Do This With Your Axe or Else!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
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Stay in the Woods,
Dan
my grandfather always told me to hold the axe like I would hold a chicken.
grab the neck and never forget where it is looking.
Just got out of urgent care, I cut my thumb today. Was re-hanging my hatchet on a new handle. of course, after 4 stitches, I sit down to TH-cam and this is the first video. lol
It is worth mentioning that the sheath makes an axe safer to carry, but won’t stop an axe from chopping off a limb if swung hard enough.
Or if you fell hard enough on it… 😢
I like gransfors sheaths as they have metal ahead of edge and it sure would slow it at least. Keep mine so sharp it'd go through em all though! 😮
OMG
Also, that axe is still a blunt instrument that could easily break bones!
Crazy? I thought the axe understands safety on
Can never stress axe safety enough, it's learned disciplines, and not everyone will get it, without training themself or being raised in those disciplines, super dangerous.
Good video. Thank you.
One very important thing to remember is if you miss what your chopping a full length axe will bury into the ground, a 3/4 length axe 25in (most popular for ⛺️) will head for your lower limbs . A decade ago my brand new razor sharp Gransfors Bruk Axe blade came very close to chopping my inner ankle off. Only missed by a bee’s dick ! SO
KEEP THOSE FEET WELL APART !
I learned this the hard way, i was walking with my axe. I was holding it down by my side looking for some dead wood and heard a clank by my hand. My dog had ran into my axe. Only by chance he ran into the back part of it. Could have been really bad. From then on i learned to sheath everything when walking.
Thank goodness it was the back of it... before i finished reading that it was, my heart kinda sank. Don't do that to us, lol.
@Survivalnerd Hey, thank you man! I'm going to look into that. Good on you for being proactive.
Great example about "unknown unknowns". And don't feel at all bad about cussin' out your dog when it steps on the tails of your snowshoes.
[edit: Snowshoes used to have tails. Sounds like a 'Creation story', I know.]
My first brush with axe safety occurred 45 years ago when my uncle was splitting wood. He told me not to stand in front of the axe in case the head came off. To prove his point, the head did come off a few chops later and went whizzing past like a buzzsaw. Nothing happened but we both looked at each other with big eyes 👀👀
I had the head come off of a hatchet that I inherited from my dad, it was his scouting hatchet. The head went airborne and it chipped the blade when it landed. I knew the head was loose, but tapping it on the butt every once in awhile "seemed" to fix it. I was at a very remote camp by myself. If the head had gone straight up, instead of away from me, I might not be writing this.
One of my buddies drills and cross pins his ax heads. I have been tempted, but can't bring myself to drill a hole in a vintage ax head. But I'm very careful when I re-haft a head.
I was chopping somekindling for fire place in house , swung hatchet head flew off bounced off fire place nailed me in face , head part his above eye brow and blade stuck below eye into cheek , first time was dropped to my back! Blood wasnt bad cause the corner pintched skinh inward made blood less luckly, yeara later had area cut out due ti skin cancer . Wierd !!!
Great advice! Must add this for all you grownups, teach youngsters to never, ever, swing an axe or hatchet down on a piece of fire wood to split, into a knot. When I was 8 I was experienced at chopping. But never taught not to swing on a knot. The double bit axe glanced off the edge and I nearly cut off my big toe. I am now 74 and have a stiff joint in my foot. Teach them to turn the knot away from them, please!
Nikos? Hristos anesti!
Great tips. People never think safety until it’s too late.
Every knife and axe that I have are always trying to cut me!
There is no way I would attempt a tenth of the stuff they do with knives and such!
@@bobbysnow5478 that cracked me up… and I know how you feel.
Great video. The really dangerous situation with an axe or really any kind of blade is when working alone in a remote location. They are essential tools and unavoidably have to be used but injuring yourself can suddenly make you very vulnerable in what would ordinarily be a very unthreatening situation.
