Ax of which company to choose
As we mentioned in one of the articles, hand tools are manufactured by many companies around the world. There are similar enterprises in every country - from some Uganda to great Russia. The production methods used are roughly the same. Tool steel is everywhere, and material for the handle is easy to find. And yet, some companies have become world leaders - their products can be found not only at home, but also in other countries.
The most popular in our country are axes under the following brands:
When choosing an ax, you should not pay special attention to the country of origin. Believe me, a quality product is produced in Russia, Germany, the USA, and many other countries.
The most important point: which cleaver is safer at work
Safety is one of the most important factors to consider before choosing a wood splitter.
Immediately, we note that the screw safety is much inferior to the hydraulic one. Why? It's all about the presentation. We have different filing principles:
1. For screw:
Above, we have already described how the entire supply and retention of firewood occurs with cone log splitters. Hands and only hands. The only insurance is a metal wedge-stand on which the workpiece rests. It is good that the cone remains motionless, so there is an opportunity to control the feed. But, nevertheless, the process of such splitting itself looks rather dangerous.
2. For hydraulic:
These units have strong clamps that clamp the deck on both sides. Thus, you do not need to hold the workpiece with your hands, this work is done for you by a special vice. Each time the log is fixed with handles, which is safer. Moreover, both when working with large decks and with small logs.
The vertical form of the hydraulic log splitter is more convenient and safe for tall and wide decks, in contrast to the conical one, where all feed is done manually and without protection.
The horizontal design is generally distinguished by increased safety - it will turn on only when both hands press the necessary buttons and levers at the same time. Thus, a person does not get into the wood splitting zone at all, which protects his hands from the cutting knife completely and completely.
The best axes for chopping wood (cleavers)
Only special axes, called cleavers, can split a thick log with one blow. Thanks to the massive working part with a thick blade, the impact leads to cracking of the wood along the grain. The experts recognized the following models as the most effective.
Fiskars X11-S 440 mm
The most convenient ax for chopping wood, according to experts, is the Fiskars X11-S 440 mm model. The tool is notable for its high quality workmanship, while it is sold in Russia at an affordable price. With the help of a cleaver, it is possible to carry out various types of work, from the preparation of firewood to construction. The manufacturer has made a clearly defined butt, which makes it possible to use the back side as a hammer. Teflon coating is used to protect the steel blade.
The ax takes first place in the ranking for its compact size and light weight (1.13 kg), an ergonomic handle with a shock-absorbing coating. The handle is made of a special material FiberComp, which is not afraid of moisture and is resistant to mechanical damage.
- versatility;
- does not get stuck in logs;
- easily splits logs up to 20 cm in diameter;
- durable handle.
not detected.
Matrix 21820
The cleaver Matrix 21820 is sold at the lowest price on the domestic market. The well-known German manufacturer has managed to reduce the production cost by locating a production site in China.The ax is made of 65G steel, which after heat treatment acquires a high hardness (50 HRc). Even logs with twigs can be split thanks to the back, made in the form of an anvil. Using a hammer, you can free a stuck ax and chop a log. For ease of use, the handle is made of fiberglass, it absorbs when struck. In addition, the material does not swell or dry out.
The model ranks second in the ranking, behind the winner in weight (3.55 kg) and dimensions (length 900 mm). But users complain about hand fatigue in the wrists.
- low price;
- high-quality manufacturing;
- comfortable handle;
- moderate angle.
- heavy weight;
- tangible recoil in the hands on impact.
GARDENA 1600S
The GARDENA 1600S Cleaver will help you quickly tackle a pile of firewood. The blade geometry is specially selected for the splitting of medium-sized logs. The tool is made in the Czech Republic, so the price is slightly higher than the offer of competitors. But the manufacturer processed the ax blade with a special compound to reduce friction. The total weight of the cleaver is 1.6 kg, which becomes a serious force with a length of 600 mm.
It was possible to lighten the tool due to the carbon fiber handle. She is not afraid of moisture and does not dry out. However, the material is destroyed by strong blows of a sledgehammer on the butt of a stuck ax. Therefore, you will have to work according to the blow-extract-blow scheme. Over time, sticky resin builds up on the blade, which makes chopping wood worse. Cleaning is best done with organic solvents.
Rating of the best models
Let's conduct a small overview of the most popular models, among which there are samples from American, German and Russian manufacturers.
Splitting ax Matrix weighing 3 kg with fiberglass handle. The product is made of steel grade 66G, the hardness factor is 50 HRc. In order to accurately and effectively split even massive wooden fragments, the head is equipped with a small anvil from the rear. The fiberglass handle is made of the most modern material, never gets wet, does not dry out or swell.
