I found after using my chainsaw i needed a good AXe try finding a good one at a fair

[Mat4644]

See post 14. Before all the mechanical diggers this is what your Grandfather cleared roots and small stumps with. Plus you can't pry up with an axe.

 

[happysawer]

Dup. Post please remove.

 

[happysawer]

Lol, pictures or it didn't happen eh? It was tragic, I blogged about it at the time. Here are the pics:

The handle after it fell out of the axe:View attachment 674712

The fluff which was in the handle (fluff?): View attachment 674713

And the handle, which had many flaws which were filled with some kind of putty:View attachment 674714

Not knowing how poorly this handle was mounted in the axe, naturally it flew off with my first or second swing.

Did you buy this axe from Harbor frieght? do you have the picture of the markings on handle as on mine?
View attachment 674716

 

[Bullwinkle123]

Did you buy this axe from Harbor frieght? do you have the picture of the markings on handle as on mine?
View attachment 674716

Are you asking me? The picture with your question is not the picture I posted, so maybe I'm confused about the thread of conversation here.

There is zero doubt that I bought the axe from harbor freight in Natick MA. Whether I have more photos with identifying markings or even the handle I don't know, this was years ago. (Note: the photo in the quoted reply is NOT the photo I posted, but I think it is the same model axe).

It isn't often I see someone trying to defend the manufacturing honor of Harbor Fright. But they definitely lose points for selling a poorly hung axe. Nothing wrong with the steel though.

 

[happysawer]

There is zero doubt that I bought the axe from harbor freight in Natick MA. Whether I have more photos with identifying markings or even the handle I don't know, this was years ago.

It isn't often I see someone trying to defend the manufacturing honor of Harbor Fright. But they definitely lose points for selling a poorly hung axe. Nothing wrong with the steel though.

The AXE i bought from Harbor Freight sure seems well made and the handle is not as you described yours, mine was marked made in India.
Harbor Freight has a WARRANTY as follows:
Lifetime Warranty. We guarantee this Tool to be free from defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product. Limitations apply.
Did you ask for the axe to be warrantyed?
And i am not defending the manufacturing honor of Harbor Fright, just trying to give them a chance for the truth.

What makes your post so wrong IMHO is the picture of a broken axe is not the axe you say failed you, and you have posted a picture of a broken axe with no markings proving it is a product sold by Harbor Frieght.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

The AXE i bought from Harbor Freight sure seems well made and the handle is not as you described yours, mine was marked made in India.
Harbor Freight has a WARRANTY as follows:
Lifetime Warranty. We guarantee this Tool to be free from defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product. Limitations apply.
Did you ask for the axe to be warrantyed?
And i am not defending the manufacturing honor of Harbor Fright, just trying to give them a chance for the truth.

What makes your post so wrong IMHO is the picture of a broken axe is not the axe you say failed you, and you have posted a picture of a broken axe with no markings proving it is a product sold by Harbor Frieght.

I don't think I even paid attention to warranty potential, but that's partly because I bought the axe in eastern MA but use it in VT, and the nearest HF is 45 minutes away.
Still a good thing to remember about warranties. Nice to know you had a better experience with your handle.

In general I have mixed luck with HF. My cheap angle HF grinder is fantastic. Their cutting disks for that grinder, also quite good and I like their thinner kerf. My cheap large HF cutting wheel is not so good however, the motor is just too weak and/or the big HF cutting disks may be inferior making the motor work harder. I don't have another (large) cutter or disks to compare.

Happy trails, enjoy your axe.

Meanwhile, my axe-using days are mostly behind me now except for the smallest axes. Chain-saws and tractors for the old-age win.

 

[happysawer]

I don't think I even paid attention to warranty potential, but that's partly because I bought the axe in eastern MA but use it in VT, and the nearest HF is 45 minutes away.
Still a good thing to remember about warranties. Nice to know you had a better experience with your handle.

In general I have mixed luck with HF. My cheap angle HF grinder is fantastic. Their cutting disks for that grinder, also quite good and I like their thinner kerf. My cheap large HF cutting wheel is not so good however, the motor is just too weak and/or the big HF cutting disks may be inferior making the motor work harder. I don't have another (large) cutter or disks to compare.

Happy trails, enjoy your axe.

Meanwhile, my axe-using days are mostly behind me now except for the smallest axes. Chain-saws and tractors for the old-age win.

I think i have made my point today Bullwinkle123, and happy trails to you also.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

What makes your post so wrong IMHO is the picture of a broken axe is not the axe you say failed you, and you have posted a picture of a broken axe with no markings proving it is a product sold by Harbor Frieght.

Actually, I missed this bit. Yes, there are no identifying markings on the photos I posted (and to a blog years, ago, when it happened).

Or perhaps there are, what you see is that you get. Once you strip off the labels and _use_ the product, identifying markings may be hard to come by, and so you can take me at my word or not. I am unlikely to "get wrong" the brand of a brand new thing failing hard on first use, which was the case with the axe.