My favorite old timey woodscraft writer, Elmer Kreps, said the axe was of ultimate importance in the woods, but he also believed it to be more dangerous than a rifle. I think he was right.
Nice refresher. First learned all that from a WWII vet in 1969 in a boy scouts camping trip.
If I need to walk away from my tools in the forest for any reason or just away from my processing area I carry a strip of reflective cloth or neon that I can "flag" my tools location with.
I also have a 6 to 8 inch strip of red, one inch wide nylon webbing on my car key remote. I've seen a couple of folks loose their keys while out in the woods. Most remotes are mostly black and very hard to see on the ground. The red ribbon makes it easy to find my remote around the house as well. The last pocket knife I bought for carrying in the woods has a bright orange handle. It's ugly, but hard to loose.
Took an axe blow to the shin 25 years ago. I can still remember the pain.
Rule 4. Don't let me near an AXE. " Don't Ask" 😲
Thank you for this video. All excellent information, and axe safety can never be stressed too much.
Safety first was emblazoned on my mind 3 or 4 years ago. I went to a trailhead parking lot which had first responder vehicles parked there. I didn’t go very far when I met them on the trail while they were bringing a young man’s body out. He had cut his leg badly with an axe and tried to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately he was too far in the bush and no one to help him. No cell service in that area. He just couldn’t make it with the loss of blood.
I did this intuitively because I am a little paranoid when it comes to sharp objects. This is probably a good thing.
Also be careful with new sheathes that have not yet softened up.. Trying to re-sheath a new axe and sheath resulted in an X-mas morning trip to the ER after it slipped out of the tight leather sheath and I nearly lost a thumb (Some user error may have occurred, but still be careful with fresh leather) Also, ER's on XMas mornings are sad places filled with people injured by their presents (mostly bicycles) 😂
Bummer.
Same here. I was gifted a nice hatchet and cut the backside of my knuckle on my thumb putting the sheath back on. The blade bit into the leather and I slipped. Needed three stitches, thankfully I didn't damage my tendon or nerves. I was on a video call with my brother in law as he gave it to me and wanted to see me open the present. I think he saw more than he bargained for.
@@SlungBlade I call these Thumbiters!
Safety first, followed by coffee... Great tips Coalcracker!!
Thanks, great tips. I learnt axe safety the hard way to my detriment so all these helpful hints get taken on board. Remember kids, axes and alcohol don’t mix 🤣🤣🤣
Merci Dan pour tout les bons conseils
Eye protection also. Thank you. A subscriber from Mexico
Good video. Good info. We all get careless and need to be reminded to be safe.
Having inherited a full sized axe and several small hatchet sized axes - all without sheaths... I can see my next task is to find/make sheaths. I've simply been lucky so far...
Never leave the sheath/mask on your axe when driving wedges or pounding anything with your axe poll. The impact will force the bit completely through the sheath/mask if stitched or ding the bit's edge if riveted. I've seen it happen many times.
I think you should have mentioned stroke trajectory awareness. I think one of the most common sources of injury with an ax is a missed swing that carries through into a leg, or whatever.
Great video, Dan. Concise and to the point! I'll be sharing it!!! Thanks for all of your hard work!
When I learned fencing, we were taught how to fall without cutting ourselves. It's something we should keep in mind for pretty much any tool: what if we fall?
Love this. Great information, and great delivery, too!
Dan, I am so glad you don’t do a bunch of stupid stuff in your videos just for views like eating what ever you can kill like beavers, porcupines dead dogs and what ever else there is coyotes you get what I’m talking about. Your videos are well grounded on important stuff that people should know or learn not just crap for views. Thanks for that, you are the last person that I haven’t un subscribed to. Keep up the good work and I will keep watching.
Nice work, Dan. Check, keep all fingers and toes.
Good video and tips. I made a sheath like that about 5 years ago and it still does its job of covering the blade when it is not in use.
