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Dumb axe question incoming

Offline b00mhower

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Dumb axe question incoming
on: July 06, 2014, 06:47:15 PM
Alright I've been using axes most of my life but just recently actually got into the tools. So here's my question, what's the benefit of a double bit axe? I've always used them to split wood but that's it, is that the actual planned usage? Also it seems that you lose some versatility having two bits instead of one and a poll that can be used for multiple other things. There's that thanks in advance for any input.
Oh and first post in this forum :p


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gb Offline Mike, Lord of the Spammers!

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #1 on: July 06, 2014, 06:56:15 PM
Usually they have different grinds, one for splitting, one for chopping :)



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ca Offline Syph007

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #2 on: July 06, 2014, 06:59:03 PM
Usually they have different grinds, one for splitting, one for chopping :)



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Ah that makes sense.  The only one I ever had was a double bit felling axe.  I figured it was just so you could chop twice as long before having to resharpen.
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gb Offline Mike, Lord of the Spammers!

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #3 on: July 06, 2014, 07:03:37 PM
I'm sure that was a large part of it when the steels where inferior to the ones of today :)

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Offline b00mhower

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #4 on: July 06, 2014, 07:06:38 PM



Ah that makes sense.  The only one I ever had was a double bit felling axe.  I figured it was just so you could chop twice as long before having to resharpen.
[/quote]
That makes sense^


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gb Offline Sparky415

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #5 on: July 06, 2014, 09:01:03 PM

I've read that they used to have one side sharpened for felling and one side for rough work like cutting roots,  :salute:
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scotland Offline Gareth

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #6 on: July 07, 2014, 11:22:56 AM

I've read that they used to have one side sharpened for felling and one side for rough work like cutting roots,  :salute:

that's been my understanding as well, but I admit I'm no expert either. :)
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scotland Offline Gareth

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #7 on: July 13, 2014, 12:39:57 PM
Not that this adds anything to the answer, but I just came across this old picture of double bit axes in use and I thought I'd share. :)

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no Offline Grathr

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #8 on: July 13, 2014, 01:20:54 PM

Not that this adds anything to the answer, but I just came across this old picture of double bit axes in use and I thought I'd share. :)

(Image removed from quote.)

Imagine felling such a huge tree using only axes. It must have taken days!


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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #9 on: July 13, 2014, 01:26:41 PM
Men certainly were men back then! :)

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us Offline yud

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #10 on: November 21, 2016, 05:50:22 PM
My understanding was that it was for balance.


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se Offline Fortytwo

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #11 on: November 21, 2016, 07:07:18 PM
Men certainly were men back then! :)

Sent from the astropathic choir.

They did a study on the calorie intake of Swedish lumberjacks where they had old lists of provisions for camps as well as the number of men etc. I think they found it to be around 8000 kcal, that's four days worth of energy for an "average man" today. Crazy!


us Offline Poncho65

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #12 on: November 21, 2016, 07:22:29 PM
Men certainly were men back then! :)

Sent from the astropathic choir.

They did a study on the calorie intake of Swedish lumberjacks where they had old lists of provisions for camps as well as the number of men etc. I think they found it to be around 8000 kcal, that's four days worth of energy for an "average man" today. Crazy!

 :o

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us Offline Noa Isumi

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #13 on: December 07, 2016, 08:31:18 AM
8000cal.....
Well axe work ranks up with swimming and cross country ski as the hightest calorie burning activities.

As for the double bit;
I was told as said before the two sides had diffrent grinds. One for felling, one for roots and trail cutting to haul the trees out.
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gb Offline Sparky415

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #14 on: December 07, 2016, 09:38:16 PM



 :D
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us Offline Poncho65

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #15 on: December 08, 2016, 04:36:59 AM
8000cal.....
Well axe work ranks up with swimming and cross country ski as the hightest calorie burning activities.

As for the double bit;
I was told as said before the two sides had diffrent grinds. One for felling, one for roots and trail cutting to haul the trees out.

I have heard that about the double bit axes as well :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:


us Offline Poncho65

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #16 on: December 08, 2016, 04:37:24 AM


gb Offline Sparky415

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #17 on: December 08, 2016, 09:05:24 AM

 :salute:
That was a good day  :cheers:
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us Offline Rooster

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #18 on: January 02, 2017, 07:22:25 AM
Something else to consider with each blade having a separate grind is that tree bark carries a lot of dirt. So by having a "sacrificial" edge, without having to bring two axes with you out of the logging camp to the work site, allows the logger to save his good/sharp felling edge for the clean interior wood...

