Small axe for wedge driving

[SINGLE-JACK]

I ain't in your camp at all, folks. I have a Scout axe, a Fiskars axe, and a couple vintage Hudson Bay axes 3-4 lb each, but I always reach for a 4 lb dead blow hammer. I keep the hammer and the Fiskars in a 2 gallon plastic bucket with my wedges, and carry it around with me, the bucket gets placed within reach of the tree I'm dropping, and when I have to drive a wedge, you bet I can give it a whuppin' with that bright orange plastic hammer. I don't go for carrying all that crap around on my belt either, I like to be unencumbered and flexible when I'm cutting and the axe and wedge pouch on the belt just gets me hung up. Never liked to wear a carpenter's belt either when I was doing construction for a living, maybe that's why I'm neither a carpenter nor a professional faller.

:agree2: :agree2: :agree2:
Wow, what a dose of reality. I guess I've been over-thinking all this. Feels like I've just been dope-slapped with a 4lb dead blow hammer. I really like your simplistic approach - makes a lot of sense! I'll be taking my scabbard and wedge pouch off the belt tonight and into a bucket. And, I won't need the suspenders anymore, either.

But, I still like my carpenter's belt though - gotta draw the line somewhere.
I can put the suspenders on it.

Any way, excellent post, have some rep.

 

[SINGLE-JACK]

Revision A

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I keep the hammer and the Fiskars in a 2 gallon plastic bucket with my wedges, and carry it around with me, the bucket gets placed within reach of the tree I'm dropping
...

...
I really like your simplistic approach - makes a lot of sense! I'll be taking my scabbard and wedge pouch off the belt tonight and into a bucket.
...

Used your bucket idea - I loved the simplicity of the concept and found one simple 'refinement' to pass along:

Saturday, while taking down the last section of a 'pieced-out' 24 DBH oak -set the bucket within reach - used the hammer & wedges - all went nicely. However, half-way through, it started to rain ... POUR.

Couldn't stop 'til the stem was down safely - retrieved the bucket with an inch or more of wet sawdust and water. No biggie - but couldn't leave it that way - ya know, wet sawdust don't pour - had to wipe everything = PITA!!!

So, now, everything's in a small milk crate - holds everthing except sawdust & rain.

 

[1947wdx]

Used your bucket idea - I loved the simplicity of the concept and found one simple 'refinement' to pass along:
...
Couldn't stop 'til the stem was down safely - retrieved the bucket with an inch or more of wet sawdust and water. No biggie - but couldn't leave it that way - ya know, wet sawdust don't pour - had to wipe everything = PITA!!!

So, now, everything's in a small milk crate - holds everthing except sawdust & rain.

I use a bucket for most of my tools along with a "Bucket Buddy". The extra pockets come in quite handy, but it doesn't work so well (as you mentioned) when it comes time to clean it out. (Plus you wouldn't want to carry all that out to the tree you are felling anyway...)

The milk crate is a good refinement.

 

[porch monkey]

and tie a piece of rope between the handles of your milkcrate so you can carry it with one hand without spilling crap. I like to use 1" cotton rope because its easier on my dainty little hands. (Maybe I should put hand lotion in my milk crate.lol)

 

[StihlyinEly]

I ain't in your camp at all, folks. I have a Scout axe, a Fiskars axe, and a couple vintage Hudson Bay axes 3-4 lb each, but I always reach for a 4 lb dead blow hammer. I keep the hammer and the Fiskars in a 2 gallon plastic bucket with my wedges, and carry it around with me, the bucket gets placed within reach of the tree I'm dropping, and when I have to drive a wedge, you bet I can give it a whuppin' with that bright orange plastic hammer. I don't go for carrying all that crap around on my belt either, I like to be unencumbered and flexible when I'm cutting and the axe and wedge pouch on the belt just gets me hung up.

:agree2: Insert roar of applause and cheers from the crowd here!

I never figured out why people want to use an ax/hatchet to do the work of a hammer.

The bucket I use for this doesn't hold water because I drilled a bunch of small holes in the bottom of it. Who says a hole in a bucket is a BAD thing? I like a bucket over a milk crate because the handle makes it easier to carry.

 

[Jon E]

Yeah, that's the ticket - holes in the bucket. I have never considered that because I try not to cut wood when it's raining. But a few small holes will solve that problem.

 

[Metals406]

Brad, this little bugger might be right up your alley??

