Miner's axe designed for work on mine shoring in close quarters. Design adopted by fallers, who often use it to drive falling wedges. A handy one to carry in your rig, if youi want that big axe power in a pinch but are short on space.
Thanks for checking out the channel. I see you commented on several video, and I just want to say thanks for your interest ! I appreciate you taking time to see what this channel is about. Cheers!
That is what they call a yankee pattern axe in the UK. Elwell made these up to 8lbs weight. A true mining axe has a long narrow blade and a heavy poll, with a head length of about 12". About 50 years ago I used to use a 6 pound Hardy Tool co. miners axe down the pit for setting 'trees' [wood support posts] but they were not in common use even then.
The Miners Axe could be found with handles ranging from 17" to 20" in length. Heads could be 3, 3.5, 4 pound weights. The size was dependent upon the size of working area. Drifts, raises, and shaft differ in size dimensions. Early miners axes had heat treated or annealed polls. Later this process was dropped in trade for low cost production models. I used the miners axes off and on for 40 plus years as an underground miner.
Good to see someone who was from Michigan! Michigan is my home state, unfortunately I live in the Saginaw valley, which is mostly farmland, and no trees on my property to chop down.
Wow! I’d never think you could split those big rounds with that axe. That would be a beast with a longer handle. Dave, my friend, very inspiring video. I need to start stopping at garage sales to look for cheap outdoors gear. God bless you and yours and stay safe!!
There are two effective axe designs for the woods; The long handled light head (like your typical 3/4 boy's axe) and the short handled heavy head axe as opposed to a hatchet. A heavy head with a short handle makes for light work. The weight makes up for the length lost in the handle. You can split wood with one hand.
Great videos! I love all the information. Loggers in the Northwest use an axe similar to that for driving wedges when we fall trees. Heavy head sinks them right in and short handle lets you carry it on your belt with your wedges
I live in the foothills of East Tennessee, what use to be coal country. My next door neighbor had a miners axe and pick. His people had worked the mines. He used it for everything
I fitted an old 6lb council tool maul to a 20-22" straight handle as an experiment as I had that piece of handle left over. I did everything wrong as far as splitting mauls go short handle thinned a good bit and I sharpened that big old fat bit to a good edge. My friend and my brother both laughed at it and made fun of me loudly, right up until they swung it a few times. It's much more precise and less effort to use, it's currently living at my brother's house at the wood pile. I will probably end up making another two before I get to keep one for myself lol.
Don't much like splitting oak or maple it's darned hard but certainly burns a long time. Wild cherry too is an excellent wood. Need to remember to split the bark before trying to split the wood. That wrap around bark is strong as strong can be. Wish I'd had a splitter but heck that way I wouldn't have gotten much of a work out.
I use one for splitting around the campfire in the summertime. My dad owns it and I was as surprised just how useful these awkward axes are. Thumbs up from Idaho!
The axe world is interesting... the ideas and equipment come from a time long gone but the thinking of that time still dominates. What an earth we need sharp forest axes for when practically none of us coppice or manage forests anymore. A shorter, heavy, not very sharp wedge shaped axe is logically ideal for most of us for our primary task - splitting sawn rounds on a stump. The short handle might add a safety risk but perhaps is offset by a lesser swing and by us being more accurate with that shorter handle. I am inspired now to take the big heavy Helko expedition axe I have never once used, to cut it down and try it out as my new splitting axe.
Hi Dave. I love this video. I have a real nice 3 1/2 pound plum head. When I got it the handle was totally rotted away. It had cracks you could see through. I cut down a new railroad sledgehammer handle. It is beautiful grain hickory . It is 22”. It reminds me of your miner’s axe.
I've seen them at auctions and the like, but never thought they would be useful. So, I've past them by. Man! Now I'm kicking myself in the butt. I'll keep my eyes open now...Keep'em Sharp! 👍👍✌
I use an axe quite often, and have since I was very young. But I never knew about all the different types. I just knew that I liked some and hated others. Very interesting video. I have always used a maul to split firewood. Most is terrible splitting around here.
