The balance of an axe

B

brettdean

Joined
Jan 5, 2013
Messages
72
Hello,

Can anyone tell me about balance? Is this just a preference or should there be a particular spot were the axe should balance?
 
some people set it on the corner of a table, near the head. if it tips downward, they consider it to be poor. personally, I just use them, I don't worry about it
 
Balance is very important if an axe is to be used correctly. Just like any other tool or sporting equipment. Although we do get used to using our own. An axe that may feel good to me, might seem awkward to you. I have axes that feel really nice in my hands and others that feel terrible.

Many factors to making an axe work well. Mostly those factors need to fit the individual

regards...Frank
 
Frank-New Zealand said:
Balance is very important if an axe is to be used correctly. Just like any other tool or sporting equipment. Although we do get used to using our own. An axe that may feel good to me, might seem awkward to you. I have axes that feel really nice in my hands and others that feel terrible.

Many factors to making an axe work well. Mostly those factors need to fit the individual

regards...Frank
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I agree very much with this. I compare it to riding someone else's bike, the pedals feel all weird and wobbly - at least for me! :D

But there are probably "guidelines" to what a good balance might be, but that'll also differ between axes depending on their purpose.
 
Balance from poll to bit is important. It's why double bits are often more accurate than single bits. A double bit is naturally well balanced. Large heavy polls that actually balance the bit are hard to find. G-Pig has done a nice job on some of his hand made handles by adding a drop in the handle just below the head. If the balance point of the head is in line with a projection of the center of the handle then the axe will have good balance.

I get a chuckle when I see people finding the balance point of a tool and saying "it has good balance" with absolutely no idea of where the balance point of that object should be. Everything has a balance point. That doesn't automatically give it good balance.

As for the balance point along the length of the haft, the closer it is to the head the better, IMO. Energy is wasted when it goes into accelerating mass in the handle that won't impact the work. You naturally want the weight in the head not the handle.
 
Thanks for the shout out pegsie. I feel special!

Some of those old Maine axes are mean ol' chunks of steel. The snow & nealleys (older ones) with a little wear practically have more poll mass than bit. I love em. the later ones the bits got longer and polls shorter. I'll offset those a little bit. The older ones often go on straight handles since it puts the line of grip to bit distance sort of similar. Some really long bitted axes I dont even bother to try to correct with a handle. Sometimes they have their uses-- as big sharp splitting levers ala tom clark. The long bit and poll mass might well create more torque. Not that I know anything about that physics stuff.
 
G-pig said:
Thanks for the shout out pegsie. I feel special!
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Don't go all touchy feely on me now, G. :p


G-pig said:
Not that I know anything about that physics stuff.
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I call BS. You may not have schooling in physics but any man who does the work you do with tools has a great instinctive knowledge of physics. It wouldn't be possible to do your work without it. A good axe man's subconscious has a doctorate in physics - in the part of the subject which can't be taught.
 
Square_peg said:
I call BS. You may not have schooling in physics but any man who does the work you do with tools has a great instinctive knowledge of physics. It wouldn't be possible to do your work without it. A good axe man's subconscious has a doctorate in physics - in the part of the subject which can't be taught.
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I don't like Newton much. Never met the guy, but his fans piss me off all the time :grumpy:

There is the order of things and then there is all the other crap that a bunch of wigged men came up with the past hundreds of years ago that is the best present explanation. If you need an explanation at all. I like to tell people I am a member of the flat earth society, since it makes a normally boring time much fun.
 
I get a kick out of people when they lay a tool side ways and if the bit don't point down they consider that good balance. Thats ridiculous.
To me it has good balance if the bit stays in line to my swing. As others have said DBL bits are a natural but the shape of the handle plays a role. So the pole axes catch up and a lot of times have better ballance for me than the DBL bits.
This is a very subjective thing.
 
I think the OP is referring to balance lengthwise, like when people talk about balance points on machetes and such. I may be wrong though.
 
Take an Estwing for an example. Just try to find the opposite! :D Sorry, can't help myself....
 
G-pig said:
Thanks for the shout out pegsie. I feel special!

Some of those old Maine axes are mean ol' chunks of steel. The snow & nealleys (older ones) with a little wear practically have more poll mass than bit. I love em. the later ones the bits got longer and polls shorter. I'll offset those a little bit. The older ones often go on straight handles since it puts the line of grip to bit distance sort of similar. Some really long bitted axes I dont even bother to try to correct with a handle. Sometimes they have their uses-- as big sharp splitting levers ala tom clark. The long bit and poll mass might well create more torque. Not that I know anything about that physics stuff.
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OK, G-Pig, I assume you are talking about moving the grip forward or back to match the ballance?
 
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