After a day of wood splitting, I made a mistake and the axe came down on my left index finger with almost no force (thank god). it cut straight down to the bone and chipped a tiny piece off. it was a hand crafted Swedish steel axe from a very popular brand. but even with regular use (that day and before), it was still razor sharp to do what it did to my finger.
First rule I learned when I was first working on my Tot'n'chip, I was taught when handing an axe to another, to hold it vertically, gripped a bit below the head so there's room for the other person to grip it, and then to not release until the other person says he's got it. Not when you think he has it, but only after he's positively acknowledged that he has it.
@Jeff Dege - And confirmed by saying "Thank you!"
I don’t care what anyone says, a bunch of teenage boys policing eachother on safety rules just plain *works*
If you also know how to perform first aid on the one who scoffed at instruction, you also get to tell him what he did wrong. You get to say something every time he reaches for any sort of blade. He has lost his privileges to use blades in the camp, bearing the mark of his shame on his leg. This is the way.
I taught my scouts that and I enforce that they always secure their tools (Axe, hatchet, saw or knife) before moving away from thier workstation.
Dan, you’ve done it again! Great tips!
My advice for using the humble axe while bucking is make sure it's sharpened and don't swing it at first. Let gravity and the axe do the work while you focus on controlling it. If you're felling a tree for the first time, get some help.
let gravity do it? seems like that would take years
@@fuckcensorship69 This response is either intentionally obtuse or sincere but very uninformed by any kind of experience
I learned this in Boy Scouting 60 years ago. "Index finger and choke-up"! Still use it. Thanks Dan and Coalcracker !
This man knows what he's talk about
Ray Mears teaches to always chop wood from your knees which makes it less likely to glance off and slam it into your leg. Works for me.
I've been using an axe for 30 years and still learned a couple safety tricks here 🔥
@@survivalnerd-xl4wr and book knowledge doesn't equal skills or experience. we can't ALL be nerds 🤷♂️😉
@@survivalnerd-xl4wr cute of you to assume things you do not know, that explains a lot. my life doesn't revolve around arguing with witless strangers on internet, good luck with that. don't expect me to gratify you with another response, I've lost enough time as it is with you kiddo
I cut my thumb really bad a few weeks ago sharpening my Estwig hatchet. I was using a file and got my thumb too close and made a deep cut right beside my fingernail. That cut would not stop opening, and days later I would hit it and it would open again and I would bleed everywhere, ha ha. I ended up ordering a lot of around 100 small superglue bottles from Ebay to keep in my first aid supplies. Once I was able to superglue it shut it was able to heal. My thumb still hurts a little. I think it would be a very bad accident in a survival situation. Now I have more respect for that little hatchet! Thanks for the video.
Put a leather disk between the file and the handle if possible. I use old leather coasters I got at a garage sale. I have two dedicated files for sharpening axes, both have guards. I think you could rig a guard for a file with a built in handle, if that's all you have.
@@yellowdog762jb Thanks! I never thought about that!
Basic safety info. Is good , But common , safety scense in all that you do goes much further !! To hemp tie your ax handle is a must !! Wet conditions are the most dangerous !! You don't want slippery hand grips !! My 74 years dont lie !!!
If you are working with your tool remember what Dave Pearson (reallybigmonkey1) once stated:
"An axe is for removing toes and a hatchet is for removing fingers. Remember this and you will be successfull!"
Big recommendation for "Fun in the woods", great bushcrafting channel if you want to know really anything there is about a topic related to bushcraft, knives, axes and especially machetes - Dave has got you covered! ;-)
Great advice about grip position. Great channel
Good video One suggestion is that we are taught that when you fall you're the cast you're a tool to the side so it's nowhere near you and obviously that's going to depend on who's around you as well though
For those that want to do a project, use thick wall PVC, a heat gun, sand paper, spray paint, hack saw, sharpie & cloth measuring tape. With this you can make a quick on/off blade cover resembling kydex. The head should just snap in/out. It may take a few tries. Watch videos that have someone doing this or knife sheath for ideas.
