Chopping Wood

[splitz]

I'm looking to buy an axe for camping and quartering wood. I want one that is good for both chopping and spliting, any suggestions? Or should I just bite the bullet and buy two axes?

 

[Benz0]

Fiskars...hands down

 

[splitz]

Yeah, I saw that ax at Lowes and almost picked it up. How does it do with splitting?

 

[Benz0]

Yeah, I saw that ax at Lowes and almost picked it up. How does it do with splitting?

It will slice thru all sorts of word - hard to soft...

I have that axe AND the 14" hatchet and LOVE them both...the blade keeps the edge for a loooong time and the alloy used is very strong - we used mine as a hammer once and another guys axe hammering the same stuff and his was marred - the Fiskars was unscathed!

 

[XJ Dreamin']

Fiskars...hands down

Beat me to it

When you say "camping and quartering" do you mean splitting while you're out camping, or do you want to go camping occasionally and lay up 4 cords of wood at home. If you're talking about splitting while camping, a single utility axe like the Fiskars is fine. If the splitting is in larger quantities, as for home heating, you might consider something more substantial for that. Of course, I'm a 'blade' kind of guy, so I'd be more likely to suggest buying a few more axes than are absolutely necessary.

 

[splitz]

Sweet, nice and easy. I'll get the fiskars and give it a shot. If its too hard to split with, at least I have a good chopping ax.

 

[FitchVA]

+1 on the fiskars. got one for christmas and i love it!

 

[riverfever]

X2

I never leave home without my Fiskars.

 

[splitz]

Yeah, these would be pretty handy

But seriously, I'm stoked about picking up the ax y'all recommended this afternoon. I'll let you guys know tomorrow if I still have all of my fingers and toes.

 

[splitz]

Well I just picked up the axe. It is a really good axe, but y'all were right, an ax is not a good splitter.

I still need some practice with it, but is chops through trees with ease. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Stumpalump]

http://store.baileys-online.com/cgi-bin/baileys/scan/arg=%22/fi=products/st=db/tf=sortorder%2cdescription/co=yes/sf=category/se=140/op=eq/ml=10.html
I have never been that happy with my Eastwing hatchet. I like the cheap china one because I don't feel bad beating it up on rocks and roots and then just taking the grinder to it. Since you have that nice new one you may want to pick up a el cheap to use on stuff close to the ground. Google arborist or lumber jack and check out the competition stuff for fun. I wound up with a bad ass husquavarna 346XP chainsaw but its so fast your done before the saw is warmed up.

 

[Inisadow]

Just buy a regular axe with a wood handle. And if you can't chop wood with a regular axe, grow stronger.

 

[XJ Dreamin']

Well I just picked up the axe. It is a really good axe, but y'all were right, an ax is not a good splitter.

I still need some practice with it, but is chops through trees with ease. Thanks for the tip!

Yeah, it's better to have a bit more heft when splitting. We had an 8# splitting maul, but when dad bought some hedge one year we had to go to a wedge driven by a 10# sledge hammer. That was years ago. How much does a hydraulic splitter cost?

 

[XJ Dreamin']

http://store.baileys-online.com/cgi-bin/baileys/scan/arg=%22/fi=products/st=db/tf=sortorder%2cdescription/co=yes/sf=category/se=140/op=eq/ml=10.html
I have never been that happy with my Eastwing hatchet. I like the cheap china one because I don't feel bad beating it up on rocks and roots and then just taking the grinder to it. Since you have that nice new one you may want to pick up a el cheap to use on stuff close to the ground. Google arborist or lumber jack and check out the competition stuff for fun. I wound up with a bad ass husquavarna 346XP chainsaw but its so fast your done before the saw is warmed up.

Right now I've got a double bit axe and a Pulaski. On the double bit I keep one side honed fine with a fairly low angled edge for a good bite when felling. The other side is fairly rough ground at a wider angle for grubbing. Of course, for dirt work (roots, trenching, and such) the Pulaski has a very rough axe blade on one side and a grubbing hoe on the other. For the chainsaw option I've got a cheap Craftsman (Poulan clone). I do better with my cheapa$$ saw than most guys I know with higher class equipment because I keep the chain in shape and let the saw do the work. Of course, if you keep your Husquavarna in good shape you'll cut circles around my poor little Craftsman, but for what I need the price was right.

 

[GSequoia]

I've got some Fiskers lopers I picked upf ro trail adoption work..... They ROCK!

I'll probably get the same when I get around to getting a full sized ax (I use a hatchet generally)

 

[Stumpalump]

For the chainsaw option I've got a cheap Craftsman (Poulan clone). I do better with my cheapa$$ saw than most guys I know with higher class equipment because I keep the chain in shape and let the saw do the work. Of course, if you keep your Husquavarna in good shape you'll cut circles around my poor little Craftsman, but for what I need the price was right.

Those little craftsman/polan saws are great. Especially the small ones. You can grind off the emmissions stops on the carbs and open up the exhoust and they run great. The husky professional line is a whole different animal. It just falls thru the wood and it takes the fun out if working the saw but you need two saws in case one binds in a tree so the poland is the best for that and if you need to climb a tree with a lighter saw. I have a nice high end hand pruning saw that will rip thru a pretty big tree and is good to keep in the jeep in case a trail is blocked by dead fall.

 

[XJ Dreamin']

Those little craftsman/polan saws are great. Especially the small ones. You can grind off the emmissions stops on the carbs and open up the exhoust and they run great. The husky professional line is a whole different animal. It just falls thru the wood and it takes the fun out if working the saw but you need two saws in case one binds in a tree so the poland is the best for that and if you need to climb a tree with a lighter saw. I have a nice high end hand pruning saw that will rip thru a pretty big tree and is good to keep in the jeep in case a trail is blocked by dead fall.

It'll get a workout this summer. I've got a dead hickory out back that's about 15" DBH. Anybody need any smoker wood, I'll be cutting it up sometime before fall. It's dead standing so it will be good to go as soon as I get it down.

I've got the cutest little McCulloch. A 10" bar, no chain brake, you have to pump the oiler with your thumb continuously while you're cutting - it almost fits in the palm of your hand. I'm not running it right now because I need to find someone who can fix the oiler. I showed it to the tree trimming guy when he was out here after Rita and it gave him a good laugh. If I can remember, I'll get a picture of it next to the Craftsman, for scale.

 

[8Mud]

Fiscars makes a splitter also, it has a wedge built into the blade. I have both the splitter axe and a hatchet. I use my old tried and true, double axe for chopping, I keep it razor sharp.
I've had the same Poulan topping and trimming saw forever, like twenty years or more. A small saw with a relatively long guide and chain. Actually small and light enough to hang off my belt, when climbing. I think I have a 16" guide on it, I have a selection. A little too much chain for so small a saw, but you get used to it and the extra length comes in handy and helps the chain stay sharp longer.

 

[Stumpalump]

I've got the cutest little McCulloch. A 10" bar, no chain brake, you have to pump the oiler with your thumb continuously while you're cutting - it almost fits in the palm of your hand. I'm not running it right now because I need to find someone who can fix the oiler. I showed it to the tree trimming guy when he was out here after Rita and it gave him a good laugh. If I can remember, I'll get a picture of it next to the Craftsman, for scale.

http://www.arboristsite.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9

These guys know your saw problem. I think they fall in love with chainsaws like we do with Jeeps.

 

[92AKXJ]

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