- Cleaver The Great Divider weighing 4 kg with fiberglass handle. The tool is made of steel grade 65G, the hardness factor is 55 HRc. This device can split any fragments, the handle is made of fiberglass material, withstands significant loads and protects from unnecessary vibration.
- The Russian-made "Whirlwind" cleaver weighs 3 kg. It has a wooden handle covered with a layer of damper rubber. The length reaches 80 cm.
- The German cleaver Stihl 8812008 (weight - 3 kg, length of the ax - 80 cm) is also very popular now. There are rubberized pads. The model weighs a little, it is effective in the work of harvesting firewood.
- One of the oldest companies producing axes and cleavers is Fiskars. The company appeared in the 17th century in Sweden. Cleavers from "Fiskars" are a combination of modern design, strength, comfortable grip of the handle and special strength steel. During operation, the clever design guarantees a harmonious combination of impact power and ease of use. The softening elements on the handle are made of modern FiberComp material. This innovative fiberglass is stronger than Damascus steel and is lightweight. All elements of the product are not subject to corrosion or rust. The most popular model is the Fiskars X17.
How to choose a cleaver ax?
To choose a durable and high-quality cleaver, two things need to be considered: that the ax is made of strong and flexible wood, and the blade is made of hardened steel. The highest characteristics today have the Russian, Canadian and Finnish ax, a cleaver for chopping wood. These countries are famous for their finest timber, obtained from large and mighty forests, so the axes of their production are valued all over the world.
But the piercing part of the ax must always be of hardened heavy steel.Before buying a cleaver, you need to hold it in your hands in order to assess how comfortable it sits in your hands, whether it has the correct center of gravity, and whether it is convenient for them to swing. And if you can easily raise and lower it - buy boldly, such an ax suits you, and with it you can always have a shed full of firewood for a summer residence.
Terms of use
Even with the best cleaver model, an inexperienced person will not be able to work effectively together. When splitting firewood for the first time with a cleaver, we recommend using some tips that will greatly facilitate the work.
First, you need to choose the widest deck and set it flat on the ground. Chocks will be installed on it, like on a chopping block
In addition to organizing the workplace, you need to pay attention to the logs themselves, since wet chocks will be pricked much harder, and dry ones - in no time
The chopped wood must be suitable for the size of the firebox in which it will be used. Their length should be no more than three quarters of the furnace space, and their diameter should not be more than 10 centimeters. Such firewood will burn for a long time and save fuel.
The number of parts from one block depends entirely on the size of the block itself. From small logs, 2-4 pieces are obtained, from large ones - about eight. When working with large logs, you do not need to try to split them in half in one motion. It will be much easier to trim them around the edges and cut the rest in half. At first, this process seems very simple, although it is quite possible to improve this business and spend less energy.
Before harvesting, be sure to dry the wood, or at least dry it a little. In winter, the logs need to be allowed to freeze, then the wood will not be loose and easily split. If there is a crack on the chock, then you need to try to get into it. If this fails, then you need to insert a blade into it and hit the butt with a sledgehammer. If there is no sledgehammer, then you need to take a deck with a cleaver, swing hard and turn it over in the air, hit the chopping block with a butt. These are drastic measures in which the chock will surely crack.
A bit of history
For the first time the concept of "Finnish ax" appeared at the end of the 19th century and was applied to products manufactured in Finland by Swedish blacksmiths. In terms of its structure, the instrument hardly differed from the analogous one from Sweden.
There were three main types - cleavers for firewood, poles for carpentry, universal models. The production of the metal part was carried out mainly by hand forging, later - using casting.
The handle of the Finnish ax has its own characteristic features. It has a conical thrust type, a mushroom-shaped part on the back of the handle and a slightly curved "abdomen" on the working side. Modern models are most often equipped with a hook at the end for a more comfortable fit in the palm of your hand.
Operating tips
A cleaver, like an ax, is a tool of increased injury risk, so it should be sharpened correctly and used with precautions. Many questions arise when choosing a product - the tool must ideally match the physical data of the employee
Finding the ideal option is only possible when the cleaver is tested in practice. Even experienced lumberjacks do not always "guess" which cleaver is ideal for them.
Many questions arise when choosing a product - the tool must ideally match the physical data of the employee. Finding the ideal option is only possible when the cleaver is tested in practice. Even experienced woodcutters do not always "guess" which cleaver is ideal for them.
It is important to choose the right deck - it should be of medium diameter, its height should be 5 centimeters above the knee. When starting work, you should take care of gloves and glasses.
