Axes and associated items

[davidwyby]

Making firewood today and if you’ve been around a while or read back you know I split tough Eucalyptus and have tried a mess of different splitters.

The council 7lb axe eye ole no. 7 is now my favorite and just might be the best. 8 is too heavy on the upswing and 6 sometimes isn’t enough. 7 is perfect. I love the handle. Long and slim with a decent swell, I can hold or anchor it by the swell, slide my other hand down, and really get some velocity.

If you think about the physics a little, the hand sliding down the handle is a lever gradually switching from lots of leverage to velocity as it goes. Like a CVT transmission in a car.

I’ve gotten to where I can usually judge how hard to whack a round to crack it but not break it, and stick just enough to rotate it for the next whack. Get it all cracked up and then knock it apart. Kinda sorta mostly ya know.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Making firewood today and if you’ve been around a while or read back you know I split tough Eucalyptus and have tried a mess of different splitters.

The council 7lb axe eye ole no. 7 is now my favorite and just might be the best. 8 is too heavy on the upswing and 6 sometimes isn’t enough. 7 is perfect. I love the handle. Long and slim with a decent swell, I can hold or anchor it by the swell, slide my other hand down, and really get some velocity.

If you think about the physics a little, the hand sliding down the handle is a lever gradually switching from lots of leverage to velocity as it goes. Like a CVT transmission in a car.

I’ve gotten to where I can usually judge how hard to whack a round to crack it but not break it, and stick just enough to rotate it for the next whack. Get it all cracked up and then knock it apart. Kinda sorta mostly ya know.

Familiar with this axe, made in Oakland?

Brent Bailey Forge - Quality Handforged Hammers, Axes and Tools

Brent Bailey is a blacksmith and tool maker with decades of experience making the highest quality hammers, axes and tools for the modern craftsman.

www.brentbaileyforge.com

 

[davidwyby]

Familiar with this axe, made in Oakland?

Brent Bailey Forge - Quality Handforged Hammers, Axes and Tools

Brent Bailey is a blacksmith and tool maker with decades of experience making the highest quality hammers, axes and tools for the modern craftsman.

www.brentbaileyforge.com

No. Looks really good.

 

[davidwyby]

Yesterday I hung a 7.3lb maul head my wife got me for Christmas on a bit shorter stick than usual 36”. I like it.

I also finally hung my 6lb weco japan head on a curved 36” council handle. It seems to work as well as I expected. High centerline so it doesn’t get stuck.

Killed some tough elm with both of them.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Yesterday I hung a 7.3lb maul head my wife got me for Christmas on a bit shorter stick than usual 36”. I like it.

I also finally hung my 6lb weco japan head on a curved 36” council handle. It seems to work as well as I expected. High centerline so it doesn’t get stuck.

Killed some tough elm with both of them.

I've got a 6lb Weco and was wondering if you'd gotten around to handling yours. How does it compare to your #7?

 

[davidwyby]

I've got a 6lb Weco and was wondering if you'd gotten around to handling yours. How does it compare to your #7?

I'll have to run them head to head. It's lunch time, give me an hour, haha.

Not liking the trad round maul handle on the one I got from my wife. Really like a skinny handle with a big swell so I can relax grip for less shock. Also, the hole in the maul head is so small, the handles tend to break. Axe eye Council FTW

 

[Sloughfoot]

I'll have to run them head to head. It's lunch time, give me an hour, haha.

Not liking the trad round maul handle on the one I got from my wife. Really like a skinny handle with a big swell so I can relax grip for less shock. Also, the hole in the maul head is so small, the handles tend to break. Axe eye Council FTW

Yeh, not a fan of the maul handle myself. You've got me eyeing a #7. Get one it'll definitely be with single bit eye. I'd like to get just the head and handle it with a slightly curved 36" handle of some variety.

 

[davidwyby]

Yeh, not a fan of the maul handle myself. You've got me eyeing a #7. Get one it'll definitely be with single bit eye. I'd like to get just the head and handle it with a slightly curved 36" handle of some variety.

Uploading vid now


I have a curved on my Weco and I think I like the council straight better.

I think the ole no 7 might have a touch more bounce/vibration. Slightly wider profile, need to sharpen it and give it a high centerline.

 

[davidwyby]

 

[Sloughfoot]

That's good info. Learned a thing or 10. I'd never considered fitting a single bit handle to a maul eye. Thinking I'll get a long straight single bit handle for my 6 lb Weco head.

 

[jacktheripper]

I found this double bit in a Marketplace ad for free with a bunch of rusty tools. I just took the head. Got it cleaned up and put an edge on it today.

See the mysterious bits of stamping on it. Anybody recognize the pattern or little bits of stamps?

 

[EFSM]

I found this double bit in a Marketplace ad for free with a bunch of rusty tools. I just took the head. Got it cleaned up and put an edge on it today.

See the mysterious bits of stamping on it. Anybody recognize the pattern or little bits of stamps?

The MA looks like it could be a previous owner’s initials.

 

[Junk Meister]

I found this double bit in a Marketplace ad for free with a bunch of rusty tools. I just took the head. Got it cleaned up and put an edge on it today.

See the mysterious bits of stamping on it. Anybody recognize the pattern or little bits of stamps?

M A for "My Axe" I can send my info if ya wanna get it HOME.

 

[jacktheripper]

The MA looks like it could be a previous owner’s initials.

I was thinking it could also be from a “Germany” stamp. I wonder what the markings are in the lower left of my picture though…

 

[Junk Meister]

I was thinking it could also be from a “Germany” stamp. I wonder what the markings are in the lower left of my picture though…

I'll be in the PEANUT GALLERY hoping someone can put an answer to your question. There isn't much to work with.

 

[Woodslasher]

I found this double bit in a Marketplace ad for free with a bunch of rusty tools. I just took the head. Got it cleaned up and put an edge on it today.

See the mysterious bits of stamping on it. Anybody recognize the pattern or little bits of stamps?

Grinder wheel took off most the stamps, unfortunately. Where about are the stamps? Their location will give a clue as to the manufacturer.

 

[jacktheripper]

Grinder wheel took off most the stamps, unfortunately. Where about are the stamps? Their location will give a clue as to the manufacturer.

More like the rust that was flaking off took the stamps off and then I finished the job with the grinder. They’re located here