I have one of those ky grandpaw was a coal miner as a mechanice that axe was in his company tool kit. It will split asphalt and limestone we used it diggin dranage ditches and it still good its perfect for working off your knees it tight spaces
After a couple back operations I can no longer do a complete swing, I have to lift it up overhead and bring it down as hard as I can. It works some what but takes twice the effort. I think you have helped me find a better way. Thanks a bunch
Bushradical I live in a small log cabin and I ended up using gas and a camp stove and gave up on my back. As far as conservative the gas takes the prize but it leaves a lot to be desired as far as the inner warmth of log fire. This I believe is going to give me the best of both worlds and that's a plus plus. Now like you said, man am I out of shape. Haha. Love your life and your sharing it with the world. I be Radical😋
I've come to the same conclusion that a heavy head on a miners handle works well for splitting. I set one up that way originally for driving wedges while felling hazard trees. It worked great for that but got pressed into service for splitting while out in the woods and I was surprised like you were that it works so well. I still keep the 6lbs axe eye maul around but the miner gets a lot more use. my handle is a bit longer than yours and the head is pretty stubby. probably had a couple inches sharpened off before I found it in a scrap heap. I ground it pretty steep like a maul. interesting to see somebody else coming up with similar solutions.
Good video Dave. My Grandpa's 4.5lb Elwell axe had a short shaft when I inherited it, also my dad's 4ib Gilpin is about 22", they were both used for splitting. I have a 3.5 lb Billnas that is a great splitter on a 25" haft. Just be careful if the short hafted axes follow through as they will make a mess of your shins, I know because it happened to me years ago!
Thats why I don't like to split with a 32" handled axe . ( although its the size I like best for felling) because i'm 6'2" and the bit never reaches the ground .....and if you miss.....well you know what happens.
Ya know saying that my dad's axe was a 4lber Kent pattern on like a 22" handle used it for splitting too. It's currently sat in the garage with a 40 inch handle from a chunk of Willow I "acquired" from a tree that got cut down in the park near me.
Honestly I have never heard of a Miner's axe. But the idea of it makes good sense. It has a full size head for weight but a shorter handle to make carrying it to camp in a pack more convenient. Might be worth re-handling one of my full size heads to a shorter handle and give it a go. Thanks for the idea Dave.
I got one from an auction in good shape it’s been very useful for me although it’s heavy but it’s easy to pack and best thing far as a wedge banger here where I live they used them to drive cap wedges in the coal mines
I love a full size axe on a full size haft, they simply do the work for you much like a good quality khukuri. That said, a full size head on a shorter haft makes sense in some situations. It absolutely does not work on full size knotty pine or twisted grain woods like willow.
Ive never split much willow , if any , but I totally agree. The miners axe was amazing ( on ash) but ash is super easy to split. I would love to see someone try to split ONE block of elm with a miners axe.....not happening!
Haha...yes, those 30" rounds of Elm I used to split by the truck load. Half the time when I smacked them with a 7lb maul it would bounce back at me, I still remember the physio I had to have on my elbows!
@@Bushradical shoot I've split many cords of firewood over my lifetime and I'm a 63 y/o woman and all I had for heat was a wood stove and prefer it over electric ,gas or oil furnaces. Warms a person up many times before it ever gets burned.
There is a slightly longer version of that called a faller's axe. A logging supplier called Bailey's sells a rebranded Council Tool with a 4# or 5# head and a 28" handle. Short full size axes like these are outstanding for driving plastic felling wedges, debarking, and cleaning notches out when using chainsaws. Completely surprised me when you split wood with it, I only thought these were for tree felling.
That ash splits pretty easy, and swinging a full size axe sometimes seems like overkill. I was totally surprised too! It worked great. I'll check out that axe you're talking about. Thanks for the comment!
Shows what an advantage a heavy head can be...the handle is almost moot. Could easily be use with a sledge as kind of a splitting wedge with a handle. Killer metal for sure. Thanks for posting! Be well, stay warm! Peace.
Yeah , that axe totally surprised me, LOL! I don't know what else to use it for yet...but its a great little splitter. Awesome in the garage too, for splitting wood for the garage stove.
Hahahaha This is just Too Awesomeness....Last Year a Friend made this Half size axe hahaha...19 1/2" handle 4 pound head...he had it for sale...I kept coming over to it....Just Something about the size and feel...I guess it was to weird for some folks and it never sold.....Later that night it was at my Campsite hahaha....He Gifted to Me and I still use it...Different Kinda Beast Fo Sho....Coolio Video Thanks
I had wondered if a heavy head on a shorter 20" handle might be better for chopping as light weight hatchets don't usually chop well. Now I know. Thanks!
