Estwing Fireside Friend Axe - 14" Wood Splitting Maul with Forged Steel Construction & Shock Reduction Grip - E3-FF4 , Blue
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Blue-colored plastic is used for the handle. It isn't painted in any way. If you're attempting to split wood with a painted part of this tool, you're doing it incorrectly.
This is a thorny question, to say the least. I have and use a variety of axes for various purposes. But a 2 1/4 pound axe head with a 3 foot handle is my go-to for everything. On a standard haft, it has a smallish head (a little larger than a hatchet head). br> I'd use a bigger felling axe if I was felling a lot of trees. I'd use a much heavier swivel if I were splitting logs. br>However, if I'm going on a hike, a paddle, or any other adventure, I'll bring this pack axe with me. It's not much more than a hatchet head on an axe halft, but it's capable of almost anything. I've used it to fell trees as well as split kindling. This is the axe I'd take if I had to choose only one. br>I believe I purchased it from an Ace Hardware. or some other junk store, and I believe this is the third haft I've put on it (the other two I made myself, and while the stock haft was fine, I wanted to make my own). br>br>I will say that an Eswing axe is not something I would buy for everyday use. That steel haft isn't going to be very useful in everyday situations. It's heavy, sends shock and vibrations through your hands, and won't let you choke up on the axe for fine work. br>br>Really think about how much work you're going to do and what kind of work you're going to do. or. Follow in my footsteps. Accept the axe's beauty, begin a collection, and find ways to put them all to good use:
Because this is a maul rather than a splitting wedge, it's intended for "free swinging." In reality, Estwing tools are renowned for their toughness, and you could pound on them like a splitting wedge. A splitting wedge, on the other hand, is usually hammered with a sledge hammer. Wedges have been hammered with sledges and the back of a maul. A splitting maul is basically a sledge hammer with an axe blade sharpened on one end. Still, I'd probably hammer this tool with another log or a mallet. I wouldn't slam a sledge hammer against it. Keep your eyes protected!
It's not paint, I don't think. I'm only guessing about powdercoat or black oxide; it appears to be durable, and it's a nice tool, to be sure. The added weight makes it easy to split wood and makes it look good.
Selected User Reviews For Estwing Fireside Friend Axe - 14" Wood Splitting Maul with Forged Steel Construction & Shock Reduction Grip - E3-FF4 , Blue
He bought one at a big box store, but it wasn't up to the task of chopping wood. He has a big fireman's axe, but it's too big/heavy to use with precut logs that need to be cut to size. br>br>Then there's me, who has never used an axe before, but saw this as an opportunity to learn something new and after some research settled on this axe/hammer. br>br>I have no idea how to chop wood, but this thing does a fantastic job. I was very careful with my positioning and swinging, and I'm glad I was because it chops a lot, and an accident with it will send you to the ER. It's also a hell of a hammer, which is an added bonus. br>br>Strongly recommended and would purchase again.
We gave it to a lady friend who is a logger and uses wood to heat her home. It appeals to her. Indeed, it is superior to ours, and we are envious. THIS IS AN UPDATE. br>br> I worked as a researcher before retiring, so I'm prone to trying new things. I decided to try a Fiskars product after misplacing our old Estwing splitting axe (the one with the leather ring handle). I like their tools in general. I placed an order for the FX11. It does not sit well with me. To begin with, the handle is far too long to be useful for splitting kindling. Second, it's extremely slick, to the point of being dangerous. As a result, I returned it and placed an order for the Estwing E3 instead. That's something I should've done from the beginning.
This is the most advanced wood splitter ever devised by man. I've been looking for the right tool for the job all winter, and I've finally found it. Because of the following reasons: br>I can hold wood with my left hand while swinging the fireside fiend with my right, greatly speeding up the process because I don't have to find the balance point for the wood, pick it up after each swing, rebalance, etc. Doing this with a hatchet is more dangerous, and hatchets simply get stuck in the log and need to be hit on the back to finish the job. br>It doesn't get stuck in any way. It never gets stuck, even if it doesn't split on the first swing due to knots or other factors. It bounces back or can be freed with a little wiggling. br>I've heard complaints about the paint peeling off too easily. Maybe after some splitting it comes off a little, but I didn't buy the paint job. For wood splitting, I purchased the ideal geometry. br>Lefty has been struck by the fiend while wearing leather gloves. There was no cut, only a bruise to remind me to pay attention. The only drawback is that after an hour of splitting, my hand gets tired, but I'll get stronger.
Straight grain pieces can also be used to make kindling. When someone has a tree cut down, I can sometimes get free firewood, which is ideal for green wood. I've split 10" round and 2 foot long pieces of white oak and black walnut. It's too early to say how long it will last or how much it will cost, but it appears that it will last the rest of my life. br>br>Pros: br>It's a big one! Due to mass, one swing usually completes the split. br>Unlike a thinner hatchet, the smooth wedge shape helps to keep the split going. If knots are needed, a hammer can be used to strike the flat back face (wear safety glasses). It's more efficient than a small hatchet. br> It is less difficult and time consuming than using an ax or maul. br>The grip is good and the handle is forged with the head. br>It has a nice blade guard. br>br>Cons: It doesn't have a blade guard. br>br> br>Painted faces are attractive, but they drag on wood. It'll eventually wear off, or I'll sand it down with the bench grinder. br>As with most tools, it needed to be sharpened before use.
I adore this terrifying beast; when used correctly, it can double as an axe and a hatchet. I honestly believe it could take the place of a 5-star hotel. 7-pound axe, which I've always found to be an awkward middle ground between a 7-pound and a 7-pound axe. 10 pound maul and. . . This thing fills a gap in the market that I was previously unaware of. br>br>As shown in the photos, it works on both soft and hard woods, including pine. On hardwood, I prefer a maul simply because it is more physically demanding. If you have to, double clutch for control with avocado, oak, and even some pieces of pine because it will fly away and kill your entire family. To make kindling, I chomp down on the handle really hard and tappy the wood a little. The shock grip does a fantastic job of holding your fillings in place. Because I like to take care of my gear, I added a lanyard. br>br>Highly recommended; I'll be picking up a hatchet and a splitting maul from Estwing as soon as possible.
If a couple of full-time employees This is what an 8 or 10 pound maul would look like if it had a child; it's perfect for those "tweener" logs that don't require an 8 or 10 pound maul but are too big to split with a small axe or hatchet. This is exactly what I needed for camping, so I bought it. Most campgrounds nowadays will not allow you to cut nearby firewood, but they will sell you some. The problem is that whoever cuts that stuff doesn't split any more than is necessary, so you end up with some 6" logs that you can't just throw on the fire, and a hatchet won't cut it. There isn't enough weight in it. Even though it's only 14" long, you can grab it with both hands and turn a 6" log into kindling in no time; the words "Fireside Friend Splitting Tool" are painted on the 4 lb head, and that's exactly what it is. It appeals to me.
For years, I've wanted a good camping axe and have finally decided to purchase one. I went with the slightly more expensive fancy handle because I figured I'd be able to pass it down and keep it in the family for a long time. It's well made, and I expect it to last a long time, but I'll keep you updated because I just got it. br>br>The first impression was of high quality, and the first thing that struck me was how sharp the edge was; it's sharper than that ten-dollar survival knife from Harbor Freight, believe me. I like the weight; it has a good heft to it but isn't too heavy to swing with one hand. Overall, I'm pleased, and it's exactly what I expected.
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