ssok's axe thread

I've recently started working on axes and since we still have a forum I'll share my dealings.

Modern axes are junk unless you buy Sweedish. Bad steel, bad profiles, etc.

So I drove to horrible freight and spent $16 for a firemans hatchet.




Lop that spike off



I ground the poll square and flat-topped the bit. Going for a Norlund inspired Hudson Bay profile



I then did a quick filing of the edge. Sharpened easy so I would assume soft but the results after chopping pine roots say brittle:



I ground the edge back to the base of the chip. Once I resharpen if I get more chips or quick edge loss I may attempt a hillbilly heat treat.

I've got a Wetterlings down in the shop. Likely going to use it tomorrow afternoon. Have to take down a few saplings in the side yard and my saw ate itself not long ago.

For the small amount of axing that I need to do for my little backyard fire ring, I bought a Fiskars axe from Amazon that has been well worth the money.

GFB splitting maul

Edited by Eville - 02 August 2017 at 9:04pm

tallen702 wrote: Shub wrote: For the small amount of axing that I need to do for my little backyard fire ring, I bought a Fiskars axe from Amazon that has been well worth the money. You know, those things get consistently decent reviews from a lot of the outdoors forums. Never used one myself, but I hear they're not half-bad by any means.

It's been great for me. I think the biggest gripe from enthusiasts is the oddball design makes it difficult to impossible to replace the handle if you break it...although Fiskars warranty is supposed to be pretty good.