An interesting fact is that the ax, being an ancient invention of mankind, has not undergone any cardinal changes since its inception. One of the few improvements is that there is a special beard in the form of a small protrusion at the blade. It serves to strengthen the fastening of the cutting part to the ax, as well as to increase the level of protection of this element from shock. A good ax is able to properly perform its functions for a very long period of time.
How to check the quality
Product life for the most part depends on what grade of steel is used for the cutting part of the head. If you have a choice, it is best to give preference to axes that will be immune to temperature changes and external damage during operation. The cutting part of the head of such products is made only of high carbon steel. In the era of the USSR, good axes were produced from different brands, including U7A, U8, U8A and U8GA.
And today there is an easy and quick way to check the quality of the product right before purchase. It is enough to take any dense solid object and hit it on the blade on the ax. This will be followed by a sound that you need to carefully listen to. A sonorous and long buzz will indicate proper quality. The tool will be able to serve on the farm for a long time, and the owner will not need to sharpen it regularly and clean up the nicks that have arisen.
Choosing the right ax
This is one of those cases where the appearance of the product is directly related to its final characteristics and purpose. The buyer should inspect the surface of the cutting head. This part of the tool can conditionally be narrow, medium or wide. A suitable option is selected depending on the needs for which the ax is useful. No less important is the weight of the product. For example, a heavy tool will do a good job of chopping wood, but will require better physical data from its owner. Light axes will not be able to inflict a serious blow on anything, and the swing itself must be sharp and powerful, which also implies a certain physical preparation.
Not all elements explicitly affect the resulting functionality. For example, an ax for an ax is selected solely from personal preferences and convenience criteria, and therefore this part of the design is not universal. With regard to strength, the plastic is not inferior to wood products. An iron hatchet with a rubberized handle can also be called a very convenient option, but the tool itself will thus gain additional weight.
General buying tips
All criteria for choosing a tool usually depend on the tasks that the product will perform. To begin with, it is worth taking a closer look at the shape and sharpening of the blade. With the first, everything is quite simple. The rounded shape allows you to cut with an ax better, and the straight line is the best choice for chopping wood. Sharpening the blade can have a different angle. If this parameter is at a mark of 40 degrees or less, then the tool will be much easier to penetrate into the material, but you will have to resort to sharpening it quite often. Large angles are suitable for chopping meat or chopping wood. There are also combined options with blunt edges and a sharp center.
After you need to look at what kind of wedge the ax has. You have to choose between wood and metal options. On the other hand, today some models of axes are sold without a wedge at all. This element is necessary for firmly securing the shock of the tool. With proper dexterity, you can independently carry out the so-called wedging ax. Next, you should pay attention to the handle itself, the length of which should be optimal for long and productive work. This parameter is easy to choose - just compare the indicator with the length of the arm from the shoulder joint to the wrist. With a perfect match, you simply cannot find the best tool.
How to make an ax
The first step is to decide on future wishes. The product can be made heavy or lightweight depending on the goals and personal convenience. Heavy axes weigh from 1 to 1.4 kg and have a handle from 55 to 65 cm in length, and the options for lightweight options are about 0.8-1 kg by weight and 40-60 cm along the length of the handle, respectively. Next, you need to choose a wooden blank from acacia, maple or oak. Other hardwoods will also come down. Regardless of the material chosen, you will need to dry it for a very long period. Then, on the wooden blank, the contours of the handle are drawn according to a previously prepared template. At the end of the handle, you should also make a slight thickening, as otherwise the hand will constantly slide off during operation.
The handle is cut with a knife, chisel or jigsaw. The purchased nozzle is tried on to the wooden part. If necessary, further grinding is performed, because the parts must fit perfectly together. In the future, you will need to make a mark on the ax in the place where the stitching part ends. The resulting segment is divided in two. The second mark is made with a hacksaw for metal. This moment is important for someone who wants to make an ax with their own hands, because here there will be a wedge that will help to tightly fix the ax.
Tourist axes
Such products include a relatively compact size and modest weight. A good ax for a tourist should have semicircular edges for the reason that he will often be worn in a closed backpack. Manufacturers prefer to create a convenient design and provide an additional cover in the package.
Travel models have very compact handles up to half a meter long and well sharpened sharp blades. The latter makes it possible to use the product as a conventional cutting knife. Among the shortcomings, it should be noted a rather high cost among other proposals, the gradual appearance of rust due to wearing in a case and the inability to perform some standard work such as cutting logs.
Axes for meat
Ideal for cutting bones and meat products. The use of this type of tool is mostly the prerogative of professionals, and at home such models are easily replaced with simple multi-functional axes. Butchers also use the product for daily cutting a large number of carcasses of animals and birds. The distinguishing features of the tool include the presence of a wide blade, high density of steel, alloying in the best models and large total weight. As a rule, certain wood species serve as material for an ax.
