Pretty much Amen. Also, for diverse woods work, light, short axes are easier to maneuver in tight spaces, easier to aim at odd angles and positions, easier to cut upward with and limb standing trees with, and to use with one hand. Some of these have to do with length rather than weight, or a combination, but in general I think there is more versatility by staying under a certain weight. Granted that weight could vary a lot person to person and conditioning. Some of those points may also be nullified, or partially so, by experience and practice with heavier and or longer axes. From the Northeastern Logging Manual by USDA " "Boy's ax," single-bit, 2-1/4- to 2-1/2-pound head, curved handle 26 to 28 inches long . Introduced by French-Canadian pulpwood cutters, this little ax has become popular with a great many of our native woodsmen, especially for cutting small softwood. It has the advantages of the bigger single bit but is smaller, lighter, and shorter, and can be used in close quarters, as is frequently necessary in limbing and cutting brush." Same as what Mason called a pulpwood axe, which he claims were used extensively by professional woodsmen when nothing larger was called for. and check this story from an old periodical: LIGHT VERSUS HEAVY AXES. A correspondent of the Albany Cultivator describes his experience with axes as follows: I well remember my first ax and my early experience with it. It weighed four and one-half pounds, being the heaviest one I could find at the time. I was fresh from school-fresh from a class in natural philosophy, one of my favorite studies. I knew all about inertia, and had learned something of the force of gravity and the laws of falling bodies; had rightly guessed that chopping wood, might be hard work, and determined that my knowledge of physics should help me out. I would have a heavy ax, a long handle-would move slowly, and take strokes that would count when they fell. My ax handle was thirty-four inches in length, the longest one in the store. I had hired a tough little French Canadian, weighing about 120 pounds, to help me in this work. When he came he brought an ax-a mere toy I called it. I think it weighed two and one-half pounds, with a handle only twenty-six inches long. I told him I had a fair-sized job for him, and thought it would pay him to buy a full-grown ax. . . He smiled and said he guessed his would do. I tried to explain to him the beauties of a heavy ax and the wonderful advantage of a long handle. But it was all in vain; I was only wasting time; he could not understand it. “Poor fellow," I thought, “he knows nothing of the beautiful science of physics. - It is too bad that he should thus waste his strength through ignorance, and be unwilling to listen to the voice of wisdom.” We went to the wood lot and began work. I had decided that we would work separately during the first day or two, in order that I might show him what I could do. As I began to swing my ax I felt proud of its ponderous blows that rang through the woods, and rather pitied the poor fellow who was drumming away with his little ax, taking about two blows to my one. Presently I had to stop to rest, and then again, and still again; but Joe, my man, quietly kept pecking away, steadily and easily. Every few minutes I’d stop to take breath, but Joe seemed perfectly able to do all necessary breathing without stopping his work for the purpose. When night came we piled up our wood and measured it. Joe's pile measured one and a half cords, mine only three-quarters of a cord. During the early part of the day I had planned giving Joe another lesson in the evening, to see if I could not make him understand the elementary principles of wood-cutting and the philosophical requirements of an ax. But when night came I decided that perhaps it would be as well to let him go on in ignorance, and thereafter remained silent upon the subject. The next morning I felt lame and stayed at home. Joe put in his cord and a half, as usual. When I went to the woods again Joe and I worked together. Not many days passed before I found an excuse for buying a lighter ax and a shorter handle. And every ax and handle that I have bought since has been lighter and shorter than its predecessor. Whenever I use an ax now I select one very much like Joe's, both in weight and length of handle. I can use this without getting out of breath, and can hit twice in the same place. The result is that I can do more and better work and save a vast amount of strength. I write this as a word of caution to the inexperienced wood-chopper when about to purchase an ax. Farm Implement News, Volume 7 1885
Love accounts like that, easy to relate. not just the misconception about the theory vs reality but also the unwillingness to admit mistake and continuing to use the inferior tool because pride is mixed up with it
Regarding heavy axes what you must remember is that years ago manual labour was the norm and boys grew up to men using all sorts of tools including axes and had an inherent skill . My Grandfather was a woodman in the New Forest and had quite a few axes , but his go -to felling axe was a 6lb Elwell Welsh. To a newcomer it would feel awkward , but his muscle memory and skill allowed him to chop effortlessly .His advice was to let the axe do the work , so the weight had an advantage as you never pushed it , Working all day , every day you learn not to go like a bull at a Gate.
