Got my Estwing, and I've been playing a bit.

[Keith_Beef]

Well, I was after a new hatchet, and had seen some Estwings in the local DIY shops.

After looking around a bit, I decided that this would be a reasonable tool for further splitting wood that had already been split with a larger axe or with maul and wedge. And it would make a useful tool for hiking or camping.

So I took a trip up to Home Depot, where they were marked as being $32, as compared to the $42 at a nearer shop.

I had to look through all twelve that were on the rack. The grinds were uneven, to say the least...

I picked out the "least bad"; I know I can always tidy it up myself later. In fact, compared to the others on the rack, it really isn't all that bad at all.

And I got a nice surprise at the checkout: $24!

I sharpened it at home, and cut a bit of kindling.

Last night, I made a dreidel for my daughter (in the cellar workshop, using a saw and an Opinel, and the electric drill); when my son saw it this morning, he wanted one, too. So I decided to do one entirely with hand tools, using the Estwing to carve the starting shape, then the Shing folder.

Here are a couple of pics.










Keith.

 

[tomtom]

looks like a decent hatchet, does it take a good sharp edge?

reeeeeeally like the folder, good pics thanks for showing use Keith!

 

[Keith_Beef]

looks like a decent hatchet, does it take a good sharp edge?

I'll let you know when I've had it for a while. I put a bit of an edge on it, but nowhere near shaving sharp!

reeeeeeally like the folder, good pics thanks for showing use Keith!

D2 blade
I've got another one waiting for me, too

K.

 

[Hoodoo]

Keith, I've wanted one of those hatchets for as long as I can remember. That leather handle is just too cool. Estwing has always made indestructible stuff. Their hammers are pretty standard gear among framing carpenters and those guys know how to beat on their hammers (I used to be one).

Menards (like a Home Depot store) had 'em cheap a couple years ago, in the $20 range, but for some reason I didn't buy one. I already have more hatchets than I know what to do with but for some reason that little hatchet still nags at me. Some day I'll see it on sale again and grab one. I'm eager to hear how you make out with yours.

 

[Keith_Beef]

..snip..
Menards (like a Home Depot store) had 'em cheap a couple years ago, in the $20 range, but for some reason I didn't buy one. I already have more hatchets than I know what to do with but for some reason that little hatchet still nags at me. Some day I'll see it on sale again and grab one. I'm eager to hear how you make out with yours.

I got lucky. I got charged $1 per oz for mine

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDU...earchResults.jsp&MID=9876&N=2984+3865&pos=n22

I'll let you know how it holds up.


K.

 

[yarrow]

I've had my Estwing campers axe for about a year now, have taken it on some canoe trips and given it a good work out. Mine too came blunt (and i mean blunt) i found the best way to sharpen it was with very fine wet and dry paper and an old mouse mat, this gives it a nice edge and just the right angle, a bit of a strop on my belt and it'll slice through paper! For all thoes interested it also produces a nice shower of sparks with a fire steel My only gripe was that it realy fatigued the forearm when working one handed so i built up the grip to make it easier to hold higher up. O.k, i've tried and tried to add a photo to this reply but cant!! So if anyone is interested i'll put a photo in edge tools under Estwing campers axe (thats if i can).

 

[Neil1]

I have an Estwing hatchet, had it about 12 years (may be more), virtually indestructable, the edge retention is not bad at all. The leather cover lets it down. They are quite heavy, they weigh about the same as an SFA, but you get slightly less cutting ability.
They are carried in the larger Aircrew Survival kits I believe.
Neil

 

[Topcat02]

My mate has an estwing hammer, and no matter how much I sung their praises (GB SFA) he decided to buy an estwing axe to match.

I was surprised at how substantial in weight it was compared to my SFA. It was great around camp, but he struggled a bit when we cleared 10ft of a fallen tree. The tree was about 2ft in diameter, and it took about 10mins with the estwing, whereas my end took about 5mins.

It wasnt so much the size, but the lack of leverage, being small handled. I suspect he will probably buy an SFA as well.

Overall he is very happy with it, but as others have mentioned the sheath could be a little more substantial for the price (believe he bought it from screwfix for about £30).

 

[Topcat02]

Keith_Beef,

Is that snow on the ground outside the picket fence? Surprised you've got snow in Paris already.

TC

 

[jason01]

I was given my Estwing axe about 18 years ago and while it does work I dont feel its particularly good VFM, as others have noted the grind was very uneven, the head symmetry is poor, the balance is not very good, no leverage so its hard work if youre doing much other than light stuff with it.

The resin on the leather handle cracks up very quickly and the steel under the leather rusts like mad, the edge is fairly soft but apart from that they do look pretty

I have a couple of Estwing claw hammers and a geology pick, I particularly like the pick, it has the blue synthetic grip which performs better than the leather versions but not as pretty. All in all though I prefer wooden shafts as they generally seem to have a better balance.

The unknown brand Swedish made axe in the picture is lighter than the Estwing, it was less expensive, its more powerful and much nicer to use. The claw hammer was one of a bunch cleared out cheap by a tool wholesaler because of the rust at each end of the leather wrapping, its never been used, still has factory labels on it but you can maybe just make out how rusty it is in the picture.

Having said all that, I often take the Estwing just because it looks so nice

YMMV