Types of axes
Taking into account such a wide area of use of an ax, this hand tool should be given due attention, its features and varieties should be considered, which will make it possible to make the most correct choice during its acquisition. All axes differ in the size of the blade, while the differences mainly lie in the width of the butt of the blade, which depends on its weight, as well as the dimensions of the length and depth, and here all axes are divided into products with narrow, medium and wide blades
All axes differ in the size of the blade, while the differences mainly lie in the width of the butt of the blade, which depends on its weight, as well as the dimensions of the length and depth, and here all axes are divided into products with narrow, medium and wide blades.
An ax with a wide blade is considered to be the product, the butt of the blade of which is equal to two-thirds of the width of the palm, such axes usually have a long ax handle and are heavy. An ax with a wide blade is used for cutting surfaces with a large area, it is used for felling trees and cutting bars and logs.
An ax with a medium blade is the most popular representative of this type of hand tools, because it has not only a medium-sized blade, but also an average ax handle, and an average weight. The versatility of this ax is that it can be used for both fairly neat and rough, rough work.
An ax with a small blade belongs to the category of a tool for performing conditionally jewelry work, such an ax is designed for delivering very weak blows. The ax with a small blade is mainly used for splitting wood chips, cutting small knots, smoothing gaps, and is mainly used in preparing raw materials for carving.
The shape of the sharpening of the blade is no less important than its size, so there are blades with straight and oval sharpening, while axes with a straight blade are designed for chopping only, and products with oval sharpening are designed for chopping and cutting blows.
The weight of the ax is also an important characteristic of the tool, since not all axes have wooden ax handles, and their weight becomes independent of the size of their striking blade. Here you need to take into account the pattern - the larger all the axes, the more force they can strike and vice versa, and axes weighing up to one kilogram are considered the best and most versatile tool.
The ax handle dictates the conditions for using the tool, because with a short-handled ax it is impossible to deliver strong blows, but it is possible to produce sharp blows, and with a long-handled ax the opposite is true.
It is important to take into account the material from which the ax handle is made, the best of them is birch wood, it is quite dense, durable and resilient, moreover, it absorbs vibration upon impact. Products with metal and plastic handles transmit vibration upon impact, which simply causes discomfort.
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Best Answers
Ruff:
What are you for? If you work in half - 50% work and 50% put behind the glass in a sideboard, show off, then Fiskars, they are expensive, ergonomic, beautiful, prestigious. If exclusively for work - any. I bought myself in a general store, the most ordinary one for 50 rubles (then), and I use it very rarely. He doesn't really need it. The main thing in it is to sharpen the blade in the simplest way possible. In any market, where knives and scissors are sharpened, you can sharpen both a scythe and an ax for 100 rubles. Tip - go to any garden center or tool store, look, try on by hand, by weight.
Light:
Firms RODION RASKOLNIKOV and Co.
lexany:
German and all
Julia Popova:
I am unlikely to help you much, since all my actions with an ax are to chop pegs for marking or chip off splinter for kindling. And for this, nothing is better than our classic nameless ax from the nearest general store: it has a thin blade and can be sharpened like a sharp knife - that's it for me. But at the exhibition, Gardentul saw men crowding around a series of Fiskars axes. They looked for other needs - such as chopping firewood. And there, of course, a thin blade is only a hindrance. They need the logs not to pinch the blade, but to fly apart. As I understand it, Fiskars inspired many visitors to the exhibition. But I can’t comment on this series from personal experience - “for what I bought, for that I sell.” I just know that she now has a lot of fans.
Tatiana B:
Dina:
Buy a cast one so that it is not on a piece of wood, otherwise it must be soaked before work. Firskars - an overpayment for the brand, but the quality is good or equivalent. Now the choice is good.
Vladimir Norov:
Take it from Versace, glamorous pink with ruffles. What difference does it make what company, the main thing is to cut and prick.
How to choose a quality hatchet for chopping meat
Blade grade
The blade shape can be straight or rounded, and this characteristic does not affect the functionality of the tool.
It is important to determine the ratio of the thickness and weight of the hatchet - these parameters should be maximum. Only in this case, you can count on the chopping properties of the hatchet
It is not necessary to have a sharp sharpening of the cutting edge, it all depends on the type of butcher's ax - a professional one will have a high sharpness, a kitchen one allows for a slight decrease in the parameter.
Handle configuration
They work with an ax with one hand, so the length of the handle should be within the palm of your hand. The shape of this part of the kitchen tool should be somewhat convex - this will provide comfort when held for a long time in the palm of your hand.