There's been a theme lately of everybody heralding the "Boy's axe" as the ultimate axe-like tool. You get a lot of people saying "You need a boy's-axe, there's literally no need for a full sized axe". I've tried to ignore it as long as I could, and occasionally I'll cut bigger timber (more than 18 inch, getting into almost 32 inch) that necessitates a big axe. But I have a silly little no-name boys-axe that I grab 95% of the time. Almost all of the axe work I need to do is limited to saplings or pines around 6 inches thick. It's nice to be able to fell, limb, and buck with one light, whippy axe.
I know a lot of people like the boys axes but they tend to be too light for serious work at 2lb or slightly under. I think the optimuim is 2.5 to 3.5lb, giving good punch but not overly tiring to use
Well presented and thought out vid. I grew up using an axe daily and still do. We heat with firewood so it's just a daily fact that I have to use an axe. Working in the thick bush here a full size axe is cumbersome, the handle is too long and gets caught on stuff, it's too long to swing effectively in a confined space like when you're limbing a black spruce with a ton of branches. My go-to axe is the GB small forest axe. I have their Scandinavian forest axe, but it's too long and it's generally just too big to carry along with the chainsaw, gas, oil, and other tools. I have a big splitting axe at home, but that's where it stays, right next to the woodpile. I'm not a huge guy so the small is my natural choice. My neighbour on the other hand is a huge cop who likes his huge double bit axe. He goes to town and is out of puff in about 3 min. Funniest thing I ever saw was him splitting firewood and getting the double bit stuck, so he flipped it over to try to pound the round off and ended up with the chopping block stuck on the other bit. He was pounding back and forth for about 20 min trying to get loose! :D
Very true. My swing still looks somewhat lazy compared to someone more proficient when I accelerate the swing in the middle of the stroke rather than the beginning like you. It takes conscious mental effort for me to swing my boys axe like it's meant to be.
Might have been better if I'd seen this years ago. I used to cut a lot of wood for a few hours at a time with a 5lb axe. I think I got used to it ultimately, but it was surely very hard going with sore hands to boot.
I kind of think it doesn't matter honestly. I typically never use anything lighter than 3.5#, mostly because those are the axes I have hung, and my favorite is a 4.5# which I find to be my favorite all-round axe for doing most anything. As far as "dropping" a heavy axe, I do remember Steven saying that in one of the earlier Cordwood Challenge videos, and he used a clip from one of my videos. I'm not actually sure that I am truly just "dropping" the axe when I chop. If I had to analyze my motion, I tend to push at the beginning of the swing rather than all the way through , but I definitely give the axe plenty of momentum vs allowing gravity to do everything. It isn't clear to me that I'm getting less work done over time, even if I'm taking fewer swings per minute than I might with a lighter axe. I also don't feel like I'm inefficient. Ultimately I think effective work can be done with almost any reasonable axe-shaped object with a huge variation of head weight, pattern, and handle length. It is interesting to discuss "ideal" concepts, but they are really way more nuanced differences in productivity than videos like this make it sound. Given how slowly most people finish the challenge each year, how many hours at a time are they swinging? If you only go out for an hour or two every once in a while, does it really matter if you are using a light axe or a heavy one?
