An Axe - Seriously?

[alexrex20]

Says the guy who doesn't live in boreal forest.

It's SO easy to criticize when your experience is so small and your mind is closed.

Speaking of closed minds, maybe you missed the memo but Texas is not all desert and cactus, and we don't ride horses to work. Never mind that I live adjacent to 675,000 acres of National Forest, well within hurricane and tornado country. Do share with us where you live, and I can make equally blind, uneducated, naive statements about your state and its terrain, climate, and topography. Or is there some other reason why you don't share that info in your profile? EDIT: Oh, you're Canadian...

The entire worlds topography doesn't match that of Texas, thankfully

Have you ever traveled across Texas? Hell, have you ever even been to Texas?

[haven]

Let's play nice, boys and girls! Please hold the name-calling.

Clearly, the type of terrain you're traveling though will help you decide what sort of equipment you chose to bring along. Once while traveling in the forest in eastern Bolivia, my way was blocked by a 15 foot thick, 90 foot tall tree that had fallen across the road. That's when you need to make a new road! Shovel and axe are both helpful under these circumstances.

[Eventhough]

I always carry an axe. It is light weight and doesn't take up much space. I have it mounted inside my rear door with a pair of Quick Fists. I use it most often for splitting firewood. I often come into a camp where someone has cut wood to length but it has not been split. An axe also doesn't require gas, oil, wrenches, spare parts, and doesn't have a carb that can clog up.

Now if I am going out after a storm (wind, heavy rain, heavy snow or ice) then I'll take a chainsaw b/c there is a higher probability that I'll be clearing fallen trees.

With the work I do I'm often in the woods so my FJ stays packed most of the time. Adding a chainsaw to the mix 100% of the time would take up even more space and leave less space for people and other gear.

[mogwildRW1]

Might be similar to the Woodsman Pal in utility.



I bought it based on recommendations here and OJ. But so far, I'm not that impressed. It seems to work really well on fast growing softwood brush. Basically jungle, which it was designed for.

But it does not cut hardwood brush very efficiently. It can't even get through a 1/4" stick of hardwood across the grain. You have to cut at about 45°, which has other issues...

I also find it's use slightly dangerous. To try to use it efficiently, requires broad, wild swings. When those swings are at 45° to a stick, there's a chance it will glance off. It's just not a great situation.

I'm still learning to use it, maybe there's a better technique. But at this point, I still prefer a hatchet for anything over 1", and just leave the little stuff alone.

I've got one of those and found the same thing, I have a large knife that cuts better. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

[cruiseroutfit]

...Have you ever traveled across Texas? Hell, have you ever even been to Texas?

No & Yes. My comment was not aimed to demean Texas, its people nor its terrain... just aimed at you and your "LOL" at people that consider a chainsaw regular equipment for a camping trip. Different regions will dictate different needs.

Truth is I would love to see more of Texas and have some good friends there that keep inviting me down with the caveat 'its not Utah' . Too much to see, too little time to see it.

[BIGdaddy]

I've had an axe and a shovel on all my rigs.

Basic pioneer tools that are indispensible in ANY environment.

Can't say the same about a hi-lift jack, having sold mine years ago, but I would consider a rig out in the "boonies" without an axe and a shovel to be unprepared.

It'd be like going out with out a spare tire, or a first aid kit.

[JamesDowning]

I'll have to post agreement with the first post. I see way too many unused Axe's on people's roof racks. Though I admit, it does look COOL!

However I am not without cutting implements... I actually bring along a cordless DeWalt recip saw with a 12" blade. That thing will cut much faster than an axe... keep the charger in the truck, good to go!

And to whoever called out cutting through a 3' tree with an axe - I'd like to see that! Sounds like a strongman competition!

[BIGdaddy]

I'll have to post agreement with the first post. I see way too many unused Axe's on people's roof racks. Though I admit, it does look COOL!

However I am not without cutting implements... I actually bring along a cordless DeWalt recip saw with a 12" blade. That thing will cut much faster than an axe... keep the charger in the truck, good to go!

And to whoever called out cutting through a 3' tree with an axe - I'd like to see that! Sounds like a strongman competition!

I agree, it's easy to lump the ubiquitous(sp) axe and shovel as farkle because you see it on so many rigs that want the expo "look".

That's not enough for me, however, to want to dissuade anyone from carrying those two items.

For example, I've only used my spare tire once in 3 years of driving my jeep every single day. The arguement against carrying an axe could very well be applied to my spare tire, since out of 900+ days(24,000hours), I've used for about 30mins total. Nobody has a problem with spare tires, though, because car manufacturers put one in each car. Due to that, most people believe it to be essential. Assuming everyone else uses it with the same lack of frequency as I do, in reality, it could probably be deleted.

Here's my opinion of why the spare tire hasn't been "evolved out":
-takes up very little room
-uses up little of my GVWR
-is VERY good at solving a specific problem
-is cheap, forgettable zero maintenence insurance that I'll be able to un-strand myself, when I have such a need.


I see an axe and shovel in the same light for an overland/camping rig.

Blessings!

[JamesDowning]

I think the big difference between an axe and a spare tire is the "severity factor".

When you have a flat tire, you either need a spare, or a plug kit or you are essentially stranded.

If there's a tree in the way, you can always turn around or try a different route. It doesn't immobilize you.

[The Adam Blaster]

And to whoever called out cutting through a 3' tree with an axe - I'd like to see that! Sounds like a strongman competition!

It's not that hard, just takes a while. If it's hot out, a glass of water is required for completion.

As for axe vs. bow saw - I see the axe as more versatile. I got stuck in a frozen over mud pit when I broke through the top layer of ice, and the large chunks of ice got all mixed up in/around my front wheels and axle. One chunk was jammed in my driver's side wheel preventing me from turning.
I didn't have an axe with me that day, but this occurred in an Offroad Park and there were a lot of people/rigs around. One guy pulled out his axe and whacked away at the nice a bunch of times to break it up and allow me to get pulled out - I needed to get winched out and the ice was damming in front of me.

Also for storage, I would think a 36" bow saw would take up more space than an axe with a 36" handle.