I'de just but the handle and then hang a 3.5 lb head on it. They want MORE money for miners axes than for a full size axe a lot of time...makes no sense. Thanks for the comment.
Sure would love to have a 28" long round of that clear ash to make some handles for some of my bushcraft axes. Its really great wood for handles. Wish we had ash in Alaska.
That could also be a fallers axe..not feeling but a fallers axe,guys put a large head on a short handle so it easy to carry and they use it mostly for banging wedges into trees so fall the tree!!!they r very popular in the tree falling world !!!
Nice review, thank you. Would this be any more useful when you are sitting by the fire and making smaller pieces for the fire? Or would any hatchet be as good or better? Thank you!
I assume it's called a miners axe due to the short handle. A miners pick is a short handled tool for swinging in the close quarters of a coal mine. Perhaps pioneer miners actually used them for busting out coal. Back in the day running to the hardware store for a pick wasn't an option. Before the invention of the steam engine and the the steel industry needing coal it was all done by hand. I'm from W. PA coal country.
thanks man for that.. I was sent here by" killinger" he is crazy about axe restoration and we have become good friends.. if you like axes and bushcraft.. check us out ..
May have been a miners axe but to me it looks like the axe that was on the porch so that if my grandmother ran out of wood for the cook stove she could get enough for finishing cooking or baking.
....I bet it would be perfect for that too. I keep it on the porch too. When I'm splitting up the winters firewood in the fall....sometimes I get lazy and leave a piece bigger that it should be..I keep this axe on the porch so that when I run across a piece of "Lazy wood" thats too big, I bust it up before I bring it inside.
But Dave, is that straight grain ash wood aged a bit?? Try that on a piece of beech or oak. Yea and your a lot younger than some of us, me. 66 plus. This is cool.
Its standing dead but it still has a lot of flex in the fibers. Ash splits really easy anyway. I have some of the biggest beach youve ever seen on my place here. And lots of them. I dont split any beach with this thing LOL. As for oak I dont have any. I have a few elms that have died or blown down in storms......they are by far worse than anything else in the woods. I dont even mess with them anymore
Mad axe skills. There is no wrong way to do what works that well!! (Like don’t put a 4# axe head on a short handle.)but it works! It might be a little unsafe for people who aren’t as good as you are at splitting rounds, right?
I think it "could be" a little unsafe for some people. The reason I say that is there are folks who want every axe they own to be shaving sharp. I never split wood with a sharp axe. I put enough of an edge on a splitting axe to use it ( so that it comes to a point) , but I never sharpen one enough that it would cut you.
I spend winters in Michigan ( which is cold) but I spent 15 winters in Alaska ( which is very cold) , I've never spent a winter anywhere that was warm. All Brooke's family, and my Family live in Michigan and both our kids were born in fairbanks Alaska, so wintering in MI we get out of the extreame cold and get to spend some time with our extended families. Its been the last 4 years and its been pretty good.
Where do you get this is called a miners axe? I can see where a miner could use this but it is just a short handled axe? I grew up in the PNW And it to has a long axe history. But nothing like that. Cheers
Hey AWF, Council sells them as a miners axe so thats where i got the name. I don't know the history but I guess miners used a short handled axe for tight spaces.
Bushradical I believe I read somewhere ( I think did at least) that they were used by miners while kneeling in tight spaces. I have never been in a mine but I suspect the have its of tight spaces.
I also repurposed a lot of “old hickory “ butcher knives. I guess poor people have poor ways. I’m not going to pay $300.00 for a knife. When I can make one that works as well.
Unbelievable. Why in the world would you demonstrate using a potentially deadly tool after saying there's a big crack in the handle, and the head isn't secure? ALWAYS SAFETY FIRST.
Miner's axe designed for work on mine shoring in close quarters. Design adopted by fallers, who often use it to drive falling wedges. A handy one to carry in your rig, if youi want that big axe power in a pinch but are short on space.
Totally agree. Mines on the front porch where I split up stuff thats too big for the stove.