4.5lb is heavy but not really in the unwieldy range i would say, especially for a guy like you who is used to chopping and hewing. Something i have observed however when trying to teach people to use axes is that they really struggle even with 4lb. Sure you can do work with just about any axe design, but if you look at this ridiculous 6lb on a 36'' vs a 2.5lb 28'' I think its pretty obvious extra head speed trumps extra weight. I find it interesting how some of the really big competitive choppers use 6lb or 8lb even though they are only swinging for 30 seconds, and they swing the axe so fast you can barely see it. ruclips.net/video/koYt4FS6RCQ/видео.html Obviously there is a limit to how fast you can swing an axe and a limit to what weight can effectively be swung which would vary slightly depending on the persons build and experience. I bet if i made a graph you would get a bell curve on energy delivered and an optimum between 2.5 and 3.5lb for most average joes. Sure people can do whatever they want and use an axe they prefer, but I think for someone beginning buying a light axe like the Council Tools will be a better option than a big heavy Arvika. If in the future they decided they prefer the heavy axe and go buy one, they still have the light one for limbing.
Yep, been there... First axe 2kg on 900 handle, can't be that hard for a heavy set guy right ?? I watched the timber sports guys....!!! 3-5 mins of hacking at a 9 inch tree, and having to take a break didn't quite get the job done or get the results I was dreaming of. However, 1.2 kg on 700 handle spot on for me.Took 5 boutique axes,( swedish axes are the best right)?? loads of dosh and a huge swallow of ego to get there but work rate and enjoyment factor increased 10 fold. Points well made and totally agree, leave the ego at the door and work up to the head weight and length ratio that gets the job done efficiently. Best point for me, axe coming down easy, lifting it is a different ball game, add in control then mayhem.....
Lol I remember the first axe I used to fell a tree was about 4.5lbs and had been used for splitting and was a bit dulled to boot it kind of kicked my arse kind of a baptism of fire XD
I use a heavy axe for spliting wood and get better result🤔 of course if it's only droping it won't cute, but spliting the log 1shot instead of 2 makes me less tired
I like to use 6.2lb Racing Axe.. Really i think there is no set Rules, i have Many styles of Gripping Swinging, this enables to work different Muscles that are Important section for my MMA Competitions that has given me the edge. For me its not Ego, its Health and Pushing myself to the next Level also my Videos were uploaded for my Son to watch Dad. I have not seen Him for 12 years, and want to be Healthy example to him, so he chooses the correct Path in Life..
Maybe it was a bit unclear but I was discussing axes for working all day without getting tired, lumberjacks used the lightest axe possible that would still do the work, typically 2.5lb to 4lb and 5lb+ being the exception not the norm. You want using the axe to feel like a brisk walk or jog, not to wind you after 2 minutes of chopping. Its a marathon not a sprint. As for heavy axes I do enjoy using them, I am training for timbersports so using as close to as possible weight is good training for fitness, but for actually getting work done and endurance my preference is 3.5lb
@@benscottwoodchopper Thanks yes I Did understand Mate. See i traveled with a Circus, when i was young. Our Big Top Tent pegs were Truck axles cut in Half. We had 380 of these pegs to drive in every day. 2 of us Men would use 16lb sledge hammers taking turns at consecutive times to drive the same Peg in. Now could you imagine two railway workers driving spikes in all day using a 4lb hammer? Yeh" would knock you up fairly fast takes more hits and takes more exertion and Food/water. These Men went all day with the 12-16 lb Hammer, though it wasn't a Conventional Lumber Jack Swing, sliding your hand up the Handle on the up stroke.Actually they Would swing like a pendulum and use the weight of the head to your advantage, all you have to do is assist the Head a little on the upward motion. So in the Days of the (Real Lumberjacks) where they would clear acres weekly only using a Axe, they adopted the same type of swing. If you watch one of my vids, you can see i swing very Similar, Using the Axe as a Pendulum believe me i could swing all day, 6 days a week like this using a Racing Axe clearing forest. Though Swinging how you do in the standing block, i wouldn't get past day 2. All the Best with your Competition! Sure if you Train Harder and smarter than your Opponent and think out side the Box you'll do really well, or just if your in it for Participation/fun and be part of the Luberjack Community just as Good Mate!. Handle Length also should be Matched to your Height and Weight, to Maximize Speed, and efficiency . The Gentleman that makes Axes in Australia, uses American Hickory, absorbs the Shock well, Minimal flex, and great to Grip! these axes I believe are the Best in the World. Stay Humble. Work Hard.
