Why a tomahawk?

[Thomas Linton]

"No trouble" is apparently a relative expression. Maybe we ought to build splitting wedges like that. 0___0

 

[Shotgun]

"No trouble" is apparently a relative expression. Maybe we ought to build splitting wedges like that. 0___0

This is getting to be like a baton or not baton debate. Axe guys hate hawks because they use them like axes. Using a hawk like a hawk is a different mind set and one I'm still learning.

 

[Pipeman]

"No trouble" being relative must be weighed off against carrying a 3 pound wedge and a 5 pound sledge while camping or hiking rather than a 1 pound hawk that CAN do the job.

Best regards

Robin

 

[Shotgun]

"No trouble" being relative must be weighed off against carrying a 3 pound wedge and a 5 pound sledge while camping or hiking rather than a 1 pound hawk that CAN do the job.

Best regards

Robin

Yeah, with camping and especially with backpacking, the tool you carry is always going to be a compromise between efficiency and weight. Chances are you're not going to carry the perfect tool for every job you need to do. Unless you lead pack trains.

 

[Tyronethepro]

I like them because they're generally lighter then a hatchet. 90% of the time the hatchet/hawk is being carried and not used so having a lighter woodworking tool makes more sense to me. For the wood work I do it performs fine. Mostly splitting kindling and limbing. It is nice to know you have a good weapon with you at times as well.

This is the same for me.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Not sure what "hate" has to do with it. I own and use both hawks and axes. Three of my axes, one custom, weigh in at 1 lb. None would be as good a weapon as a hawk, but I carry a different weapon. The hawks don't get used like the axes because they are not shaped like an axe. Didn't say they would not work. Said the opposite.

Never tried backpacking wedges and sledges. Sounds a tad troublesome.

The reaction to simple facts about the relative shapes of the two tools is typical BF stuff. People just WILL be offended.

 

[dogstar]

Using a hawk like a hawk is a different mind set and one I'm still learning.

Hit the nail on the head. If you know of any resources post them here. I learn from trial and error, but I don't get too many opportunities to use the hawk living in the city.

 

[Pipeman]

Not sure what "hate" has to do with it. I own and use both hawks and axes. Three of my axes, one custom, weigh in at 1 lb. None would be as good a weapon as a hawk, but I carry a different weapon. The hawks don't get used like the axes because they are not shaped like an axe. Didn't say they would not work. Said the opposite.

Never tried backpacking wedges and sledges. Sounds a tad troublesome.

The reaction to simple facts about the relative shapes of the two tools is typical BF stuff. People just WILL be offended.

I can only speak for myself Thomas, I was not offended. Always happy to have differing opinions, that's how we all learn.

Best regards

Robin

 

[church&son]

The Ugly Truth

An axe is a tool.
A tomahawk is a weapon.
I know this is true because I can add in green.
I am the most interesting tomahawk maker in the world......

 

[dogstar]

Is a knife a tool or a weapon?

 

[Cpl Punishment]

"No trouble" is apparently a relative expression. Maybe we ought to build splitting wedges like that. 0___0

No, actually, you're not far off from WHY a tomahawk works as a splitter, though. See, this is where the thing I keep harping about long hafts and bit speed come into play. Hit the end of the round fast enough and hard enough (long haft enhances bit speed with the same amount of effort being put in), and the bit slides in, the wood hits the eye swell -- like a wedge -- and pops apart. It actually works better on hard woods.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

The Ugly Truth

An axe is a tool.
A tomahawk is a weapon.
I know this is true because I can add in green.
I am the most interesting tomahawk maker in the world......

The REAL ugly truth:
A tomahawk is a type of axe.

How do I know this?

Because I'm smart enough to know that Mexican beer isn't good, no matter how many babes are hanging off the old fart trying to sell it.

 

[hodges]

i have a cold steel pipe hawk that I modified by cutting the pipe off (makes it a frontier basically but with a flat back that can still hammer, its just much lighter) and I find it substantially better than any hatchet i own at processing wood, the key for me is that splitting logs doesnt work if you try the same way you would with an axe, but if you chop through the side of the wood and split it down the length, it can easily split wood up to 5-6 inches, im sure more if you use wedges. Plus it chops much better due to the thinner edge than most hatchets.

