What axe/hatchet do you guys recommend for wedge driving?
Small axe for wedge driving
- Thread starter blsnelling
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stinkbait
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I use the Fiskars axe. 28" handle.
THALL10326
The Champ
Stihl hatchet, got a few of them, not cheap though, $54.00.
I'm looking for a small axe, like those hung on your belt.
Part number?
stinkbait
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They make different lengths. The 28" is the largest. The smallest is a 8" handle. Here is a link.
http://www.fiskars.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10101&categoryId=10277
THALL10326
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0000-882-1005 Remember now its not a average hatchet, this thing is big..
bitzer
******** Timber Expert
I'm sure some guys go all out. I know you can get some pricey ones(upwards of $70)and Baileys has some decent looking ones listed for decent prices, but I don't fell professionally so a single bit (Hudson's Bay style I beileve) works for me. Menards like $13. Handle was a bit long to hang on my belt and swing in tight postions so I trimmed it and sanded it to how I like it. Probably get called a wuss, but its only a 3.5lb. Great leverage and works for me. Has gotten me out of a pinched bar and a tight spot more than once! If I had the cash I'd get a prettier one, but shes down and dirty with a hickory handle and it'll drive hard wedges all day.
Yeah, I'm looking for something smallish. I kind of like this little feller, especially with the reputation Fiskars has around here. LINK
Edit: I'm not sure 7/8# is going to be heavy enough.
nmurph
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this is what i use. i bought last year and it is still in great shape. i even use it to drive metal wedges occassionally.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=274910-302-1216000&lpage=none
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=274910-302-1216000&lpage=none
That one looks pretty nice.
nmurph
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it was cheap and seems to be tough. i painted it orange and high viz green to make it easier to keep up with in the woods.
:agree2: For the price and what its gonna be used for pretty good bargine...
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mallet???:??
gallegosmike
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I have the fiskars hatchet your talking about getting , go with the gerber branded 14" handled one. The fiskar 14" hatchet doent come with a sheath, it comes with a cheesy plastic holder. Other then that, it is a great hatchet. I mostly use mine to make kindling for my stove. I think it is a wee bit too light for driving wedges. For that duty, I use my fiskars 23.5 inch chopping axe. I dont hang it off my belt, it would just get hung up on brush.
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Here is my current rig. It is a Truper 3lb. rafting axe w/ 20 in. handle. It just depends on what I'm doing, but if I need to wedge and am going to be moving a lot this is what I wear.
bitzer
******** Timber Expert
Thats about what my setup looks like for felling. I have a fiskars splitting ax, but I wouldn't use it for driving wedges. Those are too damn sharp to be wearing on a belt. Just old metal and hickory for hard driving! Occasionally when I miss I get wood splintering off the handle. Not sure what a fiskars handle would do in that situation. Maybe nothing. Not sure.
Do you feel like 3# is a good weight? I'm currently using a little short handled 3# sledge. I don't have an axe so I thought I'd get one to replace the little sledge.
Tzed250
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If you are going to tap wedges, those hatchets will be fine. If you are going to drive wedges, you need a working axe. Those hatchets are worthless if you need to wedge a back-leaner, or free a pinched saw.
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