lustig das du zu diesem thema ausgerechnet dein video als beispiel anführst. ich hab mir dein video jetzt angesehen und es belegt die aussagen sehr anschaulich, die scott gemacht hat. was du da machst, hat mit fällen nichts zu tun. du hast weder die nötige power, noch das nötige können um deine benutzte axt entsprechend zu verwenden. saft und kraftlos, ganz zu schweigen von deiner schlagtechnik. wenns dir rein um körperliche ertüchtigung geht, könntest du genauso gut mit einem schweren baseballschläger auf irgend etwas einschlagen. du bist mit deinem vid der sehende beweis, das die gemachten aussagen von scott zu 1000% zutreffend sind.
@@axt_messer_survival Where is Your Videos? I think your Jealous. I told you my videos were there to inspire my Son. I have worked all day felling trees, and would Prefer to use a Heavier Axe, and have the Advantage of the Weight of Heavier Axe. Also Didn't you read my Comment on Sledge Hammers. Go Try it Bud, Go try Driving a 20 Steel fence post in the ground with a Carpenters Hammer. Then Try a 14lb Hammer, see which one tires you Faster after 20 posts. Which would you like to Use?. See You Boys are not Men yet, and you can not teach Experience. And Most Germans i have worked with are Fat and Lazy Also.
@@lumberjaxe8910 zuerst unfug behaupten, den unfug dann anhand deines eigenen videos bestätigen. dann gekränktes ego, weilst die sichtbare wahrheit nicht ertragen kannst und jetzt willst auch noch darüber reden? scherz oder? schalt dein östrogen aus und geh mir aus der sonne, tussi.
@@benscottwoodchopper Dude Council Tool is selling a 3.5 lb Jerseys on a 26 inch straight hickory handle. How does that sound for you personally?? You think 26 inches would be to short for bucking/felling? I dont have any power saws so i use my boys axe for everything
Well put. I typically think that one should be able to go 1-2 hours straight before having a 5-10 min break, then resume. If one is out of steam before that, the axe is probably too heavy, or one is swinging too fast. ,,, or ofc, just need a lot more practice
It's not only the stamina . Acting like Superman when using axes, or doing any other kind of repetative and in the same time heavy job like usign an axe, can damage your tendons for life and no surgeon or number of surgeries, can bring back your valuable hands. I used to think as you do, until I lost both my hands. I couldn't eat for months, just to give you the picture. Also keep in mind, that I wasn't even using an axe, I was using a lighter hammer everyday for living. Even a "tennis elbow" which is the first symptoms, that show your muscles are damaged (tendons is the soft part of the muscle, where it joins the bone,that part, literally cuts in 2..) Always take more and longer breaks, that what your youth, may suggest. shit can happen from nowhere... Stay safe brother!
Tout sa depand juste du physique moi j'ai une hache de 2,5kg et sa me convient parfaitement j'ai déjà tester une hache plus légère et justement je trouve que sa ne fait pas le travaille la hache rentre moi bien et enlève moin de matière que c'elle de 2,5kg est je le sens pas forcément plus vite épuiser avec la plus lourde
Pretty much Amen. Also, for diverse woods work, light, short axes are easier to maneuver in tight spaces, easier to aim at odd angles and positions, easier to cut upward with and limb standing trees with, and to use with one hand. Some of these have to do with length rather than weight, or a combination, but in general I think there is more versatility by staying under a certain weight. Granted that weight could vary a lot person to person and conditioning. Some of those points may also be nullified, or partially so, by experience and practice with heavier and or longer axes.