 

[blsnelling]

Brad, this little bugger might be right up your alley??

Sweet. You've got to love Estwing tools

 

[Metals406]

Sweet. You've got to love Estwing tools

Yup, I've always liked their tools. . . My old man always had one of their straight claw hammers around. Concrete contractors like them for stripping forms.

That fireside friend is neat. . . The cheapest I've found online with shipping to me is here: http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/(gyjhtm3q1y50uq45anmfwdbz)/viewCart.aspx?strAction=ADDITEMS

 

[jburlingham]

and tie a piece of rope between the handles of your milkcrate so you can carry it with one hand without spilling crap. I like to use 1" cotton rope because its easier on my dainty little hands. (Maybe I should put hand lotion in my milk crate.lol)

Buffalo Bill says.... "It put the lotion in the crate" LOL

 

[wigglesworth]

Brad, this little bugger might be right up your alley??

OK....sign me up....I gotta have one.

 

[blsnelling]

OK....sign me up....I gotta have one.

Do I see 4# on the head? That seems aweful heavy for such a short handle. 14" length and 2 3/8" cutting edge.

 

[Metals406]

Do I see 4# on the head? That seems aweful heavy for such a short handle. 14" length and 2 3/8" cutting edge.

Weight is your friend Marry.


:hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange:

 

[blsnelling]

Weight is your friend Marry.


:hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange:

Too much weight on a short handle will aggrivate my elbow tendonitis.

 

[wigglesworth]

Too much weight on a short handle will aggrivate my elbow tendonitis.

I feel ya. My back aint what it used to be. But what is more work? Swingin a 4 pounder 6 times or a 2 pounder 12 times?

 

[2dogs]

I ain't in your camp at all, folks. I have a Scout axe, a Fiskars axe, and a couple vintage Hudson Bay axes 3-4 lb each, but I always reach for a 4 lb dead blow hammer. I keep the hammer and the Fiskars in a 2 gallon plastic bucket with my wedges, and carry it around with me, the bucket gets placed within reach of the tree I'm dropping, and when I have to drive a wedge, you bet I can give it a whuppin' with that bright orange plastic hammer. I don't go for carrying all that crap around on my belt either, I like to be unencumbered and flexible when I'm cutting and the axe and wedge pouch on the belt just gets me hung up. Never liked to wear a carpenter's belt either when I was doing construction for a living, maybe that's why I'm neither a carpenter nor a professional faller.

What do you do when your trees are half a mile from the truck. For firewood cutting close to the truck I think your system would work fine.

 

[StihlyinEly]

What do you do when your trees are half a mile from the truck. For firewood cutting close to the truck I think your system would work fine.

I don't know about Jon. What I do when I'm cutting on foot that far from the truck is throw that stuff in a backpack. But I don't cut that far away very often like some of you guys do. My cutting has been firewood and tree service work, which makes hauling gear very convenient.

 

[bitzer]

:agree2: Insert roar of applause and cheers from the crowd here!

I never figured out why people want to use an ax/hatchet to do the work of a hammer.

The bucket I use for this doesn't hold water because I drilled a bunch of small holes in the bottom of it. Who says a hole in a bucket is a BAD thing? I like a bucket over a milk crate because the handle makes it easier to carry.

The ax advantage is when you pinch your bar and you are miles from another saw. It will take some work, but chopping it out with an ax is a lot easier that with a hammer! Its saved my arse more than once! That and when your doubling up on wedges. You gotta hit them one at a time and with a hammer it can be tough. If you hit em both at once they fly back out at you. I nearly lost some teeth when I missed and hit them both with my ax a few weeks ago!

 

[SawTroll]

Yeah, I'm looking for something smallish. I kind of like this little feller, especially with the reputation Fiskars has around here. LINK

Edit: I'm not sure 7/8# is going to be heavy enough.

I don't think the smaller Fiskars ones are suited for hammer/sledge use, only the #2400/Super splitter.

 

[StihlyinEly]

The ax advantage is when you pinch your bar and you are miles from another saw. It will take some work, but chopping it out with an ax is a lot easier that with a hammer! Its saved my arse more than once! That and when your doubling up on wedges. You gotta hit them one at a time and with a hammer it can be tough. If you hit em both at once they fly back out at you. I nearly lost some teeth when I missed and hit them both with my ax a few weeks ago!

Thanks for the clarification.