 

[Shotgun]

Not sure what "hate" has to do with it. I own and use both hawks and axes. Three of my axes, one custom, weigh in at 1 lb. None would be as good a weapon as a hawk, but I carry a different weapon. The hawks don't get used like the axes because they are not shaped like an axe. Didn't say they would not work. Said the opposite.

Never tried backpacking wedges and sledges. Sounds a tad troublesome.

The reaction to simple facts about the relative shapes of the two tools is typical BF stuff. People just WILL be offended.

Not necessarilly ragging on you. There is a divide of sorts within this sub-forum of guys who think a hawk isn't good at woodworking. I think the root of the problem is that not everyone is using their tools the same. Someone who's into cutting large amounts of wood and uses an axe all the time doesn't seem to get the fact that I prefer a hawk for camping. Part of the problem is in how the tool is used IMO. I get the sense that the axe guys I mention pick up a hawk and swing it as if it were a mini axe. If they do that then yeah a hawk sucks. It wedges like a son of a gun and splits rounds on end like crap.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

No, actually, you're not far off from WHY a tomahawk works as a splitter, though. See, this is where the thing I keep harping about long hafts and bit speed come into play. Hit the end of the round fast enough and hard enough (long haft enhances bit speed with the same amount of effort being put in), and the bit slides in, the wood hits the eye swell -- like a wedge -- and pops apart. It actually works better on hard woods.

This is what kind of ticks me off about the majority of production 'hawks on the market--they're too damn SHORT! If you're going to have something as low mass as a hawk, put some "oomph" back in it with some extra length! Now we just need a company to come out with a well-made ciupaga/fokos...and no the "Hawkin' Stick" doesn't count. Gimme' a small, lightweight axe head (hafted with wedges) on the end of a 38" walking stick.

 

[Shotgun]

This is what kind of ticks me off about the majority of production 'hawks on the market--they're too damn SHORT! If you're going to have something as low mass as a hawk, put some "oomph" back in it with some extra length! Now we just need a company to come out with a well-made ciupaga/fokos...and no the "Hawkin' Stick" doesn't count. Gimme' a small, lightweight axe head (hafted with wedges) on the end of a 38" walking stick.

The thought has crossed my mind a time or two to have Vec do that very thing with my GB mini. That would be pretty bad ass.

 

[Thomas Linton]

I think the root of the problem is that not everyone is using their tools the same. Someone who's into cutting large amounts of wood and uses an axe all the time doesn't seem to get the fact that I prefer a hawk for camping. Part of the problem is in how the tool is used IMO. I get the sense that the axe guys I mention pick up a hawk and swing it as if it were a mini axe. If they do that then yeah a hawk sucks. It wedges like a son of a gun and splits rounds on end like crap.

Yes, but you see above that some disagree with our shared experience.

 

[walkbyfaith777]

This is what kind of ticks me off about the majority of production 'hawks on the market--they're too @#!*% SHORT! If you're going to have something as low mass as a hawk, put some "oomph" back in it with some extra length! Now we just need a company to come out with a well-made ciupaga/fokos...and no the "Hawkin' Stick" doesn't count. Gimme' a small, lightweight axe head (hafted with wedges) on the end of a 38" walking stick.

We make fokos/valaska/ciupagas if anyone is interested. I could post some photos or you can check out our website.

 

[Steve Tall]

...Gimme' a small, lightweight axe head (hafted with wedges) on the end of a 38" walking stick.

For a low-cost "fokos", how about the head of a trail hawk on top of pole, like a shaved down handle from a grub hoe or shovel (if it's wide enough), attached with a wedge? I just checked a shovel, it has 38" showing with a diameter of 1-3/8", but I don't have a trail hawk handy to check the eye dimension. A suitable handle would need to be wider than the largest dimension of the hawk's eye, so it could be carved down to make a "shoulder" for the head to rest on, and sawed for a wedge. Then it could be wedged on like a hatchet head. (The bottom of the stick could be capped and spiked, perhaps like a hoe ferrule with the hoe head cut off and the thin metal shaft straightened and sharpened).

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I'm probably going to end up doing just that. Then I'll cap off the end with a carbide-point hiking staff tip.

@Walkbyfaith777--I've seen your work and it's amazing! I'd love to have one like the straight-picked version someday. I like what you do with the langets and strike plates. Helps keep it looking pretty. :thumbup: