What kind of axe?

[Benchwayze]

You forgot large biceps etc.

Where muscle strength is concerned, size isn't an indicator. Strong tendons are more important. :mrgreen:

But I'm nit-picking. Just my SOH Phil...

And my recommendation is Semtex! Or good old fire.

 

[morfa]

So if I did want a nice axe for woodworking (like Richard Maguire uses) what kind of axe am I looking for?

Would be nice if would be ok for light trimming/bushman/camping type stuff (eg making kindling etc).

I guess a Gransfors carpenters axe would be the right kind of thing?

 

[KevM]

I believe the Gransfors Wildlife hatchet (http://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/product ... e-hatchet/) is highly thought of for bushcraft & carving because it's got a decent blade size with a relatively short handle that provides sufficient power for light chopping but isn't too unwieldy when carving; they do 3 sizes that all share the same head (Hand, Wildlife, and Small Forest) - not that I've been perving axes mind...

An alternative to the Gransfors hatchet at a similar price point is the Wetterlings:
http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/sa-w ... 6426-p.asp

I thought the Gransfors axes seemed pricey until I came across the Hans Karlsson and Svante Djarv tools:
http://woodsmithexperience.co.uk/shop/p ... -sloyd-axe
http://woodsmithexperience.co.uk/shop/p ... viking-axe

 

[paulm]

Carpenters axe for woodworking stuff, Swedish carving axe for carving and spoon making and stuff, Small Forest Axe (SFA) for bushcrafty/camping stuff, or all three perhaps and the wildlife hatchet if wanting to carry something smaller when camping

I'm currently down to the carving one and a Huskie hatchet but really need to pick up a SFA to replace the Ray Mears Wildnerness version I sold a while ago !

Cheers, Paul

 

[KevM]

Quite a nice review of axes here with the question "which is the best axe for carving, bushcraft, general use?"

http://www.robin-wood.co.uk/wood-craft- ... neral-use/

 

[dh7892]

If you are still looking for a tool, I recommend these:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-17lb-post-hole-digger/62496

I got rid of a lot of bamboo with them. Good combination of digging and leverage.

 

[morfa]

If you are still looking for a tool, I recommend these:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-17lb-post-hole-digger/62496

I got rid of a lot of bamboo with them. Good combination of digging and leverage.

That would be the badgers I reckon. Sadly we're mostly done now. It's not out yet, but you can get your hand under a good half of it now. So it's not that far off I reckon. Well I hope.

As for the other axe suggestions particularly the Robin Wood link, thanks. Should have known Robin Wood would have something about axes on his site somewhere.

 

[Sparky415]

If your not finnished yet...
A length of scaffold pole and a reciprocating saw can also be useful

 

[simonturner]

the most useful tool i have found for tree stumps and roots is a firewood splitting maul the kind that looks like an axe one side and a sledge hammer the other. they appear to work a treat on root material which really surprised me when i first tried it.

it would seem to me due to the massive weight and the blade being short (close to the handle) they are less inclined to glance off at an angle and do not seem to get embedded in the root like conventional axes because of their pronounced wedge shape

also they dont seem to need to be sharp so you're not at all worried about hitting stones etc in fact i have found it also to be quite effective on concrete you dont seem to get the nasty vibration sent back up the handle that you occasionally get from a mis-hit with a mattock or pick.

also agree with the young assistant and plenty of goading!

 

[Sawyer]

You'll find a pickaxe useful: massive concentration of force on a small area, stones no worry, and good for levering too.

 

[bugbear]

You'll find a pickaxe useful: massive concentration of force on a small area, stones no worry, and good for levering too.

I find one of those stumpy/worn ones helpful - the handleoint ratio means you get more leverage than
with a full size one.

BugBear

 

[bugbear]

Not sure where you'd get a 'very strong' fork from. Any recommendations?

Yeah, car boot sale.

Googling reveals that new ones cost big money.

http://www.bulldogtools.co.uk/products/ ... hing-fork/

BugBear

 

[fred55]

From your letter it sounds like you have the solution with you - I would get the" impatient wife" which every body who has studied Greek mythology knows is slang for "Medusa"; to look at the living thing, turn it to stone then either make a sundial pedestal from the stump or it will be sufficiently brittle to shatter with the stoke of a sword. This is a method I have employed using my own wife's powers of stare n glare. no thanks require just wish me luck as I search for the source
of eternal life at the pub. fred

 

[morfa]

From your letter it sounds like you have the solution with you - I would get the" impatient wife" which every body who has studied Greek mythology knows is slang for "Medusa"; to look at the living thing

To be fair to her, she's easily done about half of the work. Also now we're away on holiday for a week, we're putting some extra stump killer on.

 

[Nick Gibbs]

What about an Arbortech Allsaw? Not many people know about these amazing power tools, but they have tungsten-tipped teeth and you can hire them. Perfect for cutting through roots.