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Felling Axe: The Buying Guide

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felling axe
Felling Axe: The Buying Guide

A quality felling axe will ease your job of felling trees and cutting large branches with ease. So, if you have decided to pop on that checked shirt and sing your favorite lumberjack song, this article will help you decide on the best felling axe.

Your job gets easier when you have the right accessories to assist you. If you want to work smart and get things done, you need to get a tool that will make your job safer and easier to perform. Although, most axes are used to chop wood, there are different types of axes for different jobs.

You can obviously cut down a big tree with the help of a chainsaw. But, using a felling axe works wonders too! The felling axe is also commonly referred to as a camp axe. The most common uses of a felling axe are to chop down branches and trees.

Choosing the Right Felling Axe

The most common difference between axes is their edge. And, there is a massive difference between carving and chopping axes.

To get started, you need to first understand the common differences between the axes. Splitting axes are designed to create smaller chunks by splitting wood fibers apart. This is in contrast to a felling axe, which cuts through those wood fibers.

Honestly, you'll feel extremely frustrated if you attempt to use a felling axe for wood splitting purposes. As with any job, having the right tool makes all the difference in the world.

Here’s how to distinguish a felling axe from the rest:

  • The blade of a felling axe will be thin, sharp, and flat.
  • Ideally, the handle should be around two feet in length.
  • A perfect felling axe’s head will weigh about two pounds.

To chop trees, your axe’s blade should cut through the grain of the tree. When you intend to cut down a big tree, you will need to swing your axe sideways at the tree, and the long handle of a felling axe makes your job easier.

Cutting down humongous trees is no easy task. And, if you are following the manual way by skipping the chainsaw, then choosing the best felling axe is of utmost importance. Consider the shape of the head when buying a felling axe. It will be much thinner as compared to other types of axes. This is because a thin head makes it easier to slice through the wood as opposed to fracturing it into multiple pieces as a wedge does.

The handles of a quality felling axe are usually fairly long in order to give you plenty of leverage on your swing. They are typically made wood, often hickory, or some type of hardened composite material.

Similar to any other tool, felling axe too has hundreds of manufacturers and brands across the globe. Our research points out that some of the most popular brands are manufactured in China, Mexico, America, and Sweden. There are numerous choices, and each brand has a different price. Depending on your need, you can either opt for value-based options or buy the costlier ones.

While the lower cost axes can still get the job done, they just might not last as long as more expensive models. Some of the higher end models can last for generations.

Things to Consider

When you look at felling axes there are a number of important factors to consider. The most basic are pretty obvious but some of these may surprise you.

Listed below are few things that you should consider –

The Axe Head

This is the main point of argument between professional axe users as there are many options to choose from – styles, material, grind, etc.

When it comes to selecting the material, you would want to choose a felling axe that’s made from tempered and forged steel. This, basically means that the axe’s head will be hammered after it is being shaped to increase the density of the steel.

A felling axe with a forged and tempered head will be hard and durable. Plus, it will make your job easier and literally save you much time.

The Axe Handle

The choices of axe handles are literally more than you think. One of the most important things to take note of is the material used to build the axe handle. The most commonly used materials are – wood, fiberglass, and plastic.

While synthetic materials are considered to be stronger, yet most of us prefer to yield a felling axe with the traditional wood handle. And, if you’re one of those wood-handle patrons, you should consider an axe handle made from Hickory as it is flexible, strong, and has a very nice grain pattern.

Next, you need to consider the shape and angle of your handle. While most double-bit axes come with straight handles, single-bit axes tend to offer multiple handle types. As a matter of fact, straight handles are incredibly versatile and can assist you to do the job well.

Curved handles are the most commonly used axe handle shape. These are specialized but can be used for a range of tasks. Plus, it gives your axe a traditional look.

Then there are axes with exotic handles with features like collapsible and folding. Though these modern axes look and feel awesome, it is ideal that you do your research before buying any of these for tearing through trees.

The Price

This is undoubtedly one of the most important aspects to consider before buying an axe. You don’t want to go overboard when buying the best felling axe.

High end felling axes can cost you several hundred dollars if you aren’t careful. Consider your requirement and how much you are willing to spare. You can get a functional yet inexpensive felling axe, but it might not be as durable as the pricier options.

So, if you want a felling axe to get a temporary job done, you should opt for the lower priced variants. And, if you want your next generation to fight for the ownership of your felling axe, consider buying a high quality felling axe.

To wrap it up, you need something that’s durable and effective but won’t break your back or pocket. Your best bet is to buy from a reputed company who provides plenty of options, warranty, and effective customer service.

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