Fiskars/Lowe's???

[Husky Man]

I have read many of you guys posting about Fiskars Axes, Looking at Lowe's both in store and their website, it seems that Fiskars may be producing some axes that are exclusive to Lowe's, or Lowe's is measuring them differently than Fiskars.

Lowe's shows a 31.5" Splitting Axe, and a 10" Hatchet, Fiskars website shows 27", 28" and 36" Axes and 2 14" Hatchets, but no 10" Hatchet???, are these Lowe's exclusive items?

The Fiskars look like Quality tools, and the reviews here have been over whelmingly positive, I am really tempted to try the 8# Isocore Maul, a Splitting Axe, and a Hatchet.

From Fiskars website, I like the looks of the 14" X7.

Anyone have any recommendations about any of these? Anyone bought theirs at Lowe's?, is there any difference i the Lowe's products?

Any Thoughts/info would be appreciated, the Wife is thinking that there might be an early Birthday present here, just want to get the best tools suited to me.

Thanks in Advance,

Doug

 

[turnkey4099]

I have read many of you guys posting about Fiskars Axes, Looking at Lowe's both in store and their website, it seems that Fiskars may be producing some axes that are exclusive to Lowe's, or Lowe's is measuring them differently than Fiskars.

Lowe's shows a 31.5" Splitting Axe, and a 10" Hatchet, Fiskars website shows 27", 28" and 36" Axes and 2 14" Hatchets, but no 10" Hatchet???, are these Lowe's exclusive items?

The Fiskars look like Quality tools, and the reviews here have been over whelmingly positive, I am really tempted to try the 8# Isocore Maul, a Splitting Axe, and a Hatchet.

From Fiskars website, I like the looks of the 14" X7.

Anyone have any recommendations about any of these? Anyone bought theirs at Lowe's?, is there any difference i the Lowe's products?

Any Thoughts/info would be appreciated, the Wife is thinking that there might be an early Birthday present here, just want to get the best tools suited to me.

Thanks in Advance,

Doug

I have the X27 bought in the early days of production. I'm still amazed at how well it works. Bought the Isocore maul last year. Very effective tool IF you can hit your aiming point. It is poorly balanced - heavy head, light handle.

 

[LondonNeil]

X27 and x17 here. I find them great tools. I occasionally need to break out the big guns, an 8lb Stihl maul, but the 27 gets most stuffI find it comfy to use. The 17 has amazing let for such a small axe and I'll often use it to rattle through easy splitting stuff. Only trouble is the short handle makes it much more dangerous....I learnt but first swing did lead to 3 stitches in a cut on my shin. My fault, not the tool's. I've split 14 or so cord in the last 4+ years, mostly with the fiskars. Good tool

 

[rarefish383]

I like mine, but, as Turnkey said, you have to be able to hit the same spot twice in a row. There is no miracle ax. As often as not I'll grab one of my vintage 4LB axes. If you can't hit the same spot twice in a row, and eat handles like candy, the Fiskars is good with the lifetime warranty.

 

[farmer steve]

just use the 3120 and noodle them rounds Doug.

 

[Skeans]

I’ll be honest Doug I’ve broke two different ones falling timber and the design of the head isn’t what I’d call the sharpest tool.


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[Husky Man]

just use the 3120 and noodle them rounds Doug.

Dayum Steve, Guys are complaining about the WEIGHT of an 8# Maul, and you suggest my 3120XP?????

Well maybe if I can find a 16" Bar for it, anyone know of a source for 16", D009, .404, .063 Bars????


Doug

 

[Husky Man]

I’ll be honest Doug I’ve broke two different ones falling timber and the design of the head isn’t what I’d call the sharpest tool.


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Skeans, I Definitely Value your opinion, I'm going to guess that it was an ax that you broke (Twice), not a maul.

How did you break the tools falling timber?

Was it the Maul, Ax or Hatchet that you weren't impressed with the design of the head? I haven't looked at the maul, but the axes and hatchets I looked at looked better than the ones that I currently have, and my current maul, has way to blunt of an edge design, then bloats out way too fast, I didn't know any better when I bought it years ago.

Is there another brand that you like better that I should look at before I buy anything?


Doug

 

[Skeans]

Skeans, I Definitely Value your opinion, I'm going to guess that it was an ax that you broke (Twice), not a maul.

How did you break the tools falling timber?

Was it the Maul, Ax or Hatchet that you weren't impressed with the design of the head? I haven't looked at the maul, but the axes and hatchets I looked at looked better than the ones that I currently have, and my current maul, has way to blunt of an edge design, then bloats out way too fast, I didn't know any better when I bought it years ago.

Is there another brand that you like better that I should look at before I buy anything?


Doug

For pounding wedges the heads aren’t secured very well, I had both an axe and a maul. The cutting edge on the axe didn’t do much good in the thick bark of our fir the maul was the 4 or 5 lbs version they use to make just bounced off when you would try to chop out a section for beat a wedge in farther. They use to do an axe version then a maul version in the same weight, for what I do I like council I have from a 3 to 10 pound custom built axe for what I do then I hand stone the faces in to actually cut.


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[Husky Man]

Thanks Skeans, were you Chopping or Splitting, when you were disappointed in the performance in the bark?

Were you using the Chopping or Splitting version of their Axes?

When you weren't happy with how the head is secured, were you driving splitting wedges or felling wedges?


