Hiya, I'm looking for something for splitting small logs and the like for kindling for a new wood burner (in a rental property).
What should I look for and where's good to buy? I saw that one of the woodburner supplier co's sells various stuff that look good....
The best axes are " Estwing " , they're american , made in one piece with a leather bound handle , very light and well balanced, usually quite expensive but can be picked up on E bay cheapish
Do what Bob do:
!! thanks guys....
Happy to help. 
The problem with the Estwing version is when the leather rings get wet the bonding agent gives up its grip for some reason, particularly when sweat is involved. I replaced mine with a rubberised handle axe with full tang from CPC if my memory serves and that's lasted for about 9 years so far. Gets almost daily use for around four to five months of the year. The Estwing died after two years.
Don't bother with a brand! Christ..so long as it's well made, sharp and you have a good technique. Longer handle for bigger logs.
Source: Years of chopping tons of logs.
Don't bother with a brand! Christ..so long as it's well made, sharp and you have a good technique. Longer handle for bigger logs.
This ^^
But if you like bling, have a look here - http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/index.html
Need a small axe?
aha ignore previous post, Geoff, I want it. 
Don't bother with a brand! Christ..so long as it's well made, sharp and you have a good technique. Longer handle for bigger logs.
Strangely, I have several mauls at home, and the best - by a very long way - is a Fiskars X27.
Lightweight fibreglass shaft, shaped head ..... it just works. At £60 it wasn't stupid money, and it hurts my shoulders less than the B&Q £25 one I was using before. Less work, more wood chopped. Works for me.
I've got a cheepy one similar to the one teasel links..... also got one of these recently http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-kindling-splitter/73836 which is like a mini-maul and is brilliant for splitting kindling of free-splitting hardwood or most softwood. Between the two of them they cope with all but the most knotty rubbish!
For kindling something light, so you can tap away quicky all day long with.
So do you want it for chopping small logs or kindling or both?
I was recombined one if these by an acquaintance on Twitter...
"Check out the granfors hunter. Perfect all round small work axe. Bout 80 quid."
Havnt got one yet but they look nice.
I guess both, but realise this may mean compromise or two different tools....
...I am intruigued by idea of the granfors "wildlife axe"...
I guess both, but realise this may mean compromise or two different tools....
Frankly, for kndling you're better of buying a sack of pre-cut stuff for £2.
And if you use the upside down method of lighting the stove you hardly need any.
Got 2 Gransfors axes here - small hatchet for kindling and the large splitting axe for dealing with the discs the tree surgeons drop off to me.
Having spent too much of my life wrestling a crappy fibreglass handled maul through pine, I reckon the cost of the big Gransfors is money well spent for a tool that sails through whatever wood is on the block.
for kndling you're better of buying a sack of pre-cut stuff for £2.
But then you miss out on the satisfaction of prepping the fire from scratch. it's this kind of attitude that leads to people eating Vesta packet meals 
I think mine cost about £10 from the local monger of irons.
happy hatcheting
But then you miss out onthe satisfaction of prepping the fire from scratchlooking for suitable wood, looking for the axe, squatting on the floor chopping little bits of wood then getting bored after 5 mins, chopping a long piece of wood in the middle only for half of it to bounce up and stab you in the eye
+1 for the Gransfors Bruks axes. I've got the wildlife Hatchet which is excellent for camping, but not big enough for tackling logs.
Have a look at what Ray Mears has to say http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/68-Gransfors-Wildlife-Hatchet-Axe/
I also have a Fiskars axe - good quality and light. However, I just love the feel of the Gransfors.
I bought my wife the Gransfors wildlife hatchet for a Christmas present the other year - we all had an awkward pause then a laugh when I went into the shop and said I needed an axe for my wife.
They did say they had a woman in a few weeks previously, dressed like she'd never actually been away in the outdoors, and asking about axes and what they would cut through, would it go through meat, etc. They declined the sale.
I've been hankering after a Husqvarna hatchet for a while now.
£20 seems like a bargain for the quality - they get excellent reviews.
Like this one:
http://www.gardenmachinesltd.co.uk/husqvarna-576-92-64-01-hatchet-2170-p.asp
Mountain Bikers and Axes...who would've thought?
has anyone started a "What Grinding Stone" thread yet?
Mountain Bikers and Axes...who would've thought?
and to think how stressed TJ (and others) was getting about us owning pocket knives...
love stw, you can always find something niche and cool to lust after that you did'nt know you wanted.
I have two the Gransfors for showing off and use when a sharp edge is required and one out of my dad's cellar which i use for splitting logs it's blade is slightly thicker and it is a fraction heavier so it splits the wood more easily.
I don't have any wood to chop, but I want an axe.
What can I use one for?
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