Ax safety

[TwinBlade]

I feel this is vital to anyone out in the woods. A first aid kit ain't gonna take care of half a severed leg...the tourniquet is about all you have. Those of you with "near misses" know the feeling you get of utter stupidity when you think "WOW, that was close" and then you have your get out of jail free card to carry on with your day after the valuable lesson. I think this may be a good way to educate and start preventing some of those accidents starting right now, right here.

Let the discussions begin.

[kgd]

Good topic.   

Hatchets are the most dangerous types of axes even though most people think it might be the other way around.  A miss with a hatch leads to a carry through motion that brings it into your legs or body. If you are just learning your technique and using a smaller hatchet, try chopping in a kneeling position.  This way, the miss results in the axe getting burried into the ground instead of your limb.  You should always be thinking about what the carry through motion of your axe will be on a miss.  Sometimes an axe will get deflected sideways as well. Longer axes are the best to learn on and most appropriate for splitting wood.  I keep my feet spread and swing the axe center as an extra precaution.  A miss leads to the axe swinging between my open legs or into the ground.   

Always inspect the axe handle and security of the axe head to handle prior to using one, especially if you are handed somebody else.  Never use an axe with a cracked handle.  Any axe with duct tape near where the handle is attached to the axe should be looked at dubiously.  Don't use an axe with a wobbly head.  I've seen at least three axe heads thrown by others in the past during the swing.   

Wedges are also great but watch out for flaws and beware of bits of schrapnel flying out from them when using them.  Always wear some type of eye protection when using an axe.

[TwinBlade]

Could it be that hanging an ax is a dying art? The importance of this is recently learned by me. I actually went so far as to liquefy epoxy by heating it up and pouring it into the void of the split in the handle at the head of the ax to eliminate as best as I could, any potential wiggle.

I agree with most of what is said, but a shorter handled ax is as dangerous as the hatchet described and for the same reasons.

My double bit and camp hatchet are as polished and shaving sharp as my knives. I was re-handling my double bit a month or so back and by simply wiggling it into place and having it rock slightly onto the top of my thumb, I could not stop the bleeding by any means and had to have 4 stitches put in. That was with a gentle rocking motion with almost no energy transfer behind it.

Ax and hatchet tales are gruesome. Keep wary folks as this summer approaches and these tools are used with more frequency.

[Big Mike]

As one who spends a lot of time back up in the woods using axes and machetes, and has had a mishap or two miles from a trail head, I always add a Hemorrhage Control Compression Bandage or two to my first aid kit when bringing a large chopping tool along.

These trauma wood dressings come sterilized in sealed packages, and though a bit bulky, they don’t add much weight to your kit.

Having one available when needed can make the difference between serious blood loss or getting to the ER in decent shape.

Granted, you may be able to rig something from the gear you usually carry, but these compression bandages quickly and efficiently do the job when needed the most.

[Brendan Gausvik]

axes and hatchets can definatly do some serious damage. i find it helpful to, whenever possible, do my chopping on a block, that way, if i miss, i am not going to get hurt and the head is also not going to get damaged. also, when splitting using a block or stump, put the log on the far side of the stump, that will make it more difficult to harm yourself.

one of my main axe-related injusries didnt actiallu come from the blade. i was chopping, and i aimed my chop too high and i ended up bashing my knuckle on the log, and it hurt oretty bad. no serious damage, but it was more painful than any cut i have ever expirienced. so, now i put much more thougt into where i am aiming the hatchet.

[Rick Marchand]

I'm very cautious. I don't want any chance of a misdirected follow though so I bury the axe/hatchet handle 3/4 into the ground and throw the wood at it from 10 feet away. I hit it 2 out of 20 times and it never actually splits the wood.... but I have not had an injury since implementing this technique.



Did I get ya? ..... he he

But seriously... Limbing can be one of the most dangerous tasks a hatchet/axe can perform. Make sure you are standing on the opposite side of the trunk so any deflection is guide away from you. The Axe Book that is sent with every Gransfors Bruks has some great info.

