Buy your splitting axe online - some recommendations
The splitting axe is a tool which has been known for hundreds of years. Its simple purpose is to split firewood. This is why the head of such axes is significantly wider than that of other axes. Its angle also deviates from other types of axes. There is no general answer to the question which splitting axe is the worldl's best.
Which splitting axe serves me best?
There is an easy answer to this question: the one that fits your hand best is best for you. Two factors are decisive for ease of use: headweight and handle. The handle is typically made of. hickory and ash, because wood from these trees has long fibres and good vibration characteristics. Apart from wood handles, handles made of glass fibre reinforced plastic are also common. Such axes are for instance availble within the Fiskars assortment. Handles of this material have the advantage that they are not subject to variations of humidity as they will neither well up nor shrink. However, when damaged, these handles can not so easily be replaced. Besides, not everybody takes to the particular grip feeling of glass fibre reinforced plastic.
Often the head of splitting axes is heavier than that of universal or forestry axes. This makes for a higher impact force in splitting work. However, if the splitting axe is too heavy, it will make big demands on the user`s strength. In the very first moment, when you hold a splitting axe in your hands, you will instinctively know whether you can handle it. If the splitting axe seems heavy to you even in this no-work situation, you should choose a lighter model. In our online shop we carry splitting axes by manufacturers such as Bison, Fiskars, Gränsfors, Müller and Ochsenkopf (named her in alphabetical order).
As for the axe head it needs to be mentioned that the blade does not necessarily be excessively sharp in order to successfully split wood. Of course, a well sharpened axe facilitates an easy ingress of the head into the wood. Thee splitting effect as such result from the high wedging forces which are generated by the head's angles. Universal and felling axes by comparison have a slim design which allows precise chopping off of branches from the stem.
Which length is best for a splitting axe?
The length of the splitting axe's handle depends on the weight of the head. Handle lengths of axes of one and the same„weight class“ are relatively uniform. These result from the the axe makers' experiences that have acrued over the years. We recommend not to change the length of the original handle. Should you need a replacement handle, try to get one of equal length.
Which is better? Splitting hammer or splitting axe?
Which of these tools serves best depends on what you intend to do. If the axe is exclusively meant for splitting wood, a splitting axe is absolutely sufficient. If felling or splitting wedges come into play, by all means use a splitting hammer .The reason is that the hole in the head of the splitting axe, the socalled eye, is not designed to withstand such forces.In the worst case, when heavy wedges are used, the head may get damaged to such a degree as to become unsuable.
Working the splitting axe - what safety precautions must be heeded?
As with all other work involving axes working gloaves should be worn as protection against splinters. What is more, protective goggles also provide meaningful protection.
