Any other carpenter's axe fans?

[MountainBilly]

I have 4 Wetterlings and Gransfors Bruks axes. Unless I am chopping down a tree I almost always reach for my Wetterlings Carpenter's Axe. It is thinner than a regular axe with a wider flatter curved edge. I use it for limbing, rough planing and producing red alder chunks for BBQ. I half suspect that I like it so much because I don't know what the hell I'm doing as far as proper technique. Does anyone else favor this type of axe?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I have 4 Wetterlings and Gransfors Bruks axes. Unless I am chopping down a tree I almost always reach for my Wetterlings Carpenter's Axe. It is thinner than a regular axe with a wider flatter curved edge. I use it for limbing, rough planing and producing red alder chunks for BBQ. I half suspect that I like it so much because I don't know what the hell I'm doing as far as proper technique. Does anyone else favor this type of axe?

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I enjoy straight-edged bits quite a bit. In The Young Farmer's Manual, there's this interesting opinion, which resonates with my experience as well.

 

[Wandering_About]

The carpenter's hatches are very good tools, and are especially suited to... duh... carpentry and hewing.

Properly sharpened axes of most patterns have a fairly straight edge. It does cut more nicely in my experience. The straight edge is also a bit more accurate for doing finer work.

By the way, I believe Kephart's book has a section explaining how a straighter edge on an axe is desirable, but I don't have it handy at the moment.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

By the way, I believe Kephart's book has a section explaining how a straighter edge on an axe is desirable, but I don't have it handy at the moment.

If you happen to stumble across it, post it on up!

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

I have been on the hunt for a new one. I had a Gransfurs, and let it go. It was a very sharp axe that handled well. I wouldn't have ever thought to use it on the heavy stuff, it was thin, but for limbing and camp fire chores..it was the best.

 

[Larry in Bend]

I use an old Plumb half-hatchet a lot. Always take it when car camping.

http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brands/CF_Files/model_detail.cfm?upc=037103115492

 

[neeman]

The carpenter's hatches are very good tools, and are especially suited to... duh... carpentry and hewing.

Properly sharpened axes of most patterns have a fairly straight edge. It does cut more nicely in my experience. The straight edge is also a bit more accurate for doing finer work.

By the way, I believe Kephart's book has a section explaining how a straighter edge on an axe is desirable, but I don't have it handy at the moment.

Looked in two of Kephart's books but he does not mention a straight edge


I used to have an old Plumb half-hatchet with a right sided chisel edge
Wicked thing it was and very sharp
But it grew legs ....sadly

I have a Wetterlings Carpenters axe
It is heavy at 2 lbs head and a 19" handle
I used to use a 1 kilo hammer for work all the time but it needed a much shorter swing
or a lighter framing hammer with a 19" handle for long swings
So I find it too heavy for an accurate single handed swing and too big for finer work

I now use a Gransfors Bruks Wildlife hatchet

 

[MountainBilly]

Maybe that's why I prefer it to a hatchet; I'm 6' 4" and weigh 280, it seems light to me and while I sometimes choke up, I like the longer handle.

 

[fishiker]

I believe my first Wetterlings was a Carpenter's Axe and it may still be my most used. I have found it to almost slice through smaller pieces of wood when I have a good chopping block. I can't tell you how many times we've been camping with friends who would be amazed when I would cut pieces of wood clean with one swing. It is a bit large for backpacking but any other time I have it with me.

 

[PayetteRucker]

I built up a plumb a while ago for a buddy that was just getting into bushcraft. I put it on a 19 inch hickory handle. Still very capable of light chopping work, and obviously really ideal for carving and 'shape chopping' for making stuff from wood bolts. Single hand or two hand use