guide to buying an axe

[seneca]

I have a few conifer stumps and a couple of small trees that I want to remove and am looking to buy an axe. There are so many to choose from:
wooden handles, fibreglass etc. steel blade, black painted metal blade, sharp, rounded edge, and many different weights and lengths. oh, and a number of different brand names.

any advice on what to look for or recommendations for a good, reliable axe.

 

[breezer]

one that is sharp and heavy

i have a hatchet, its fine but being a hatchet you cant take a good swing

 

[2scoops0406]

not a pick axe, or St Mary's Axe for that matter. You want a felling axe, but remember you should use a maul not an axe for splitting logs.

 

[seneca]

You want a felling axe, but remember you should use a maul not an axe for splitting logs.

is a felling axe a particular kind, or is it just heavier?

what is the difference between an axe and a maul? and could I use a maul for chopping down the odd small tree? Though my main job is splitting up conifer stumps for removal, I'd like to be able to use the axe afterwards for other things.

 

[Hitachimad]

If you want stumps removed, get a stump grinder in (assuming suitable access)
By hand is hard work

 

[breezer]

i drilled holes in a stump i had untill there was no room for any more holes, did take a while but it worked

 

[joe-90]

Axes are dangerous. One slight slip and you'll all but cut your foot off. Severed arteries aren't repairable, death is inevitable.

A saw is a better option.

 

[breezer]

not with me it isnt

 

[2scoops0406]

I don't think axe's are way up on the dangerous tool list, you'd have to be pretty cack handed to cut your foot off Removing stumps best to get them ground down. Felling axes come is all sorts of variations, choose one that your comfortable with. Try to get one with a convex body profile stops it jamming.

A maul is like an axe but has a thicker body at the rear, this is so you can hit it with a hammer when splitting logs without damaging it. You could cut down a tree with it, but it's not the right tool, for that you want a felling axe.

 

[wanabechippie]

How big's the connifer you want to drop? If it's only a wee one (base less than 6"ish accross) you might be better off with a small hand axe. Easier to swing when you've got branches a couple of feet off the ground.

If the tree's a bit bigger, a full size felling axe is what you want. One of these will split logs fairly well, but not as efficiently as a splitting maul. Don't try and drop a tree with one of these - they're called 'mauls' for a reason!


I've only used wooden/tubeular steel shafted axes, so i can't vouch for fibreglass handles but in my experience, wooden handles will only stand up to a couple of missed blows that catch the handle before they snap on you. They are, however, cheaper and easier to replace than fibre glass.

Places like B&Q or most garden centres/tool shops sell a variaty of axes.


PS: I'm linking to Ebay purely to illustrate the axes. No idea if those particular axes are any good!

 

[Thermo]

go for one with a timber handle. I had a fibre glass handle one and it really carrys the shock down the handle. We ditched it and have a timber handled one in the van now. Make sure you sharpen it as you go along as well. they blunt quickly when they start hitting earth, stones etc. all that effort for no gain once its blunt.

 

[breezer]

the hand axe shown by wanabechippie looks likr the one i have.

 

[seneca]

thanks guys, lots of good advice for my consideration. The reason for wanting to get an axe was one always comes in useful for clearing parts of a overgrown garden with quite a few dead shrubs/trees. I have used one before, many times, but unfortunately it was one I had borrowed, and eventually had to return it (you know what it's like, borrow a tool, the owner never asks for it back and it becomes part of the toolbox.... until a while later when they catch up with you and want it back!)
Now I decided to get my own, but thought I'd ask which type. I suppose I want an allrounder really, not a collection of specialist axes.

 

[2scoops0406]

thanks guys, lots of good advice for my consideration. The reason for wanting to get an axe was one always comes in useful for clearing parts of a overgrown garden with quite a few dead shrubs/trees. I have used one before, many times, but unfortunately it was one I had borrowed, and eventually had to return it (you know what it's like, borrow a tool, the owner never asks for it back and it becomes part of the toolbox.... until a while later when they catch up with you and want it back!)
Now I decided to get my own, but thought I'd ask which type. I suppose I want an allrounder really, not a collection of specialist axes.

There aren't really any allrounders

Felling axe - Chopping down trees
Pick axe - Breaking up hard material
Mattock - Grubbing out roots / heavy tilling
Maul - Splitting logs
Hand axe (Hatchet) Kindling / small logs.


Take your pick (axe )

 

[wanabechippie]

the hand axe shown by wanabechippie looks likr the one i have.

I have that one as well.

got it from B&Q for £7. Been molesting plantlife with it for the last 4 years with no complaints.