Cleavers: features and differences from a regular axe. Characteristics, types, recommendations for selection + review of modern models

Choosing the right cleaver and chopping wood is not as simple as it seems at first glance. When purchasing a tool, you need to consider what kind of wood you will be cutting, whether you have any experience in cutting, and what kind of cleaver to choose for comfortable work.

If you are planning to chop small logs, then an ordinary ax will do just fine; on large logs it will constantly get stuck. The cleaver has a less sharp sharpening angle, most often 40-60 degrees, and a longer handle than is suitable for working with large decks.

Types of cleavers

• Screw (cone-shaped). The most widespread. Among consumers, about 80% choose it. A steel ingot in the shape of a cone (which is where the name comes from) with durable threads. The tool has the ability to dive deep into the material, while using an electric motor. Field of application: chopping wood.
• Hydraulic;
• Electrical.

There are two types of cleaver blades:

• Sharpened for a wedge;
• Lop-eared. This is a new product on the market. Allowed to work only with dry materials.

Wooden parts have their disadvantages as well as their advantages. And one of the main ones is that they can unexpectedly split during operation. They can be replaced with instruments with fiberglass parts.

The material is more durable and lightweight, making it comfortable. Plus, it fits better in your hand and can absorb unnecessary vibration.

Safety precautions when chopping wood

When splitting firewood, it is necessary to take some precautions, regardless of how the work is done: using a manual splitter or using an electric wood splitter for these purposes.

You should always remember that during the chopping process, sharp and large chips can fly in different directions along an unpredictable trajectory. For this reason, you should choose the most suitable area where you will not disturb anyone - away from where children play or where pets are located.

Both a cleaver and an ax cannot be called safe tools, and even one awkward movement can lead to serious injury. The correctly selected tool and method of performing work have a significant impact on safety.

Safety precautions when chopping wood - use gloves and glasses

The closest attention should be paid to choosing a deck suitable for chopping. Its width should exceed the diameter of the widest chock, and its height should be slightly above the knee. If the deck is not installed correctly, it will be difficult to deliver a blow strong enough to split the log.

It is recommended to wear gloves and safety glasses before starting work.

. Gloves are needed to prevent the ax from slipping out of your hands, so that the cleaver does not fly far and hit your dear neighbor in the back. Glasses are necessary to protect your eyes from small chips getting into them. Of course, you don’t have to wear glasses if you plan to get into the role of a one-eyed pirate as naturally as possible.

The log should be placed on the side of the log farthest from you. This is necessary so that if you miss, the cleaver will stick into the block and not into your knee.

In order for the process of collecting firewood to be as successful as possible, it is necessary not only to purchase a good cleaver, but also to perform the work correctly and, most importantly, safely.

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Rating of modern models of cleavers

There is quite a large selection of tools and devices on the market, in which it is very easy to get confused without the proper knowledge.

Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with a small selection of cleaver models from manufacturers from Russia, Germany and the USA.

Matrix splitting ax

Tool weight – 3 kg. The material from which the cleaver is made is 66G steel.

• There is a small anvil on the back of the head, which ensures effective splitting of massive wooden objects.
• The handle is made of fiberglass, so it is not exposed to moisture and external factors, and also does not dry out over time.

Cleaver "Bars" from Nylon

Weight – 0.75 kg. It is easy to work with different types of trees. The cleaver is made of U14 steel. The strength of the manufacturing material is above average. Thanks to the thickenings on the sides, it is quite easy to split the wood.

Cleaver Inforce

Weighs 3.5 kg. Handle length – 910 mm. This allows you to split large ingots without much difficulty. It is also distinguished by its durability.

The Great Divider

Weight reaches as much as 4 kg. The handle of the device is formed from fiberglass material. The steel from which the ax is made is 65G. Thanks to high-quality materials, it is not susceptible to heavy loads and is not subject to unnecessary vibrations.

Useful tips

1. From the beginning, the logs are cut, it is worth considering the length of the logs, they must fit into the stove (the length is 20% less than the firebox).
2. For sawing and chopping logs, choose a spacious place where there are no people.
3. Do not place the deck on the ground, this will dampen the force of the blow and it will spring back.
4. Try to place the block on the far edge of the block; if you miss, do not harm yourself. The blade will stick into the deck or go into the ground.
5. When hitting, plant your feet wide, with your knees slightly bent to maintain balance.
6. Hold the cleaver by the bottom of the handle, this will give a stronger blow, the movement should be inertial, and the blow should be from the shoulder.
7. If the handle of the cleaver is made of wood and falls off, stuff it well and place it in water overnight (the wood will swell and this will last for some time).
8. If a cleaver (axe) gets stuck in a log, turn it over and hit the butt on the block; if the wood is large, then you need to take a sledgehammer and hit the butt.
9. If the log is large, look to see if there are cracks on the surface and chop along them, or trim it along the radius. Don't cut at the branches.
10. To prevent logs from flying apart when chopping, place them in a car tire.
11. The block for the chock should be of a larger diameter.

