Axe — the best modern professional factory tools and products of private blacksmiths (85 photos)

And today, the farm can not do without an axe. A simple and familiar tool consisting of a head with a cutting edge and a handle is indispensable in a hike and on a fire shield. For each task, you need your own kind of axe: carpentry, tourist, for chopping meat or chopping firewood. Modern models are manufactured taking into account their purpose in order to make their application in a particular situation the most effective.

Even a seemingly imperceptible difference in the work will manifest itself on the whole scale, so it is not always possible to replace one kind of tool with another. We offer to figure out together how to choose a suitable axe.

Summary of the article:

They differ in weight, handle length, material and appearance of the blade. Depending on the goals facing the product, it can be a small neat hatchet or an impressive tool that only a strong man can handle. Look at the photos of axes: how different they can be externally.

Household Axe

The household axe is used by carpenters and builders. They can cut a log and chop firewood. At the same time, the product has an affordable price. The disadvantage of this universal tool is the ax handle: the tree eventually crumbles, and the head is not fixed firmly enough on it.

Carpenter's Axe

Carpentry works are performed with a special balanced tool. Its blade of medium thickness is sharpened directly by the master to suit his style of work. Its head is firmly connected to the handle.

Double-sided axe

The main feature of a two–sided axe is that instead of a butt, it has another blade of the same thickness. They are made of high-carbon steel. Each can be sharpened in different ways, which will allow one tool to perform twice as many types of work.

Well balanced, the handle is easy to replace if necessary. However, it has a number of significant disadvantages, including solid weight and price, injury risk.

Wood chopping axe

The blade of the wood chopping tool is sharpened at an angle of 40-60 ° and is made of carbon hardened steel. It is presented on the market in a wide price range. Despite its prevalence, it is suitable only for a narrow segment of work.

Axe for the forest

A heavy axe for logging is unsuitable for other tasks. Due to the weight, the blow with such a tool turns out to be more powerful. The blade is made of the most durable steel grades and rounded to reduce the risk of injury. The hickory axe handle is comfortable to hold in your hands.

Chopper

The cleaver differs from other types of axes with a long handle made of impact-resistant plastic. The blade is sharpened at an angle of 40-60º. An inexpensive model with a low weight is quite widely presented on the market. The disadvantage is a narrow scope of application.

Forged Axe

Forged axes are exclusive items in their own way. Each gun is made by hand. The product turns out to be of high quality, having a high service life. The butt can be used as a hammer. But you will have to pay a lot for such a tool.

Tourist Axe

The tourist axe is intended for use during expeditions, which means it should be light and compact, convenient to carry in a backpack. Such a tool must necessarily be in a case.

The sharp blade allows its use as a knife. Prone to rust, not suitable for chopping firewood, quite expensive.

Hiking Axe

A hiking axe is similar to a tourist one in compactness and lightness, both varieties have a case. It features a wide, sharp blade and a rubberized polyurethane handle. A fairly versatile model, available in many variations.

Hunting Axe

A hunting axe has a notch near the handle, for which it can be hung on a branch. It is also convenient when cutting large carcasses.

Butcher's Axe

A professional butcher's tool is an axe for chopping meat. Distinctive features – a wide blade made of high-density steel, strength and durability. It has a significant weight (more than 3 kg), so a man should wield it.

The axe handle is made of wood, which eventually crumbles. At home, there is no need for it, an ordinary universal axe will do.

The fire shield must be equipped with an axe. It is used for opening doors and window openings.

It differs from its fellows by a wooden axe handle covered with red paint and weighing no more than 2 kg. It must pass a strength test and has a quality certificate.

Materials

Which steel axe to choose? As a rule, tool, carbon or alloy steel is used in production, of which the last ones are the most durable.

The stronger the material, the less often the blade will have to be sharpened and the product will last longer. A simple test can be performed by tapping on a metal surface. A dull sound hints that it is better to delay the purchase, but a ringing one indicates the quality of steel.

The ax handle, as a rule, is made of various types of wood. The optimal ratio of hardness and strength is demonstrated by birch. After a few years of operation, the tree crumbles. You can fight this by placing it in water, or by purchasing a model with a handle treated with paint or varnish.

All-metal axes are extremely reliable, but heavier. Modern models can have a rubberized handle. This is extremely convenient, since it does not allow the hand to slip and reduces the risk of getting a splinter to zero.

Tips for choosing

The blade can have a straight or rounded edge. The first option is sharpened under attack, it is good for them to split objects. The second "knows" how to cut, which will be useful in carpentry.

Sharp sharpening speeds up the work, but such a blade is fragile and will blunt faster. The optimal sharpening angle for large logs is considered to be equal to 40 °. Felling of small trees can also be carried out with a blunt instrument.

Don't forget to specify the width of the blade. The extended working part is more comfortable to work with large objects: trees, logs, since a large area will be covered in one blow.

To cut a log or cut off a branch, an average width is enough. It is possessed by tourist and carpentry axes. The narrow working part is suitable for chopping firewood and harvesting wood chips.

The weight of the axe directly affects the force of the blow. Accordingly, the heavier it is, the more powerful the blow will be. The tool that is supposed to be carried in a backpack should be lighter and more compact. An impressive heavy axe is suitable for working in one place.

Inspect the wooden handle for cracks and burrs. It will be a plus if it has a bend that provides a confident grip.

Its optimal length is considered to be 6-7 times the width of the butt. It varies depending on the type of axe: tourist models have an axe handle about 20 cm long, and for a tool for cutting trees it can reach half a meter.

Choose simple models that do not require special handling skills if you rarely use an axe.

The price of the instrument is largely influenced by the manufacturer. The most budget options have a wooden handle, and their cost does not exceed 700 rubles. Up to 2000 rubles will have to be paid for tourist and hunting hatchets. Such models are often all-metal with a rubberized handle.