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B&Q don't have much of a selection.
What axe would you recommend?
what's it for?
Night riding.
What's your daytime riding axe ?
Just what size of tree or branch you intend to chop down.
an axe with a plastic handle is much easier on the hands and wrists when it comes to shocks
Hand axe?
Felling axe?
Body-chopper-upper axe?
What's your daytime riding axe ?
Normally go with a hunting knife during the day. No need for an axe IMO.
one of these bad boys 😉 [img] 
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Im looking at this. Only 1.5 lb. I'm thinking if I went with a carbon handle i could find one under a pound?
Think you need one of these
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[url= http://www.amazon.com/Glow-Dark-Holder-Various-Colors/dp/B004TLQBV8 ]Glow In The Dark Axe Holder[/url]
Two words: Gransfors Bruks
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Like it Palmer, like it.
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I have never found a practical use for the Double Bit Throwing Axe 🙂
I have never found a practical use for the Double Bit Throwing Axe
Taking out Vikings at about 20 yards?
palmer77 - Member
I have never found a practical use for the Double Bit Throwing Axe
.
Have you tried throwing it ? 😀
axe related question - what's the difference between a splitting axe and a splitting maul and which do I want to own for reducing in size the enormous pile of logs I have that are too big for my poxy little stove? I made do with a felling axe for the last few years but time has come for the right tool for the job.
I'm torn between the splitting hatchet and the large swedish carving axe.
My next door neighbour and work colleague was off work last week after an accident splitting kindling with a hatchet. It was small bit he was splitting that would not stand up by itself so he held it upright with his hand....and he missed the wood....not pretty! PHD from both Cambridge and MIT in astrophysics but don't ask him to do anything practical!
An axe is fairly flat bladed whereas a maul has a wedge shape which is more conducive to splitting.
Different between axe and maul ? Weight. Maul is heavier making it much easier to split logs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splitting_maul
Oh, and I did that hitting your finger with an axe whilst trying to split kindling thing. Still have the scars. It was because the hatchet I was using was very blunt and I slipped whilst trying to smack it. A sharp axe is a happy axe.
Best way I saw how to split logs.
I would suggest getting the biggest axe appropriate for the task required. For example I have a wildlife hatchet for camping etc, for this purpose it is perfect whereas you would not easily fell a tree with it 🙂
trailof... that chain thing...that's bloody brilliant that is... Fiskars axes FTW
Axes, did someone mention axes? 😆
The police took my favourite axe off me, but at least i have two more 8)
Agree, best axe depends on task required but go for Granfors of your choice if you want to go for the best around. The Small forest axe is a good compromise as a general purpose axe but the hatchets may be more pack friendly.
As an all purpose trail tending weapon, however, I finished opting for a Fiskars brush hook [url= http://eng-uk.fiskars.com/Products/Wood-Preparation/Forestry/126003-Brush-Hook-X3 ]here[/url].
As illustrated above they also do a good line in splitting axes.
Innit. Them Scandanavians know a thing or two about axes and splitting wood. I've got no idea where you buy such a chain device.
LOL @ muddydwarf 😆 😆
I have a Granfors small splitting axe, perfect for spliting firewood for the log burner.
Different between axe and maul ? Weight. Maul is heavier making it much easier to split logs.
And you can use the maul for hammering in a splitting wedge.
As an all purpose trail tending weapon
Bingo. 😀
I've got the Gränsfors Wildlife axe, and it's a lovely thing. I would never, ever have an axe with a plastic handle, wood, in particular hickory, is much better at absorbing shock, and such tools usually have pretty crappy heads, really only of any use for splitting kindling. I certainly wouldn't dream of holding a piece of wood to steady it while using my axe, there probably wouldn't be any fingers, let alone scars; I can easily shave my arm with it, probably I bit unwieldy to try shaving my face with it though.
I would also consider one of these:
http://www.worldknives.com/products/roselli-hand-forged-hatchett-axe-small-r860-371.html
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Roselli hatchet, the blade edge is a bit thicker than the Gränsfors, which makes it good for splitting, and the bearded head means you can get your fingers right behind the edge for shaving and trimming. Lovely little tool, really trying to justify buying one.
Yet another amazing thread! 2 weeks ago I asked about MTB rides around Holmfirth (you know, West Yorkshire, hilly) & didn't get a single reply, yet we get 20 odd replies on axes!
I lurrve this forum!
Bill hook for a bit of vegetation trimming, many patterns out there specific to areas and their hedges.
Splitting axe/maul - should be the same thing by different names, basically a wider profile to force apart with added weight. For bigger lumps I've got a 5-ton hydraulic splitter, for even bigger, I know a man with a 15-ton splitter that'll smash tree stumps.
Holding onto what you're chopping shouldn't be an issue, how else do you get small kindling? Just takes a bit of practice.
My next door neighbour and work colleague was off work last week after an accident splitting kindling with a hatchet.
One of the first things I remember my granda showing me was how to split kindling safely by moving axe and wood together to tap the edge of the axehead into the grain of the wood before moving your hand away for the splitting stroke.
Much appreciated when I bought my first Gransfors Bruks and discovered what 'sharp' means for the Swedes - touched the damn thing to my finger and drew an impressive amount of blood!
As Ditch_jockey says, just a couple of light taps holding the wood to the edge, then tap harder with fingers out of the way. Sorted.
If you want to get really medieval on something's ass, then Gränsfors have just the jobbie:
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Lovely tool for trimming and shaping timber, and much lighter than it looks. Not a fighting axe, but used by shipwrights and carpenters.