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us Offline Old Boy

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #19 on: January 02, 2017, 08:34:15 AM
Coz it looks wicked! Duh!  😝

But yeah I heard that each bit had a different grind for splitting and felling. Respect for anyone that would handle a double edge tool. I've handled single bit/edge axes and machetes and I would probably split my forehead with the 2nd edge.


scotland Offline Gareth

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #20 on: January 02, 2017, 11:35:05 AM
Something else to consider with each blade having a separate grind is that tree bark carries a lot of dirt. So by having a "sacrificial" edge, without having to bring two axes with you out of the logging camp to the work site, allows the logger to save his good/sharp felling edge for the clean interior wood...

Peace, Rooster

That's a very interesting point.  I'd not heard of or thought about that, but it makes a lot of sense. :salute:
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us Offline Noa Isumi

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #21 on: January 04, 2017, 11:04:37 AM
Funny you should mention machetes.
I remember watching a video of someone talking about their Amazon trip and how a custom machete they had preformed. One of the things discussed is that in the region he went to the blade was ground different at various points along its edge for different tasks. The guides however called the custom a "wood cutters" grind as it was knife sharp its entire length, and didn't like it. The phrase 'wood cutters" apparently a reference to the outside workmen who didn't actually live in the jungle, or rely on their blade for everything. The native guides were used to an obtuse angle at the front for chopping and splitting with a sharp base for carving, also allowing the tip to be gripped for use as a draw shave. That is IF I remember their grind preferences correctly, it been a while since I watched it.
You also see similar notation in the SAS Survival Handbook by Wiseman when he discusses the use and grinds of a parang.
I have heard of similar multi grinds on the galok and kukri, but have no point of refrence for those. My Kukri are all machete type and ground even from factory.

Sorry for the slight side track but we seem to be talking about multi edge wood cutting tools here so it seemed moderately related.
« Last Edit: January 04, 2017, 12:03:41 PM by Noa Isumi »
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But for now I'm just a lost jack of trades with neither mastery nor home. ~NoaIsumi


scotland Offline Gareth

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #22 on: January 04, 2017, 12:08:46 PM
Very interesting thought Noa.  It certainly makes sense to me. :)
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mc Offline Gerhard Gerber

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #23 on: January 04, 2017, 01:17:33 PM
+1

That actually makes perfect sense  :think:

Made me wonder about my big knife, I married the blade of the TOPS DART with the handle of the TOPS TFK, and the DART progresses from a saber grind to almost full flat grind in the front.
Assuming you could get a FFG sharper and a saber grind is stronger, it might be a knife not a machete, but my use of it is exactly like they describe, chop with the front and cut with the rear....
Interesting  :think:

 :tu:


gb Offline Sparky415

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #24 on: January 04, 2017, 08:48:31 PM
Reminds me of this  :tu:

Lofty At 2.40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ux0L4HTm6o

And that reminds me of something  ;)


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us Offline Poncho65

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #25 on: January 04, 2017, 11:04:32 PM
Great discussion guys  :o I am learning lots in here :cheers:

Great pics and link as well :cheers: :cheers: :like:


gb Offline AimlessWanderer

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #26 on: January 04, 2017, 11:22:34 PM
I find the greatest benefit of the double bit axe is avoiding rebound.

If I borrow one of Sparky Bloke's axes at a UK meet and the head isn't 100% secure, using a double bit head will ensure that if the head comes loose and flies off, there's a much higher chance of it sticking into Kirky rather than bouncing back and hitting me.

Safety first! :2tu:

 :D


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scotland Offline Gareth

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #27 on: January 05, 2017, 12:58:03 AM
I find the greatest benefit of the double bit axe is avoiding rebound.

If I borrow one of Sparky Bloke's axes at a UK meet and the head isn't 100% secure, using a double bit head will ensure that if the head comes loose and flies off, there's a much higher chance of it sticking into Kirky rather than bouncing back and hitting me.

Safety first! :2tu:

 :D

I feel marginally better knowing you're aiming at Kirky rather than me. :D
Be excellent to each other and always know where your towel is.


gb Offline AimlessWanderer

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #28 on: January 05, 2017, 01:38:22 AM
He tends to be sat down more, you move about too much  :D


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us Offline cody6268

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Re: Dumb axe question incoming
Reply #29 on: January 05, 2017, 02:55:13 AM
Coz it looks wicked! Duh!  😝

But yeah I heard that each bit had a different grind for splitting and felling. Respect for anyone that would handle a double edge tool. I've handled single bit/edge axes and machetes and I would probably split my forehead with the 2nd edge.

My grandfather was killing a chicken as a kid, and actually hit his brother, who was standing behind him, with the second edge.   

I've got an old Kelly, but since it's over 100 years old, it doesn't get brought out much.


 

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