From the Northeastern Logging Manual by USDA " "Boy's ax," single-bit, 2-1/4- to 2-1/2-pound head, curved handle 26 to 28 inches long . Introduced by French-Canadian pulpwood cutters, this little ax has become popular with a great many of our native woodsmen, especially for cutting small softwood. It has the advantages of the bigger single bit but is smaller, lighter, and shorter, and can be used in close quarters, as is frequently necessary in limbing and cutting brush."
Same as what Mason called a pulpwood axe, which he claims were used extensively by professional woodsmen when nothing larger was called for.
and check this story from an old periodical:
LIGHT VERSUS HEAVY AXES.
A correspondent of the Albany Cultivator describes his experience with axes as follows:
I well remember my first ax and my early experience with it. It weighed four and one-half pounds, being the heaviest one I could find at the time. I was fresh from school-fresh from a class in natural philosophy, one of my favorite studies. I knew all about inertia, and had learned something of the force of gravity and the laws of falling bodies; had rightly guessed that chopping wood, might be hard work, and determined that my knowledge of physics should help me out. I would have a heavy ax, a long handle-would move slowly, and take strokes that would count when they fell. My ax handle was thirty-four inches in length, the longest one in the store. I had hired a tough little French Canadian, weighing about 120 pounds, to help me in this work. When he came he brought an ax-a mere toy I called it. I think it weighed two and one-half pounds, with a handle only twenty-six inches long. I told him I had a fair-sized job for him, and thought it would pay him to buy a full-grown ax. . . He smiled and said he guessed his would do. I tried to explain to him the beauties of a heavy ax and the wonderful advantage of a long handle. But it was all in vain; I was only wasting time; he could not understand it.
“Poor fellow," I thought, “he knows nothing of the beautiful science of physics. - It is too bad that he should thus waste his strength through ignorance, and be unwilling to listen to the voice of wisdom.” We went to the wood lot and began work. I had decided that we would work separately during the first day or two, in order that I might show him what I could do. As I began to swing my ax I felt proud of its ponderous blows that rang through the woods, and rather pitied the poor fellow who was drumming away with his little ax, taking about two blows to my one.
Presently I had to stop to rest, and then again, and still again; but Joe, my man, quietly kept pecking away, steadily and easily. Every few minutes I’d stop to take breath, but Joe seemed perfectly able to do all necessary breathing without stopping his work for the purpose. When night came we piled up our wood and measured it. Joe's pile measured one and a half cords, mine only three-quarters of a cord.
During the early part of the day I had planned giving Joe another lesson in the evening, to see if I could not make him understand the elementary principles of wood-cutting and the philosophical requirements of an ax. But when night came I decided that perhaps it would be as well to let him go on in ignorance, and thereafter remained silent upon the subject.
The next morning I felt lame and stayed at home. Joe put in his cord and a half, as usual. When I went to the woods again Joe and I worked together. Not many days passed before I found an excuse for buying a lighter ax and a shorter handle. And every ax and handle that I have bought since has been lighter and shorter than its predecessor. Whenever I use an ax now I select one very much like Joe's, both in weight and length of handle. I can use this without getting out of breath, and can hit twice in the same place. The result is that I can do more and better work and save a vast amount of strength. I write this as a word of caution to the inexperienced wood-chopper when about to purchase an ax.
Farm Implement News, Volume 7 1885
Love accounts like that, easy to relate. not just the misconception about the theory vs reality but also the unwillingness to admit mistake and continuing to use the inferior tool because pride is mixed up with it
Regarding heavy axes what you must remember is that years ago manual labour was the norm and boys grew up to men using all sorts of tools including axes and had an inherent skill . My Grandfather was a woodman in the New Forest and had quite a few axes , but his go -to felling axe was a 6lb Elwell Welsh. To a newcomer it would feel awkward , but his muscle memory and skill allowed him to chop effortlessly .His advice was to let the axe do the work , so the weight had an advantage as you never pushed it , Working all day , every day you learn not to go like a bull at a Gate.