Looking through my defunct blog post, the only markings I see in any pictures are this number on the axe head (which shows the also shows the defective wedge that was in the head, albeit poorly)

And the only identifying markings remaining on the handle (from available pictures) is a stamp saying "genuine hickory". Meanwhile, users can choose to question the veracity of my claims, or they can be careful buying axes from HF. I've done what I can to inform

 

[happysawer]

How the head of my Harbor Frieght axe is attached, and there is no markings on head.

 

[s219]

I bought a Harbor Freight hatchet for chopping frozen bait for my crab pots. The head loosened up from the handle within a couple months and when I pulled it apart, the wedge was really junky wood. No wonder it came loose. I made a new wedge and drove it in with epoxy and it's been OK since.

I have a Fiskars X27 and that thing is amazing. Best splitting maul I have ever used. Trades lighter head weight for faster swing speed and works like a charm. If I needed an axe Fiskars would be on the top of my shopping list.

 

[two_bit_score]

This might be helpful. Steve's Small Engine Saloon had two great videos on "Hanging An Axe".

How To Hang an Axe - Video {PART ONE} - YouTube

.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

This might be helpful. Steve's Small Engine Saloon had two great videos on "Hanging An Axe".

How To Hang an Axe - Video {PART ONE} - YouTube

.

Sorry, I couldn't make past the point where this guy says he's basically going to take a LONG time to talk in PART ONE of his series on hanging an axe. Maybe it's a very good series, but his lead-in is awful (at least, for my attention span).

I find these two videos far more inspiring, either one of these guys could probably go from dried bit of tree to a hung axe handle by the time the other guy talks through parts one and two of his videos.

Finnish man makes an axe handle(1936) - YouTube
Making An Axe Handle From A Log - YouTube

Unfortunately neither of the videos is the one I like of the guy who made the axe handle with pretty much just an axe, maybe I'll find that.

 

[two_bit_score]

Sorry, I couldn't make past the point where this guy says he's basically going to take a LONG time to talk in PART ONE of his series on hanging an axe.

I find these two videos far more inspiring, either one of these guys could probably go from dried bit of tree to a hung axe handle by the time the other guy talks through parts one and two of his videos.

Finnish man makes an axe handle(1936) - YouTube
Making An Axe Handle From A Log - YouTube

Unfortunately neither of the videos is the one I like of the guy who made the axe handle with pretty much just an axe, maybe I'll find that.

My version has a Fast Forward feature. Almost all videos drag a little in parts. Thats when I fast forward.

.

 

[Egon]

Just remember that axes have a wide range of head size and edge bevel grinds. Usually there will be a cutting edge design to suit your axe use.

 

[happysawer]

Steve is a great guy i have learned a lot from his videos, but Steve is not a Logger or has worked in the forests or has he spent about all of his life, felling trees and bucking logs as Bucken Billy Ray has.

So if Bucken Billy Ray says he feels the wood grain in the axe handle running across not the best grain pattern, and running in the length is the best grain pattern then, i have to go along with Bucken Billy Ray he's been there and done it.

 

[CobyRupert]

Lowe’s sells axe (or sledge) wedged for $1.79 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Truper-Expansion-Wedge/50299973

Store handle in a dry place before installing so wood shrinks.
I’ve heard people say to stick an axe’s or sledge’s head in a bucket of water before you use it if you want a little bit more tightness.

It’s a lot easier and cheaper for me to take one of my old or ”retired early” chainsaw chains and devote it to be a “root chain”. Yes, it might not cut fast and I might have to do a couple quick re-sharpenings for a stump, but it does the job eventually.

 

[deezler]

I have a Fiskars X27 and that thing is amazing. Best splitting maul I have ever used. Trades lighter head weight for faster swing speed and works like a charm. If I needed an axe Fiskars would be on the top of my shopping list.

I also have the Fiskar's X27, and kind of have mixed feelings about it. It splits dry, straight wood like a charm. But struggles with my stringy elm wood (what axe, wouldn't, I suppose).

The main problem I have with the X27 is just that the cutting edge is so sharp and thin, that it gets damaged easily. If you strike clean through a log into the dirt below it, you'll probably have found a pebble and dinged the blade. I had to resharpen mine after only half a face cord of splitting or so, and then there were chunks of blade missing. Still works well, but that was a bummer. A heavier, duller maul doesn't have this problem.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have ten chainsaws and a couple of AXES that never get used. I used to use them for chopping roots in the ground, but got tired of soil in my hair and started using a saws-all. What do people use an AXE for? The OP mentioned something about a STUMP???

 

[happysawer]

I have ten chainsaws and a couple of AXES that never get used. I used to use them for chopping roots in the ground, but got tired of soil in my hair and started using a saws-all. What do people use an AXE for? The OP mentioned something about a STUMP???

There Holly Bush stumps left after cutting down them worthless bushs, i love wacking at them with my Axe everytime i hit the stump i think i am choping my ex wives oldest son in his worthless head.

 

[kenmbz]

I use a sawzall and chainsaws, small Axe for kindling firewood. Maul for splitting (8lb). I would like a felling axe to breeze through larger saplings as I clear trails. So have been looking.