They’re an indispensable tool for any camping or outdoor excursion. Familiarization with the many styles (splitting, hand axe, splitting maul, etc.) and safe handling procedures will ensure that you will get the absolute most from the new tool. First, be sure you have selected the right tool for the job. The hand axe, because the name implies, is designed for single-handed use and is most ideal for cutting small firewood or thinning branches. Hand axes might have either wood or metal hafts (or handles). Viking axes for sale An excellent principle is always to rely on a hand axe for anything up to 3″ in diameter. Bigger than that, and it’s time to upgrade to a ribbon saw or two handed instrument.
To bring down live trees, a felling axe is required. Felling axes are produced with various head weights and haft lengths – make sure to choose a size that’s comfortable enough to wield safely. A medium-size felling axe generally has a 3.5-4.5 pound head and 30-35 inch haft, with larger axes sporting heads up to 6 pounds. In any event, if you are working together with hand axes or felling axes, keep carefully the blade masked when not in use and never leave your axe outside overnight or in wet weather. An excellent felling axe is just a very valuable tool that may last an eternity if properly cared for. Be sure to keep carefully the axe head well oiled to prevent rust, and sharpen the axe with a carborundum stone when necessary.
If you intend to use your axe primarily to split seasoned wood, consider purchasing a Scandinavian-style splitting axe. These splitting axes have a wedge-shaped head which are perfect for wood splitting but poorly suited for felling work. Scandinavian splitting axes frequently have shorter handle lengths than other two handed axes, and commonly rely on a 3 pound head, although other sizes are generally available. Larger splitting axes might be called splitting mauls. These types of tools normally have much heavier heads, and have a straight handle, rather than the curved handle. Turnaround hooks are frequently shaped on the conclusion of a mauls splitting head in order to benefit flipping logs over throughout the splitting process.