The ax is one of the oldest tools used by man, however, to this day, this tool has not lost its purpose. If you are a fan of going outdoors, he will always be in your car. Not a single expedition or a camping trip can do without it, this tool can be found in the market at meat dealers or in the kitchen, it takes its place on the construction site. Since this tool is so popular, let’s see, how to choose an ax.
Blade size is an important indicator
Axes can be with narrow, medium and wide blades. If the width of the blade is 2/3 of the palm, then it belongs to the category of wide, which are used for cutting surfaces with a large area. Thanks to them, the force that is communicated to the ax by the person is distributed. Therefore, for the cutting to be effective, this hand tool must have a long hatchet and heavy weight. With the help of such a tool you can fell trees, chop meat and huge logs.
Since an ax with an average blade is used for cutting a smaller area, then its weight may be less. With it, you can chop wood, sharpen stakes and chop logs. A tool with a smaller blade does not aim to inflict serious blows, it can be used to perform jewelry work – to get rid of small knots, to chop wood chips, to sharpen pegs of small thickness, besides such axes can serve as an alternative to a hammer.
In some models of axes, there is a notch at the bottom of the blade, thereby reducing the weight of the tool and the center of gravity. But this change should be reckoned with. So, if with it you will chop logs, then it will not be possible to turn sideways, its strength also becomes lower.
The ax is one of the oldest tools used by man, however, to this day, this tool has not lost its purpose. If you are a fan of going outdoors, he will always be in your car. Not a single expedition or a camping trip can do without it, this tool can be found in the market at meat dealers or in the kitchen, it takes its place on the construction site. Since this tool is so popular, let’s see, how to choose an ax.Blade size is an important indicator
Axes can be with narrow, medium and wide blades. If the width of the blade is 2/3 of the palm, then it belongs to the category of wide, which are used for cutting surfaces with a large area. Thanks to them, the force that is communicated to the ax by the person is distributed. Therefore, for the cutting to be effective, this hand tool must have a long hatchet and heavy weight. With the help of such a tool you can fell trees, chop meat and huge logs.
Since an ax with an average blade is used for cutting a smaller area, then its weight may be less. With it, you can chop wood, sharpen stakes and chop logs. A tool with a smaller blade does not aim to inflict serious blows, it can be used to perform jewelry work – to get rid of small knots, to chop wood chips, to sharpen pegs of small thickness, besides such axes can serve as an alternative to a hammer.
In some models of axes, there is a notch at the bottom of the blade, thereby reducing the weight of the tool and the center of gravity. But this change should be reckoned with. So, if with it you will chop logs, then it will not be possible to turn sideways, its strength also becomes lower.
We analyze other indicators
It is important to consider the weight of the ax: the larger it is, the more powerful the blow will be. At the same time, heavy axes require more strength in their use, in addition, they are not very convenient in transportation. With it, you can chop a log in just a few strokes. But lightweight axes are more convenient to carry, although they are inferior to heavy counterparts in the wheelhouse. It is these species that have gained popularity among tourists. For hiking, an ax with a weight of 0.8-1 kilograms is preferable..
Pay attention to choosing an ax with the desired blade shape. Axes can be with a rounded or straight blade. A straight blade helps to better split the object that is hit. A tool with a rounded blade has a longer length, so with it you can not only apply a chopping, but also a cutting blow.
Rate blade sharpening
The smaller the angle of sharpening the blade, the deeper the gun will penetrate into the object upon impact. At the same time, it is important to understand that a sharp blade will blunt much faster, and its strength will also drop. If you use axes only to chop logs or chop wood with a thickness of not more than 100 millimeters (here you can also include chopping ice and meat), then it is better that the sharpening of the ax is done at an obtuse angle. But if the tool will be used for tree shafts and logging, then sharpening should be sharp. But cleaver in general can not be sharpened, because they are not intended for cutting.
Experts recommend the use of a floating sharpening sharpening of an arcuate blade. In its center it is necessary to sharpen sharper at a sharp angle, and finish the edges at a blunter. Thanks to this sharpening, the gun will have better characteristics, at the same time, the fragility and brittleness of its blade will be eliminated, especially in cases where the blow falls on the edge of the blade, because there will be a blunt sharpening.
Choosing an ax
If the ax is short, then for a serious blow you will not have enough swing. In this case, the hand can be set aside further, using its length as an additional lever. But in this case, in the area of your elbow you will have all the recoil, just a couple of strokes and you will have to rest. But the long hatchet will take over the full impact of the blow. Moreover, the greater its length, the higher the probability that it will break.
The best material for an ax is birch wood. This heavy and dense tree has sufficient viscosity to absorb the shock, moreover, it is elastic and can prevent splitting. When choosing an ax, you should carefully examine it, because even a trace from a knot or a crack can lead to sad consequences – your ax will crack in your hands. At the same time, the ax fibers should be directed exclusively along. In a convenient hatchet, there will be a thickening in the place where the ax is mounted, and for the convenience of the palm there will be a ledge. The bend of the ax allows you to increase the impact force, at the same time this is the most vulnerable spot when it fractures. It is not difficult to make the optimal calculation of the length of the ax – just multiply its thickness by 6-7 times.
So we reviewed, how to choose an ax. These recommendations take into account all the components of the tool and will make it effective for various purposes..