Be sure to make sure that there are several notches on the handle of the tool - this is a guarantee of the safety of cutting meat / fish, because slipping of the palm and injury are excluded.
Steel
If the kitchen tool is made in production, and not “Kulibin”, then the head of the blade will definitely be stamped. It is on it that all the information about what steel was used in the manufacture is located.
Most often, the following brands are used:
- U7A;
- U8;
- U8A;
- U8GA.
It is worth buying a forged ax, and to make sure of the quality of the product, you need to easily click on the blade with your nails or perform a light chopping movement on contact with any hard surface - the sound should come out sonorous.
Center of gravity
This indicator is important from the point of view of the usability of the tool. According to the rules, the center of gravity should be located on the handle, but as close as possible to the blade. Only in this case it will be possible to expend less physical effort when chopping - the hatchet “by itself” will cut the flesh and chop the bones.
Ease of use
A meat ax is not recommended to be presented as a gift, even if a person really needs it and the product has high quality characteristics. The fact is that such tools are selected on an individual basis - the potential owner must hold it in his hand for several minutes, perform 2-4 swing / chopping movements and evaluate the following parameters:
- handle comfort;
- product weight;
- center of gravity;
- handle dimensions;
- the presence of grooves for fingers and so on.
Watch the video about a convenient version of the ax for chopping meat:
Leveraxe 2 lever ax by Vipukirves on block
Pros:
powerful lever Cons:
not suitable for lumberjacks Hundreds of years ago, our ancestors used tools of the same shape to chop wood for a fire. Traditional axes tend to get stuck in wood (especially young ones), and handling them takes a lot of practice. That is why the Finnish inventor Hekki Karna came up with the Leveraxe ax, and then Leveraxe 2
. He needed a tool that could get the most out of it with the least amount of effort. Its funny shape is a lever that helps to increase the force when the cleaver hits the log. With it, you can cut such a stump with one blow, which you will have to hit several times with other axes. Its blade, together with the butt, weighs 1.59 kg. It is made of stainless steel, which is virtually corrosion resistant. In general, this wonderful tool will prove to be indispensable helpers for young, elderly and not very strong people. And I must say that Leveraxe 2 is lighter and safer than its predecessor. We advise you to purchase.
Price: 24000 rub.
The best axes for chopping wood
Only special axes called cleavers can split a thick log with one blow. Due to the massive working part with a thick blade, the blow leads to cracking of the wood along the fibers. The most effective experts recognized the following models.
The most convenient ax for chopping firewood, according to experts, was the Fiskars X11-S 440 mm model. The tool is of high quality workmanship, while it is sold in Russia at an affordable price. With the help of a cleaver, it is possible to perform various types of work, from harvesting firewood to construction. The manufacturer made a pronounced butt, which makes it possible to use the back side as a hammer. Teflon coating is used to protect the steel blade.
The ax takes first place in the ranking for its compact size and light weight (1.13 kg), ergonomic ax with a shock-absorbing coating. The handle is made of a special material FiberComp, which is not afraid of moisture and is resistant to mechanical damage.
- universality;
- does not get stuck in logs;
- easily splits logs up to 20 cm in diameter;
- durable handle.
not detected.
At the lowest price, the Matrix 21820 cleaver is sold on the domestic market. A well-known German manufacturer managed to reduce the cost of production by locating a production site in China. The ax is made of steel 65G, which after heat treatment acquires high hardness (50 HRc). Even logs with branches can be split thanks to the back part, made in the form of an anvil. With the help of a hammer, you can free the stuck ax and cut the log. For ease of use, the handle is made of fiberglass, it absorbs upon impact. In addition, the material does not swell and does not dry out.
- low price;
- quality manufacturing;
- comfortable handle;
- moderate angle.
- big weight;
- tangible recoil in the hands upon impact.
The GARDENA 1600S splitter will help you quickly deal with a whole mountain of firewood. The geometry of the blade is specially selected for splitting medium-sized logs. The tool is made in the Czech Republic, so the price is slightly higher than the offer of competitors. But the manufacturer treated the ax blade with a special compound to reduce friction.The total mass of the cleaver is 1.6 kg, which, with a length of 600 mm, becomes a serious force.
It was possible to facilitate the tool due to the carbon fiber handle. It is not afraid of moisture and does not dry out. However, the material is destroyed by strong blows of a sledgehammer on the butt of a stuck ax. Therefore, you will have to work according to the blow-extraction-strike scheme. Over time, adhering resin accumulates on the blade, which worsens the splitting of firewood. Cleaning is best done with organic solvents.