Also, clothing should be loose enough, it should not hinder movement.During operation, there should be no people or animals within a radius of 2 meters - chips can fly off at a significant speed and injure others
When starting work, you should take care of gloves and glasses. Also, clothing should be loose enough, it should not hinder movement. During operation, there should be no people or animals within a radius of 2 meters - chips can fly off at a significant speed and injure others.
From standard medium-sized chocks, 4-5 logs are obtained. Larger lumps can produce 10 logs. When working, it makes no sense to split a massive piece of wood at once. It is much more reasonable to cut the tree from different sides, chipping off fragments.
It is better to keep the logs outdoors in winter - then the wood will not be soggy and loose. When working with wood, it is recommended to start work from those places where cracks are present. Often, cleavers are inserted into such recesses and hit on them with sledgehammers.
For information on how to make a cleaver from an ax with your own hands, see the next video.
4 conclusions about cleavers.
Hello. This article will focus on the issue of choosing a cleaving ax for at home or work... I am writing it solely from the standpoint of practicality and experience. In our age of consumption, even such a seemingly ordinary thing as an ax has been turned into a fetish by some. I will not tell you what motivates individuals, I am not a psychologist, but it seems to me that Grandpa Freyd (if he was alive) would have a lot to say to such citizens. Here is one of the messages from the forum, a message from Andy in a thread dedicated to choosing a cleaver and discussing their features and qualities:
Undoubtedly, quality items are usually not cheap, but in my review I will try to find a balance between price and quality.
Let's discuss the size of a cleaver, which is best used in the yard for preparing firewood. Actually, many manufacturers position themselves as "cleavers" - models from one and a half kilograms. And on the one hand, in its shape it is really a cleaver, but the range of its application is extremely limited. Such models are intended (I quote the manufacturer's description): "for splitting small logs with one hand." Yes, probably such axes have their own scope of work in the courtyard and at the picnic, but personally I do not understand what exactly they should do. They cannot split a large log, but a small one. And why do little pricks at all. A log with a diameter of, say, 15 cm will easily fit into a fireplace, a stove stove, a solid fuel boiler, a Finnish stove or into a brazier outdoors. I would call this class of axes: "nedokolun". And although there are very beautiful and high-quality representatives of this class on the post-Soviet market, for example, the model: "Small Splitting Ax" from the famous Swedish manufacturer of forged axes "Granfors Bruks" (this handsome one):
The ax is made of hickory, impregnated with beeswax and linseed oil, the top of the ax is sheathed with a protective steel casing, the ax is forged by hand by Swedish blacksmiths (by the way, Swedish blacksmiths really live in Sweden, and not in one of the Chinese provinces, as it often happens now. Leather cover included. Yes, a work of art, but we will not consider this class of “cleavers” in this article.
- The first conclusion: do not buy "mini-cleavers" for serious work
And we will talk exclusively about real working cleavers, and this is, first of all, a heavy ax. This is pure physics: the heavier the ax, the more powerful the blow will have to split the wood. All the rest are alternatives. So let's take a look at the largest models of cleavers available on the market today. And let's start from the end of our "hit parade". Let's take a closer look at the Chinese cleaver, which is widely represented today in bazaars, household goods stores and in building supermarkets. They all have something like this:
The colors, the design of the pen, the name of the trade mark, all this does not matter much. That's all he is: a Chinese cleaver. So let's take a closer look. The first thing that catches your eye upon a cursory examination is a very narrow toe starting from sharpening and as much as 3-4 centimeters.What does this design feature do to the Chinese cleaver?
Second conclusion: do not buy Chinese cleavers.
The next criterion when choosing a cleaver, oddly enough is your experience in this matter: if you have never chopped firewood before (5 logs at a picnic does not count), then with a high degree of probability you will break one or two axes on the very first machine at first firewood. So, if it is a hatchet, for example, a really excellent Austrian cleaver "MUELLER",
then besides the fact that it costs 42 dollars (yes, yes, 42 green American rubles for a piece of a hickory stick and this is without shipping costs), so it will still have to wait a couple of weeks from Austria.
You say: you can buy an ordinary hatchet at the market for 2 kopecks and put it on. The answer is: You can. And you can also put Rossava tires on the Ferrari. The third conclusion: if you do not have enough experience in working with a cleaver today, do not immediately purchase an expensive imported model. You tell me, don't buy a good imported one, don't buy a Chinese one, but then what to buy for splitting firewood. The answer is: go to a flea market or a free classifieds site and find there an old Soviet iron cleaver.