Class was awesome! Thanks for really taking the time to make sure we were all efficient at completing the task at hand. See you at the advanced class!
I really like your hand-axe. I had one that length, but unfortunately it cracked on a weak seam line that you couldn't see. I tried to find the same length of handle, but couldn't, so I had to go shorter and it made it an actual hatchet. It's alright, it's good for chopping up kindling. A tip from a long time logger friend of mine, he told me to put two strips of tape about an inch apart on the hammer side of the axe, hatchet, long axe, or whatever tools you have for the woods, and then spray two strips with yellow paint. Yellow is the most noticeable color, so when looking for your tool, axe, etc., squint your eyes, and that yellow will stand out so that you can find your tool very easily. Just a tip. I like your videos!!! Thank you.
I agree, never put a tool on the ground, but if one must, put it at a tree, or a BIG rock that is easily spotted, so one doesn't need to search aimlessly everywhere.
Thank you
Thank you sweetheart for this hopefully life saving video!!!! I'm thinking you just may be able to get through to at least some of the ignorant masses hopefully watching!!! Because an axe can truly be a dangerous tool if one doesn't keep there wits about them when using it!!! Again thank you kind Sir!!!!
Almost lost a friend. Allways left his double bit ax in stump next to his porch. One icy slip drove ax deep into his armpit he bearly made it was lucky his wife was home that morning to save him
I learned to hold an axe, sheath on or off, by hand over top of axe head thumb on one side of head four fingers on other side, handle is like extension of arm, pointy bit away from thumb.
(If you hold arm up, handle is away from body forward and sharp bit is away from body to side)
Like this it is almost impossible to point sharp bit at yourself, sharp bit won’t catch leg when walking either.
With point finger method, you can point your finger at many parts of your body. With palm method, you can’t.
If you fall with pointy finger method sharp bit pointing forward, in alignment with where you are going, with palm method but pointed away from where you are and are going.
Fun fact:
You can get ump-45 magazine pouches for like 15 bucks. If you cut the bottom out of it it makes a PREFECT pouch to hold a hatchet or small axe. The same pouch fits my folding saw perfectly.
Congrats on your first '23 class! I deal with very similar training and issues when dealing with new or retraining Back Of House restaurant employees!
Great tips.
You only make a mistake worth an axe once. If will be a hard lesson learned.
People spend $300 on a pair of sunglasses, but I've never seen people wear $30 safety glasses.
If they wear safety glasses, they're usually the Dollar Store kind.
I've been running a chainsaw for decades.
I always wear Uvex amber safety glasses.
I have a personal rule to wear glasses when I handle knives.
It's such an easy thing to have something with you, and detrimental if you don't. Even get a flying chip of wood can be a real problem.
An injury out on the trail,
might be difficult to deal with.
The scratchy Italian gangster voice and the axe combine to make me afraid.
For the newbies, after your axe is lying under the log in the damp and wet leaves, and in all wet or moist conditions; always good to wipe your axe head, especially the blade, with a dry cloth. Then put the leather mask back on. Don’t put em away wet my friends. Your axe and the leather mask will thank you. Keep on chopping!!
Great video again, thanks for making it! In an earlier one you also mentioned one of the most dangerous movements one can do with an axe, namely chopping wood in an over head position. We should be twice alerted as usual and we should mostly aviod doing so under all circumstances. Thats going to go wrong and we end up with the hospital trip 😳🙈😤, where we also need to explain where the injury comes from, oh man…
mighty good advice ill work them into my habits, thanks!!!!
Tip #2 is new to me. Never would have thought of that.
Take care Dan
Very timely tips and good advice! You are concise and to the point, GOOD JOB!
Great tips; not everyone watching has the experience and even veterans need re-schooling on occasion.
That's Beneath the Stars Leathercraft axe mask! The best!