There's been a theme lately of everybody heralding the "Boy's axe" as the ultimate axe-like tool. You get a lot of people saying "You need a boy's-axe, there's literally no need for a full sized axe". I've tried to ignore it as long as I could, and occasionally I'll cut bigger timber (more than 18 inch, getting into almost 32 inch) that necessitates a big axe. But I have a silly little no-name boys-axe that I grab 95% of the time. Almost all of the axe work I need to do is limited to saplings or pines around 6 inches thick. It's nice to be able to fell, limb, and buck with one light, whippy axe.
I know a lot of people like the boys axes but they tend to be too light for serious work at 2lb or slightly under. I think the optimuim is 2.5 to 3.5lb, giving good punch but not overly tiring to use
Same! I dont have any power saws so all my processing is dont with my council boys axe. Fell, buck, chop and split. Its a nasty little bugger innit?
Nice closing phrase there, Ben ,D Thanks again for all of these videos.
Claus
Well presented and thought out vid.
I grew up using an axe daily and still do. We heat with firewood so it's just a daily fact that I have to use an axe. Working in the thick bush here a full size axe is cumbersome, the handle is too long and gets caught on stuff, it's too long to swing effectively in a confined space like when you're limbing a black spruce with a ton of branches. My go-to axe is the GB small forest axe. I have their Scandinavian forest axe, but it's too long and it's generally just too big to carry along with the chainsaw, gas, oil, and other tools.
I have a big splitting axe at home, but that's where it stays, right next to the woodpile.
I'm not a huge guy so the small is my natural choice. My neighbour on the other hand is a huge cop who likes his huge double bit axe. He goes to town and is out of puff in about 3 min. Funniest thing I ever saw was him splitting firewood and getting the double bit stuck, so he flipped it over to try to pound the round off and ended up with the chopping block stuck on the other bit. He was pounding back and forth for about 20 min trying to get loose! :D
Very true. My swing still looks somewhat lazy compared to someone more proficient when I accelerate the swing in the middle of the stroke rather than the beginning like you. It takes conscious mental effort for me to swing my boys axe like it's meant to be.
Might have been better if I'd seen this years ago. I used to cut a lot of wood for a few hours at a time with a 5lb axe. I think I got used to it ultimately, but it was surely very hard going with sore hands to boot.
I kind of think it doesn't matter honestly. I typically never use anything lighter than 3.5#, mostly because those are the axes I have hung, and my favorite is a 4.5# which I find to be my favorite all-round axe for doing most anything. As far as "dropping" a heavy axe, I do remember Steven saying that in one of the earlier Cordwood Challenge videos, and he used a clip from one of my videos. I'm not actually sure that I am truly just "dropping" the axe when I chop. If I had to analyze my motion, I tend to push at the beginning of the swing rather than all the way through , but I definitely give the axe plenty of momentum vs allowing gravity to do everything. It isn't clear to me that I'm getting less work done over time, even if I'm taking fewer swings per minute than I might with a lighter axe. I also don't feel like I'm inefficient. Ultimately I think effective work can be done with almost any reasonable axe-shaped object with a huge variation of head weight, pattern, and handle length. It is interesting to discuss "ideal" concepts, but they are really way more nuanced differences in productivity than videos like this make it sound. Given how slowly most people finish the challenge each year, how many hours at a time are they swinging? If you only go out for an hour or two every once in a while, does it really matter if you are using a light axe or a heavy one?
4.5lb is heavy but not really in the unwieldy range i would say, especially for a guy like you who is used to chopping and hewing. Something i have observed however when trying to teach people to use axes is that they really struggle even with 4lb. Sure you can do work with just about any axe design, but if you look at this ridiculous 6lb on a 36'' vs a 2.5lb 28'' I think its pretty obvious extra head speed trumps extra weight. I find it interesting how some of the really big competitive choppers use 6lb or 8lb even though they are only swinging for 30 seconds, and they swing the axe so fast you can barely see it.
ruclips.net/video/koYt4FS6RCQ/видео.html
Obviously there is a limit to how fast you can swing an axe and a limit to what weight can effectively be swung which would vary slightly depending on the persons build and experience. I bet if i made a graph you would get a bell curve on energy delivered and an optimum between 2.5 and 3.5lb for most average joes. Sure people can do whatever they want and use an axe they prefer, but I think for someone beginning buying a light axe like the Council Tools will be a better option than a big heavy Arvika. If in the future they decided they prefer the heavy axe and go buy one, they still have the light one for limbing.
