There is quite a bit of good advise here.

Thanks jb. His quote regarding newbies seeking expensive stuff because "gear is more the point than is using it" pretty much hits the nail right on the head.
 
Our youtube host also would like more viewers of his channel to fund buying a camera to film himself using and talking about axes. So, he also lives in a world of "likes" and "followers". His neighbors, for all we know, don't actually exist - and if they do, I sort of hope in a way they don't see his video. His shaving off of the GB handle may or may not have been necessary but he did film himself doing it to prove a point. And he did have one there to do that to.
What would be an equivalent in a different context? Maybe like keying the side of your new truck to prove... what, exactly?

So while I totally agree with him as well, I also can take a guy bragging all day long on their fancy new axe if it means they stay out of my honey holes lol. :)
 
I don't really like this guy, but he did make some valid points.

Now the main point that I didn't hear him mention is that these axes in question aren't even the best there are.
I guess he's coming at it from the perspective of those who buy them, but he should've flat out said " their not even the best you can buy and you're better off hanging a nice vintage ace head that's likely better, and will be way cheaper " and " if you're new to axes you'll probably break a handle and you need practice hanging an axe "

Don't know why, but his voice just annoys me.
I guess it's because he sounds like a Portland hipster or something.
 
Hickory n steel said:
I don't really like this guy, but he did make some valid points.

Now the main point that I didn't hear him mention is that these axes in question aren't even the best there are.
I guess he's coming at it from the perspective of those who buy them, but he should've flat out said " their not even the best you can buy and you're better off hanging a nice vintage ace head that's likely better, and will be way cheaper " and " if you're new to axes you'll probably break a handle and you need practice hanging an axe "

Don't know why, but his voice just annoys me.
I guess it's because he sounds like a Portland hipster or something.
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I'm not from Portland but I live on the outskirts of Portland. If that discounts my impression of things here then I'll take it. We do still have some trees around.

I just wish I had that much hair... :p
 
Agent_H said:
I'm not from Portland but I live on the outskirts of Portland. If that discounts my impression of things here then I'll take it. We do still have some trees around.

I just wish I had that much hair... :p
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The accent itself isn't really the annoying part, but the way he talks and his overall demeanor.
There's also the first video of his I saw where he pretty much called a hatchet garbage Because it came completely dull. he seems to know some stuff, I just find him annoying.
And that's really saying something when one of my favorite YouTube channels is Annoying orange:D
If there's anything wrong with loving bad puns and juvenile comedy then I guess I'm wrong.
 
Hickory n steel said:
The accent itself isn't really the annoying part, but the way he talks and his overall demeanor.
There's also the first video of his I saw where he pretty much called a hatchet garbage Because it came completely dull. he seems to know some stuff, I just find him annoying.
And that's really saying something when one of my favorite YouTube channels is Annoying orange:D
If there's anything wrong with loving bad puns and juvenile comedy then I guess I'm wrong.
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It's funny how different things strike different people. I kind of like him and I can't say exactly why.
 
Agent_H said:
His shaving off of the GB handle may or may not have been necessary but he did film himself doing it to prove a point. And he did have one there to do that to.
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He actually commented in the video that it was a clip of someone else doing it in another video. He just embedded it.
 
jblyttle said:
He actually commented in the video that it was a clip of someone else doing it in another video. He just embedded it.
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Missed that portion. Appreciate sharing the video.

*Also got it confused with the Husquavarna axe he reviews and uses in other videos.
 
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The fellow was incidentally flogging 'previously enjoyed' classic axes, and domestic cheapies. I don't have any problem with that. More people flush with over-abundant cash should take heed of his advice. They won't, of course, because a Caddie or BMW in their driveway is way more prestigious than practical neighbour's Chevy Cavalier that has gone trouble-free for 1/2 million miles.
 
I don't mind the speaking style or sound of his voice. My only gripe is he packs in five minutes worth of information and opinion into seventeen minutes of video. He shares that with flaw with 90% of youtubers including myself. Being concise and editing skills are difficult.
 
