The Official Axe Cordwood Challenge

[bowtechmadman]

Anyone selling an axe by chance on here? I haven't been able to view the rules video but I think I'm in.

 

[Multifaceted]

Anyone selling an axe by chance on here? I haven't been able to view the rules video but I think I'm in.

I have a 3.75 lb Fulton single bit that I restored and hung on a 36" stick. It's been ground and sharpened and ready for work. If you cover shipping and the cost of the wood and leather sheath I'll send it up to you. PM if you're interested.

Might have others I'd be willing to part ways with, my working collection needs thinning...

 

[H-Ranch]

I have a 3.75 lb Fulton single bit that I restored and hung on a 36" stick. It's been ground and sharpened and ready for work. If you cover shipping and the cost of the wood and leather sheath I'll send it up to you. PM if you're interested.

Might have others I'd be willing to part ways with, my working collection needs thinning...

Wow - you are making it really tempting in your effort to draw us into your cult! LOL

You do some beautiful work on restorations. I may have to do a walk in the woods later to see if I can come up with enough 8-10" sasafras and other easy pickings to join you...

 

[bowtechmadman]

That's what I'm thinking as well...I have some sassafras in the same size range that needs thinned out. Thinking that should be much easier than tackling oak.

 

[LondonNeil]

The 'Ax to grind' video is great.

 

[Multifaceted]

Wow - you are making it really tempting in your effort to draw us into your cult! LOL

You do some beautiful work on restorations. I may have to do a walk in the woods later to see if I can come up with enough 8-10" sasafras and other easy pickings to join you...

That's what I'm thinking as well...I have some sassafras in the same size range that needs thinned out. Thinking that should be much easier than tackling oak.

Ha ha, it's not a cult, it's just an alternative way to do things. It's easy to get used to modern conveniences, but often, for me at least - doing things the old fashioned way gives me solace and an appreciation for the workmanship. In my opinion, it goes hand-in-hand with burning wood for heat. Many can argue "why use and axe when you can use a chainsaw and hydro-splitter?" — well, then why burn wood when you can install a modern efficient heat pump? I understand that in the colder regions with older houses, electric heat can be expensive, as can oil heat; but so it gasoline, power saws, oil, chains, etc.... It's all relative.

Anyway, thank you. It's a hobby than grew legs and has become a lifestyle... but it's still fun and I enjoy it.

Good deal, that's a great way to start - with thinning smaller trees. I'll be doing that with some cherry, but lately it's been mostly ash for me. The biggest tree I've tackled so far was maybe 18"-20" in diameter at its base.

 

[DSW]

I took the Fiskars splitting axe to a nearly frozen maple, about 10 inch in diameter and it worked me over pretty good.

 

[DSW]

Got the chopping axe in today.

Boy, I love the feel of a shorter axe. I know everyone rants and raves about the 3 footers and I split with one I get it but that control with the shorter axe feels good.

Edge is sharp, not razor sharp by any means. Estwing hatchets definitely come sharper but it's work ready out of the box.

Time to start chopping.

 

[Multifaceted]

I took the Fiskars splitting axe to a nearly frozen maple, about 10 inch in diameter and it worked me over pretty good.

Were you chopping the maple with your splitting axe?

Got the chopping axe in today.

Boy, I love the feel of a shorter axe. I know everyone rants and raves about the 3 footers and I split with one I get it but that control with the shorter axe feels good.

Edge is sharp, not razor sharp by any means. Estwing hatchets definitely come sharper but it's work ready out of the box.

Time to start chopping.

The axes I used in the video I posted with a 4.4 lb Basque on a 25" handle, and a 2.5 lb cruiser on a 28" handle. Long handles have their uses, like bucking while atop a large log, but otherwise a shorter handle is easier to wield and has better accuracy when bucking on the ground.

 

[DSW]

Off and running. 2019 Cordwood Challenge


First tree.



Completely hollow



Did a little bit more after this picture but this is basically it. Figure I'll get at least a face cord out of the tree.

 

[DSW]

Were you chopping the maple with your splitting axe?

Attempting to.

I knew it wouldn't work that well because of the axe geometry but my being out of shape was very apparent and that's part of the reason I chose to do this.

 

[Multifaceted]

Don't overwork yourself, brother. Make sure your axe is properly ground for the task and it'll make your work much easier. Good luck and keep at it! I plan to get back out this weekend as well, looks like Sunday will have 3 fulls days of dry and cold weather to firm up the ground over the last snowfall, warm-up melt and rainfall.

 

[DSW]

Oh no, not at all.

The splitter axe wouldn't work by design and it has been and will be my splitter for years to come so I wasn't gonna mess with it. The chopper is getting right after it, I'm going to touch up the edge a bit but that may not even matter, an axe isn't a skinning knife, it'll probably get down to exactly where it's at right now anyway.

I have been annoyingly busy for the last year and a half and spring will likely be the same, but right now I have a lull that I haven't had in a while so I'm taking advantage, completing some projects, and gonna chop some wood.

I will say this I swiped clean through a two and a half inch branch in one hit. Swinging lefty here and there for fun as well.

 

[DSW]

I plan to get back out this weekend as well, looks like Sunday will have 3 fulls days of dry and cold weather to firm up the ground over the last snowfall, warm-up melt and rainfall.

How many hours would you say you have into it so far?

I'm thinking I'll have 15-30 hours by the time I finish. But it's so early its hard to tell.

 

[Multifaceted]

How many hours would you say you have into it so far?

I'm thinking I'll have 15-30 hours by the time I finish. But it's so early its hard to tell.

I've only given it one day and one tree so far, maybe 2.5 hours. I did stop to eat lunch and reposition my camera several times, plus I'm moving at an easy pace because of my recovering knee. Had surgery only 3 months ago.

 

[DSW]

I've only given it one day and one tree so far, maybe 2.5 hours. I did stop to eat lunch and reposition my camera several times, plus I'm moving at an easy pace because of my recovering knee. Had surgery only 3 months ago.

That's good. I'm keeping a rough track of my time and I'm at 3.5 hours and I'm absolutely moving to get what I've gotten so far and I'm not filming.

I worked on the edge before I went out today, don't have the best setup, a worn Nicholson flat file and a very fine grit whetstone for knives, something in between might be nice. Got it to take a few hairs off and go through paper, still tame compared to a carving knife but sharp no doubt. I hit the dirt at least 10 times while splitting(I'm using one axe for every task) and came inside after 2 hours today and it still got through a thick piece of paper, this axe is a worker no doubt.

 

[DSW]

Ran into a few pieces that had me longing for a splitting axe or a chainsaw.

This piece was giving the Fiskars the business. Got it beat eventually but it was still hefty or as my wife likes to call it "why don't you make that stuff smaller?"



The tally.

 

[Multifaceted]

Dude, awesome progress! Keep it up! You've got me pumped to go out to work tomorrow!

 

[DSW]

Dude, awesome progress! Keep it up! You've got me pumped to go out to work tomorrow!

Thank ya sir.

Good deal, looking forward to it.

I'm hoping to move through it quickly being that I have more time than most guys for the next few weeks.

 

[Multifaceted]

Day 2 of the Axe Cordwood Challenge - Black Cherry: