Help me with an axe for the farm

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Sbs1974

Sbs1974

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Hello and good day BladeForums. Well over the New Year me and my girlfriend have decided to move to our home in the country, in another state, and fix up the property while there and make that our permanent residence. I figured I would post this thread because I need some help buying a few axes/hatchets for the “farm”. I say “farm” because although there are cattle in the fields, some hay being made and such, we lease the land to a real farmer so we won’t actually be farming so to speak. What we will be doing is repairing some fencing, doing chores around the property, cutting small wood into smaller wood and so forth. So, since I don’t have much expertise in buying axes and such, I figured I would just ask for suggestions. What I’m needing is an axe and a some hatchets. The axe would stay buy the house mainly to cut small trees that might fall, or chop wood for the stove. The hatchets need to be something I can put on the 4 wheelers and use while out roaming the property. I’d like things that are durable, stay sharp (I know that relative) and not to costly as they will most likely take a pretty good beating and need replaced.

So, how about some help? What brands or models should I be looking towards? Thanks
 
Sbs1974 said:
Hello and good day BladeForums. Well over the New Year me and my girlfriend have decided to move to our home in the country, in another state, and fix up the property while there and make that our permanent residence. I figured I would post this thread because I need some help buying a few axes/hatchets for the “farm”. I say “farm” because although there are cattle in the fields, some hay being made and such, we lease the land to a real farmer so we won’t actually be farming so to speak. What we will be doing is repairing some fencing, doing chores around the property, cutting small wood into smaller wood and so forth. So, since I don’t have much expertise in buying axes and such, I figured I would just ask for suggestions. What I’m needing is an axe and a some hatchets. The axe would stay buy the house mainly to cut small trees that might fall, or chop wood for the stove. The hatchets need to be something I can put on the 4 wheelers and use while out roaming the property. I’d like things that are durable, stay sharp (I know that relative) and not to costly as they will most likely take a pretty good beating and need replaced.

So, how about some help? What brands or models should I be looking towards? Thanks
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You will need hand files and a puck to keep your axes sharp. For a hatchet you got to consider Flying Fox with hardened poll. Not sure if Benjamin carries Council Tool Sport' Utility Boy's Axes on 26-28 inch handles. You can probably search google and find out who also sells Council Tool FSS Boy's Axes. That should get you started. Once it gets warmer you can hit some garage sales and try to get some good quality vintage American axe heads. At some point you will need to learn to hang your axes, anyway.
https://www.baryonyxknife.com/nsear...hsubmit=Search&vwcatalog=yhst-129988217023674
https://www.baryonyxknife.com/counciltool.html
 
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crbnSteeladdict said:
You will need hand files and a puck to keep your axes sharp. For a hatchet you got to consider Flying Fox with hardened poll. Not sure is Benjamin carries Council Tool Sport' Utility Boy's Axes on 26-28 inch handles. You can probably search google and find out who also sells Council Tool FSS Boy's Axes. That should get you started. Once it gets warmer you can hit some garage sales and try to get some good quality vintage American axe heads. At some point you will need to learn to hang your axes, anyway.
https://www.baryonyxknife.com/nsear...hsubmit=Search&vwcatalog=yhst-129988217023674
https://www.baryonyxknife.com/counciltool.html
Click to expand...
I’ll check them out. Thanks for the links
 
Sbs1974 said:
Actually read about that one earlier. Seems like a decent axe for the cost
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Yeah, lotta value and a better axe than a lot of more expensive options. You do have to sharpen them out of the box but a cheap-o file works great for that.
 
I would look to Council Tools. Buy at whatever grade you wish, all will be decent tools. You probably want 2-4 axes. I'd suggest a boys axe for your wheeler. This axe will be great for limbing and light bucking work - good general purpose tool. It will even suffice for light splitting or kindling making.

For splitting get a 4-5 pound single bit. Do your cutting with a saw so you don't need a heavy bucking axe. The Flying Fox is a good choice for a kindling axe - it's about the size and weight of the classic 'house axe' which was the premier kindling hatchet of the past.

Around the farm you'd really like to have a small broad hatchet for shaping wood, cutting stakes and pegs and general carving work. These were often called a 'stump axe' as this work is best done on a stump or tall round. New broad hatchets are a little hard to find since Vaughan recently discontinued their excellent model. But numerous hardware stores and online retailers will still have a few on hand. Get one while you still can. These are very affordable and made in USA from high quality 1080 steel.

If you only buy 1 axe make it a boys axe. If you buy 2 then add a broad hatchet. Then a splitter, then a house axe (kindling).
 
Square_peg said:
I would look to Council Tools. Buy at whatever grade you wish, all will be decent tools. You probably want 2-4 axes. I'd suggest a boys axe for your wheeler. This axe will be great for limbing and light bucking work - good general purpose tool. It will even suffice for light splitting or kindling making.

For splitting get a 4-5 pound single bit. Do your cutting with a saw so you don't need a heavy bucking axe. The Flying Fox is a good choice for a kindling axe - it's about the size and weight of the classic 'house axe' which was the premier kindling hatchet of the past.

Around the farm you'd really like to have a small broad hatchet for shaping wood, cutting stakes and pegs and general carving work. These were often called a 'stump axe' as this work is best done on a stump or tall round. New broad hatchets are a little hard to find since Vaughan recently discontinued their excellent model. But numerous hardware stores and online retailers will still have a few on hand. Get one while you still can. These are very affordable and made in USA from high quality 1080 steel.

If you only buy 1 axe make it a boys axe. If you buy 2 then add a broad hatchet. Then a splitter, then a house axe (kindling).
Click to expand...
Wow some great info. Thanks!!
 
https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Gator-Machete-Sheath-31-000758/dp/B004A1IXRC

While i know this is an axe fourm, im hard-pressed to overlook the usefulness of a machete in some applications. I bought one of these in 2005 while in the USMC, myself, and about 40 others have beat this thing into submission, cleared trails, tent spaces, limbed trees, cut a pool table in to pieces, and much much more and ive honestly only sharpened it 3 times. Its due for another, but it would serve you well if you have areas of your property that so much weedy/grassy as they are woody. And ive easily cut through 2.5in of green wood in a single pass. Its a good workhorse if you need it.
 
Duriensbane said:
https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Gator-Machete-Sheath-31-000758/dp/B004A1IXRC

While i know this is an axe fourm, im hard-pressed to overlook the usefulness of a machete in some applications. I bought one of these in 2005 while in the USMC, myself, and about 40 others have beat this thing into submission, cleared trails, tent spaces, limbed trees, cut a pool table in to pieces, and much much more and ive honestly only sharpened it 3 times. Its due for another, but it would serve you well if you have areas of your property that so much weedy/grassy as they are woody. And ive easily cut through 2.5in of green wood in a single pass. Its a good workhorse if you need it.
Click to expand...
Yea we have a machete on each 4 wheeler but will need more I’m sure. Thanks
 
All I can add is that you consider adding a sturdy bow saw to the mix. If you find yourself cutting a lot of decent sized wood, you’ll be glad you did.
 
Not the best time of year for garage sales/estate sales but that is where you can find some really good deals on some axes and hatchets. I've found lots of great vintage axes and hatchets for really good prices. For something new and at a decent price I would suggest an Estwing hatchet, they will hold up to just about any kind of abuse you throw at it.
 
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