My main use of a hatchet is for up close work -- stakes and sculptures foremost, but I can see it in use for food, also. In three seasons, I may split some wood with it, but only if it's really wet. Otherwise, I just saw the wood and burn rounds. No need to split it. The X7 is a capable chopper if you want to chop wood. That head on the end of a plastic tube carries some inertia. But close work requires either good forearm strength or choking way up. I'm a smaller person who's never had super forearm strength, and choking up too far just doesn't allow artistic creativity and control. The Scaxe is full-tang, and shorter (11" vs 14"). I think the balance will be better for my uses.
Those 4 in 1 wood rasps are great because you need a half round for the curves, and they can get right in near the head where you need them. You can shave off thins strips of wood like a plane if you have a knife with a sharp 90 squared spine, which you should have anyways. It's fun and feels really rewarding when you get it right. I'd recommend an Opinel kept folded because its safe, comfortable and you can use both hands. A sharp knife works too, but holding the right angle is a bit more important. Of course more specialized tools like a spoke shave or belt sander would work too.
Checked those out in your store. Cool stuff! Like that they still have that axe geometry. Does the American pattern also have axe like geometry?
Awesome! Was looking at Councils double bit for a while (along with 2hawks double bit hatchet) I'll take a look at H&B as well. Budget is kinda allocated for the remainder of the year (long trail and all) but hopefully next year early I can get something solid, small, and useable.
. Like the lines on that HB hatchet. Also like the GOShawk. @Patrick Rollins has one of those doesn't he? Says on the site the bit is beefed up. Is it closer to a hatchet than a hawk?
The GOShawk is quite a bit heavier than the Med Camp Axe...I love the Med for general use....Patrick has several of their hawks/hatchets!
Can you guys please post a link to info about that one? I've searched a bit, and all it turns up is the real hawk and an aircraft company.
I love the look of their Ship Builders axe....but my Wildlife axe outworks it for what I want to do... http://www.hbforge.com/specialty-axes/ship-builders-axe
I feel like a viking till I have to start hefting the thing.....then I feel like a middle school cheerleader.....
Best laughs of my day just ^upstream^ from here. Stellar thread this is. I'll be back after work (about another hour ....) ..