Among the undoubted advantages of such models, it is necessary to highlight the ability to cut almost any non-conformable material, as well as excellent indicators of durability and safety margin. However, only a man with good physical fitness can fully work with the product. The weight of standard options starts at three kilograms. In addition, wooden axes tend to dry out over the years.
Axes for firewood
Intended use is preferred. Usually quality carbon steel blades are installed. The advantage is that the owner is unlikely in the foreseeable future to have a question about how to sharpen the ax, which is used to cut firewood. However, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with at least the theoretical part. The sharpening procedure is carried out either manually using various materials, or on an automatic electric machine. It is important to observe the original angles, otherwise the product may become less efficient in operation. For this type of axes, it is better to sharpen the blade by 40-60 degrees.
The advantages of such a tool are accessibility to the end user, ease of use, and fairly widely varying prices for the models. Choosing the right option is quite simple, but it is also worth considering the very narrow specialization of the ax. Often you can find negative reviews about this category. The reason is a huge number of low-quality Chinese fakes in the building materials market.
Double and Forged Axes
The models have a pair of blades with the same dimensions and thickness. In this product, special attention is paid to balance for ease of operation. For blades, high-carbon steel is used as the material. In addition to the main tasks, this ax can also serve as a throwing weapon for entertaining or competitive purposes. Unfortunately, the impact function due to design features is missing. For an unprepared person, there is a high probability of causing dangerous personal injuries. Some collectors prefer to purchase double forged battle axes for training or decoration. Of course, such products are made by blacksmiths individually to order.
If high quality is required regardless of price, then the best option is hard to find. For example, you can order a forged ax on an ash ax. With this tool you can chop and chop wood. The blacksmith who will be engaged in the manufacture of the ax will help to choose optimally all the parameters, including weight, size, angle and degree of sharpening of the blade, as well as the most convenient handle length. On the farm, such a tool can last until the end of life.
Axes for felling
A good lumberjack knows exactly what product he needs. Special methods of manufacturing tools are used to cut down forests in the plots. In particular, the cutting surface of the head is specially processed manually, and then passes the mechanical forging procedure. It is not customary to save on the materials of the ax of the lumberjack, and therefore steel grades with the highest strength indicators are used.
No less important is the handle of the tool, because the worker must be able to handle it throughout the whole working day. It was experimentally established that the optimal material for this element of the ax is a kind of hazel called hickory. Impact force is one of the most significant indicators in the lumberjack business, for which products are deliberately heavier. Daily hard work involves a risk of injury. Manufacturers try to make the blades rounded to avoid unnecessary manufacturing incidents.
Carpentry Axes
A good carpenter needs a quality tool no less than someone who is engaged in manual cutting of wood or chopping firewood. Especially for the convenience of the masters of this profession, axes with ergonomic wooden handles and medium blade thickness appeared on the building materials market. The latter is sharpened at a right angle, with each carpenter choosing the degree of sharpening strictly individually, according to his own preferences.
A good master tool should be perfectly balanced. In addition, a very high degree of sharpness of the blade is required, the fixation of which on the ax can be done in various ways. Since carpenters also work quite a lot and intensively with the product, manufacturers try to make their models as safe as possible. Every professional after purchase will certainly customize the sharpening to his taste. It is worth noting that such a product is very specialized, that is, chopping or chopping wood with it will not work.
Axes with a long handle
This version of this tool even has its own name - cleaver. The ax for an ax of this type is light and long. Impact resistant plastic is usually used as the material of the latter. The steel of the blade is always hardened, and the angle of its sharpening is from 40 to 60 degrees. Among the advantages of long axes are the rather low cost in the market and a wide selection of models. Light weight combined with good balance help to seriously increase the final impact force. The problem is the same - a very narrow specialization. In addition, there is no way to visually determine how well the model under consideration is implemented.
Camping Axes
Such products often have common features with the tourist. They imply the presence of a short handle and light weight, as well as the presence of a protective cover in the kit. A good ax for hiking is made with a polyurethane rubber handle and a wide sharp blade. The scope of such models is quite extensive, because in extreme wildlife conditions, many actions can be required using an improvised tool. However, the quality of the steel is not always at a high level, that is, quite frequent sharpening may be required.
Household Axes
It is a common choice for a carpenter or builder. The ax as a tool in this case is used when chopping firewood, chopping down a bar or log. Preference is given to a wooden handle and high-quality steel for the blade. Multifunctionality at an affordable price - this is how you can briefly characterize such a choice. At the same time, after five or six years, the handle may begin to crack.