Council Tool Velvicut Axe Ongoing Review!

DeadboxHero

DeadboxHero

Joined
Mar 22, 2014
Messages
5,356
I've been wanting these axes for the past 4 years
Finally!

I made the leap of faith.

I've been so frustrated looking for good information on these.

There are expensive, especially when great antique axes can be restored at half the cost.

The reviews I have found where dismal and didn't display what the capabilities are from an axe user.

Let's find out together.

I'm off to the field to do some testing.






 
Hi Buddy,

wow... simply awesome!!! I have been keeping an eye on the Council Tool Velvicut Felling Axe myself for the last few years... this is one Beauty of a Felling axe!

In fact, I was always struggeling between the Velvicut and the Gränsfors Bruks Felling Axe. These were my two favourite candidates. Both appealed to me for the last 4 or 5 years.

Well, last month I had the opportunity to get a Gränsfors Felling Axe, so I went for it. (The reason was that I already got a few smaller Gräsfors axes, so i was well Aware of their Quality). It is this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohf8zdUl5fc

I hope that one fine day I will have the Chance to get a Velvicut too. I guess, the Velvicut is even more "american by heart" ...

Have fun with your new axe, bro!
Please post some pics or a vid of the Velvicut in action...

Cheers from Germany
Erik
 
Great! There are few knowledgeable reviews on the web, current site generally excepted. By and large, it is choking on gnats and swallowing camels, and based on something the reviewers have read and their expectations.

Looking forward to your review. I'm a real fan of the current CT regular line after playing with a couple of them, and the velvicut should just be that much better, in fairly subtle and aesthetic terms.
 
One of the benefits of the Velvicut line over the stock axes that Council produces is the 5160 steel... Initial task performance may not be evident other than it comes out of the box sharp (stock axes do not have a tuned edge) and the polished head reduces resistance when felling or bucking, but the advantages over the long term will be the bit and longer edge retention... oh, and the handles are usually nicer...

Swing away and let us know what you find out....

Peace, Rooster
 
cityofthesouth said:
Should be fun.
Click to expand...
It's beyond fun haha it's an obsession!
Bigfattyt said:
Nice. I've wanted a set for a long time.
Click to expand...
I know!
der_vincent said:
Hi Buddy,

wow... simply awesome!!! I have been keeping an eye on the Council Tool Velvicut Felling Axe myself for the last few years... this is one Beauty of a Felling axe!

In fact, I was always struggeling between the Velvicut and the Gränsfors Bruks Felling Axe. These were my two favourite candidates. Both appealed to me for the last 4 or 5 years.

Well, last month I had the opportunity to get a Gränsfors Felling Axe, so I went for it. (The reason was that I already got a few smaller Gräsfors axes, so i was well Aware of their Quality). It is this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohf8zdUl5fc

I hope that one fine day I will have the Chance to get a Velvicut too. I guess, the Velvicut is even more "american by heart" ...

Have fun with your new axe, bro!
Please post some pics or a vid of the Velvicut in action...

Cheers from Germany
Erik
Click to expand...
Thanks brother, gransfors definitely have a very high quality product.

Feel free to post pics :)

This should be a great thread for ya to watch.

BG_Farmer said:
Great! There are few knowledgeable reviews on the web, current site generally excepted. By and large, it is choking on gnats and swallowing camels, and based on something the reviewers have read and their expectations.

Looking forward to your review. I'm a real fan of the current CT regular line after playing with a couple of them, and the velvicut should just be that much better, in fairly subtle and aesthetic terms.
Click to expand...
Im with yea, this is the review the Velvicut line deserves.
RoosterMod said:
One of the benefits of the Velvicut line over the stock axes that Council produces is the 5160 steel... Initial task performance may not be evident other than it comes out of the box sharp (stock axes do not have a tuned edge) and the polished head reduces resistance when felling or bucking, but the advantages over the long term will be the bit and longer edge retention... oh, and the handles are usually nicer...