SkillCult has posted to this forum a couple times this year:

SkillCult said:
Buckin' Billy Ray is totally legit. He'll use a maul as needed, but prefers the double bit at which he excels. Very few videos on the internet show the kind of comfort level and competence he has with an axe in hand. When it comes to other axe work besides chopping I have no idea, but when it comes to splitting with a double bit the dude is top shelf and splits stuff I would definitely split with a maul. I doubt he could split whatever horrible wood you can think of with his double bit, but within the limits of that tool he kicks ass and my guess is that he'd run circles around most people when it comes to splitting difficult wood with a maul as well. That's because he grew up to it and also works in the industry. No substitute for time spent and cumulative experience.

golf swing splitting and splitting with an axe can be awesome or frustrating, or alternately both. I've been surprised how effective it can be when I get everything just right- aim, velocity and timing the twist right. That is often not the case, but that's why I keep doing it! It allows for high velocity since the swing is very long and body mechanics favor power when striking at foot level, which is a huge advantage. Putting wood up on a block annihilates that advantage. Like buckin' billy ray and pretty much everyone I see that is a really effective efficient splitter, I split the vast majority of stuff with the round on the ground both so I don't have to pick it up and handle it over and over and because of the increased swing space that allows for the generation of more power. Actually, it's not just the space, but body mechanics as well. Golf swing just goes one step further and leaves it lying there or tilting any which way. I also suspect that axe cut wood splits easier that saw cut wood by this method. I didn't believe it at first, but I keep thinking it's true when i'm doing it. It might be because there is less mass to divide apart initially at the wedge shaped end of an axe bucked log so the split begins with less energy absorbed and it's easier going from there. If the flick is timed right and adequately exaggerated, it can work really well. It is really fun and satisfying when it works as Tim can attest. Can it work on super tough wood? Likely not, but then you just move on and do whatever does work. I'll beat on a log for quite a long while before I give up, but that is the only way I'm going to get better at it.

The cordwood challenge isn't for everyone for sure and a lot of people simply don't have access to the wood regardless of whether they want to do it or not. It is a rewarding and edifying experience though.
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https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/consider-the-cordwood-challenge.1459184
 
Thank you Steve Tall for more than one reason. :thumbsup:

Maybe BladeForums isn't an island after all?
 
Agent_H said:
Maybe BladeForums isn't an island after all?
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A lot more people read here than post here. Anyone wishing to learn about axes will be directed here by their search engine. You all are spreading the word about using and restoring axes.

I frequently see topics analyzed here later discussed on other axe venues (bushcraft, survival, facebbook) with the ideas expressed here being repeated. The 'cutting edge' ( :D ) stuff is here.
 
Square_peg said:
A lot more people read here than post here. Anyone wishing to learn about axes will be directed here by their search engine. You all are spreading the word about using and restoring axes.

I frequently see topics analyzed here later discussed on other axe venues (bushcraft, survival, facebbook) with the ideas expressed here being repeated. The 'cutting edge' ( :D ) stuff is here.
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Yep. That also means that other axe enthusiasts will potentially see their own materials linked and discussed here. ;)
 
Agent_H said:
Yep. That also means that other axe enthusiasts will potentially see their own materials linked and discussed here. ;)
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On that note, and speaking of SkillCult, he did a written review for the Husqvarna hatchet. A couple highlights:

“Examining, feeling and handling this tool has resulted in a lot of expletives, brow furrowing and head shaking...”

3Ahandle%2Bwidth.jpeg

"Showing relative widths of some handles. Note how bulky the handle of the Husqvarna is near the eye. All of the others are easily grasped near the eye. The potential for shaving it down is limited by the axe sized eye..."

from http://axeconnected.blogspot.com/2016/06/husqvarna-hatchet-review.html
 
He has some good content. Lots of guys out there doing axe reviews that look like it's the first time they have ever swung an axe. His reviews are based on useing the tool whether you agree with what he says or not it's based on his experience and preferences.
 
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