Fiskars Super Splitting Axe
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I need to ask....could you tell me why it is amazing? I've used a variety of different axes and splitting mauls. They do work but if you run into a fairly fresh piece of oak...forget it. My mauls actually bounce off the round.
Of note, this is better suited for someone who isn't very tall as the handle is only 28". My monster maul is 36" and I had a lot of trouble trying to use the fiskars one. I wish they made a longer version as I love there products.
Snow & Neally has a nice 3.5lb single bit axe with a faun-foot 30" handle for $48 or a double bit axe with a straight 36" handle for $60. Council Railsplitter Axes have single and double bit axes with 36" handle for $40 and $46, respectively. I use a Snow & Neally axe and maul. The axe is a better splitting tool in most cases. The maul works with tougher problems. The sharp edge of the axe starts a split better than the fat wedge of a maul--and you want to split the wood, not beat it to death.
Hakusan said:
I've got a single and double bit Collins Ax axes (the old ones, not the Hardman made Collins Ax phonies) which I believe are the equal of Snow & Neally and neither of them comes close to being as good a splitter and my 2.25lb 23" handle Fiskars splitting ax.
Well, I just went out to buy one of these Fiskers. I did not come home with it. There is no secret to a good axe, as Fiskers clearly states on their web site. The axe is really sharp, the way an axe should be. Most axes today are not even sold sharp--the big box axes couldn't even cut tofu without making a mess. I have met few people who sharpen their axe after use, which means the tool gets duller and duller over time.
Now to be fair, I have not used this axe and there could be a few other things improving its performance. I noticed the sides of the axe blade is machined and treated in such a way to reduce friction. I also do not know how the curve on the sides of the blade help in the splitting. Since the curves don't greatly differ from my own axe (and I keep it sharp), I do not think it is worth replacing--it splits wood easily enough.
The Fiskers axe look like an excellent tool. I don't think, however, they have discovered some "secret" to axe design--you can't beat a sharp axe on splitting wood (as Fiskers admits themselves). What edge (no pun intended) the head shape and surface give, I am uncertain, but I think getting a whetstone for your old axe may be just as good an investment as buying a Fiskers. Certainly if your weapon is a maul, then getting a Fiskers splitting axe is a great choice. This might be good news for those who would like a longer handle on an axe--look at a different manufacturer and just keep the blade sharp.
Now to be fair, I have not used this axe and there could be a few other things improving its performance. I noticed the sides of the axe blade is machined and treated in such a way to reduce friction. I also do not know how the curve on the sides of the blade help in the splitting. Since the curves don't greatly differ from my own axe (and I keep it sharp), I do not think it is worth replacing--it splits wood easily enough.
The Fiskers axe look like an excellent tool. I don't think, however, they have discovered some "secret" to axe design--you can't beat a sharp axe on splitting wood (as Fiskers admits themselves). What edge (no pun intended) the head shape and surface give, I am uncertain, but I think getting a whetstone for your old axe may be just as good an investment as buying a Fiskers. Certainly if your weapon is a maul, then getting a Fiskers splitting axe is a great choice. This might be good news for those who would like a longer handle on an axe--look at a different manufacturer and just keep the blade sharp.
One more thought on the Fiskers axe. I did not measure it, but I believe it has a very narrow cut/face, which should allow it to bite deeper into the wood and so help the split. This may be more important than the finish on the head.
I wish stores in so. calif. would carry the Fiskars splitting axes. Sears and Osh carry the chopping axes, but no one carries the splitting axes. When I order stuff off the internet, I usually have it shipped to my office, but I'm just a bit leary of shipping something that looks like an ax murder's wet dream to my office. OTOH, I've read so many good reviews, both here and elsewhere, that I'm just gonna have to order one sooner or later.
Peace,
- Sequoia
Peace,
- Sequoia
TreePapa said:
The box it ships in is 6"x6"x36" so you coworkers would not have an idea of what it is.
TreePapa said:
I'd be happy to purchase one locally and ship it to you wrapped tightly in porno magazines. Imagine, an ax shaped package wrapped with those photos. Then the co-workers would really have something to talk about.
... or, as said above, you could have it shipped in a 6x6x36" box. Just disregard what I wrote above. My inner sophomore was coming out!
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