Four Suggestions For Choosing The Best Axe

Four Suggestions For Choosing The Best Axe

The modern axe has survived nearly unchanged from the primitive device that originated in prehistoric times. It basically consists of 2 components – the axe head (made of metal) and the handle (made of wood or fiberglass) and is generally used for cutting or splitting timber. Some of the newer axes function a one-piece solid steel construction. A brief description of the main elements of an axe is as follows. The reducing edge of the head is called the bit or blade; the opposite finish is called the ballot or butt. Every side of the head is called the cheek. The leading edge is beveled on both sides and is slightly curved. The handle or haft is mounted securely onto the head through an oval hole called the eye located near the butt end. The deal with is typically oval in cross-part and ranges from 20 inches to 36 inches in length. The vast majority of the handle is referred to as the belly. The deal with bows slightly in toward the blade at the throat close to the tip to type the grip. The very backside of the handle is called the knob.

Axe or Hatchet?

A primary distinction is made between an axe and a hatchet. The a lot bigger axe is used for chopping timber and splitting lumber. A double bit axe has 2 chopping edges and is used primarily by professional loggers. The smaller hatchet is designed to be used with one hand.

Hatchet: Definition and Use

The hatchet is a lighter, more compact model of the axe. The butt finish of a hatchet generally takes the form of a hammer head and is used for driving nails. The head may also have a nail slot for pulling nails. It's applicable for driving roofing nails and for cutting, splitting and installing wood shakes or shingles. It's an important device for a roofer and is kind of helpful to a carpenter. It will also be used when camping and for light outdoor work.

Types of gransfors bruks axes

Axes may be sub-divided into the next classes: a felling axe, a broad axe and a splitting maul. As the name implies, a felling axe is used for chopping against the grain as when felling trees. A broad axe has a large head and a broad blade that's flat on one side and beveled on the other. Up to now it has been used for hewing tough timber but has been rendered out of date by fashionable chopping tools. A splitting axe or splitting maul has a large heavy wedge-formed head that's used for splitting wood along the grain. The maul works well with a boring blade and the butt finish can be used as a sledgehammer.

Safety Suggestions

By no means use an axe or a hatchet if the head shouldn't be securely fixed to the handle or if the handle is cracked. Don't strike the butt end of an axe with a hammer. Hold the cutting fringe of the axe sharpened and rust-free. Consider the material close to the grip of the axe handle. If you think there is likely to be slippage due to perspiration, you may want to wrap a part of the handle with electrical tape.