I couldn't even find an axe

[Corley5]

I needed an axe today for the first time in years.  Three of the big blocks of wood I split the other day were still being held together by some fibers (because they were curly maple) and were just too big to wrestle around to finish with the splitter so my plan was to take an axe to finish them off.  The only axe I could find was an old single bit with a chewed up handle and a head that appeared as though it had been used to break rocks.  We used to have axes of all shapes and sizes.  Double bit, single bit, broad axe etc.  I did find three pick axes and a couple mattocks but only the one axe and it might as well be thrown out.  I couldn't even find a regular splitting maul.  I've got two in my woodshed but the only thing at Dad's I could come up with was a monster maul which I ended taking along.  It worked and worked me harder than I wanted plus I mashed my thumb pretty good with it.  It would've been faster to come home and get a regular maul, it's only a half mile, but I knew there were axes around.  Grandpa was on a kick for a while and put new handles in all kinds of old tools.  Somewhere around here is a stash of axes.  I know it, there has to be ;) ;D

[Sprucegum]

I have a favorite axe that goes everywhere with me. It under my truck seat when I am not using it.It's a "boys axe", some folks call them limbing axes, light weight with a 20 inch handle and made of very good quality steel. It was the first tool I ever bought with my own money and there ain't much that axe won't do for me.

;)Get your own axe and take care of it and it'll take care of you ;)

[Bibbyman]

I think a good double bit ax is impossible to find at a reasonable price.  About any time I've been in a store that has a rack of tools I check out the axes.  All you find anymore are big hunks of iron on a stick.

When I was growing up,  I used an ax about every day. Dad had "hacked ties" in his younger years and a regular double bit ax was a necessary tool to accompany the broad ax.  He always had a good one and kept it sharp.  But now they're all worn out, broken or lost.  A couple of years ago I put a new handle in his old ax for him.  He put it in the back of his mule and there it's staid.  I'm sure he's not even used it.

When my boys were growing up, they were always "borrowing" my ax.  I bought them each a good ax – Gabe a Hudson Bay style single bit and Chris a good double bit about 3/4 size.  I had to keep after them not to loose them.  That lasted about six months. I'll be DanGed if they didn't loose them both the same day.  I was plowing a field and had them trimming limbs and cutting sprouts along the field edge.  They spent most of their time playing in the creek.  When they came back to the truck I asked them where their axes were.  You guessed it.  "I don't know." Was the reply.  I sent them to look for them and then went to look with them but we never found them.  I even went back years later with a metal detector looking for them but didn't find them.  I suspect they lost them real good on purpose.

[Deadwood]

I once saw a book in the book store that I should have bought. I think it was called the Axe Book, and in scanning it over it looked to be pretty informative and had some information on sharpening, firewood and just about anything related to the axe. I passed it up I think because I can be cheap sometimes. I have never seen it sice but should have bought it.

I used to carry an axe with me in the woods when I harvested professionally. It got me out of a lot of jambs more than once. I used to use a single bit axe so I could drive my wedges with the back of it. This was not smart as the constant pounding would open up the handle hole and loosen the axe handle. Finally I switched to a two bit axe and drove the wedge like a battering ram. It worked much better and never did loosen the handle again.

One day though while out cruising the woodlot I lost the stupid thing. More than likely it is driven into a tree somewhere and has grown out around it. The thing is, here in Maine, two bit axes are hard to find. I am constantly on the hunt for one, but have yet to find one. When I do, I'll buy one and keep a better eye on it.

[crtreedude]

I have had a double-bitted axe for as long as I can remember. I keep one side really sharp for cutting and the other side I keep sort of banged up - but sharp - for dealing with things in the ground. (roots, etc.) The limber side and the stump side as it were.

Down here they use a machete for much of what you would use an axe for - I have seen 12" trees cut down really fast with a machete - pretty amazing what you can do when you swing one for hours at a time as work.

I did buy myself a machete - but it was snagged by someone - I think they are trying to keep me from hurting myself.

[sawguy21]

I have not seen a new double bit in a long time. My dad had one along with a smaller single bit and they saw a lot of use. He kept them sharp and made sure I did not abuse them. ;D I was always real careful with the big one to make sure I didn't damage myself on the backswing.

[SwampDonkey]

The Axe Book

The Axe and Man

American Axes

[twoodward15]

So are you saying that I should be buying up all the double bit (I'm assuming you are talking a blade on each side) axes that I see at the farmers market for under $10???  I was seeing them all the time.  I'll go back next weekend to see if there are any there now.