How to choose a quality ax
Appointment.
First of all, it is necessary to designate a list of tasks that will be assigned to the chopping product. There are universal models, they are most often bought by owners of private houses. Some axes are designed for professional woodworking, carpenters or joiners need them. And the most compact and light hatchets help tourists out on a hike.
Blade.
A major difference is observed in the shape of the blade. For chopping firewood, thickened products are better suited, in which the cutting part does not have a very sharp angle. This shape prevents the ax from getting stuck in the log. But to remove the bark or create hollows in the wood, a sharp thin blade is required.
Often, during work, you have to knock on the butt in order to free the cleaver from the knotty log or evenly chop off the excess part of the tree.
Therefore, when buying a tool, you should pay attention to whether the manufacturer allows impact on the butt.
R
kill. Handle provides ease of use
The classic option is the use of natural wood. However, due attention is not always paid to the draft in production. After a short use, the handle begins to wobble, which makes using the tool dangerous. But ax handles made of artificial materials do not swell when moistened and do not dry out after drying. But not all of them are able to withstand shock loads.
Without
danger
. So that the ax does not pose a danger to humans during storage or movement, you should take care of a protective cover. It is convenient to hang the tool if there is a special hole on the handle.
Our review includes 12 of the best axes. With the help of experts and users, it was possible to identify winners in several categories.
Axes Type Tomahawk
for firewood
/
For a hike
/
Handle: metal
/
Type: tomahawk
Main advantages
- Tourist ax for cutting branches or small trees in adverse conditions
- The tool is one-piece forged from high-quality hardened steel, which guarantees high reliability and long service life.
- The handle of the ax is rubberized, which eliminates slipping and provides a secure grip and comfortable working conditions.
- Light weight - 600 g and small size - 25 cm allow you to place and transport the tool in a backpack, which increases ease of use
- The ax is completed with a protective cover, with which it can be placed on the waist belt. This improves the safety of use.
for firewood
/
For a hike
/
Handle: wood
/
Type: tomahawk
leveraxe
Heikki Karna is a Finn who rethought the principle of the ax and modeled it as a lever. The blade of the novelty is shifted to the edge of the butt, due to which the center of gravity changes. This makes it possible to reduce the likelihood of the ax slipping or bouncing when struck at the wrong angle. And due to the shape of the head part, Leveraxe transmits more kinetic energy expended by a person. Thus, its efficiency grows almost 2 times. So you won’t even feel how you cut down the entire forest in a matter of minutes. And then there will still be strength to kindle a fire to fry kebabs on it.
The chopping element of Leveraxe is also unusual. A few centimeters before the tip, its blade expands, which slows down the penetration of the ax into the wood. So the momentum of impact is preserved, and the blade turns into such a lever.This allows you to chip off pieces of wood even from the edges of a large log. And, of course, saves you time and effort.
Although the Fiskars ax has a plastic handle, but to break it, you need to be Schwarzenegger, or just get drunk. Such a fix is not subject to. But this monster is one of the most reliable traditional options.
Do you like more serious devices? Then the axes of the Gerber trademark are just right. This is pure military fetishism, which not only looks cool, but also cuts.
The axes of the Bellota brand also have something to brag about. With such, even the weakest blow is gaining crushing power. This is because they have a shifted center of gravity. And yet the cleaver itself does not slip off. This is because the handle expands from the bottom up and the chopping part is put on it from below. There is only one problem - due to the unusually narrow dimensions at the grip point, the ax can slip out of the hand. So hold it tight.
Which steel is better
For the production of axes, several types of steel are used, but the 9XC grade is considered the best. Before making a tool out of it, the steel is subjected to high-temperature treatment twice, which makes it possible to reduce the level of deformation during broaching.
During the forging process, the workpiece is stretched, and the cross section is reduced - this is how the metal acquires the necessary ductility and strength. In simpler terms, the ax becomes able to withstand a blow against a tree, while maintaining integrity.
The 9XC grade contains 0.9% carbon, chromium - 1.5% and the same amount of silicon. Carbon is responsible for strength, chromium adds hardness to the alloy. It also protects against corrosion. Silicon is responsible for rust resistance.
