An ax is a hand tool that consists of a steel blade mounted on a handle called an ax handle. With the help of this tool, trees are cut or cleaned of branches and branches. Also in construction with an ax, a very large number of various wood processing works are performed: cutting, planing, sizing, etc.
At the same time, at the present time there are a large number of types and models of this instrument, which have their own characteristics. We want to talk about all of them in as much detail as possible. Surely this information will not be superfluous to you, both when choosing a tool, and when using those axes that are already in your set.
1. Carpenter's ax
This type of ax is designed for a wide range of wood processing in the construction process. A feature of this type of ax is a fairly large weight. As a rule, this is approximately 1.5 kilograms. It is this weight that is most optimal for long-term manual work on wood processing. You can also distinguish this ax by a kind of sharpening of the blade. The edge of the sharpened blade has a rounded appearance.
By the way, let's warn you right away: those axes that you can buy in the store usually have a straight sharpening edge. In the future, you will have to change the shape of the blade on the sharpener for ease of use. The fact is that the rounded blade, upon impact, breaks the detachable chips, and therefore working with an ax requires less effort. The length of the ax handle of a carpenter's ax is usually 40-50 cm, which is suitable in size for a person of average height and arm length.
A good carpenter's ax has a sharpening angle of approximately 35°. If you decrease the angle, the blade will get stuck in the wood (it will be pinched by the fibers), and if you increase it, you will spend a lot of effort to ensure that the blade enters the wood to the required depth. It is also worth noting that a very finely sharpened blade quickly crumbles, especially if you chop knots that have increased density and hardness.
2. Carpenter's ax
In appearance, this ax differs from the carpenter's ax in size, as well as in the shape of the blade. Unlike a carpenter's ax, the sharpened edge of the blade of a carpenter's ax is even. It is more convenient to cut a board or a bar with such a blade. The tip of the blade is sharp, which allows you to process small parts with good accuracy. The weight of the carpenter's ax is quite small - 0.8 -0.9 kg. This is dictated by the fact that the bulk of the work performed with its help is carried out with one hand. If the weight is more, then you will quickly get tired. In order to make the handle comfortable to hold in the hand (this also applies to other types of axes), the section of the ax handle is made in the form of an oval.
For a carpenter's ax, as well as for a carpenter's ax, the steel from which the blade is made is of particular importance. The fact is that if there is too much carbon in the steel, then the blade will quickly crumble, and if there is not enough, it will quickly become dull. The method of blade production is also important. Most modern axes have cast blades, but the best are made by forging. If you have a Soviet ax in good condition, then most likely any modern ax will be inferior to it in terms of its characteristics. Any carpenter or joiner values his tool very much, as it is very difficult to find a replacement for him.
3. Tourist hatchet
If you are going on a hiking trip or just fry kebabs in nature, an ax will certainly be one of the obligatory attributes. Of course, you can take a tool with which you carry out construction work at home, but it is better to use a tourist ax that is specially made for this purpose. This type of ax is small in size, making it easy to fit in a backpack, and if you are traveling by car, then you will need very little space in the trunk for a tourist ax.
Also, other properties and qualities are characteristic of the tourist hatchet. Since this type of ax is small in size, its weight is also small. But since it must perform all its functions, it is precisely because of this quality that the requirements for its sharpening must be appropriate. If sharpness is not so critical for a heavy ax, this is an important quality for a light tourist ax. The inertia of the ax is much less than that of other types and in order to cut a tree it must be sharp.
The industry produces various samples of this type of axes. Some of them are produced with a wooden handle, and in fact it is a carpenter's ax of small size. Another part of modern tourist axes is made entirely of metal, or with plastic handles. It is worth noting the following features of tourist axes made of different materials. An all-metal ax, even with a rubberized handle, is not very good for a winter outing or fishing. In the cold, such an ax heats up and it is very uncomfortable to work with it. Mittens or gloves in this case are not very good, as the ax will constantly slip out of the hands.
Axes with plastic handles are also not very desirable in winter. The fact is that the fastening of the metal part to the handle in this case is carried out using epoxy resin. In the frozen state, it is a strong but brittle material. Gradually, microcracks begin to appear in the epoxy and the fastening structure is broken. In winter, at negative temperatures, due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of metal and plastic, the attachment of the ax handle can also be broken.
For many modern tourist axes, there is an additional accessory - a case. This is a very useful item when traveling. When the ax is in a case, its blade will not be able to cut other things in a backpack or trunk. Also in nature, the sheath protects the blade to some extent from moisture and does not allow it to rust.
4. Cleaver ax
This type of ax is designed for one purpose - splitting logs or cuttings of trunks when chopping firewood. The cleaver has a peculiar form of a metal blade. In appearance, it resembles a drop from the end. That is, the blade of this ax expands very sharply to the place where the ax handle is inserted into the metal part. This is done so that in the process of chopping firewood the blade works in the form of a wedge, pushing the wood fibers to the side, splitting the stump.
The cleaver is usually quite heavy, since the effect on the wood is not due to a sharp blow, but due to the force of inertia. To split a tree, it is enough to sharply lower the cleaver onto a stump, which, taking into account the mass of the ax, will split it quite easily. Splitters usually have a long handle in order to increase the force of impact. The handle of the cleaver is usually made of hard and tough woods: birch, maple, elm.
It is not recommended to use oak as a material for an ax handle. Due to the increased strength during operation, such an ax handle will “dry hands”. That is, most of the energy from the impact will be transferred to the hands, due to which you will quickly get tired. If you are cutting stumps with a lot of knots, along with the cleaver you may also need wooden wedges that are driven into the tree until it splits.
When choosing this tool in the store, we do not recommend "following" the shiny, chrome-plated models with a plastic ax handle. The good old cleaver with a wooden ax handle and a forged metal part is better suited for chopping firewood, and it is also much cheaper.
5. Ax "adze"
If you need to gouge a groove in a log or beam, then an ax called an “adze” will be the best tool for you. A feature of this type of ax is that their metal part resembles a pick in shape, but at the end it does not narrow, but expands. In this case, the extended part is made in the form of a semicircle with sharpening. With this tool, it is very easy to gouge a groove in solid wood. By the way, it is very difficult to replace an adze ax with modern tools.
6 Butcher's ax
This tool does not apply to construction, as it is intended for cutting meat, more precisely carcasses of large animals. As a rule, this is an ax heavy enough and large in size so that it is possible to cut not only meat, but also bones with one blow. A feature of this ax is a very wide blade, which allows you to cut the meat into layers with one movement. The edge of the blade of this ax is even.
Other hand carpentry tools
|
Useful articles |