Always nice to have people willing to share their experiences and wisdom.
Thanks for checking out the channel. I see you commented on several video, and I just want to say thanks for your interest ! I appreciate you taking time to see what this channel is about. Cheers!
That is what they call a yankee pattern axe in the UK. Elwell made these up to 8lbs weight.
A true mining axe has a long narrow blade and a heavy poll, with a head length of about 12".
About 50 years ago I used to use a 6 pound Hardy Tool co. miners axe down the pit for setting 'trees' [wood support posts] but they were not in common use even then.
The Miners Axe could be found with handles ranging from 17" to 20" in length. Heads could be 3, 3.5, 4 pound weights. The size was dependent upon the size of working area. Drifts, raises, and shaft differ in size dimensions. Early miners axes had heat treated or annealed polls. Later this process was dropped in trade for low cost production models. I used the miners axes off and on for 40 plus years as an underground miner.
one of the best channels I found, excellent so happy you made these
Hey..Thanks for watching so many of my videos. I appreciate it
Good to see someone who was from Michigan! Michigan is my home state, unfortunately I live in the Saginaw valley, which is mostly farmland, and no trees on my property to chop down.
Wow! I’d never think you could split those big rounds with that axe. That would be a beast with a longer handle. Dave, my friend, very inspiring video. I need to start stopping at garage sales to look for cheap outdoors gear. God bless you and yours and stay safe!!
There are two effective axe designs for the woods; The long handled light head (like your typical 3/4 boy's axe) and the short handled heavy head axe as opposed to a hatchet. A heavy head with a short handle makes for light work. The weight makes up for the length lost in the handle. You can split wood with one hand.
I hear ya!
Great videos! I love all the information. Loggers in the Northwest use an axe similar to that for driving wedges when we fall trees. Heavy head sinks them right in and short handle lets you carry it on your belt with your wedges
Thanks for the comment. I'm with ya , I can see where an axe like this would be great for wedges!
I enjoyed this video. Thanks Dave. I also enjoy your wife's videos. ☺️💕
This reminds me of my old Scout Plumb hatch I had as a kid.
Great little axe! Just subscribed! Looking forward to part 2🇺🇸
I live in the foothills of East Tennessee, what use to be coal country. My next door neighbor had a miners axe and pick. His people had worked the mines. He used it for everything
Ive spilt an ungodly amount of wood with one of them in addition to using them underground for years. They work just fine
I fitted an old 6lb council tool maul to a 20-22" straight handle as an experiment as I had that piece of handle left over. I did everything wrong as far as splitting mauls go short handle thinned a good bit and I sharpened that big old fat bit to a good edge. My friend and my brother both laughed at it and made fun of me loudly, right up until they swung it a few times. It's much more precise and less effort to use, it's currently living at my brother's house at the wood pile. I will probably end up making another two before I get to keep one for myself lol.
the man that put the time in ...... thought it.
Canadian shake blockers .
Don't much like splitting oak or maple it's darned hard but certainly burns a long time. Wild cherry too is an excellent wood. Need to remember to split the bark before trying to split the wood. That wrap around bark is strong as strong can be. Wish I'd had a splitter but heck that way I wouldn't have gotten much of a work out.
I use one for splitting around the campfire in the summertime. My dad owns it and I was as surprised just how useful these awkward axes are. Thumbs up from Idaho!
Thanks MrBackwoods84!
The axe world is interesting... the ideas and equipment come from a time long gone but the thinking of that time still dominates. What an earth we need sharp forest axes for when practically none of us coppice or manage forests anymore. A shorter, heavy, not very sharp wedge shaped axe is logically ideal for most of us for our primary task - splitting sawn rounds on a stump. The short handle might add a safety risk but perhaps is offset by a lesser swing and by us being more accurate with that shorter handle. I am inspired now to take the big heavy Helko expedition axe I have never once used, to cut it down and try it out as my new splitting axe.
Hi Dave. I love this video. I have a real nice 3 1/2 pound plum head. When I got it the handle was totally rotted away. It had cracks you could see through. I cut down a new railroad sledgehammer handle. It is beautiful grain hickory . It is 22”. It reminds me of your miner’s axe.
A short axe like that sure works well!!
I really like ur vids... good content... enthusiastic for sure... never heard of some of this stuff... awesome learning tool for me!