Swing away and let us know what you find out....

Peace, Rooster
Click to expand...

The Rooster!

I'm a big fan.

Love the videos brother

Yap that's everything I've been reading for the past 3 years.

But I, crave details ;)


Here is my intial impressions video.

[Youtube]5QFzXCGm86w[/YouTube]


I got done with some field use today and took tons of pictures

It will take awhile to load them all up as well as more videos

Be patient with me :)

Shawn
 
Nice video, I was surprised to see the wavy grinds at the bit. I do like the rough forge finish towards the back of the heads though. I'm betting with minimal work putting a good edge on these that they would perform just as well as any axe.
 
:thumbup:

Interested to see all of your impressions. The finish on these has always bothered me somewhat, like it's in between a rough forged head and an actually finished head... if it's going to be that rough I would much rather have the scale left on, shiny but wavy doesn't look right to me.

The profile looks pretty killer on the felling axe!
 
Park Swan said:
:thumbup:

Interested to see all of your impressions. The finish on these has always bothered me somewhat, like it's in between a rough forged head and an actually finished head... if it's going to be that rough I would much rather have the scale left on, shiny but wavy doesn't look right to me.

The profile looks pretty killer on the felling axe!
Click to expand...

I really hate the new finish, but also really hated the old chrome polish. Smooth satin is my ideal, if not paint, like on the beveled ones they make. I have a scaled/forge finished tomahawk that looks fine to me also. Even some of the nicer trupers look ok with a blasted finish...but half this and half that just doesn't look right!
 
Hacked said:
Nice video, I was surprised to see the wavy grinds at the bit. I do like the rough forge finish towards the back of the heads though. I'm betting with minimal work putting a good edge on these that they would perform just as well as any axe.
Click to expand...

Thanks brother,

Yeah those wavy lines are out of place on a premium axe but at least the geometry is nice

Park Swan said:
:thumbup:

Interested to see all of your impressions. The finish on these has always bothered me somewhat, like it's in between a rough forged head and an actually finished head... if it's going to be that rough I would much rather have the scale left on, shiny but wavy doesn't look right to me.

The profile looks pretty killer on the felling axe!
Click to expand...

Thanks man, I agree.
Luckily for Council,

The performance is better then the finish

BG_Farmer said:
I really hate the new finish, but also really hated the old chrome polish. Smooth satin is my ideal, if not paint, like on the beveled ones they make. I have a scaled/forge finished tomahawk that looks fine to me also. Even some of the nicer trupers look ok with a blasted finish...but half this and half that just doesn't look right!
Click to expand...

At least the old finish was clean. Maybe that's how best made gets their market.

They put more into the finish then Council tool can afford to.





Here's some field use videos on these axes
American Felling axe
[YouTube]caCtVe4vHIg[/YouTube]


Hudson bay
[YouTube]Q_8Yc2b4O3Y[/YouTube]


I'll do a write up and some pictures when I have the time
 
According to their videos Council Tool hired a robot to finish them, so I really don't get why they aren't basically perfect. Maybe the robot got fired. Grrr, videos aren't working for me today. The first one worked fine yesterday.
 
cityofthesouth said:
According to their videos Council Tool hired a robot to finish them, so I really don't get why they aren't basically perfect.
Click to expand...

It sounds like they want them that way, and it probably saves a lot of time, even for a robot. From their site: "Velvicut® heads are shot blasted and then touched by different abrasives. However it is never a goal to remove all forging makes. Therein lies the character. No two Velvicuts® will ever look exactly the same. Each is unique… a thing of beauty."

I like the current finish, I think it gives them character.
 
SC T100 said:
It sounds like they want them that way, and it probably saves a lot of time, even for a robot. From their site: "Velvicut® heads are shot blasted and then touched by different abrasives. However it is never a goal to remove all forging makes. Therein lies the character. No two Velvicuts® will ever look exactly the same. Each is unique… a thing of beauty."