You must understand that freshly cut logs are difficult to chop; they need to dry out a little.

Fiskars or Homemade splitting ax. Choosing a tool #GardeningExpert

Scope of application of cleavers

The devices are used quite widely and are designed for chopping wood. Often they will be needed when fuel is being prepared for the cold season for a summer cottage or a small country house.

For larger quantities of fuel required and the following cases:

• Heating of houses throughout the whole season;
• Bath heating;
• Providing heat for kebab establishments;

You will need to choose a more productive tool.

Taiga

And if you want practicality, then taiga, with a medium handle. It chops and chops, and it’s convenient to carry logs and hang them on branches. I myself prefer the last option, but I plan to make it myself.

Wood splitter with washing machine engine

I haven't used it, but it looks like a device of very questionable effectiveness. Each small block of wood, instead of being quickly baled with a cleaver and cleanly split, must be placed on this thing for a long and tedious time and split at both ends and several sides, and then still broken off by hand. And all this while bending over: your back will go on strike on the second day.

How to choose the right cleaver

Selecting a suitable unit for yourself is a rather difficult task. There are several criteria by which it is better to choose an ax:

• Weight;
• Material of manufacture;
• Sharpening shape;
• Ax parameters.

If the size of the product is too light, they will find it difficult to split very large objects. Working with a heavy cleaver will require too much energy. However, in this case, splitting heavy objects will become easier.

For the ax material, it is better to choose durable wood species that have astringent properties. This will guarantee longevity, despite significant loads on the tool.

The length of the handle should not be too short - this will make it very difficult to work with.

Many knowledgeable people use the following types: classic and wedge-shaped instruments. The first option is better suited for freshly felled wood, which remains at a high level of moisture. The second one is more convenient for splitting dry logs.

Cone-shaped cleavers are effective and at the same time easy to use. This is especially noticeable when working with large objects.

Manufacturing Instructions

And when you finally decide, a new question will arise: how to make a hand cleaver? It's not particularly difficult to make. Make the handle bent and the cross-section ovoid. Harvesting wood for the handle should begin in the fall, so that it dries out over the winter and does not crack.

In the meantime, it’s drying, it’s time to create a template from cardboard. Draw a large handle shape and then transfer it to the workpiece - this will make the ax handle more accurate. Hew a piece of wood parallel to the grain, and the place inserted into the eye should be wider than the middle. Trace the drawing, leaving gaps.

Insert the upper part into the eyelet, remove unnecessary parts. Before cutting out the handle, make longitudinal cuts not reaching 5 mm from the handle. Make transitions and corners using a rasp. Bring the finished workpiece to a smooth state.

Now you need a splitting part for the axe. It is impossible to make it, so when purchasing, look for the GOST marking, a cone-shaped hole for the ax handle and a perfect blade without flaws. And you can start assembling. Cut the upper part of the ax lengthwise and crosswise.

Next you will need five cut out pieces of wood. Wrap the top of the handle with gauze soaked in resin to make it easier to fit into the hole in the blade and use a hammer to drive it in. Hammer the cut five pieces into the cutouts made at the top. When the product dries a little, cut out the interfering parts and remove the gauze.

And the final touch is a properly sharpened blade. After all the work, you should have a neat hatchet, ready for work. In the photo, a homemade cleaver will look just like a purchased one.

Photos of the best models of cleavers

What else can you use to chop wood?

Manual wood splitter KOLUNDROV “Standard”

The closed ring shape serves to hold the deck. How it works: insert the log into the ring on the piercing edge and hit it on top with a sledgehammer. This is a very safe device that will protect you from injury. It is also a plus that the split logs do not scatter to the sides.

