Splitting/Chopping Tool Review Thread

36"

That's how I like 'em.

 

I also prefer 36, anything shorter is a shin whacker

 

Felling ax lengths were standarized at 36 inches back when the average logger was 5 foot 2 inches tall. If you are taller you might like a longer haft. I make most of mine 6 inches longer. I know I hit harder and I think more accurately with the longer hafts. The accuracy is most likely because of muscle memory from decades of using longer hafted tools.

 

I don't recall seeing this before: a 17 inch Fiskars splitting hatchet 'X11'. I have seen the 14 inch hatchet 'X7', and this one is on the current web page: http://www2.fiskars.com/Gardening-and-Yard-Care/Products/Axes-and-Striking-Tools, so maybe I missed it? Maybe it is new? For kindling?



I found no use for for the X7 personally - I just choked up on the handle of my Fiskars chopping axe. But I guess that there are places where these would work well.

What was also interesting was that these were at The Home Depot, in the tool aisle with the framing hammers, but I did not see any of the Fiskars axes or splitting mauls in the garden area.

Philbert

 

I had some version small hatchet but it poofed away with the saws and other stuff, I don't remember which Fiskars number model. I liked it as a hatchet, but..they have no provision for a belt loop scabbard/holster, and looks like the same carrying handle thing. Which is OK, but I don't want to hand carry a hatchet around. One at the side on your belt is OK, but, if I am carrying something in my hands going camping it needs to be more substantial, a full size axe, rifle, fishing pole, etc. The one in the pic certainly is the same head shape as the splitting axes. So ya, kindling, campfire pieces, etc.

 

It is a pain in the arse to find those at Home Depot! Could be a first siting of a new product on that Fiskars, good work.

 

Well, Zog, it was next to 2 sizes of the Estwing, solid steel, camping/hunting axe, which come with leather sheaths included.

Philbert

 

Hey Philbert, what metro Walmart has the bigger Fiskars? I did a search and it said none within 50 miles of Minneapolis. If you try to order online it doesn't allow free ship to store because its fulfilled from a third party.

 

@SteveSS have you tested that futuristic looking maul yet!? I'm still waiting to hear about it.

Damn they were some short dudes. Just saw Willow again last night for the 25th time, epic movie. I wonder what size handle those pecks would prefer?

 

They had them in both places at HD here. More of them in garden area.

 

I should be able to get after it this weekend on some white oak rounds I have stashed out in the woods.

 

I have seen them at Midway, but have not been there for a long time.

Philbert

 

#3.5 "Forged China" head
36" USA hickory stick, Do-It-Best hardware brand


I had some good luck sharpening this with a bastard file and "The Puck," a sharpening puck made by a company called Lansky. I really like the puck so far. I did not use honing oil as recommened, but it would likely help the puck from gumming up. It does remove China steel, so, so far, so good.

The head was fat and blunt to start, but it sticks in wood now. I tried to model after some vintage heads I have, thinking that the old timers may have known what they were doing.

Should make a decent all-arounder or a camp axe. Who cares if this thing chops rocks or worse?

The wood dead and alive is pepper wood.

 

I have an experiment underway to tighten the head on my maul. Water is the old stand by for me, but water always dries up (you know that, right?). Internet axe snobs favor boiled linseed oil. I wanted a cheaper alternative, so I said lets try motor oil.

The final slurry was the little bit of oil in the bottoms of two "empty" quarts, some Homelite 2-cycle mix and some old Power Punch. The latter two came in a mystery box at a junk sale, so I never used them.

The first 24 hours show that the wood has pulled oil up to about the edge of the head. This is a good sign and I hope the wood swells over the next day.

 

Update: The handle has drawn up oil to jut above the other side of the head. Not enough swelling to tighten it all the way, but atleast the wood is pulling some of it. I'll keep it soaking for a few more days.

 

A couple of people have told me to 'go soak my head'. Never thought of motor oil . . .

Philbert

 

I hope that with oil it won't dry out and will help to preserve the wood. Water wicks up pretty quick, I have used a puddle in a creek to soak a handle in the field while I was running the saw.

 

Ok, the handle is tight. I think the results benefitted when I tilted the bucket to make the oil deeper and it caught some heat from the sun also. It had been cloudy since I started the soak.

 

Keep soaking! Why not, maybe it will last better if soaked a couple more days.

 

that's what i'am thinking