I see your point, but 5 pound felling axes can work wonders
Yep, been there... First axe 2kg on 900 handle, can't be that hard for a heavy set guy right ?? I watched the timber sports guys....!!! 3-5 mins of hacking at a 9 inch tree, and having to take a break didn't quite get the job done or get the results I was dreaming of. However, 1.2 kg on 700 handle spot on for me.Took 5 boutique axes,( swedish axes are the best right)?? loads of dosh and a huge swallow of ego to get there but work rate and enjoyment factor increased 10 fold. Points well made and totally agree, leave the ego at the door and work up to the head weight and length ratio that gets the job done efficiently. Best point for me, axe coming down easy, lifting it is a different ball game, add in control then mayhem.....
Lol I remember the first axe I used to fell a tree was about 4.5lbs and had been used for splitting and was a bit dulled to boot it kind of kicked my arse kind of a baptism of fire XD
I think we have all been there at some point, and where a lot of people give up and say 'Im buying a Silky'
I use a heavy axe for spliting wood and get better result🤔 of course if it's only droping it won't cute, but spliting the log 1shot instead of 2 makes me less tired
yes for splitting i like 4-6lb depending of on the wood, different pace of work
I like to use 6.2lb Racing Axe..
Really i think there is no set Rules, i have Many styles of Gripping Swinging,
this enables to work different Muscles that are Important section for my MMA Competitions that has given me the edge.
For me its not Ego, its Health and Pushing myself to the next Level also my Videos were uploaded for my Son to watch Dad.
I have not seen Him for 12 years, and want to be Healthy example to him, so he chooses the correct Path in Life..
Maybe it was a bit unclear but I was discussing axes for working all day without getting tired, lumberjacks used the lightest axe possible that would still do the work, typically 2.5lb to 4lb and 5lb+ being the exception not the norm. You want using the axe to feel like a brisk walk or jog, not to wind you after 2 minutes of chopping. Its a marathon not a sprint.
As for heavy axes I do enjoy using them, I am training for timbersports so using as close to as possible weight is good training for fitness, but for actually getting work done and endurance my preference is 3.5lb
@@benscottwoodchopper Thanks yes I Did understand Mate. See i traveled with a Circus, when i was young. Our Big Top Tent pegs were Truck axles cut in Half. We had 380 of these pegs to drive in every day. 2 of us Men would use 16lb sledge hammers taking turns at consecutive times to drive the same Peg in. Now could you imagine two railway workers driving spikes in all day using a 4lb hammer? Yeh" would knock you up fairly fast takes more hits and takes more exertion and Food/water. These Men went all day with the 12-16 lb Hammer, though it wasn't a Conventional Lumber Jack Swing, sliding your hand up the Handle on the up stroke.Actually they Would swing like a pendulum and use the weight of the head to your advantage, all you have to do is assist the Head a little on the upward motion. So in the Days of the (Real Lumberjacks) where they would clear acres weekly only using a Axe, they adopted the same type of swing. If you watch one of my vids, you can see i swing very Similar, Using the Axe as a Pendulum believe me i could swing all day, 6 days a week like this using a Racing Axe clearing forest. Though Swinging how you do in the standing block, i wouldn't get past day 2. All the Best with your Competition! Sure if you Train Harder and smarter than your Opponent and think out side the Box you'll do really well, or just if your in it for Participation/fun and be part of the Luberjack Community just as Good Mate!. Handle Length also should be Matched to your Height and Weight, to Maximize Speed, and efficiency . The Gentleman that makes Axes in Australia, uses American Hickory, absorbs the Shock well, Minimal flex, and great to Grip! these axes I believe are the Best in the World. Stay Humble. Work Hard.
