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

[Ubique]

Wedge is for tipping the tree over not aiming. The gob is the directional cut.

You can use a wedge to help if the gob is slightly off - well that's what I do.

 

[Agrismith]

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.

You don't want to use a splitting wedge for felling if possible they tend to be long and thin giving little surface area and hit the hinge before tipping the treea felling wedge has a bigger surface area so jacks the tree up rather than sinking into the timber and is a bigger angle so lifts quicker and doesn't hit the hinge.
Felling wedges are also made of soft material so if you use with a chainsaw you won't damage the chain

 

[Ubique]

I don't generally use a wedge if I'm using a chainsaw, the splitting wedge was an idea I had when the gob was slightly off on a tree I was bringing down with a felling axe.

 

[James1979]

As above as either

chainsaw
Silky
Axe and saw for back cut

in that order.

Decent silky will race through them. Watch your hands. They have a habit of jumping till they are a few strokes deep.

 

[Agrismith]

I don't generally use a wedge if I'm using a chainsaw, the splitting wedge was an idea I had when the gob was slightly off on a tree I was bringing down with a felling axe.

Assuming we are talking about trees big enough you can't just push in the direction you want them to go.
If you have a a decent hinge with a proper step for your back cut then putting a wedge in shouldn't be able to alter the direction the tree is going.

 

[Screwdriver]

As above as either

chainsaw
Silky
Axe and saw for back cut

in that order.

Decent silky will race through them. Watch your hands. They have a habit of jumping till they are a few strokes deep.

View attachment 317722

You sure you weren't trampled by a horse?? Easy mistake to make...

 

[Ubique]

Assuming we are talking about trees big enough you can't just push in the direction you want them to go.
If you have a a decent hinge with a proper step for your back cut then putting a wedge in shouldn't be able to alter the direction the tree is going.

My bold - I probably didn't. Last time I did that (it wasn't something I'd habitually do) the tree was probably 350mm dia. and 12-14 metres tall. It was enough to adjust the fall so it didn't glance off or get hung up on another tree. Given the choice, I'd use a chainsaw, sometimes you don't have one to hand though.

 

[Eric the chicken]

Oh,I'm a lumberjack etc, etc................

 

[Migmac]

You can use a wedge to help if the gob is slightly off - well that's what I do.

Nope, check your gob before doing the back cut. If the gob is wrong, make it right by recutting it. Then do the back cut. Forcing a tree can cause the hinge to break prematurely, letting the tree fall where it wants

 

[Ubique]

Nope, check your gob before doing the back cut. If the gob is wrong, make it right by recutting it. Then do the back cut. Forcing a tree can cause the hinge to break prematurely, letting the tree fall where it wants

Well I know that now....

 

[Migmac]

Well I know that now....

Everyday is a learning day

 

[anto44]

Don`t forget the chequered shirt and beard

350 × 466

Going by the state of the edge on the head of that axe I'm guessing he drinks babycham and calls the AA if he gets a puncture

 

[Dieselman 63]

As above as either

chainsaw
Silky
Axe and saw for back cut

in that order.

Decent silky will race through them. Watch your hands. They have a habit of jumping till they are a few strokes deep.

View attachment 317722

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 (:

 

[8ob]

As above as either

chainsaw
Silky
Axe and saw for back cut

in that order.

Decent silky will race through them. Watch your hands. They have a habit of jumping till they are a few strokes deep.

View attachment 317722

Nothing a mummy wipe wont sort out.

Bob

 

[Migmac]

As above as either

chainsaw
Silky
Axe and saw for back cut

in that order.

Decent silky will race through them. Watch your hands. They have a habit of jumping till they are a few strokes deep.

View attachment 317722

My silky is a two handed one or it can be put on the end of an extending pole. I have more problems with the end of the pole hitting you where you don’t want hit !

 

[mtt.tr]

I do, but only use it for banging In wedges and removing the gob cut

 

[mart]

What diameter trunks???

Possibly the best answer is a chainsaw depending on location and area available to fell in.

You could always pm me with more details, I've just serviced my saws.....

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.

 

[mtt.tr]

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.

Buy a Chinese carb

 

[mart]

Depends how many trees there are.Felling axe definitely better than hand axe, but for speed, chainsaw. Also depending on the height, weight and proximity to buildings etc dropping trees in the desired place is a skill. Once they're on their way down you can't stop them.

Two are about 4ft only, and the other with twin trunks proably 12ft only. None are near buildings.

I wonder what brand of felling axe is 'sought after', in terms of decent quality?

 

[8ob]

Two are about 4ft only, and the other with twin trunks proably 12ft only. None are near builrings.

I wonder what brand of felling axe is 'sought after', in terms of decent quality?

Fiskars felling axes are middle of the road and a decent felling axe.

Bob