Doug

 

[bowtechmadman]

I have X27 and X17 and both work great and hold a pretty good edge for splitting (I wouldn't suggest either for driving splitting wedges or felling wedges) just not what they are built for. I also have two of the 10" hatchets (bought as a close out) and think they are fantastic (use one for the sauna splitting kindling, other for smoker splitting small pieces). Not sure they still manufacture the 10" if memory serves me correct I bought them on closeout at Meijer.

 

[Husky Man]

Lowe's shows the 10" Hatchet on their website, but Fiskars doesn't, which lead me to think that it was a Lowe's exclusive item, same thing with the 31.5" axe, it is on Lowe's site not Fiskars, possibly discontinued, but still in stock at Lowe's?

I'm Glad to hear you are Happy with it.

I also noticed on Fiskars website, they apparently have a standard line of Axes, and the "X" series line of axes, some in the same lengths, is there a difference in the head design, or handle, or Both??, I noticed that the standard line handles are all black, the "X" series are black and yellow. Anyone notice a difference in performance, balance or durability??


Doug

 

[Ronaldo]

I've noticed the poll isn't the best design for pounding. I have gotten along fine, however, with my X17 axe and driving falling wedges. I love my X25 and X27 for splitting our Midwest hardwoods. The X17 is probably the sharpest axe I use.
Pics of the X17 here.

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[Ronaldo]

X25 on some Elm and Cherry.

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[Skeans]

Thanks Skeans, were you Chopping or Splitting, when you were disappointed in the performance in the bark?

Were you using the Chopping or Splitting version of their Axes?

When you weren't happy with how the head is secured, were you driving splitting wedges or felling wedges?


Doug

I’m only chopping, at one point I had both versions in the same weight, driving falling wedges and I wasn’t pounding my guts out either. One thing to not is if your hands already bug you that hollow style handle won’t do you any favors.

I remember the local shop having a 30” fiskar axe then a 30” maul some time back as well as a 10” hatchet my buddy still has his.


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[Husky Man]

Ronaldo, are you using the Chopping axe for splitting?

Are any of your Fiskars the Splitting versions?, do you notice much difference in the performance between Chopping and Splitting versions when splitting?


I don't do a lot of pounding, so if I get any Fiskars, I will keep that in mind, and use my sledge or older maul for wedge pounding duties.

We aren't allowed to fall even standing dead, when wood cutting in the Mt Hood National Forest, so I don't use wedges for falling too often, opening the kerf on a pinched bar mostly, my wedges get almost as much use keeping the kerf open while Milling, as they do anything else.

Thanks Ronaldo and Skeans on the heads up about pounding though, Good to know


Just for Giggles and Grins, I just split a couple of 18" rounds of Green Douglas Fir, with the old Maul, ended up using splitting wedges for the first splits, whaled away too many times for that first split with the maulafter the first split, it wasn't TOO BAD, but I sure like most of the reviews on the Fiskars, sounds like a Helluva improvement over what I have now.

We do most of our splitting with our DHT 27 Ton hydraulic splitter, we used to piggyback it into the woods in the trailer, I can get 1 -1.5 cords in the trailer, and still haul the splitter too.
It was Nice leaving the mess and noise in the woods, but the last couple years, the Forests have gotten closed down due to Fire Danger, before we got as much wood as we wanted, we had less than a cord left after this winter, so we have been cutting and hauling just rounds, to get the wood home, before the forest closes on us, I can get as much as 3 cords volume wise on my trailer, but most loads are close, or a bit of an overload, around 2-2.25 cords, depending on moisture content.

I am mainly looking for the maul to split some rounds to fill gaps in the trailer while loading, but there is also the "Therapeutic Value" in splitting, relieving stress, just Picture Hillary, or Barry's Face on the wood, or Nancy, Chucky, or AOC's, plenty to think of relieving stress, more to think about than I have time for, Ohh, and don't forget our Wonderful Governor Kate Brown and Buddies too



Doug


Doug

 

[Skeans]

Besides pounding wedges just popping faces out for splitting them. On the fire danger I’m all for the general public being locked out of the woods during fire season which is in effect now most of all the fires are started by the public vs industry. Remember just because you’re not running an engine doesn’t mean you’re not creating sparks.


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[Husky Man]

Besides pounding wedges just popping faces out for splitting them. On the fire danger I’m all for the general public being locked out of the woods during fire season which is in effect now most of all the fires are started by the public vs industry. Remember just because you’re not running an engine doesn’t mean you’re not creating sparks.


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I don't know about the public being LOCKED OUT during Fire SEASON, that generally starts in June through September or into October.

I Do understand having RESTRICTIONS based on the Fire Danger LEVEL, right now, we are at IFPL level 1, with a Fire Danger Level either LOW or MODERATE depending on the Day and location, an awful lot of land being locked up, if it was solely based on Fire SEASON, Not Actual CONDITIONS. I Don't LIKE being Locked Out of the Forest, but Understand, when the Conditions warrant it.

We carry the required Fire Extinguisher and Shovel, as well as a couple of 5 gallon buckets with lids, full of water. We are very conscious of Fire Danger, this area is our Home, but are also very aware that many People are NOT as cautious as they should, the Eagle Creek Fire being a Prime example.


Doug

 

[Ronaldo]

The X17 chopping axe doesn't work as well for splitting. I just use it for plastic wedges, knocking off limbs and general chopping etc. The X25 and 27 have significantly wider cheeks to open up the wood for better splitting.

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[LondonNeil]

my x17 is the splitter, it is a great tool for the job.