and I didn't see them the rest of the trip.
Here it is all chopped up, the pile on the left was easy to chop, the right was harder to chop.
After about two hours solid chopping the blade was still sharp enough to shave this bark a little. I actually used the waxed jute twine wrapped around the handle to start the fire.
When I got home I cut the same paper with the axe and although not as quick or cleanly cut as when fresh it still has a decent edge on it and cut thru the paper.
Overall I am happy with the ax and the head did not budge in the slightest kept a good edge and the handle was comfortable no blisters. The handle size is great for tripping like this.
I also learned the limits with this ax, they are what is shown in the photos for scale. You could chop bigger wood but only if you had to. This 2lb head packs a good wallop on the wood. I did use the GB a little but it was like a woodpecker compared to the heavier tool. I didn't need to split anything, but I already know this is an excellent splitter. I think I'm good on axes for awhile so I will use the ones I have for now. Next time I will take that 3lber along just in case.
EDIT: During the time I was chopping the blade not once got stuck into the wood. That was great not having to tug the blade out to rewind and swing. On my Swedish axes I know that would have happened. It kept a good rhythm and threw chips crazy good.:thumbup:
I am a lanyard fan and put a leather one on this axe. It worked great and was not in the way at all, at one point it was good for some more grip. I had an idea I am going to work on about that.
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and very interesting torial:thumbup:
hope I can make it.