Why an axe?

[barneyrb]

?How can you write that with a straight face. It makes no sense. You're so manly you have to use some 4# dead blow hammer and then a Single Bit isn't tough enough you need a Double Bit axe and yet you have NEVER HAD A USE FOR A Single Bit???????????????

That doesn't even make any sense. Do you grunt loudly as you hold your Paul Bunyan Double Bit over your shoulder while looking down at the small people that use Single Bit axes, LOL.

You're too manly for me, LOL.

Sam

When I said I had no use for a SB I was referring to the axe itself. I grew up using a DB for splitting and in the woods, it was what I was taught to use. The SB curved handle is just not my cup of tea, (has nothing to do with how tough the axe is) it is what it is. I am not a professional faller (firewood only) and do find it easier to use a hammer for my usage. No I am not a Paul Bunyan, never claimed to be, and never tried to be.

Most of the time when I am using wedges it is for blocking firewood and yes, I find the small dead blow hammer easier to use. Sorry if you think this is wrong but it works best for me........

 

[slowp]

The axes carried in the woods by the "pro fallers" have straight handles. They prefer shorter handles than the basic axe. They paint the handle a bright color probably because of the throwing method sometimes used.:msp_smile:

The proper/safe way to carry an axe, is to carry it in the downhill side hand, blade down. The downhill side is preferred because if you start to fall, you can fling the axe out of the way.

Of course, the axe is the least of your worries if you have a saw on your shoulder when you trip over that vine maple.

Look on the logging forum, you'll also see pictures of sheaths for falling axes so they can be carried on the belt. You'll need suspenders to hold it all up, though.

You can also tap in a wedge with another wedge or a limb.

Remember, the falling out here is on steep ground, where equipment can't go, and it may be quite a hike back to the truck to get an axe or wedge or anything else.

Disclaimer: I am not a faller. The information gathered is from years of observation.

 

[slowp]

Here's a video with a lot of wedging in it. This was at the end of the day, and there wasn't any equipment handy to push the tree off the road. There was a pickup available, and that was it. The road is the second busiest in the woods, although hunting season was over so not much traffic. They had to have a flagger, who is a retired faller/logger. You'll hear him telling them to "use the blue wedge".

Not sure why they were doing this, unless it was a learning thing for the guy without the chaps on. It took a while for such a small tree, and they could have left it till the cat was in the area.

Yes, this is flat ground. There had been some problems in the past with skidding tree length so the company decided to go old school. They did a beautiful job.

[video=youtube;CJWn5qd36ys]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJWn5qd36ys&feature=share&list=UU9mFXlXjEJvJoCImQvFXVSg[/video]

I'm nervous because I seem to be cursed when working with these guys. I got hurt twice when working around the guy with the two shoulder pads on.

 

[Slamm]

I like how the detractors don't have to carry their tools. If they did, they would use one tool (single bit axe) just like those that do have to carry their tools.

The lack of logic or common sense or foresight behind some of these posts is absurd. How can a person fear carrying an axe when it is a support tool for the chainsaw, which isn't exactly the safest tool in the bag, LOL, or they can't understand how one set of people use a single bit axe for wedging and cutting out a saw, because we can't carry our utility shed to every tree we cut??!!??!!??

Sam

 

[s219]

I bet at least half of my wedges go it with a push of the palm or tap with another wedge, and thats it. Most others I can tap in with the hatchet I keep on my belt (which is primarily for limbing small stuff or marking logs -- far faster than a chainsaw).

Generally, when I have to pull out an axe to beat in a wedge on the 12-20" trees I normally cut, something wasn't done right. I definitely see the need on bigger trees though. We were felling a 30+ inch cypress a few weeks back, and that consumed all of the wedges the two of us were carrying before we got it over. That definitely required an axe to beat them in.

 

[purdyite]

Never done this, just seen it in training...

Axe used for removing bark in order to more accurately judge hinge width, or remove dead bark, or remove undergrowth around the trunk--things you can't do with a hammer--I take an axe, but usually I'm not so far away from the pickup that i need to carry it...

 

[rullywowr]

I use this yellow sledge.



Sam

So how does it work hammering in plastic wedges? :confused2:

 

[Slamm]

So how does it work hammering in plastic wedges? :confused2:

It usually just takes one steady "stroke" and it will push the wedge in the kerf as the tree goes over. Actually its quite rare that it doesn't work, LOL.

Sam

 

[lloyd786]

Lots of uses, versatile tool

I have cut out of binds on occasion, My son and I were cutting on the same log and when his end shifted both our saws were stuck. Out came the axe. I've used it to cut out really hard seize knots in ropes and ropes stuck under stuff. You can cut a rope in a hurry with an axe. Does anyone know why my page is all in dutch or how to change it back to english ? It's really hard to navigate the site in Dutch.

 

[johncinco]

If I am feeling a little grubby by the afternoon I can always touch up my beard and and get that clean shaven look before the ladies come pick me up out of the woods. Chicks love a well groomed lumberjack.

 

[slowp]

Never done this, just seen it in training...

