Estwing Fireside Friend
Somewhere between a hatchet and a boy’s axe, this little axe/maul combo is pretty dang handy to have around. Estwing solid steel is forged in one piece and has a blue UV coating.
The shock reduction is achieved through a vinyl grip, which does a passable job, as long as you’re not swinging it all day. Certainly, it’s super durable for a lifetime of use. Plus, you get two tools in one, a maul which then wedges out to a sharp axe.
Price: $30
The Estwing small axe is a good general use axe for small stuff.
I do like the “tire” idea however in the video !!
I used a Council with 26 inch hickory handle .Best would be a Fiskars with 36 inch hickory handle. I’ve used equivalent of TWO Estwing AXE w/MAUL. Used the axe blade as a starter and then the maul to drive the split deeper. That way you do not have to worry about having fragmented chips. Works well where knots in pine tree is a problem.
Just watched the Bahco ruck ax handle fail in several videos. Simple operations with minimal loading saw it break against the head. This could be a safety issue. I’d probably dump this one from the list.
I also want to watch the video dude use his ax on seasoned oak, mesquite, hackberry, or mulberry. I don’t think he would have things his way all the time.
Steve, I will agree. The tire idea is worth looking into.
I like the looks of the Eastwing Fireside Friend. I may have to try one out. I usually use a standard hatchet or a roofer’s hatchet to split kindling. To me, this is the way to split wood. Batoning seems like too much work, plus risking a good knife, just my humble opinion though.
Just what kind of wood is he splitting? It looks like maple. I could split clean maple like that without effort, too.