Estwing Christmas idea - need help

[danez71]

I need to give my wife some ideas for me.

Sorry this is long but Im trying to give info upfront that I'm sure you would ask for.

Ive been thinking a hand axe would be a good thing for me to have. After seeing Estwing mentioned here a few times and since Home Depot has a decent selection and price, Id like to stick to Estwing.


Ive narrowed it down to 3. Two of them are in stock near me: The 10" Sportsman ax with the leather handle and the 16" Campers ax with rubber handle.

In the below link are those two plus the 12" leather handle Sportman axe that is a "ship to store".

Relevant info:

I'm on the shorter side of the height scale @ 5'7" if that makes a difference.

I would use it around the yard and when camping/outdoors adventures. I'm not back packing though.

I imagine I would more than likely be on my knees either chopping some fire wood or for a low bush/tree extraction from my yard or roots or....?

However, I could see using it while standing in the right situations.

I would tend to gravitate towards the rubber handle but not a deal breaker either way.

I do have a longer axe with, I think, a 36" handle but I'm looking for a hand axe with good versatility.

Could someone please give me a short pro vs con of each to this hand axe newbie?

Base on what is said, I plan on going to Home depot and handle one just to double check what is recommended her is what feels good in the hand.


Thank you in advance.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/cat...3838&prodComp_2=203075835&keyword=estwing+axe

 

[Sam Cade]

It is going to come down to mostly personal preference.

The longer handled axe is going to have slightly more "grunt" but be marginally more unweildy in use or carriage.

Given my druthers I'd rather have the leather gripped axe as they aren't as rough on the ungloved hand and seem to last longer.

 

[Armored farmer]

I wouldn't worry about the rubber hurting your hand....I've driven a truckload of nails, and made a living for years with an Estwing with blue rubber handle.

 

[Rule3]

The leather handle is just so much more Estwing. Classic if you will.

I have my Dads old tools, an Estwing carpentersr hatchet. Used it for many many years camping and around the home. Rock pick, hammer all with leather handles.

 

[danez71]

The longer handled axe is going to have slightly more "grunt" but be marginally more unweildy in use or carriage.

If I'm reading between the line correctly...., you think the main benefit of the extra length of the 16" will mainly be the extra grunt and not add much in terms of versatility?

Keeping in mind that I have a long axe, I want this to be for "everything else" in terms of chopping.

So while versatility is a top priority, I want it to be as controllable as possible.

Given my druthers I'd rather have the leather gripped axe as they aren't as rough on the ungloved hand and seem to last longer.

Interesting. I would have thought the other way around on both accounts. But admittedly, I really don't know.


Ok, so it seems it from what everyone says is,,,,, get the one that feels best.

I guess its that simple once you pick a known good/decent quality axe.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the feed back.

 

[Sam Cade]

If I'm reading between the line correctly...., you think the main benefit of the extra length of the 16" will mainly be the extra grunt and not add much in terms of versatility?

Pretty much. We are only talking about a handsbreath of length differential though.

Interesting. I would have thought the other way around on both accounts.

IME the Vinyl handled Estwings start out too tacky and with use end up being too slick. The vinyl is subject to UV embrittlement so over time the overmoulding is going to get progressive harder and more fragile if it spends a lot of time in the sun.
Not that it is going to fall off unexpectedly.

The stacked leather washers will last pretty much forever with the caveat that they don't tolerate long term immersion well. They also seem to stand up to the knocks and dings of being carted around in a toolbag adjacent to other implements of (de)construction better than the vinyl, at least in my experience.

So while versatility is a top priority, I want it to be as controllable as possible.

The one thing that Estwings really fail at is detail work. The flat and narrow gooseneck isn't conducive to pleasant use for carving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_yNpyNcWvs


How Its Made: Estwing Axes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYDaiMvbnss

 

[danez71]

Ooohhh...... I was picturing it being wrapped with a leather cord type construction.

Thanks for mentioning the "leather washers" (re) posting the link to the How it Made video. I now prefer the leather.


I'll leave the carving to other blades but the vid demonstrates what you said well and I can see that if I was skilled enough, carving with the axe would be faster/easier for certain tasks.


I'll stick with the Estwing but know I'll make a more inform decision and you got me thinking of other things.

Thanks for your help... perfect.