[SwampDonkey]

My grandfather was in Rhode Island visiting cousins and he found an axe in a flee market. Stamped with made in Canada on it. My uncle used that axe in the spring to split his kitchen stove firewood. Well before the first cord was split the axe blade was all chipped away as it was brittle in the cold and the handle around the blade was all chewed up. Had to go back to the old axe he had for years. What a bunch of junk. :D

[pappy]

Found just the head of this one in the barn when we moved here 23 years ago... A friend made me a handle for it... it's rather light... maybe used by smaller people...  ;)

I would have to be really hard up to take this one down... as far as I'm concerned it can stay with my map of Maine of 1861 and a pair of riff skis (also found in the barn) made right here in beautiful down town Soldier Pond by Walter L. Stadig, has his own manufactured by tag on them...

[thedeeredude]

I got a good double bit Kelly Woodslasher with a good handle for $10 at an old tool dealer, but it was only one of a couple good ones.  You can get new ones from http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=4535&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=double+bit http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=20129&cat=1,41131,43408&ap=1 http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=20124&cat=1,41131,43408&ap=1

[ksu_chainsaw]

I got tired of getting junk axes too.  Now i have 2 max axes with the tool kits.  I keep one in the truck and the other one at home.

http://www.maxax.com/index.html

Although they are a little expensive, I like being able to only carry a small package and have everything i need.

Charles

[Texas Ranger]

Had to buy a double bitted ax in college when in forestry school, bought the best one I could find, still have it, and for the life of me cannot think of the name of it, but, it was the best at the time, "50's".  then bought a single blade with a flat with a short handle to carry in the truck, like the man said, got me out of a couple jams.

After Rita there is a bunch of wood down, and being frugle (cheap) I decided to cut it up for my shop Franklyn stove.  Rooted around in the shop and found my old splitting mall, handle broken out of it and I haven't used it in years.  Anyway, put a new handle in it, and split fire wood.

Now I know why I never put the handle back in it. :'(  If I can only break this handle............................

[Bro. Noble]

When I was in Boy Scouts,  I bought a 'Plumb' hand axe.  Kept it for years and really appreciated the quality.  Got to looking for it one time and remembered I had it stored behind the seat of my old AA Ford truck------that I had traded off about 6 months earlier :(

[Radar67]

I got the new Fiskars Ax a few months back. First real ax I have ever owned, man is it sharp. I used it on some 3 and 4 inch brush to try it out, a couple of whacks and it cut clean thru. It is easy to sharpen as well. Also has a composite handle similar to the Max ax. Best part is the lifetime warranty.

[Texas Ranger]

Brother Noble, thank you, it was a Plumb.  Plumb forgot it. ;D  Must be a Missouri thing.

[Engineer]

Iltis Oxhead

Gransfors Bruk

Collins

All available online, but not cheap.   If you want cheap ($) - your sponsor Bailey's has some axes on their site.

[Sprucegum]

OXHEAD
  that's what I got - bought it at Hudson Bay when they were just startin' out ;D

[Frickman]

I use a Collins single bit axe almost everyday. In the woods it's used to pound wedges and trim small limbs. At the mill I use it occasionally to chop dirt off logs or pound a wedge to free a stuck saw. Got it at a local saw shop that carries some logging and sawmill suplies. It wasn't cheap, but it was well worth the money.

[Dan_Shade]

I just bought a Fiskars axe, i bought it hesitantly after my experience with their "worlds greatest shovel" which I bent the handle over the first time i used it to dig a hole.

but I did a little digging and hopefully it will last me, it's well balanced and cuts nice, but the handle is too short.  one reason I bought it was the carrying case it came in, I like to keep an axe in my truck for emergency purposes.  this should work well.

I like a double bit too, with one "good" side, and one "bad" side.

I've heard of leaving an axe head in water to keep the handle tight, I'd think that would rot the handle out quicker, but who knows...

[Frickman]

Dan Shade,

Soaking an axe head is one of the oldest tricks out there. You have to keep doing it though everytime the handle dries out.

[ohsoloco]

I've been using one of the double bit axes from my dad's stash for years.  I don't know if it originally belonged to him or my pap, but when it's heating season I use it just about every day.  Great for splitting slabs and straight grained pieces of wood to get a fire going.  Never sharpened it since I use it for splitting...there's still another double bit in the shed, and I'm sure dad won't mind if I "borrow" it  :D

[sawguy21]

The Fiskars are a treat to use. The biggest problem is keeping them from disappearing.