Zachary Gault and Mary Kate Green had some bad axe wounds on Alone.
I'm enjoying your videos
looks to me like a gransfors bruks... very nice piece of hardware!
While slightly off topic, if you need to slip a hatchet in your belt (sheathed or unsheathed, preferably sheathed), slip it in a comfortable spot on your hip WITH A BELT LOOP PREVENTING FORWARD TRAVEL and the EDGE MUST FACE YOUR REAR.
I'm 72. I was about 13 when I joined the Boy Scouts. Of course...in most boy's minds are images of the standard kit "required" if one is a true outdoorsman, eh? One of the items in my mental image of what I needed to "survive" was, of course, a hand axe. I received one...nice...sharp...but it did not come with instructions...and there was no one to show me then. Anyway...One camping trip, I was "cutting" some kindling. Left hand on the piece of wood...swung at the wood (which I could have probably more easily broken by hand)...the sharp blade glanced off the wood...and then glanced off my left hand. I was lucky...only laid back a piece of skin on the top of my hand near my thumb. It was painful...and scary...but I was SO LUCKY. Should have probably received stitches...but I made due with a good band aid. That V-shaped scar is still there...and since then, it is something I look at every time I am using ANYTHING sharp. A lesson learned the hard way, eh? thanks for your programs...
One other tip when walking on the side of a hill or mountain put the ax in the hand that is facing down the hill that way if you trip or start to fall you can toss the ax away from you
huh stick the edge under the log... huh... well that's a good idea. Much better than bleeding out in the woods or stumbling back to the car with a chunk of bone missing.
Excellent advice
Good vid, all solid points (he reprised all the points my Dad and Uncles taught me that then blended into Cub/Boy Scouts. By the time I got to JrROTC, the details were different but my solid foundation was set!
Excellent safety tips! The more, the better.
When working with others never leave axe sticking in top of stump. One time cutting trees for cabin firewood with 1 guy using chainsaw to drop and buck and 2 guys splitting with axe. An axe was in stump, felling tree came down and hit axe handle just right and launched the axe. Luckily everyone was far enough away.
I split a lot of wood, and my first thing is to clear the area above and around me so I don't hit anything
Good afternoon from Syracuse NY brother
Not too much blabla. To the point. Great!
The tip that we should not stick the axe into the log because it might get loose, fall down and get stepped upon is really interesting. Never though about it this way. Thanks!
All good tips, but I’ll a couple more. Clear the axe yard - you don’t want to be swinging an axe while standing on sticks and rocks. Make sure people are at a safe distance, and don’t let anyone stand directly in front or behind you - I’ve seen axe heads fly off, and I’ve also had a hatchet slip out of my tired, wet hand.
so simple and so true, great tool again
Sound Counsel.
it is way too easy to swing an axe into your shin bone, very good point on always putting the sheath on or at least keeping your index finder off but near the dangerous bit. i'm old enough that i put on safety glasses when i pick up an axe now. the little sharp flying wood chips get sharper every year
Great video! Boy Scout 101. Too bad kids don't learn these skills at 11 or 12 years of age anymore.
Takes me back to the good old Totin' Chip.
It amazes me how many people don't sheath their axes at all when on the move! 😮
Good afternoon from Syracuse NY 😢
Good practical info
Thanks
Stay safe and keep your axe in one piece!
One of my first times going out I cut my hand pretty bad with my axe, ended up heading to the ER, got a tendon stitched up (I was very lucky, if i had hit my hand only slightly differently then my hand could have been permanently disfigured). Since then, I have been almost overly safe around axes, and only to my benefit.
Great safety video. God bless.
sounds like you have the same cold I do. It just won’t go away.
Hi, Codi with an I.
Good advice
A sheath for an ax is called a mask!
I'll be living with a nice scar in my right leg (not thigh) from a missed swing at a tree. Fortunately, bone integrity not compromised.
Safety first.
Fantastic