Anyone Can Use An Ax, Right?

When I was a kid growing up, I thought everyone knew how to use an ax. Since I spent the first eighteen years of my life on a farm, using an ax or a hatchet was as common to me as using a fork. I have since learned that many people today do not have any experience on how to properly use an ax or a hatchet, and in most cases, they don’t need to know. But, those of us who camp, hunt, fish, or backpack, will eventually have a need to use this excellent cutting tool. Even those of us who travel by mobile home, will eventually need to use an ax or a hatchet.

One of the biggest mistakes most folks make when having an ax or hatchet around, is not keeping them stored safely. Both the ax and hatchet I carry come with leather sheaths that I use to keep the cutting edge covered to avoid injury and also to ward off damage to the blade. I would never think of carrying either of my cutting tools without the sheath. Many serious cuts are sustained each year when folks fall on cutting blades or use them in unsafe ways.

Additionally, many people suffer severe cuts when they come in contact with their legs when using an ax. Always be aware of the position of your feet and legs! And, never use an ax or hatchet that has a broken handle. If the tool is not safe don’t use it and never tape a cracked handle (that is an accident waiting to happen). You can easily replace a broken handle in the field by trimming a piece of wood to fit the ax or hatchet head. And, never use an ax or hatchet after consuming alcohol!

Also, keep in mind that a hatchet and ax are designed for two different jobs. While you can cut a tree down with a hatchet, eventually, it will take a very long time to do so. A hatchet is just not made for the job of cutting down trees, but rather for general campsite chores. Besides, it is very rare for a person camping or in a survival situation to have the need to remove a tree, so a hatchet should be your tool of choice for most general uses. It is smaller and lightweight when compared to an ax.

If you must cut down a tree or cut a log in two, make sure you strike the face of the tree at an angle and not at 90 degrees, or straight on (you will just whack at he wood that way and make very little progress). And, vary the location of strikes of the blade from top to bottom (or left to right if the tree has fallen), as seen in this illustration. Additionally, if you must trim wood to make a point for a tent stake (a more likely project) place it on a stump or log before you do so. This will protect the cutting edge of your hatchet and keep it sharp.

One of the most common tasks when using a hatchet or ax is the removing of tree limbs to use for various projects. As seen in the illustration, remove the limb from the underside and not the top. If you attack the limb in the crotch of the limb and not the underside, you will split the wood and also find the task is much harder to accomplish. Vary the angle of your strikes on the underside of the tree from left to right and you will find it much easier to remove the limb. Also, I suggest if you have al lot of limbs to remove from the same tree, start at the base and work your way to the tip of the tree (See the illustration). And keep in mind, it is very difficult to cut through a limb with one swing of an ax or hatchet so concentrate on cutting from left to right.

Also, one of the most common tasks associated with axes or hatchets is splitting or cutting wood for a fire. Make sure you use caution to avoid damaging the blade. I usually place my wood to be spilt on a stump to keep the head of my ax from contacting the ground, or hitting rocks, and dulling the blade. Small limbs or wood can easily be cut in two pieces if you lean it against a log and strike the wood where it rests firmly on the log (see 4 in the illustration). Or, you can hold small pieces of wood with one hand, place the wood on a log, and strike the wood where it meets the log (note C in illustration 3). If you hit wood leaning against a log (down and away from the log surface), the wood may bounce up and cause injury, or bow in sharply and cause the blade to slip. Both of which can cause an injury to you. Make sure all contact with the wood you want to cut is resting on a steady and secure surface.

Now, a dull blade is much more dangerous to use than a sharp one. A dull blade will bounce instead of cutting cleanly, and that often leads to injuries. Keep your blade sharp and you will discover the task is much easy to do. Use a file to remove burrs or nicks on the cutting surface. Move your file blade from the handle toward the cutting edge (or outward). Then, once you have the nicks and burrs removed, use a wet stone (with a little water or oil) and slowly move in a circle as you apply it to the blade. Keep the angle consistent as you move the stone (see the illustration). The shape of your finished blade should be as seen in sample C of the illustration. Sample A is too pointed, which will not cut very well, though it will be sharp and Sample B is too wedged, which will not penetrate the wood very well. Remember, the shape of your finished blade will impact how well it cuts.

Ax or hatchet use does not have to be difficult and with a little practice all of us can use either effectively. The key is basic safety, work from side to side as you cut, keep your blades from contacting rocks or the ground, and keep your blade sharp and in the right shape. Also, remember to never use an ax or hatchet if you have been drinking alcohol and keep your ax stored in a sheath. Ax or hatchet use is no mystery, but it does take some basic knowledge and common sense. Take care and I will see you in the back woods.