This is pretty cool too.

[kgd]

I'm very cautious. I don't want any chance of a misdirected follow though so I bury the axe/hatchet handle 3/4 into the ground and throw the wood at it from 10 feet away. I hit it 2 out of 20 times and it never actually splits the wood.... but I have not had an injury since implementing this technique.

Rick is being pretty funny.  He actually doesn't carry an axe.  He just pulls out his Fresnel lens and burns the fallen timber into charred dust on the spot 

[Sharpshooter]

I've been busy hanging a few axes the past couple of weeks, the Helko's are going to Marty's event at the end of the month and I might just send a few of the others as well.

I will say that Kochansky was spot on with his limbing axe... I made one and it is awesome, adding a speed grind makes it even better.

I'll get some pics up next time I visit the new Sharpshooter Field Lab.

[AbokeArorie]

Forgot to add that I can't help notice the number of posted  picture of people doing tricks NOT wear safety gear
Shame on you ?

[SaranacADK]

Lots of good info and I could only think of a couple things I didn't see covered.

The poll of the ax is not a hammer.  Should not be driving nails or splitting wedges with it.  It is a recipe for high-speed shrapnel. 

A Maul is another story.  They are designed for that work.  Even then, only whack on wedges etc. that are designed to be whacked upon and check the tool for a mushrooming or cracking of the head.  File down the mushrooms and buy another tool if you have cracks.

The other thought is about splitting technique.

Rather than taking aim at one end of an upright log and making that huge arc through the air there is another method. 

Lay the log to be split down, on the stump you have handy for the splitting, with the blade of the ax resting in the side of the end of the log keeping the handle parallel to the work.  Lift log and ax together and bring both together down on the stump.  Lightly at first to get the blade started and then you can give it harder whacks to drive it through.

Not only do I find this technique safer but it is also significantly more energy efficient and productive (it is very hard to miss once you get the hang of it.)  You can't use this method on large stuff, it is true, but in the woods I don't go for the big stuff anyway unless I don't have other options.

Picture would probably help but it is dark out right now.  That is another bad idea - cutting tools after dark. 

[Cpl Punishment]

Good thread to have up.

Axe accidents are one of the things I really want to learn from others' mistakes, rather than my own.

I've always been kinda paranoid about axe safety.  I try to have my chopping geometry such that the axe (same applies to kukri) will either bury itself into the ground, another tree or something, or the followthrough will be heading away from my body.

+1 on BigMike's recommendation of having an Israeli bandage handy if you're doing axe work far from help.

I think the best advice I was ever given was to always make sure the axe is as s harp as I can get it, watch the followthrough and stop when I get tired.

[Southerncross]

Without wanting to offend anyone, I always shake my head when I see posts about "how dangerous hatchets are to use" 

They are no different to any other tool.  IMO, their danger or otherwise is totally dependent on the individual using them.

If the operator using them knows what they are doing, they are a tremendously versatile tool to have outdoors.

If the operator doesn't know how to use them, then IMO it's the operators fault "if something happens", not the tool 

I reckon the same could be said for someone who doesn't know how to use a sharp knife.

They will typicall respond with "the knife is too sharp"  rather than "I don't know how to use a sharp knife".



Kind regards
Mick

[Big Mike]

A valid Point Mick.


Any tool is harmless if left alone, once you add in the user you change the whole equation.


That said, some tools do seem a bit more dangerous then others to the untrained user (chainsaws and firearms come to mind), but even the most simple tool is only as safe as the person using it.

[Southerncross]

G'day Mike.

You are right, different tools have different margins for error.

What I would like to see is internet post that talk about the danger associated with axe / hatchet use start with....

"I am not an experienced axe / hatchet user, so for me I prefer ......"

In this way the preference is directly linked to the users lack of skill, rather than the tool itself.




Kind regards
Mick