Using a hand axe compared to a felling axe, does anyone have experience?

[zzr1200]

Approx: 2 @ 40/45cm, (dead/dieing)


2 @ 20cm Living.

I have a Huskvarna chainsaw, but although I have stripped and refurbished it, it will not run. It only starts if I put petrol in the cyclinder, but will not run beyond them few seconds. Very dissapointing.

Small trees then, not a problem to cut.

I could look at the saw for you and try to get it sorted if your interested?

 

[henry Kadzielski]

^^^ The best felling axe is a Stihl MS460, a bit noisy when used vigorously, however very effective with a new sharp blade . That's on the larger trees, the smaller trees and branches I use a smaller axe called a T193 also by the same axe manufacturer. The smaller one can be used in tight spaces with one hand

 

[Arc Tourist]

......................................... I have a Huskvarna chainsaw, but although I have stripped and refurbished it, it will not run. It only starts if I put petrol in the cyclinder, but will not run beyond them few seconds. ..........

Check if there is a screen filter in the carb, which could be gummed up from old fuel evaporating while the saw was stored, thus preventing fuel flow.

 

[pedrobedro]

I've not used one in a while but I prefer a decent felling axe to a chainsaw, more peaceful and more controllable.

I went to cut up some Birch that a bloke had taken down with a felling axe, they looked like they'd been taken down by beaver. Once they are down they still need to be in manageable pieces and a chainsaw is the best way to do it. I know which I would rather be using.

 

[Migmac]

Approx: 2 @ 40/45cm, (dead/dieing)


2 @ 20cm Living.

I have a Huskvarna chainsaw, but although I have stripped and refurbished it, it will not run. It only starts if I put petrol in the cyclinder, but will not run beyond them few seconds. Very dissapointing.

Rebuild the carb, kits are cheap.

 

[zzr1200]

Rebuild the carb, kits are cheap.

Yep, plus a dip in an ultra-sonic cleaner helps as well.

 

[zzr1200]

The smaller one can be used in tight spaces with one hand

That's just how they were designed to be used......up a tree hanging on a rope....

 

[mart]

Silky is amazing. I use it for most felling actually. A little chainsaw is good too though. Most of what I fell these days goes straight into the chipper for mulch, it can handle up to 50mm dia which is about the capacity I cut with silky (:

Get a Silky saw. Do the same cuts as a chainsaw- TIMBER

I have a Silky pruning blade and they are very good. @Dieselman 63: It sounds like we have the same blade.

@Migmac: Which Silky saw have you got? If they do a felling/bow saw I believe it wil be very good for the task.

 

[Migmac]

I have a Silky pruning blade and they are very good. @Dieselman 63: It sounds like we have the same blade.

@Migmac: Which Silky saw have you got? If they do a felling/bow saw I believe it wil be very good for the task.

The blade is fixed and about 18 inches long. Don’t know the model number off hand, will look it up. If your inclined it’ll cut trees upto 24 inches in diameter. Takes a bit of work but very doable. I tend to use it most for cutting wind blown trees up.

 

[highseas]

To be a bit of a anorak I collect axes and have done for years, I sold off a lot of my collection and kept just the really rare stuff and elwell Welsh pattern rounding/ felling pattern.
If you want to fell a tree with a decent axe look for a old British made 4lb ish and make sure it’s sharp, like can shave sharp.
Was it not Lincoln who said give me 4 hours to cut down a tree and I will spend the first 3 sharpening the axe!?
ebay for elwell, brades, spearwell, White House, staniforths felling axes will give you plenty to go at, I have a 4. 1/2 on elwell for the late 40s still on its original handle and I can cut and buck trees 12-14 inch with that all day long.

BUT yeh Silkie saws are easier and cheaper

 

[Mick Annick]

To be a bit of a anorak I collect axes and have done for years, I sold off a lot of my collection and kept just the really rare stuff and elwell Welsh pattern rounding/ felling pattern.
If you want to fell a tree with a decent axe look for a old British made 4lb ish and make sure it’s sharp, like can shave sharp.
Was it not Lincoln who said give me 4 hours to cut down a tree and I will spend the first 3 sharpening the axe!?
ebay for elwell, brades, spearwell, White House, staniforths felling axes will give you plenty to go at, I have a 4. 1/2 on elwell for the late 40s still on its original handle and I can cut and buck trees 12-14 inch with that all day long.

BUT yeh Silkie saws are easier and cheaper

I used to do a bit of hedgelaying in Sussex and met this guy a couple of times there; wears trainers because there’s no safety boot that will stop his axes

 

[zeppelin builder]

he puts on womens clothing and hangs around in bars

 

[badabec]

he puts on women's clothing and hangs around in bars

Same here

 

[outofthefire]

Felling (forest) axe and a splitting wedge to help aim the fall. A hand axe is best on dry or dead wood, there is a lot more control with a felling axe and you can put the power in properly without injury to your muscles / spine.

Gränsfors Splitting Wedge | Gränsfors Bruk Sweden

The Gränsfors Splitting Wedge is twisted with a grooved poll, bevelled corners and a hardened tip. Splitting wedges are used to split really big, knotty or cross-grained logs.

www.gransforsbruk.com

Note there is a world of difference between a felling axe and a splitting axe.

How much, they've got the decimal point in the wrong place https://www.visatools.co.uk/15kg-timber-wedge-129-p.asp

 

[mart]

Dirty

The blade is fixed and about 18 inches long. Don’t know the model number off hand, will look it up. If your inclined it’ll cut trees upto 24 inches in diameter. Takes a bit of work but very doable. I tend to use it most for cutting wind blown trees up.

I would be interested if you can find out which model it is that you have.

When I wanted a pole saw for pruning the 'out of reach' branches I made the long handle and only bought just the blade. It works well.The blade was about £50.With the handle (which is telescopic) they are about £250 in total. So not cheap.

 

[Migmac]

This is the Silky I use. Wooden handle isn’t factory I have a telescopic handle for it, extends to 12 or 14 feet. The knife edges are good for vines or ivy but I tend to cut them off when the blade is more used. The blade is a 390

 

[8ob]

Luckily someone had just bought one of these (still in it's packaging) and muggins here got to use it - was very impressed by the speed at which it cut through the trunk.

They are good, easy to sharpen, take up no space and they are cheap. Keep one in the glovebox

Bob

 

[sako243]

Keep one in the glovebox

Would need a glove box for that...

 

[mart]

Yep, plus a dip in an ultra-sonic cleaner helps as well.

I had not heard of that type of cleaner. What sort of place supply it?

 

[mart]

This is the Silky I use. Wooden handle isn’t factory I have a telescopic handle for it, extends to 12 or 14 feet. The knife edges are good for vines or ivy but I tend to cut them off when the blade is more used. The blade is a 390

View attachment 318013
View attachment 318014

Ok. What was the specific thing you got the saw for-was it for pruning up to about 50 to 75mm sort of thickness. Or have you managed to go through much thicker diameters?