Thank you!
Thanks, I really appreciate that. All I could hope to do is put out content that people like and hopefully get something out of. Cheers!
I've seen them at auctions and the like, but never thought they would be useful. So, I've past them by. Man! Now I'm kicking myself in the butt. I'll keep my eyes open now...Keep'em Sharp! 👍👍✌
good tool
I use an axe quite often, and have since I was very young. But I never knew about all the different types. I just knew that I liked some and hated others. Very interesting video. I have always used a maul to split firewood. Most is terrible splitting around here.
Thanks for watching Brian!
I have one of those ky grandpaw was a coal miner as a mechanice that axe was in his company tool kit. It will split asphalt and limestone we used it diggin dranage ditches and it still good its perfect for working off your knees it tight spaces
love this stuff! and love the "Axit" catching up on all you're videos, Subscribed also.
Right on. Thanks for the interest in the channel!
After a couple back operations I can no longer do a complete swing, I have to lift it up overhead and bring it down as hard as I can. It works some what but takes twice the effort. I think you have helped me find a better way. Thanks a bunch
I hope it works for you. Anything that splits easy should be fine....this ash was perfect with the miners axe......Elm.....never, LOL
Bushradical I live in a small log cabin and I ended up using gas and a camp stove and gave up on my back. As far as conservative the gas takes the prize but it leaves a lot to be desired as far as the inner warmth of log fire. This I believe is going to give me the best of both worlds and that's a plus plus. Now like you said, man am I out of shape. Haha. Love your life and your sharing it with the world. I be Radical😋
Thanks Donald!
I've come to the same conclusion that a heavy head on a miners handle works well for splitting. I set one up that way originally for driving wedges while felling hazard trees. It worked great for that but got pressed into service for splitting while out in the woods and I was surprised like you were that it works so well. I still keep the 6lbs axe eye maul around but the miner gets a lot more use. my handle is a bit longer than yours and the head is pretty stubby. probably had a couple inches sharpened off before I found it in a scrap heap. I ground it pretty steep like a maul. interesting to see somebody else coming up with similar solutions.
Totally agree. Its a real bag of surprises! Good tool.
It chops like Fiskars X27... This is insane :D Thanks for sharing!
Good video Dave. My Grandpa's 4.5lb Elwell axe had a short shaft when I inherited it, also my dad's 4ib Gilpin is about 22", they were both used for splitting. I have a 3.5 lb Billnas that is a great splitter on a 25" haft. Just be careful if the short hafted axes follow through as they will make a mess of your shins, I know because it happened to me years ago!
Thats why I don't like to split with a 32" handled axe . ( although its the size I like best for felling) because i'm 6'2" and the bit never reaches the ground .....and if you miss.....well you know what happens.
Ya know saying that my dad's axe was a 4lber Kent pattern on like a 22" handle used it for splitting too. It's currently sat in the garage with a 40 inch handle from a chunk of Willow I "acquired" from a tree that got cut down in the park near me.
They make great wedge pounders for falling trees too
Honestly I have never heard of a Miner's axe. But the idea of it makes good sense. It has a full size head for weight but a shorter handle to make carrying it to camp in a pack more convenient. Might be worth re-handling one of my full size heads to a shorter handle and give it a go. Thanks for the idea Dave.
Thanks for the comment Peter. Its a useful little axe for sure.
This ade also makes it easier for women with limited strength & those who disabled in some way.
I got one from an auction in good shape it’s been very useful for me although it’s heavy but it’s easy to pack and best thing far as a wedge banger here where I live they used them to drive cap wedges in the coal mines
Nice.
I love a full size axe on a full size haft, they simply do the work for you much like a good quality khukuri. That said, a full size head on a shorter haft makes sense in some situations. It absolutely does not work on full size knotty pine or twisted grain woods like willow.
Ive never split much willow , if any , but I totally agree. The miners axe was amazing ( on ash) but ash is super easy to split. I would love to see someone try to split ONE block of elm with a miners axe.....not happening!
Makes the perfect wedging axe. My cutting parter had one and I use them now for 95% of my tree wedging
Sweet little axe for sure!