Challis axes from BEST MADE CO. best in the world
Pros:
narrow butt with a blade Cons:
long ax A manufacturer who boldly declares on every corner that his product is the best must meet the stated standards. And I must say that in the case of Challis, it works. It is not clear why their office is still in Manhattan. After all, they make wonderful axes that are preferred even by old-school lumberjacks around the world. So, no matter what tool you buy from them, you can be sure that you will not lose. There are, of course, remarks about their ax handles ... The blade, together with the butt, weighs 1.81 kg, Dayton style, even vampire fighter Abraham Lincoln would have liked this. Made from 5160 steel, hardness 54-56 Rockwell. It just blows everything to pieces! The very narrow working part allows the ax to penetrate deep into the wood and cut pieces out of it with each blow. So don't be surprised if a stray sliver gets in your eye. It is impossible not to say about the ax made from American hazel; wood fibers run along the handle. So, this tool may well be the standard to which one should strive. It combines engineering with art.
Price: 23600 rubles.
How is it different from the usual
For example, carpenter's axes differ from taiga axes in the shape of the blade and the length of the handle. The tasks that the tools have to perform are the opposite. A carpenter's ax needs to be cut as accurately as possible. The workers here are not distinguished by haste, since the main thing in the course of such work is not to make mistakes.
Trade products or splitters perform a different function - they cut wood quickly and deeply. The shape of the ax is made in such a way that it is faster to fell a tree than with a carpentry tool with equal effort expended.
Carpentry options do not have a powerful furrow - a protrusion under the ax handle, which prevents the handle from breaking during vibration. This ledge absorbs about 50% of the load. However, this groove will not save the handle if it breaks on a chock. The carpenter's ax is not supplied with a wide front. The blade of the commercial option is made at an angle. This allows the worker to use the tool as a cleaver.It is only necessary to concentrate energy on the right blow.
The ax handles of carpentry and fishing tools differ in the angle of inclination. The first option is distinguished by a smooth downward angle. The protruding edge of the ax is visible visually. The fishing tool simply does not have it. This very angle creates strong vibrations.
In addition to the blade, the carpenter's version also differs in the ax handle. Here it has an ovoid cross section. The first half of the carpentry tool should not be very heavy and thin, otherwise it will break quickly. Aspen handles are considered to be of high quality. A good workpiece should be strong and light. Home-made options are recommended to be treated not with varnish, but with drying oil. Lacquered ones will slip and turn out to be cold.
Expert answers
renegade renegade:
Fiskars
curb in Russian terminator:
saw better for node
Masha:
Do not know..
Wicked:
Elena:
Fiskars now has discounts and just has tourist axes, very compact. I have one like this in my car.
Bob Dylan:
Expensive, but very high quality Fiskars
Emily Oberg:
try either Gränsfors Bruks or Hultafors
Danir Khaysanov:
fly to china to the monks they will teach you how to do without an ax
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary:
I want an ax too. Cut down small trees and shrubs in the country. I understood from the previous answers that you need to buy Fiskars.
Zhora Shmelev:
It is better to have a chain saw, they are inexpensive. And I prefer Siberian axes.
Some Kakoitovich:
Damn, people, there is an ax, and there is a cleaver. I have never seen axes at Fiskars!
Raisa Zykova:
An ordinary ax is universal ...
RAMZES:
Fiskars.
Vasya:
cleaver
Bug:
Now only Finnish axes are on sale, but on UNON you can also buy a good Soviet hatchet.
Max Max:
saw
DANIL:
Preferably with a full alloy (handle with an ax) so that it doesn’t fly off, well, if it’s on the Zubkov TV channel, look
Alexei:
If you really want a good ax, then you need to go to the blacksmiths, for example, the northern gate forge, they have a VKontakte group. They do things you will never regret. You don't have to buy conveyor belts. s m.vk. com/ northgate
Brother:
Larisa:
Use what is there. After all, you are used to it.
muzmanyak:
I have 2 Vachev axes - a deer (easier, 0.6) for hiking, and a tiger in the car (a little harder - 1.1). Normal working inexpensive axe. True, I transplanted both to a new handle - I prefer to do it according to my hand. Of the named ones, I really don’t like fiscars, after such an ax began to move in the handle, and it was not possible to fix it in any way. The tomahawk seems to be not bad, but I didn’t try it in work, I just held it in my hands.
Igor Muntyan:
Fiskars, which is not a cleaver with a 400mm handle, is a good ax, but I like the same “storm” more; it has a more optimal sharpening angle and is 2 times cheaper than Fiskars.
