Single axe to keep at parents cabin?

O

ocnLogan

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Jul 31, 2011
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I've been lurking in the axe subforum for a while now, and finally worked up a coherent enough question to create a thread for it.

My parents have a cabin in Norther Arizona. My father is a skilled interior/finish woodworker, but he's got next to no experience with axes. I've been thinking for a few years of getting them an axe to keep around the cabin, for "self reliance" reasons, and for tasks that he doesn't feel the need to break out the chainsaw for.

Most of the wood is Ponderosa Pine, with some Douglas fir and juniper. My parents don't heat the cabin full time with wood. As they are also not full time residents there, they frequently arrive and the cabin is quite cold after being uninhabited for a month or so. The electric furnace warms the place up, and then the wood stove is used to keep the place comfortable. We have used the wood stove alone to keep the cabin comfortable during longer term power outages (over 24hrs), in temperatures in the teens to twenties. The axe would be around for things like that situation.

The split wood they have now will keep them for some time, and was provided in exchange for labor my father did for another resident near my parents cabin. Currently my parents don't have any way of splitting wood.

The realistic uses for this axe would be potentially helping with any downed trees, and splitting some wood. Realistically speaking though, the chainsaw will be used to buck the trees, and likely do most of the limbing as well (as he's far more comfortable with the chainsaw). However, I could see him preferring the far lighter axe over the chainsaw if he got used to it. Otherwise, I see this axe being used in "case of emergency" or "because I feel like it" to split wood for the wood stove.

We have a lot of large rounds from a big ponderosa that came down a few years ago (~3ft diameter, ~14in thick), but a lot of smaller stuff as well. I understand that a hydraulic splitter would be best for those, or bar that... a Maul. My father is in excellent shape (still does 65 pushups a day) and I'm confident that he could use a maul right now. I'm just not sure it would be the best solution, as I feel if he was "really" going to split most of those rounds, he'd go out for the day and rent a gas powered one. Hence I'm looking for something more "all around.

Basically, my question is simple. If you were to keep a single axe around a cabin, to keep in the shed/etc, what would you choose? Boys axe? "full size" axe? Splitting axe? As someone new to axes myself, I just don't know exactly what any given size axe can "handle" in terms of splitting or chopping, which is why I'm asking all of you.

In terms of brands/models, I've mostly been interested in Council tool, and possibly Husqvarna (both seem like pretty good value). But am open to suggestions. Where I live right now, there aren't many yard sales or flea markets though, so I'm not counting on finding an old head :/.

Thanks for the help :).
 
Hard to go wrong with a full size (3.5 - 4 lb.) Council. Good for splitting plus other work. A boys axe is handier for limbing. A 'house axe' (~2 pounds, 19" handle) is nice beside the fireplace.
 
If you keep tabs on the it followed me home thread you might find something you want in one of the lots of stuff that fellow member jbliyttle picks up ( his prices are fair too )
But if you're not up to going the vintage route I'd go for a council tool 3.5lb Dayton axe, I'll bet he'd appreciate the axe being made by a proud American company like CT . Just keep in mind that you'll need to sharpen it as they make tools for the trade and not a boutique tool for sportsman.
 
If you have a sledge hammer you could get a wedge or two for the big rounds and get a boys axe for the limbs
 
If these people have cheerfully gone that long without use of any sort of axe then there is no sudden need to lay in a fancy (read 'costly') one. Search out a garage sale jobbie or buy a cheapie Chinese/Indian/Mexican-made axe and take it from there. If the primary purpose is to split firewood get the fattest heaviest one (3 1/2 lb and up) you can and if limbing and mild chopping is the goal then seek out a boy's-type (in around 2 1/4 lb) version.
If in fact "presentation" is part and parcel of the gifting process then maybe consider ordering up a brand-spanking new Council Tools Hudson Bay pattern. They're 'dog-gone purdy' and they're also handy.
 
300 Is pointing you in the right direction, my personal preference would be the CT Hudson Bay a good all around tool.
 
Thanks for all of the help so far everyone :).

First off. This is a surprise gift, but not necessarily a blind one. My parents have had the cabin for a few years now, and a few times that I've been up there, they mentioned that they really should keep "an axe or something" around, in case the chainsaw isn't around/functioning. Occasionally they take tools between their home in Phoenix, and the cabin and sometimes things get left behind on accident. Case in point, a few years ago we went up, my father forgot that they'd left the chainsaw in "the valley", and when we arrived, we had a few 4-8in diameter trees partially blocking the road past my parents cabin. I had a larger knife, and a folding saw that I'd taken up, which took care of it. But that was when the "maybe we should own an axe" comment was first made.

Second, I'm totally fine with sharpening up an axe (I'm not experienced with axes, but I do well with Knives, and believe with some reading and watching of videos I could figure it out), and am aware of the fact that Council tool axes will take some work. That doesn't feel like a problem to me. In fact, if I could find a used/"vintage" one, I'd totally be ok with that. I just live in a very urban area, and I don't know if I could rely on finding finding something like that at a yard sale/etc. I figured a Council would be the "next best" thing.

Third, presentation is going to be part of it, as it is a gift, even though I know it will not be used frequently. I'd take the time to clean it up, oil the handle, maybe build a sheath/mask for it, etc. If they decide to keep it as a "wall hanger", then so be it. But I am operating under the assumption that they'd keep it in the shed by the spud bar and other tools.