Oh yeah, I miss chopping Ash, great firewood, cut many cords when I was a young fellah in England :)
Love splitting ash. Makes you feel like a man! Splitting elm on the other hand makes you feel like a whimp, LOL
Haha...yes, those 30" rounds of Elm I used to split by the truck load. Half the time when I smacked them with a 7lb maul it would bounce back at me, I still remember the physio I had to have on my elbows!
@@Bushradical shoot I've split many cords of firewood over my lifetime and I'm a 63 y/o woman and all I had for heat was a wood stove and prefer it over electric ,gas or oil furnaces. Warms a person up many times before it ever gets burned.
There is a slightly longer version of that called a faller's axe. A logging supplier called Bailey's sells a rebranded Council Tool with a 4# or 5# head and a 28" handle. Short full size axes like these are outstanding for driving plastic felling wedges, debarking, and cleaning notches out when using chainsaws. Completely surprised me when you split wood with it, I only thought these were for tree felling.
That ash splits pretty easy, and swinging a full size axe sometimes seems like overkill. I was totally surprised too! It worked great. I'll check out that axe you're talking about. Thanks for the comment!
Shows what an advantage a heavy head can be...the handle is almost moot. Could easily be use with a sledge
as kind of a splitting wedge with a handle. Killer metal for sure. Thanks for posting! Be well, stay warm! Peace.
Yeah , that axe totally surprised me, LOL! I don't know what else to use it for yet...but its a great little splitter. Awesome in the garage too, for splitting wood for the garage stove.
Hahahaha This is just Too Awesomeness....Last Year a Friend made this Half size axe hahaha...19 1/2" handle 4 pound head...he had it for sale...I kept coming over to it....Just Something about the size and feel...I guess it was to weird for some folks and it never sold.....Later that night it was at my Campsite hahaha....He Gifted to Me and I still use it...Different Kinda Beast Fo Sho....Coolio Video Thanks
I had wondered if a heavy head on a shorter 20" handle might be better for chopping as light weight hatchets don't usually chop well. Now I know. Thanks!
It works great for some things. Actually its a really cool tool. A bit unusual but really cool.
Seems like my next purchase will be a miner's axe (if I can find one). Great video Dave
I'de just but the handle and then hang a 3.5 lb head on it. They want MORE money for miners axes than for a full size axe a lot of time...makes no sense. Thanks for the comment.
Council tool(Made in USA) has a 3.5 Miner's axe for $45 in either a 20," or 26"
Actually I think this axe may be an old council. No stamp though ...
Sure would love to have a 28" long round of that clear ash to make some handles for some of my bushcraft axes. Its really great wood for handles. Wish we had ash in Alaska.
Me too, I'm in Alaska right now and the hardest thing on the property is Birch
Come to Western NY there are dead ash trees everywhere. The emerald ash borer is killing them all.
That could also be a fallers axe..not feeling but a fallers axe,guys put a large head on a short handle so it easy to carry and they use it mostly for banging wedges into trees so fall the tree!!!they r very popular in the tree falling world !!!
it would work good for driving wedges for sure
nice axe sir...handle look good 👍
Thanks
Nice review, thank you. Would this be any more useful when you are sitting by the fire and making smaller pieces for the fire? Or would any hatchet be as good or better? Thank you!
either would work fine
I wonder how a short handle would work on maul. I have a head that needs a handle...may have to give it a try.
Let me know how it works.
A Minor's ax is the grown-up version of a carpenter's Hatchet or Roofing Hatchet
So what species of tree are you splitting there?
Have never heard of a miners axe and wonder where the term came from and what manufacturer made this axe . Cool video and THX .
Council tool makes Miners axes. Or you can just order a miners axe handle ( or make one) and put a 3+ lb head on it. Amazingly handy.
I assume it's called a miners axe due to the short handle. A miners pick is a short handled tool for swinging in the close quarters of a coal mine. Perhaps pioneer miners actually used them for busting out coal. Back in the day running to the hardware store for a pick wasn't an option. Before the invention of the steam engine and the the steel industry needing coal it was all done by hand. I'm from W. PA coal country.
that's awesome. .I "wood" have never thought of that... I'm going to make one.. you think it has a 20" handle? ..that's cool ..thanks man.