Ivanov Ivan:
Yes, no matter what the child is amused, as they say. I can be wrong, but most of these things then stupidly roll around. Here in the videos on YouTube there are a lot of them - one such another, and a crowd of sofa critics are measured by something. And at the opening of the season, where a whole tent city rises, you look - most of them are chopped by Soviets on a wooden ax handle and everything is fine. Well, you just won’t peel potatoes as a fiskar, as the manufacturer sells.
Model Rating
Carpenter's axes are made by forging from steel grade U7, as well as 60G. Properly processed and hardened blade material acquires good hardness. Such a product will be durable and will sharpen well. Low carbon stamped steel will dull quickly and is too hard to sharpen well. Often the element crumbles when working with wood, so such a blade is considered defective.
The Izhevsk plant produces many tools that are characterized by low cost. Budget products delight customers with high quality.
The following advantages are noted:
- reliable handle made of wood;
- optimal weight - 1.2 kg;
- an ax handle made of high-quality steel;
- good sharpening.
There are also disadvantages:
- the possibility of acquiring a marriage;
- no hole for hanging.
Japanese specimens of carpenter's axes differ from those of Izhevsk in their increased ergonomics. There is a hole for hanging on the handle. The tool is made very convenient, sits in the carpenter's hand like a glove. At the same time, frequent use of such a tool does not entail any changes. The only drawback of the products is the high cost.
There are several more convenient models with high sales ratings. For example, Fiskars 121440*10 is in demand. Its blade is hardened twice, has a special coating, and has an interesting shape. The handle is polyamide, but comfortable and reliable. The hatchet, made in the form of a hook, does not allow the tool to slip out of the hands. The firm provides each product with a 10-year warranty.
Ax 21649 from Matrix also has good sales ratings. The product is equipped with a handle made of modern fiberglass material. The blade is high quality, forged, made of 60G steel. This carpenter's ax belongs to the budget price category.
How to choose
When choosing a handmade ax, you should know that the absence of the necessary experience from the master will lead to the fragility of the steel. For a lumberjack and for chopping firewood, you will need to select a different tool. Despite the fact that in both cases you have to work with wood, the design of the tool will be different.
The carpenter's ax has a very thin profile. A thin blade has the ability to easily penetrate the material with minimal effort on the part of the user, but it is not able to cope with thick logs - the material will simply get stuck.
The choice of the buyer should always be based primarily on the nature of the work being done. If the tool is purchased for tourism or hunting, then it should be small. The mini ax fits easily in a backpack or can be hung from a belt in a protective case.
You can buy quality goods in a professional sports store, while paying special attention to the quality of steel and other characteristics.
For an ordinary utility ax, the characteristics can be summarized as follows:
- sharp blade;
- thin bit;
- conical head;
- average weight - up to 3 kg;
- the handle should be made of wood of medium length (38 cm);
- flexibility.
The cleaver has a wide profile of the metal part, which makes it difficult to use it as a cutting tool. It is so wide that it cannot pierce small wooden elements - only large logs. On the other hand, its blade is ideal for splitting wood because it will not cut through the fibers, but will simply split them in half.
The main features of this tool:
- heavy base;
- the metal part is made in the form of a wedge;
- the handle is long and straight;
- requires an experienced user to operate.
A pocket-sized hatchet is the smallest but is quite strong and can be used for splitting small pieces of wood. This is an ideal variation for hiking as it won't take up much space or add weight to the burden. To perform household tasks, it is worth choosing a larger tool, the handle of which should reach 40 cm. If a cleaver is purchased, then its length should be much longer.
As for weight, when buying, you need to understand who and for what purposes will use the tool. If this is a teenager or a woman, then it is desirable that the design weigh as little as possible, respectively, the product should not be with a wooden or all-metal handle, but made of fiberglass.
It should be understood that the handle, which is made of wood:
- strong;
- heavy;
- absorbs shock well
- breaks down quickly
- it can be easily replaced in case of breakage.
Reinforced plastic in comparison with this material is very light and durable, but it can be damaged when exposed to a chemical.
As you can easily see, each ax model is suitable for one specific purpose. Below are other instrument features that a buyer should consider when choosing a good option.
- The size. You need to take the tool by the blade and turn the handle up - it should fit under the armpit. Thus, experts determine the ideal dimensions.
- The ax blade must be perfectly aligned. To verify this, you need to take the metal part in your hand and look.
- Balance is checked by placing the blade between the index finger and thumb. It should stand straight and not roll over to one side.
For tips on choosing an ax, see the following video.