lustig das du zu diesem thema ausgerechnet dein video als beispiel anführst. ich hab mir dein video jetzt angesehen und es belegt die aussagen sehr anschaulich, die scott gemacht hat. was du da machst, hat mit fällen nichts zu tun. du hast weder die nötige power, noch das nötige können um deine benutzte axt entsprechend zu verwenden. saft und kraftlos, ganz zu schweigen von deiner schlagtechnik. wenns dir rein um körperliche ertüchtigung geht, könntest du genauso gut mit einem schweren baseballschläger auf irgend etwas einschlagen. du bist mit deinem vid der sehende beweis, das die gemachten aussagen von scott zu 1000% zutreffend sind.
@@axt_messer_survival Where is Your Videos? I think your Jealous. I told you my videos were there to inspire my Son. I have worked all day felling trees, and would Prefer to use a Heavier Axe, and have the Advantage of the Weight of Heavier Axe. Also Didn't you read my Comment on Sledge Hammers. Go Try it Bud, Go try Driving a 20 Steel fence post in the ground with a Carpenters Hammer. Then Try a 14lb Hammer, see which one tires you Faster after 20 posts. Which would you like to Use?. See You Boys are not Men yet, and you can not teach Experience. And Most Germans i have worked with are Fat and Lazy Also.
@@lumberjaxe8910 zuerst unfug behaupten, den unfug dann anhand deines eigenen videos bestätigen. dann gekränktes ego, weilst die sichtbare wahrheit nicht ertragen kannst und jetzt willst auch noch darüber reden? scherz oder? schalt dein östrogen aus und geh mir aus der sonne, tussi.
I just got a Sandvik 4lb from a carboot, now I'm wondering if I should get something lighter or not
Hey Ben! I'm thinking about getting a Hults bruk Agdor 2.5 lb Montreal pattern on a 28 inch handle. Have you used one before? Any input?
The montreals are really good axes
@@benscottwoodchopper thanks for this reply! Im thinking about getting the 2.5 lb Montreal. Im super excited
@@benscottwoodchopper Dude Council Tool is selling a 3.5 lb Jerseys on a 26 inch straight hickory handle. How does that sound for you personally?? You think 26 inches would be to short for bucking/felling? I dont have any power saws so i use my boys axe for everything
@@cosmicbilly probably is pretty good, perhaps a tad short but not too bad
Thank for d sharings
Well put. I typically think that one should be able to go 1-2 hours straight before having a 5-10 min break, then resume. If one is out of steam before that, the axe is probably too heavy, or one is swinging too fast.
,,, or ofc, just need a lot more practice
It's not only the stamina . Acting like Superman when using axes, or doing any other kind of repetative and in the same time heavy job like usign an axe, can damage your tendons for life and no surgeon or number of surgeries, can bring back your valuable hands. I used to think as you do, until I lost both my hands. I couldn't eat for months, just to give you the picture. Also keep in mind, that I wasn't even using an axe, I was using a lighter hammer everyday for living. Even a "tennis elbow" which is the first symptoms, that show your muscles are damaged (tendons is the soft part of the muscle, where it joins the bone,that part, literally cuts in 2..) Always take more and longer breaks, that what your youth, may suggest. shit can happen from nowhere... Stay safe brother!
Tout sa depand juste du physique moi j'ai une hache de 2,5kg et sa me convient parfaitement j'ai déjà tester une hache plus légère et justement je trouve que sa ne fait pas le travaille la hache rentre moi bien et enlève moin de matière que c'elle de 2,5kg est je le sens pas forcément plus vite épuiser avec la plus lourde
Fast really hit fast but heavier chuks alot more
you need unhigh before you do the video
I dont know what you mean