View Full Version : Homebase axe
Squidders
12-02-2005, 15:26
I was out looking for small chairs for the next ashdown meet and ended up in Homebase... Other than the really awful Stanley axes I found they did rather nice hickory handled axes for £13.49.
As it happens I've been after an axe for some time but haven't been able to justify the £50 on a GB one. I figure I'd get used to using an axe before shelling out.
So I got it...
The sheath is really poor so i'm going to make one from some leather I have knocking around but the edge took hair off my arm from the shop. The handle is about 40cm long and the head is 1 1/2lbs and although the balance isn't great, it's not bad.
I tried it on a few logs and it was like a hot knife through butter but without the grease.
If you want a dirt cheap axe, I'd recommend this.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/502/655axe1.jpg
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/502/655axe2.jpg
Joe
Just whos chopping all the fire wood next time then? :wink:
Save my poor old back! :shock:
Squidders
12-02-2005, 15:36
pah! you seemed to do ok carrying it, no back worries there :wink:
I'm going to get a load of wood today and have a good practice, I've only really hacked at things with axes before and never really sharp ones so I could use the practice.
let us now how the edge holds up during use
Which GB axe is this a similar size too?
The head is the same weight as the a small forest axe and the handle is the same as the wildlife hatchet, approximately.
Squidders
12-02-2005, 15:59
lol - that's why the balance isn't "perfect" then! but funny enough, it doesn't feel that far off being right.
Having said that it is approximatly the same size as a wetterlings small hunting axe so the balance is not that bad. :wink:
here (http://woodlandorganics.com/shop/edgedtools/axes/) is where I got the dementions and I needed to convert to lb's. :roll: :o):
lol - that's why the balance isn't "perfect" then! but funny enough, it doesn't feel that far off being right.
A bad workman always blames his tools, while a good work can work with any tool! :wink:
Squidders
12-02-2005, 17:13
you can use the spoon I carved to chop wood then :rolmao:
p.s. it's so good of you to offer :nana:
A bad workman always blames his tools, while a good work can work with any tool! :wink:
sounds like something Jake would say
Ahhhhhhhhh, that explains why Jake doesnt try eating petroleum veggie burgers!! :wink:
Squidders
12-02-2005, 17:17
What's with the Jake bashing all the time Andy :nono: ... I think Jake is a good bloke!
you can use the spoon I carved to chop wood then :rolmao:
p.s. it's so good of you to offer :nana:
Your mini canoe you mean?? I'd club the wood to death!! :nana:
Squidders
12-02-2005, 17:21
I'll show you next time... JP has offered spoon tuition :nana:
Paganwolf
12-02-2005, 17:59
What's with the Jake bashing all the time Andy :nono: ... I think Jake is a good bloke!
YEAH !! i think i can feel some Andy bashers coming on, Jake is a great guy, amazing how people are different in real life :rolmao: :rolmao: :nana: oh his dads a top bloke too :biggthump
Squidders
12-02-2005, 18:02
Your mini canoe you mean?? I'd club the wood to death!! :nana:
I bled making that canoe!!! :cry:
The handle looks as if it's varnished, you might want to break out the sandpaper and remove that and them give it a good rubdown with a 50/50 mix of boilled linseed oil and turpentine. It'll give you a nice non slip waterproof grip. It also smells divine :o):
Jake defenders! Thanks guys. :biggthump
Im gonna get myself a BRKT mini-axe i reckon. Small enough to be unobtrusive, yet seemingly large enough to be quite a work-horse...Hopefully i'll have it by the next ashdown meet.
mojofilter
12-02-2005, 20:57
Jake defenders! Thanks guys. :biggthump
Im gonna get myself a BRKT mini-axe i reckon. Small enough to be unobtrusive, yet seemingly large enough to be quite a work-horse...Hopefully i'll have it by the next ashdown meet.
I would recommend something slightly larger Jake, perhaps the GB Wildlife Hatchet or similar size! Nice as the mini axes are, something a bit bigger will do a lot more.
I bled making that canoe!!! :cry:
Cool - I'll show you my nordic canoe carved at -15.
Cheers Stuarty, i'll keep that in mind. I reckon i'll end up with a GB anyways, so it might be best to just go for one now. :biggthump
major surplus and survival offers one made in russia, only 9.95$u.s. ordered one I'll let you guys know how it works out.
Celtic Dragon
13-02-2005, 00:26
I use a cheap garden centre axe liberated from dad's shed as the PIA of an ex threw out my ceramic one. Ok its a pia to get a good edge on, but it does the job well enough, and will certainly serve until I get a better 1.
I bled making that canoe!!! :cry:
How? Did you drop it on your foot? :nana:
I bought a cheap small axe in ASDA today. It has some nasty green paint on it, but it does have a shape quite similar to a woodsman style axe.
I have not tested it yet and the edge looks like it could do with some grinding. But, I thought some of you may be interested particularly as it is only just under £7.
Squidders
06-02-2006, 19:40
Nice one... I'm a huge fan of cheap stuff...
I now have a GB and I'd be quite gutted if I killed it but I can use the homebase one all day long and if it dies... oh well, I'll just get another.
One thing I have noticed over time is that the cheapie one I got los an edge quite easily but that's about it.
Let us know how your cheapie get on ;)
mrstorey
06-03-2006, 15:43
Davros,
Spotted one of those green axes in ASDA today. Do you rate it enough to recommend one, or am I better off saving my pennies?
Cheers,
Michael.
I bought a cheap small axe in ASDA today. It has some nasty green paint on it, but it does have a shape quite similar to a woodsman style axe.
I have not tested it yet and the edge looks like it could do with some grinding. But, I thought some of you may be interested particularly as it is only just under £7.