I'm mostly looking at full sized axes now, but am still considering a boys axe. There are just so many patterns, that ultimately seem pretty similar. I understand the shape of the hudson bay, what about that pattern makes it work great as an all arounder? Or is it that Pattern choices aren't as impactful as the general size of the tool, and the hudson bay just looks so purdy :).

Thanks again for the help.
 
ocnLogan said:
. . . But I am operating under the assumption that they'd keep it in the shed by the spud bar and other tools.

I'm mostly looking at full sized axes now, but am still considering a boys axe. There are just so many patterns, that ultimately seem pretty similar. I understand the shape of the hudson bay, what about that pattern makes it work great as an all arounder? Or is it that Pattern choices aren't as impactful as the general size of the tool, and the hudson bay just looks so purdy :).
. . .
Click to expand...

My two cents is to get a full size axe. It seems you want to get an outdoor tool that will chop and split. It will be stored in a shed, so size/weight is not an issue. A full sized axe may not be the ultimate for some jobs but it will get them done. The smaller axes have a lower limit so using them on the bigger jobs will be harder. If you only have one axe, why get hamstrung with a small one? Also, many folks have posted previously about the longer handled axes being safer. A plus for an occasional user. As to head pattern, I think everyone has their own favorite. If you look at my location, maybe you can guess what mine is. :)

Bob

BTW I have a granddaughter who is a lumberjack currently living in Flagstaff.

29836557312_0ba2e33a13_m.jpg


:D
 
You won't be out of pocket by a lot of coin if you decide to order a Council tool. It won't arrive smoothly finished and 'shaving sharp' either which will give you a wonderful opportunity to 'tune it up' to your liking for presentation to your parents. A 'boys axe' version will have superior metal/wood surface area purchase for the handle, than would an HB pattern, but it'll be pedestrian-looking in comparison.
Your call!
And have some fun with all this while you're at it.
 
You'll split nothing but kindling with a Hudson Bay. Get at least a boys axe. But I think you'd prefer full size.
 
rjdankert said:
My two cents is to get a full size axe. It seems you want to get an outdoor tool that will chop and split. It will be stored in a shed, so size/weight is not an issue. A full sized axe may not be the ultimate for some jobs but it will get them done. The smaller axes have a lower limit so using them on the bigger jobs will be harder. If you only have one axe, why get hamstrung with a small one? Also, many folks have posted previously about the longer handled axes being safer. A plus for an occasional user. As to head pattern, I think everyone has their own favorite. If you look at my location, maybe you can guess what mine is. :)

Bob

BTW I have a granddaughter who is a lumberjack currently living in Flagstaff.

29836557312_0ba2e33a13_m.jpg


:D
Click to expand...

Yeah, it does seem that a full size axe is likely the best bet. The handle length also is appealing, because as you say, the longer handles are safer. And as far as patterns, I've lived in/near many of the common patterns namesakes, so I'm not sure if I should have a bias either way :).

But really though, is there any functional difference between a Dayton or Jersey? Its easy to find references to what the patterns are online, I just don't know which pattern is for "what", so to speak.

300Six said:
You won't be out of pocket by a lot of coin if you decide to order a Council tool. It won't arrive smoothly finished and 'shaving sharp' either which will give you a wonderful opportunity to 'tune it up' to your liking for presentation to your parents. A 'boys axe' version will have superior metal/wood surface area purchase for the handle, than would an HB pattern, but it'll be pedestrian-looking in comparison.
Your call!
And have some fun with all this while you're at it.
Click to expand...

That is kind of what I'm wanting. Something that isn't a huge financial investment, but that has some personal touch, and that can be a fun project where I can learn a few more skills. My parents will appreciate it more as a "hand crafted" item, rather than straight out of the packaging.

The one downside to the HB pattern I've heard a few times before is that because the head has less surface area on the haft, is that the head comes loose easier. Is that a real problem? Also, I see that the Council tool HB is just under 2lbs? Is that a bit light?

And thanks again for the help everyone.
 
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boys axe. the local farm supply or hardware store might have a selection of hatchets or axes.
personally i would look around a flea market/antique store/junk dealer for a used vintage axe. might find a good axe head you could hang a handle on.
of course it's your call.
boys axe=smaller learning curve
 
I only cruised the responses but I agree with several that a 3.5lb axe does it all. As axes go, it would be my "one tool option" any day. Pattern doesn't matter much, beyond what your eye is drawn to. You can certainly make a project out of a Council Tool axe and you won't spend a fortune. That would be my first suggestion for sure. Strip the paint, tidy up the grinds and the handle, then sharpen. Should be perfect. The HB pattern is for sure too light for a single tool but an excellent supplementary option. I heat with wood and split almost everything with something in the 3.5lb range, make kindling, tinder, the works. Heating a house without an axe would be .... frustrating, to say the least.

The HB head to handle contact is an issue if you use it like a full-size axe. Properly hung, I don't see an issue, but on paper the concept is true enough. It's a light duty axe.
 
Yep! I would agree, and say that it sounds like this will mostly be used to split wood. Therefore I say go a little heavier, and pick up a 4-lb Council Tool Dayton. Give it a good, strong edge (stronger for splitting), sand the handle with some 80-grit and add a few coats of BLO and add a sheath. That will provide an excellent all around too. I know because I did the same exact thing...except mine was a refurb and not a new axe.
 
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