The Forgotten Tool

[DanTheCanadian]

So I've been wondering what you professionals carry for pounding wedges. I've seen threads about all kinds of ppe, saws of course, caulks, even about wedges, but no one seems to talk about the axe.

Personally I carry a 3lb 24" axe but I'm gonna pick up a 4lbs in case I need to get persuasive. I'm curios too see what the guys carrying them for 8-10hrs or sometimes more carry.

Thanks for your time,

 

[paccity]

5lb council . short strait handle about 28". you could worry about the weight packing it. but you'll appreciate the weight when you have to really drive home some wedges.

 

[northmanlogging]

I switch between 2 different axes depending how big the timber is, a 3.5# antique crasftsman, and a newish 5# council rafting axe, both have about 28" handles. Long handles give more power but get in the way.

Mostly I just have lots of history with the craftsman axe... although if you really want to squarsh some wedges the 5 pounder will do ya.

 

[treeslayer2003]

I am the odd ball here, 8 pound sledge with 24" handle.
I probly should get a ax, only need the sledge once in a while really. good ax hard to find on this side.

 

[EricNY]

I'm no professional but I favor 3.5lbs and 26" handle.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[2dogs]

5lb Council rafting axe for most use, also a 4lb head on a 20" handle that fits my scabbard. I also have a 3lb Council on a 28" handle but it does not see much use.

The use of splitting wedges marks one as a fool or a beginner.

 

[treeslayer2003]

splitting wedges? I use the red heads, 10" TT mostly.
I'd like to see some of you guys axes, council seems to be popular.
there is a thread elsewhere about the hardheads failing in cold weather, I haven't used them.

 

[Gologit]

splitting wedges? I use the red heads, 10" TT mostly.
I'd like to see some of you guys axes, council seems to be popular.
there is a thread elsewhere about the hardheads failing in cold weather, I haven't used them.

The Councils we get out here have a good flat head for driving wedges. They don't seem to beat the wedges up as bad as a dime-store ax with a rounded head. Gotta hit the wedge straight though. I use a 5 lb with a straight handle...I think it's 24 inches but I've never measured it.

On those hard-head wedges that are breaking...do you think that maybe the guys are wailing on them too much? I've seen people keep slamming a wedge even after it's apparent that the wedge is stalled out and isn't really going anywhere. Maybe the super cold weather and poor technique?

 

[northmanlogging]

splitting wedges? I use the red heads, 10" TT mostly.
I'd like to see some of you guys axes, council seems to be popular.
there is a thread elsewhere about the hardheads failing in cold weather, I haven't used them.

here ya go,


The Collins is popular, since they're still made in the US, decent quality, and not outrageously expensive, I think they go for around $50.

Yeah I know the Craftsman needs a new handle, its also smashed from using it as a jack plate...

 

[slowp]

Hmmmmm. No Fiskars?

Don't forget to paint the handle a bright color so you can find it in the woods.

 

[HuskStihl]

I stole the TreeSlayer's stumpy sledge idea (6lb, 24") and usually apply it to hardheads. I left my axe in the truck as I never used the sharp end of it for anything. Now, although I am a pro faller in my mind only, and I totally admit an axe is much cooler than a sledge (can't stick the sledge into the next tree), I'd like to know how often the real pros use the sharp end of the axe

 

[treeslayer2003]

IDK Bob, I beat them red heads pretty hard with the sledge. they won't break less ya hit um crooked, granted it not as cold here. we did have frozen timber this year and I didn't break any.
northy, the red one is a Collins? it looks good.
Jon, that's what i'm thinkin I could stick it in a little beech or other trash tree.
and yes Ms P I like that neon green you posted. I have always painted um orange but that was bright.

 

[Gologit]

Jon.......If you're good enough and use your head a little you probably won't use it much. But if you need it you usually need it right now. An axe makes a good emergency wedge when you've screwed up and mis-read a tree and all your wedges are flushed in with no tree movement. It can be used to open up a kerf a little to stack wedges when a tree sits back on your bar. In a pinch an ax can make a good jack plate or a shim. If you're carrying your saw on your shoulder on rough ground an axe makes a good walking stick. Sledge hammer might not work quite as good.
If you get hung up it might be faster to chop your way out than to hike back to the truck for your other saw or call your partner over to cut you out. If your partner has to cut you out, especially if it happens with any regularity, he's entitled to make comments to you. They won't be flattering. If you have to chop your way out of a bind you'll find out real quick how good...or bad...you are with an axe. My Dad use to call me Lightning...I never hit twice in the same place.

 

[treeslayer2003]

so y'all do keep um sharp then?

 

[Gologit]

IDK Bob, I beat them red heads pretty hard with the sledge. they won't break less ya hit um crooked, granted it not as cold here. we did have frozen timber this year and I didn't break any.
northy, the red one is a Collins? it looks good.
Jon, that's what i'm thinkin I could stick it in a little beech or other trash tree.
and yes Ms P I like that neon green you posted. I have always painted um orange but that was bright.

Was that redheads or hardheads that they were breaking? I've never used the hardheads but the redheads have always been a favorite of mine. I've had them break when I hit them wrong or tried to drive them when they were stalled out. They usually broke right at the tree. A lot of that is on me. I tend to keep wedges way too long when they should be thrown out or used for door stops.

 

[treeslayer2003]

was the hard heads they broke......I think Glen used um, wish he was around to comment.
yup, if a red head fails it was me. sometimes I cut one in a small tree.

 

[Gologit]

so y'all do keep um sharp then?

Not razor sharp, no. They don't have to be surgically sharp to cut well enough to do what I need them to do. I always worry about a super sharp ax slicing me open when I wear them in my belt.
I know that none of the rest of you ever fall down but I still do occasionally. It's nice when that ax just scratches me up a little and doesn't try to remove a kidney.

 

[treeslayer2003]

lol, I always look around to make sure no one saw me fall.......cuz ya know I don't fall pft lol.

 

[Gologit]

was the hard heads they broke......I think Glen used um, wish he was around to comment.
yup, if a red head fails it was me. sometimes I cut one in a small tree.

By the end of the season...hell, sometimes by the end of the week...I usually have a little box full of blunt tip wedges to occupy my spare time.

 

[treeslayer2003]

you sharpen um? I tried that but just didn't drive right no more.