[Phorester]

When in Scouts, I bought myself a nice Craftsman hand ax.  Took it on every camping trip.  Now as a Scout leader, I still take it on every camping trip.

A few years ago I found an old double bit axe in a woods fire.  It was lying flat on the ground, buried a little bit in the dirt.  I think the only reason I saw it was because all the leaves and duff had been burned away by the fire, exposing the axe.  Lord knows how long it had been there.  The handle was about rotted out, it was caked with rust.  I scraped, wirewheeled and naval-jellied the rust off,  put a new handle in it, put an edge on both blades, it's now hanging up with my garden tools.  Don't think I'll let the Boy Scouts use that one.........

[Texas Ranger]

I have the head of a broad ax that we found when it was turned out by a fire plow back in my state days.  Wish it could talk.

[Corley5]

I found these two axes today while looking for some other stuff.  They don't amount to much either.

Somewhere around here are some good old axes that have new handles in them.  Some may be at da camp in Da UP  eh?  They'll turn up now that I don't need one :  We always had an old single bit axe in the Jeep in case it was needed and I'm 99.99% sure it's still in there along with the d-handled round point shovel.

[Rockn H]

Crtreedude, watch out for those machetes.  When I worked for G.P. forestry we used machetes and then the company outlawed them.  Made us all go to kaiser blades.  The machetes had gotten a bad habit of hitting legs and feet instead of just brush. :  Of course when everyone starting shortning the handles on the kaiser blades things wern't much better. ;D

[Deadwood]

I have tried the old axe trick of dipping a loose axe handle in water but as someone mentioned, evertime the stupid thing dries out you have a loose handle again. I then found out the key was to keep the axe handle from drying out. Soaking the axe head in antifreeze is the trick. The glycol in it keeps it from drying out, while it is obviously wet so it swells the wood. Works like a charm.

I suppose the only downfall would be the toxicity of the anti-freeze. I can't imagine a dog or pet would get too sick from licking an axe handle head, but you never know. Just thought I would point out that if you try this trick, you might want to place the axe out of reach of pets.

[Dan_Shade]

the scout thing reminded me of one of my more scary moments...

Every summer for the past several years, I have volunteered as a 4-h counselor at the camp I went to as I was growing up.  Part of the 4-h camping tradition in West Virginia is a nightly council circle with a fire.  the kids are responsible for the fire (at least we were).

anywho, I always helped do this, and when we were kids, we would just get the ax, and go out into the woods, and gather up dead wood, cut it to length and etc...  So i decided I'd teach the kids how to use an ax, boy was that stupid, one of the kids had the ax glance and almost hit another kid who had creeped up to watch.  wow, that scared me, I learned a good lesson on liabilities without actually causing a problem, but it sure did scare me.  now, I try to take wood back up there when I go, and don't let the kids get close to anything they can hurt themselves with.

[Bibbyman]

....and don't let the kids get close to anything they can hurt themselves with.

How else are they going to learn? 

Well, probably the best way is one on one with plenty of room - and a phone to call 911.

[Dan_Shade]

the sad truth is liabilities are too great for a lot of that stuff.

I decided that I can't take the risk of a kid cutting himself, or someone else with an ax while trying to teach them how to chop out wood.  It's kinda sad, but that's the way I look at it.

rural areas aren't like they once were.

[Corley5]

I don't know where I learned about using moisture to keep an axe or maul head tight but it does work if you can get your Grandmother to leave the tool outside. : ;D ;)  One fall I was splitting wood for Grandma in her barn with a maul with a loose head.  I worked at it a while and when I left I put the maul outside under the eaves as it was supposed to rain that evening/night.  The next afternoon I stopped to split some more wood for her and the maul was inside the door and the head was still loose.  I split a few pieces again but really didn't like using it with the loose head.  It hadn't flew off but it was possible so I left and again put the maul outside to soak up some moisture.  Once again Grandma came out and put my tools away like I should have done  ;) ;D.  This time I stopped at the house after leaving the maul out again and explained to her what I was doing and why and to please leave the maul outside for a couple days and she did. 8) 8)

[Engineer]

Always been taught to soak a tool with a loose handle in a bucket of linseed oil.

