I want an axe and know nothing about them

[eamo]

Firstly, lads, whats the difference between an axe and a hatchet ? The internet says axes are two handed versus a hatchet been one handed; Are the terms interchangable at this stage ?

Onto my more serious question - I am in the middle of a drain clearing project, where I need to get down and dirty with tree roots, mud, stones, briars, water etc. I have an axe I use for kindling etc and I don't want to ruin it, also, simply, it is not the tool for the job.

My budget is low, say £15 - £20 or so. 
So, i went looking on the net and I came accross this (http://www.edcgear.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MT602G10) -
firstly, is it a toy or a serious tool ? It seems to be aimed at the zombie/ninja crowd, but it has pretty much what I think I am looking for -

small so i can use it in a confined space
an axe blade for chopping
and a pry bar bit which will allow me to pry roots/stones etc free without going looking for other tools.

Couple reasons why I dont want to spend big money is, 1. i don't have it right now, and 2. the blade WILL get abused, if theres a stone under a root/branch then the blade is going to hit it.

So lads, any thoughts ?

oh, and I invested in a (really) cheap hand chainsaw which will help with this project, inspired by this thread
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,63643.0.html

[zoidberg]

Do you know anything about a chainsaw?

[eamo]

Do you know anything about a chainsaw?

not a whole pile, but pretty certain they're not great with stones and stuff like that - i've cleared the bulk of the heavy stuff so a chainsaw is no use at this stage, besides I need the excersise

[zoidberg]

I think I misunderstood you.      You got a hand chainsaw and not a chainsaw, right?

[eamo]

I think I misunderstood you.      You got a hand chainsaw and not a chainsaw, right?

yup, well ordered one, inspired by the other thread i linked to, so i can loop it underneath any heavy stuff thats buried and cut away - or it might just be a case of a fool and his money, probably true where i'm concerned, but you lot here don't help me either 

[eamo]

my new word for today is adze. i think i want a hand axe/hatchet with an adze on the other side

[hiraethus]

I reckon you want a small mattock, like this: http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-1lb-micro-cutter-mattock-15/11152, not an axe/adze.

[eamo]

I reckon you want a small mattock, like this: http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-1lb-micro-cutter-mattock-15/11152, not an axe/adze.

i reckon you might be right . . . and well within budget too

now how can i justify a new axe ?

[ducttapetech]

Because you NEED one.

[Grathr]

Because each axe has its own purpose. (At least thats what I tell the Mrs )
The one you already have is ,as you said, for kindling.
You definitly need one for the gutters.
Then youll need one for felling, one for splitting, one for hiking, one for camping....

[eamo]

Because you NEED one.

need is such a strong word . . . . I need one of them mattock thingies, cos it'll make my life a lot easier, but an axe ? Of course theres one of those hawks as mentioned here - http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,60822.0.html

the 33cm jobbie is only about €15 or €16 shipped to me . . . . . . . and it will get used 

[eamo]

Because each axe has its own purpose. (At least thats what I tell the Mrs )
The one you already have is ,as you said, for kindling.
You definitly need one for the gutters.
Then youll need one for felling, one for splitting, one for hiking, one for camping....

hmmm yeah, my Mrs indulges me to the extent i feel guilty buying stuff, she never says no . . . . . you got one of those commerciol.com axes didn't you ?

[Grathr]

Because each axe has its own purpose. (At least thats what I tell the Mrs )
The one you already have is ,as you said, for kindling.
You definitly need one for the gutters.
Then youll need one for felling, one for splitting, one for hiking, one for camping....

hmmm yeah, my Mrs indulges me to the extent i feel guilty buying stuff, she never says no . . . . . you got one of those commerciol.com axes didn't you ?

Yes I did and Im very happy with it

[eamo]

Because each axe has its own purpose. (At least thats what I tell the Mrs )
The one you already have is ,as you said, for kindling.
You definitly need one for the gutters.
Then youll need one for felling, one for splitting, one for hiking, one for camping....

hmmm yeah, my Mrs indulges me to the extent i feel guilty buying stuff, she never says no . . . . . you got one of those commerciol.com axes didn't you ?

Yes I did and Im very happy with it

yeah, see thats the problem with this forum . . . . 12 months ago I was very very happy with my Squirt P4. I'm no collector, But since joining I've bought a Leap for my daughter, 2 saks for my boys, a juice for the mrs and a wave and a juice for me . . . . . not much compared to most here but even so.
and now she says i can get an axe i really don't need . . .  . . . 

[Grathr]

Because each axe has its own purpose. (At least thats what I tell the Mrs )
The one you already have is ,as you said, for kindling.
You definitly need one for the gutters.
Then youll need one for felling, one for splitting, one for hiking, one for camping....

hmmm yeah, my Mrs indulges me to the extent i feel guilty buying stuff, she never says no . . . . . you got one of those commerciol.com axes didn't you ?

Yes I did and Im very happy with it

yeah, see thats the problem with this forum . . . . 12 months ago I was very very happy with my Squirt P4. I'm no collector, But since joining I've bought a Leap for my daughter, 2 saks for my boys, a juice for the mrs and a wave and a juice for me . . . . . not much compared to most here but even so.
and now she says i can get an axe i really don't need . . .  . . .

[kirk13]

I reckon you want a small mattock, like this: http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-1lb-micro-cutter-mattock-15/11152, not an axe/adze.

i reckon you might be right . . . and well within budget too

now how can i justify a new axe ?

Because it will help stop a rust driven quantum singularity forming in Tony's shed

It's really a humanitarian act!

[eamo]

I reckon you want a small mattock, like this: http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-1lb-micro-cutter-mattock-15/11152, not an axe/adze.

i reckon you might be right . . . and well within budget too

now how can i justify a new axe ?

Because it will help stop a rust driven quantum singularity forming in Tony's shed

It's really a humanitarian act!

 

[Sparky415]

Tony made me do it is always an acceptable answer 

That little Mattock looks just the job 

It’s a slippery slope 


 

[eamo]

yup going to get one of the mattocks next week, will be close to one of their warehouses/shops. for a tenner can't go wrong, hardly the price of a few pints - which brings me to another important question, whats the price of a pint (say lager) these days in england ?

well, slippery slope or otherwise, unlike a feed of beer i'll still have something to show for it afterwards 

[Sparky415]

yup going to get one of the mattocks next week, will be close to one of their warehouses/shops. for a tenner can't go wrong, hardly the price of a few pints - which brings me to another important question, whats the price of a pint (say lager) these days in england ?

well, slippery slope or otherwise, unlike a feed of beer i'll still have something to show for it afterwards 

Just 3 toes on one foot? 

Bitter is about 3-50 a pint now 

[hiraethus]

I can't remember the last time I went to the pub. I went at lunchtime today. Pedigree was £3.60.

[Gareth]

Because you NEED one.

need is such a strong word . . . . I need one of them mattock thingies, cos it'll make my life a lot easier, but an axe ? Of course theres one of those hawks as mentioned here - http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,60822.0.html

the 33cm jobbie is only about €15 or €16 shipped to me . . . . . . . and it will get used 

Since you've already seen that thread I won't bother repeating myself, but I will add that I've not changed my opinion and that it's proved itself to be a great little hatchet.  For the kind of work you're talking about though that mini mattock looks great.  It's not going to be much good at processing firewood though I'd say.   This is why you definitely need more than one axe-like object.

[eamo]

alright so, forgo 3 pints then and i'm grand