The best ax for felling trees?

A lot of the double bit axes made today are what my father used to call "crazy man" axes the blades being the same on both sides. The old double bit axes farmers used to buy(and woodsmen) had a thin blade on one side for chopping and a thicker beveled side for splitting on the other side.
Till this day I can still picture Dad looking at the axe bit before starting to make sure he had the proper side for splitting or chopping. he could split wood with an axe as fast or faster than most people with a maul, well into his late sixties when he started using a single jack and wedges on huge blocks..

I've been nothing but impressed with my Scandanavian Forest Axe from Gransfors, but think I would prefer having the the American felling axe. I keep it razor sharp and have seen it slice a man's boot wide open the longer handle of the felling axe would help keep the head farther from your feet/legs in the event of an errant swing/bounce...

http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/index.html

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http://www.lindsayfarmonsilvercreek.blogspot.com/

I have a video of a few logging camps not far from here in Canada. Filmed in the late 1940s I would guess. Just two brothers with a chain saw, everyone else had axes and two-man saws. Cutting huge pine. Each swing of the axe sent large chunks of wood flying. Logs were cut into 16 foot lengths, stamped on the end and taken to the river's edge for release when the river opened up in the spring.
It takes some skill to sharpen an axe. You must sharpen about an inch back, not just the very end 1/4 inch.

Yes those "Razorback" axes by Union tools, those are BAD. I like Collins Axe'es. I am a fan of the double bit axe, they just feel balanced in my hands, HATE those Michigan single bit axes.

I perfer a Bacho 36" bow saw, lighter, just be sure not to pinch the blade.

I would not use a Motorized saw unless I'm wearing Kevlar chaps!

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I see a very dark cloud on America's horizon,
and that cloud is coming from Rome.
- Abraham Lincoln

I wouldn't get a competition axe...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...=feeds-newsxml

Fiskars Is your Best Bet ! Fiskars Is the Best Buy for the Money, Here's a Review,
http://www.canadianwildernesssurviva...%20Review.html

There is another solution for felling large trees.

The settlers used to burn them out. This is from the Pacific Settlers Manual of 1875.



Craig Meade
Pioneer Handbooks blog

I have a small Gransfors-Bruks axe, and I love it. Although it is too small for serious felling, I can take down an 8" tree pretty fast. Not cheap though- close to $100- for a small one. I mostly use it to clear small branches after I drop a tree- it's faster than a saw for that.

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"What one generation tolerates, the next generation embraces." -John Wesley

We used axes the first year. I can honestly tell you, it will flat out tear you up, specially if it is a large hardwood. I really applaud your spunk though. What kind of trees are you taking down?

Ax work will certainly bring to life muscles you never knew you had..... but if you start small, working short durations at first and work your way up to full time, you'll be a force to be reckoned with. Don't wear gloves, either. Build those callouses. A calloused hand grips an ax far better than a glove.

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“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
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There are people on this web site who would hang you if they caught you touching a match to wood!
They'd burn you at the stake if it wasn't for the politically incorrect particulates given off by a burning body.........

__________________
“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
III

The chapter goes on to say the fire is contained within the tree and goes out when it reaches the sapwood. But I take your point. Even the good old-fashioned BBQ is a health and safety concern these days. It really is. Burning at the stake? We're not even allowed to burn THE steak anymore. They'll have to just sear me on both sides and serve me blue.

*scratches head in wonder*

What do you suppose they'd use for their heat source ?

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“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
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