[Ernie]

OXHEAD
  that's what I got - bought it at Hudson Bay when they were just startin' out ;D

Hudson Bay Co. has been around since before Canada was Canada, you must be real old ;D ;D

They were granted all the land in the catchment of Hudson's Bay by the King of England way back when.  They had trading post all through otu Canada trading for Beaver pelts to make top hats.

[Phorester]

DAN, I can understand your concerns about kids and axes.  And not to make light of your concerns, but I'm with BIBBYMAN on this one.  There's safe ways to teach'em.  You probably know that the Boy Scouts still teach ax and knife safety and use to the Scouts. 

In addition to being a Scoutmaster, I'm also on the Council training staff where we teach the adult leaders how to teach the boys knife and axe safety, among other things.  Easy for me to say, I reckon, but I think that adult scout leaders are very careful and strict with their Scouts and sharp tools.  We make them use axes only in a designated and physically roped off "axe yard" (only one person at a time allowed in), teach them to hand them off to somebody else safely, teach them how to keep them sharp and in good condition so they won't fly apart, teach them how to safely and effectively cut logs and split wood, etc. There's very few accidents with axes and knives in the Boy Scouts, and we use them quite a lot.   

[Frank_Pender]

Well, I heared tell this conversation was happening.  I thought  that I might be ablidged to chime in, with some news.   There will soon be a new axe on the market. the test unit here is the West has passed muster with a very high score.  The fallers that have been using the one protype I have received has showen great promiss and I have some standing orders waiting to be filled. ;D

[Quartlow]

I bought a Fiskars hatchet last year, man I love that thing, It is definatly sharp, I KNOW!!  ;D

[Sprucegum]

Ernie

I wouldn't say I'm old -  but some of my gadgets I built when workin' in the oilpatch have started showin' up in the local museums  ;) :D

I bought that axe in a little Hudson Bay store in the real northern part of northern Alberta for my first real job in the bush. I felt like I had stepped back 200 years in time and I loved it. I relive it every time I grab that little axe.

[Saki]

I must be the odd man out on this one. Some of my best deals for axes and other small hand tools have been farm auctions. Have gotten many older, american made tools for under $5 each. Lots of times, the older folks at the auctions are thinking who in the crap would want something that amounts to that much work, no thanks, I've had my turn with that. A lot of the kids are thinking I don't see where the batteries go. I sometimes luck out by being the only one interested in it. I like mann, plumb, bluegrass and vancamp brand stuff.

My favorite tool that I constantly carry in my pickup is a plumb brand pulaski axe. Good for cutting, grubbing, prying etc., all in all, a very versatile tool. Am looking forward to running across another one sometime.

[Furby]

I get them cheap at auctions as well, but I keep breaking handles. :
The last one I got at an auction I paid $2.50 for it, and it had a handle that was almost a perfect fit for my hands.
Was at the box store looking at handles...... again......  and they just don't feel right or last long.
Been thinking I need to make my own, but I have so many that need handles.... the task is daunting. :

[SwampDonkey]

OXHEAD
  that's what I got - bought it at Hudson Bay when they were just startin' out ;D

You must be an old timer, see'n as the company is well over 300 years old. :D

[Jeff]

I know where most of my axes are. I keep them in the Living room!  ;D

[Texas Ranger]

Jeff, I like your life style, I only have one old battleax in my livingroom. :-\

[Corley5]

There was a show on the History Channel the other night about blades and Fiskars axes were featured 8) 8) 8)  They look sharp ;) ;D

[sawguy21]

Jeff, I like your life style, I only have one old battleax in my livingroom. :-\

Uhh... naa, I'll leave it alone :D

[Phorester]

"Jeff, I like your life style, I only have one old battleax in my livingroom."

Yeah, right......., and you don't let her read this forum either, do ya?   ;D

[Dale Hatfield]

Gransfors bruks used to make a great % pound felling axe used for driving plastic felling wedges.
But they  they have sold off  all  stock and not making any more.

Anybody  know where a man  can get a 5 pounder  that might have some balance and a square back?
3 1/2 #  axe  just dont have it for driving wedges on a hard leaner.

Dale

[Frank_Pender]

Dale, Like I mentioned earlier, LogRite is coming out with two styles, the last I spoke with Kevin.  One will be a 24" handle and the other 30" handle.  I have had one here for several weeks being used by a couple of full time fallers and they really seem to like the unit.   They are in waiting for the ten I have ordered.