Axe used for removing bark in order to more accurately judge hinge width, or remove dead bark, or remove undergrowth around the trunk--things you can't do with a hammer--I take an axe, but usually I'm not so far away from the pickup that i need to carry it...

Or remove the bark that is impregnated with volcanic ash from a recent eruption. Such was the practice after the 1980 eruption of Mt St Helens around here. Ash was in the bark on trees that were out of the blast zone, so the bark was chopped off before the saw went in.

 

[russhd1997]

I have cut out of binds on occasion, My son and I were cutting on the same log and when his end shifted both our saws were stuck. Out came the axe. I've used it to cut out really hard seize knots in ropes and ropes stuck under stuff. You can cut a rope in a hurry with an axe. Does anyone know why my page is all in dutch or how to change it back to english ? It's really hard to navigate the site in Dutch.

At the lower left side of the page there is a box to change the language back to english.

 

[El Quachito]

I wouldn't set out to use a saw without an axe. period.

 

[lloyd786]

At the lower left side of the page there is a box to change the language back to english.

Thank you very much !

 

[zogger]

Just curious why most all use an axe to drive a wedge. Have yet to see a vid of someone using an axe to get them out of a bind. Why not carry a small ball peen, sledge or splitting tool?
I used to carry an extra bar and chain as well as a junker saw for whoops.

What got me to asking this is that some nice axe companies do not advise using thier choppers to drive steel headed wedges.

toby

I always carry an axe when out and about in the woods, even when not chainsawing.
Axes are handy for -SHOCK- limbing, cutting of vines, knocking face cut chunks out, and driving the wedges in. I also whack away at big weeds and noxious shrubs wherever I am working, like big poke sallet and multiflora rose. A big hammer just won't do for all that. Saw in one hand walking in, axe in the other.

As to not being able to cut yourself out of the bind with an axe.., yes you can,work on your aim! You can chip away at the wood binding, just try not to smack too deep and hit the bar/chain. Once close, just pry the last fibers out. I've done it a couple times back in the day, although not lately, not for decades. I *really* try to not get bound up, only once this year so far, and it really wasn't that bad. Had another saw sitting five feet away so used that.

 

[Rounder]

Or remove the bark that is impregnated with volcanic ash from a recent eruption. Such was the practice after the 1980 eruption of Mt St Helens around here. Ash was in the bark on trees that were out of the blast zone, so the bark was chopped off before the saw went in.

Good when you get up by dusty roads also. And big ugly tip pinching limbs when you get tired and stupid at the end of the week.

I still just pack a molly if I think I can get away with it though.

 

[dancan]

[video=youtube_share;P088bMP7jq0]http://youtu.be/P088bMP7jq0[/video]


I suppose you could carry a hammer , I'll stick with a single bit axe .

 

[StihlKiwi]

[video=youtube_share;P088bMP7jq0]http://youtu.be/P088bMP7jq0[/video]


I suppose you could carry a hammer , I'll stick with a single bit axe .

If he's gonna use a hammer he could at least buy a wedge hammer. An engineers hammer is no substitute for a 3lb deadblow hammer with nylon heads.
And then there's the whole unnecessary borecutting thing he did..:bang:

 

[Anthony_Va.]

If he's gonna use a hammer he could at least buy a wedge hammer. An engineers hammer is no substitute for a 3lb deadblow hammer with nylon heads.
And then there's the whole unnecessary borecutting thing he did..:bang:

There ya go. Can't beat the ole wedge deadblow.

I wouldn't set out to use a saw without an axe. period.

I would, and do. Have been for almost ten years now. Never had a want nor need for the axe. I'll let Paul bunyan use an axe. I'll take a wedge hammer when I cut. Yea, they do make a hammer for driving plastic wedges.

 

[rwoods]

I like how the detractors don't have to carry their tools. If they did, they would use one tool (single bit axe) just like those that do have to carry their tools.

The lack of logic or common sense or foresight behind some of these posts is absurd. How can a person fear carrying an axe when it is a support tool for the chainsaw, which isn't exactly the safest tool in the bag, LOL, or they can't understand how one set of people use a single bit axe for wedging and cutting out a saw, because we can't carry our utility shed to every tree we cut??!!??!!??

Sam

No need to get riled up. Different professions and circumstances represented here. I don't have a utility shed with me nor a yellow sledge like you. I wish I did. :msp_wink: Ron

[video=youtube_share;P088bMP7jq0]http://youtu.be/P088bMP7jq0[/video]


I suppose you could carry a hammer , I'll stick with a single bit axe .

I couldn't help but notice that this instructional video was for "large" trees. I don't know what he would call the old oaks we cut for firewood around here much less how he would describe some of those little West Coast evergreens pictured on AS. As stated many times before, I am just a firewood hack that carries a drilling hammer. A short handle heavy axe would drive wedges better and may have on occasion other uses for me but if I wanted one I would have to order one from old West as the curved handle 3 to 3 1/2# single bit axe is the heaviest axe available locally. :msp_smile: Ron