Thread: Axe talk

A repair job was called for on the Fiskars splitter after some off-label use (cutting some Spotted Gum floorboard across the grain).

The bevel is about 6mm long and includes a 1mm micro-bevel. The included angle is around 30 degrees.

I jointed the edge to past the chip, marked 6mm from the edge and then filed a new bevel on both sides. Then I used a fine file for the micro-bevels and finished with honing just those.

I've used the old Cyclone splitter often in that way without a problem but the Fiskars is a little more vulnerable with its more acute included angle.

Pic 1: the chip. Pic 2: jointed edge. Pic 3: new bevel length marked... Pic 4: .. and filed. Micro-bevel stage not shown.

https://aeon.co/videos/forged-by-cra...tion-took-over

Terrific Rob

Regards
Paul

Since accumulation of axes, hatchets and tomahawks is both expensive and slow growing, could some of the wiser forum heads please suggest books or videos that they've found particularly informative across history, design and manufacture? Preferably relating to Australia. I should like to understand how cast (Keesteel) can be competitive with variously forged and machined tool steels. Also the evolution from English Sheffield through USA and Euro to limited Aussie and NZ.
Thanks,

There is an article on the history of Australian Racing axes in the this newsletter that covers some of your questions:
https://www.foresthistory.org.au/new...wsletter05.pdf
It was refeeenced back in post 156 but I notice that the link has moved.

There is also a brief history of Keesteel’s cast axes here:
The Spirit of Competition

For those who are looking to buy a new axe that does a bit of everything and that doesn't cost too much, you may be interested in the Cyclone 2kg Polished axe 2KG POLISHED AXE - Cyclone. They come pretty rough, and I spent about an hour regrinding the bit to relieve a hump in the bevel about 35mm in from the edge. Also they don't come anywhere near sharp - I had a noticable flat on the so called edge! But these imperfections are no big deal for anyone with a belt sander and a stone or two. Once the work on the head was done the other job was to refine the handle a bit. Mine came with a really nice spotted gum handle that was hung pretty well. The wedge was the nice straight steel variety, which makes things easier down the road when you need to fit a new handle. Unfortunately the handle was also really thick and covered in lacquer. I have big hands amd it was way too thick. I guess they think it looks durable - which it does - but it also feels really unwieldy. Quick work with a rasp and sandpaper and the handle was done. So how does it perform and what about the quality of the steel? Well it took down the large rubber tree in the back yard and the big bush next to it. Also chopped out the roots which involved a bit of chopping down in the dirt (never a nice job for an edge tool). 2kg or 4 1/2 pound is a heavier axe than most people will need for the garden, but the extra weight helps with splitting. The felling blows sank in 50mm or so. Granted rubber tree is soft but the axe just did it's work so easily. Chip ejection was pretty good but I'm no axeman so make of that what you will. After cutting out a tree and a large bush - and a miss hit on the bricks (see chip on the tip) the edge was in much the same condition as when I sharpened it! Very impressive. So for an hour or so's work you can have a really nice axe and blade guard for about $70 or so. I've included some pics for reference.

Cheers,
Zac.

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Good effort.

A comment on the included angle of the bit ... hardware axes usually come as general purpose tools, to cut as well as split, with a relatively obtuse angle bit. They don't do either well and if you plan on more than one job you can slim down the bit for cutting and keep a separate splitter.

Last note on the Cyclone 2kg. I cut the stump off at ground level with a chainsaw and used the axe to split the stump into firewood before it dries. It was the easiest splitting I've ever done, although my only other experience has been seasoned jarrah and white gum. You'd be mad to touch white gum with anything other than a block splitter though! So it does the two jobs required of an axe to a good backyard / garden standard once reground and sharpened.

Cheers,
Zac.

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