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Characteristics

Which ax is better

The ideal ax for all occasions has not been invented, but the low price allows you to purchase a couple of models for different purposes. For those who do not often use the tool, we have developed universal modifications that will easily help solve the tasks. In order not to have to deal with regular repairs, sharpening, and straightening, we recommend taking the advice of our experts and choosing the best model in your category:

• Fiskars X17 is a cleaver that will help you quickly chop firewood for a solid fuel boiler or sauna;
• Husqvarna 5769264-01 – indispensable when performing carpentry work;
• Bison 20643-06 - an inexpensive universal model for owners of country houses;
• Kraftool 20645-06 is a faithful companion for a fan of outdoor activities;
• Tesla 3 in 1, 600716 is the best choice for a summer resident.

What should be the most versatile tool? Only axes made of high-quality steel and a reliable handle can receive the title of best in their class.

Classic wood splitter and its varieties

A traditional hand tool consists of three elements: a handle, a wedge-shaped head without sharpening, and a wedge that holds the working part on the handle. Externally, the cleaver is similar to a sledgehammer and an ax. The first one got a massive butt, the second one got a narrowed part of the working nozzle.

The weight of the product is chosen according to strength and purpose. For an average person you can limit yourself to 2.5 kg, for a tall person - on average 4-5 kg. A lightweight wood splitter is more difficult to split large workpieces.

The principle of operation is a single blow to the workpiece. In this case, during the swing, a force is applied, which should be sufficient to split the log. That is, it is not rupture, but delamination of wood fibers that occurs. The effectiveness of the work depends on the characteristics of the head and the length of the handle.

Varieties of hand axes Source amur-bereg.ru

The following is a list of varieties of traditional hand cleavers with a brief description of the working part:

• Big

Made of a massive nozzle and a long handle. Weight is often 5 kg.

• Mini cleaver

Consists of a compact head and a short stalk (up to 60 cm). Weighs at least 1.5 kg. Serves as an alternative to a branch ax.

• Iron

“Soviet classic” with a square butt.

• Sledgehammer

Heavy tool for working with large diameter workpieces. Using the back of the head, it is convenient to drive wedges into the wood.

• Wedge-shaped

Externally, the nozzle is similar to a wedge due to the elongated piercing part.

• Eared

The nozzle is shaped like an axe. Only the blade is not sharpened, and there are built-up “ears” on the sides (cheeks). They act as an expander of the crack formed after being struck by a cleaver.

Long-eared cleaver Source 36volt.ru

The Chinese wood splitter deserves special mention. It is characterized by a wedge-shaped head, only longer and narrower. The disadvantage of such a cleaver is that the working element of the hand tool that is almost completely inserted gets stuck in the wood.

Work technology

To split firewood using a manual cleaver, you will need a large block of wood with an even cut. Egor is installed in a vertical position on a solid base. The process will be more efficient with dry or frozen workpieces. This can be explained by the low probability of the working edge getting stuck in the body of the log.

For a beginner, it will be easier to start working from the edges of a block or along existing cracks. If there are knots, then you need to hit along or between them. For owners of an old cleaver, it is recommended to keep it in water for 24 hours. The wooden ax will swell and securely fix the piercing head. That is, the risk of it flying off during a swing will be reduced to a minimum.

Criterias of choice

The cleaver cannot be considered a universal tool. Therefore, there are no general recommendations for a group of products. The basic questions are:

• shape ;
• length ;
• weight of the working part.

A splitting ax with a two-component handle Source handtool.kz
Below is a brief description of the three elements on which the productivity of splitting wood depends:

• Blade

The edge is straight (for large workpieces) or rounded (for coniferous and humid forests). Wedge-shaped is relevant for damp wood. According to users, the eared one is inferior to its analogue because it often gets stuck in logs, but this does not apply to dry forest. Rough sharpening of the blade at an angle of 45 degrees is acceptable.

• Head

Stamped from medium carbon steel and weighs from 2.5 kg. used for splitting large logs. Cast from hardened steel in a smaller size. Its functions are closer to an axe. The popular method for determining the good quality of a metal is to click it with your finger. If the sound is dull, then such a product should be left in the store.

• Lever

The handle is made from classic solid oak, birch, maple, elm or ash. It is characterized by the ability to dampen vibrations. Minus - when cracks appear, it becomes unusable. Composite fiberglass has higher strength. Often encased in a rubber shell for ease of use. Such a cutting weighs less than a natural one, which is important for shifting the center of gravity towards the massive head.

Cast mini-cleaver Source fishki.net

See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in the construction of small architectural forms - including outbuildings with firewood sheds

These moments are decisive for the kinetics of the impact. The main thing that must be done before paying is to check the product for defects. These are any damage or cracks, head play. Some manufacturers carefully include a case with your purchase for safe storage of the instrument.