How much to spend on an axe

[C_Claycomb]

Regarding rapid wood removal for the spoon work, have you tried crosscut sawing down to near your profile line, then using knife and baton to split off the major waste? If you make multiple saw cuts you shouldn't need to split move than an inch at a time.

 

[GuestD]

I had a look on the forum search. I have a few expensive axes, but for the money, these are excellent. Just need to keep an eye on lidl offers.

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

Regarding rapid wood removal for the spoon work, have you tried crosscut sawing down to near your profile line, then using knife and baton to split off the major waste? If you make multiple saw cuts you shouldn't need to split move than an inch at a time.

I’m still looking for logs and when I find them, my potential spoon quest becomes an insect ID event. It’s all good fun. I bought a folding saw, so that’s going to help with turning logs into heaps of sawdust and smaller bits of wood lol


“In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees”

 

[KenThis]

In general I agree with everything that has been said but I also offer another slightly different viewpoint.

Axes aren't necessary in the woods in the UK but they are fun. If playing in the woods is your hobby then you will have a lot of fun playing with a small axe/hatchet.
Give yourself a budget that you are happy to spend (waste) on your hobby. You much better placed than anyone else to know how much you can donate to your enjoyment.
Then look through tool catalogues and websites and find one that you like the look of.
Double check reviews and look on youtube to see what people think of the brand and particular model.
If you still think it's a good idea try shopping around for a good deal.

I feel like axes and knives are very subjective tools and that a big part of the enjoyment is the aesthetic and feel in the hand especially when we talk about bushcraft as a hobby.

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

Screwfix. £10. Blunt and useless as they could possibly make it but it’s a hatchet. Now to sharpen the bugger.

 

[Woody girl]

Well done mate. now you got loadsa cash left over to go to the bushmoot with and we can all have a look at your sharpening skills!

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

Well done mate. now you got loadsa cash left over to go to the bushmoot with and we can all have a look at your sharpening skills!

I’ll be the guy standing in the middle of an orange taped-off safety zone, covered in safety tape, with people in high-viz handing out PPE gear to onlookers. You won’t miss me..... or the Air Ambulance helicopter that will be hovering over me the whole time.

 

[Janne]

Easier to just call your friendly undertaker......

 

[Woody girl]

I’ll be the guy standing in the middle of an orange taped-off safety zone, covered in safety tape, with people in high-viz handing out PPE gear to onlookers. You won’t miss me..... or the Air Ambulance helicopter that will be hovering over me the whole time.

Drama queen! Lol. Don't worry safety gear is provided to all experienced bushcrafters to protect ourselves from beginners. Health and safety insurance purposes and all that malarkey. We'll be fine. Just don't stand too near the hot dogs!

 

[C_Claycomb]

Before you bedeck yourself in HiViz and bandages, have a read of:

"An Axe to Grind"
http://www.bchmt.org/documents/education/AnAxetoGrind.pdf
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environmen...publications/fs_publications/99232823/toc.cfm

There is also a Youtube video for this.


and "Woodsmanship" by Bernard Mason
http://www.survivorlibrary.com/library/woodsman-ship.pdf

Anyone wanting to start playing with axe and saw in the woods should read the latter.

 

[MrEd]

Yes get an old axe and do it up. Add to your skill base.

This is what I did, with a small hatchet I found at a car boot, made a small leather sheath for it to. Was lovely replacing the handle and getting the head back in fettle again.

I just need to learn how to use it properly, I have hardly used it since as I haven’t found the need yet tbh

 

[Woody girl]

To be honest I prefer a bill hook as I don't do a lot of carving with an axe. A bill hook will do everything I need it to do even down to roughing out spoons if I need to. It's a good old English working tool and you'd be hard pressed to find a farmer or wood land worker without one lurking somewhere in their tool shed.

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

To be honest I prefer a bill hook as I don't do a lot of carving with an axe. A bill hook will do everything I need it to do even down to roughing out spoons if I need to. It's a good old English working tool and you'd be hard pressed to find a farmer or wood land worker without one lurking somewhere in their tool shed.

Now you tell me! Back to Screwfix it is!


“In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees”

 

[Woody girl]

Sorry pal but you didn't ask! Lol. It just my personal preference and not being a sort of person who feels they have to have an axe to be a Bushcrafter. . Although I do have one that I've had for years and years recently replaced I still love my bill hook. Not as easy to transport around as an axe tho.

 

[Robson Valley]

What's the task? Pick the tool for the task. There would be a million billhooks if they replaced axes.
Probably lots of jobs where a billhook is far superior to any other tool.
I guess us pagan heathens haven't found the task yet.
Axes and hatchets are quite common. 50% of the concept is to pick a bevel angle for any of them
and learn how to sustain that bevel angle for a couple of years of hard use.

Split firewood just for the Hell of it. Cords of it. Chopping firewood at -30C is not fun.
Find out how big an axe head it takes to have the mass for log busting.
Bushells of kindling as well. Your wood stove will love you for it!

Pruning grape vines in cold weather is kind of a chore. I want the right tools to make life easier.
The direct result is that I need both anvil and bypass loppers and shears.