OOOH its a "wood" pun! LOL. Hold on , I'll go measure that handle............................................ok, that axe is 19.5" overall.
thanks man for that.. I was sent here by" killinger" he is crazy about axe restoration and we have become good friends.. if you like axes and bushcraft.. check us out ..
Absolutely!
I use a Swiss military miners axe. Splits oak like butter! Will never part with it!
Right on.
New one on me
Sportsman's guild has a similar axe,for $40
I was thinking of shortening a full size axe like that for a pack axe ...
You can buy the handle for a miners axe. That way you still have a good palm swell.
May have been a miners axe but to me it looks like the axe that was on the porch so that if my grandmother ran out of wood for the cook stove she could get enough for finishing cooking or baking.
....I bet it would be perfect for that too. I keep it on the porch too. When I'm splitting up the winters firewood in the fall....sometimes I get lazy and leave a piece bigger that it should be..I keep this axe on the porch so that when I run across a piece of "Lazy wood" thats too big, I bust it up before I bring it inside.
But Dave, is that straight grain ash wood aged a bit?? Try that on a piece of beech or oak. Yea and your a lot younger than some of us, me. 66 plus. This is cool.
Its standing dead but it still has a lot of flex in the fibers. Ash splits really easy anyway. I have some of the biggest beach youve ever seen on my place here. And lots of them. I dont split any beach with this thing LOL. As for oak I dont have any. I have a few elms that have died or blown down in storms......they are by far worse than anything else in the woods. I dont even mess with them anymore
I have a council tool miners axe n use it for the same thing. I think we are on to something lol 👍🏻
Right on! Its an awesome little axe for sure. Who knew!
My dad kept a short handle full sized head axe in his plane.
Wow, Bam, Gu dush. Now, who makes one?
Mad axe skills. There is no wrong way to do what works that well!! (Like don’t put a 4# axe head on a short handle.)but it works! It might be a little unsafe for people who aren’t as good as you are at splitting rounds, right?
I think it "could be" a little unsafe for some people. The reason I say that is there are folks who want every axe they own to be shaving sharp. I never split wood with a sharp axe. I put enough of an edge on a splitting axe to use it ( so that it comes to a point) , but I never sharpen one enough that it would cut you.
Do you leave for winters because it's to cold?
I spend winters in Michigan ( which is cold) but I spent 15 winters in Alaska ( which is very cold) , I've never spent a winter anywhere that was warm. All Brooke's family, and my Family live in Michigan and both our kids were born in fairbanks Alaska, so wintering in MI we get out of the extreame cold and get to spend some time with our extended families. Its been the last 4 years and its been pretty good.
Bushradical sounds awesome! Down here in Southern California we don't have winter! 😂
Well I'll be dog goned lolol gay I'm in white lake Michigan!!! Blessings my friend!!
Right on.
Where do you get this is called a miners axe? I can see where a miner could use this but it is just a short handled axe? I grew up in the PNW And it to has a long axe history. But nothing like that.
Cheers
Hey AWF, Council sells them as a miners axe so thats where i got the name. I don't know the history but I guess miners used a short handled axe for tight spaces.
Bushradical thanks. Just interesting. It would be interesting to see in to.
Bushradical
I believe I read somewhere ( I think did at least) that they were used by miners while kneeling in tight spaces. I have never been in a mine but I suspect the have its of tight spaces.
Baileys sells them. If you don't mind not having a palm swell you could cut down a straight handled axe.
how did it get the name minors axe?
Its like a "confined space " axe. I guess miners housed to use short axes for timbering work in tunnels.
It's a "miner's" axe, for an underground coal miner. (Confined space, can't swing a full-sized handle.) I've got one, it's great.
I also repurposed a lot of “old hickory “ butcher knives. I guess poor people have poor ways. I’m not going to pay $300.00 for a knife. When I can make one that works as well.
Those old Hickory knives are the best bang for the buck out there.
Unbelievable. Why in the world would you demonstrate using a potentially deadly tool after saying there's a big crack in the handle, and the head isn't secure? ALWAYS SAFETY FIRST.
What makes this a minors axe???what would a minor use an axe for??this is a fallers axe!!!
I can't imagine falling trees with that short of an ax
I’ve got a council tool miners axe , 3 1/2 lb head on a 20 inch haft, used it for years.I’m a logger in Wv , use it for felling wedges.