I like the current finish, I think it gives them character.
Click to expand...

Well yeah, the marks from the forge, but I mean the wavy grinds on the bit. My standard line HB was the same. It makes little difference to me personally but I'm just saying, what's the bot for if the plan is to finish them basically like the standard line but without paint?
 
cityofthesouth said:
Well yeah, the marks from the forge, but I mean the wavy grinds on the bit. My standard line HB was the same. It makes little difference to me personally but I'm just saying, what's the bot for if the plan is to finish them basically like the standard line but without paint?
Click to expand...

Oh gotcha, yeah I see what you mean. I didn't realize you meant the bit work.
 
One comment on the video. It looks like it sticks a lot. My impression is that you perhaps were trying too hard to pop big chips, understandably, but driving it in hard, maybe with the angle just a touch off at times, also. A big axe like getss more of a leisurely swing from me, and I let the chips come out as they will...the number of times whatever wood I happen to be cutting is conducive to big plates is small, though.


As the dude on forged in fire says, though, "it will cut!" :)!

No offense meant by my comment, as I really appreciate people putting themselves on video, something I'm not enthusiastic about doing myself!

Also, my comments on the old and new finish are just my opinion, and I realize other people think differently, and im ok with that!
 
cityofthesouth said:
Well yeah, the marks from the forge, but I mean the wavy grinds on the bit. My standard line HB was the same. It makes little difference to me personally but I'm just saying, what's the bot for if the plan is to finish them basically like the standard line but without paint?
Click to expand...

Agree. I'd rather they leave ALL the forging marks and then have the robot put on a nice even banana grind, now that would be something worth having a robot do and I'd gladly pay the $$ for if I were in the market for a felling axe.
 
BG_Farmer said:
One comment on the video. It looks like it sticks a lot. My impression is that you perhaps were trying too hard to pop big chips, understandably, but driving it in hard, maybe with the angle just a touch off at times, also. A big axe like getss more of a leisurely swing from me, and I let the chips come out as they will...the number of times whatever wood I happen to be cutting is conducive to big plates is small, though.


As the dude on forged in fire says, though, "it will cut!" :)!

No offense meant by my comment, as I really appreciate people putting themselves on video, something I'm not enthusiastic about doing myself!

Also, my comments on the old and new finish are just my opinion, and I realize other people think differently, and im ok with that!
Click to expand...

I love to hit stuff hard :)

Thanks for the critiques:)
 


Big chips in dead cedar.



The edge after.

No rolls, but probably just the geometry, it's thin behind a thick edge



'murica




It does have a rustic beauty



Well hung, good grain, a little lumpy around the edges but doesn't effect performance



This is what I bought this axe for.

Making firewood on camping trips without a saw


Took some staining from wood chopping




No rolls or chips at the edge.




The Hudson bay may be small but got some serious wood chopping done


Who doesn't love this pattern. Gorgeous


19 in is quite small but very versatile. I think a straight handle wood be more appropriate.


Love that beard


Very handsome tool.



Had to have both hahaha



Longer poll then the regular Hudson bay

Very small, 2lbs head




Larger 4lbs head but not to noticeable compared to a 3.5lbs





Still no edge damage




Lost some sharpeness as expected, not paper cutting sharp anymore but no damage, chips or rolls.

Has a slight microbevel from the factory from a buffing wheel.

I Touched it up before using it with a stone to clean up the micro








Great bite and hitting power even with a small axe






Throw in some knives too xD













I have the sheath on the way, talked to the dealer
It's supposed to be with a sheath.



HB sheath seems bigger then axe. I'd prefer the mask for quicker use.



The sheath does look cool and fits nicely





The D ring is nice, don't think I'll use the belt loop, very skinny


The construction looks cool with all those fancy rivets


'Murica


Brought these, but didn't need them but always good to be prepared


I've got tons more to share

I'll post more when I have time to

:)

Shawn
 
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