It's no surprise to me that this is such a good splitting axe. The more I fool with axes the more I am convinced that Council Tool is on the right path when it comes to axes. Thanks for another very informative video.
I have some gransfors bruks axes and I'll tell ya what they don't hold a candle to council tools axes my theory is the trees in Sweden are softer than American trees i.e. ash, cherry, oak the list keeps going but non the less they are all hard woods and nothing can beat a good old American design for processing in our geographical location
I had mine out this weekend. Splitting popal, ash, white oak, and a little bit of Box Elder. I truly love the handle. It gave me great grip even when it was wet. I am seriously thinking about switching to wax. It splits ok, but it struggles with the box elder and anything I'd call tough stuff.
Heck yeah that’s awesome !!! Yeah these are awesome splitters out of the box but there is definitely room for improvement which I love because it give you the opportunity to tune them to your liking. I really need to do an long term review slash update video on mine because it’s underwent a few changes since this video and man it’s a splitting fool now !!! Thanks for watching 👍
Thank you Chris !! Yeah man this has to be my favorite splitter, it’s really tempting to file down to be a bucking axe. 5lb 20 degree grind with a 28” stick !! Man that would be sick 🤙
I’ve watched a few axe testing videos and I have to say this video is the only one in a while that didn’t make me squirm when they were swinging the axe due to unsafe poor form. This dude has a safe technique. I can’t compliment enough. 👍👏👏👏👏👏
Thank you so much I really appreciate, the kind words !!! I remember making this video and not wanting to post it because it was really hot out and I had a horrible night at work and I was worried people would notice i was in a bad mood lol 😂 !!! Thank you so much again and thanks for watching !!
Yeah, your form is good. Some people feel compelled to split a log in the middle. I learned a long time ago to almost never reach for the center unless you have some really straight grained wood. Some of the rounds were a little too long and that makes them more difficult to split and that is my only observation. I might try this splitter. We have a lot of black locust around here, so hand splitting can be pretty rough. Nothing like good hand tools! I have a short handled jersey that is one of my favorites.
Thank you so much !!! I’ll be doing a creepy basement video soon, been getting a lot of requests for close up comparison of a the gransfors bruks small forest axe vs the council tool flying fox.
Heck yeah that’s awesome you’re going to love it !! I really need to do a long term review of this axe because it’s under went a few changes since this video !! It still has to be my most used and favorite splitting axe 👍 thanks for watching !!
Joey - Can you explain the difference between Killinger's Snake Oil and plain BLO. I am not totally sold on BLO. I need something g that feels dryer than that. A friend of mine builds high end custom guitars and the finish he gets on those necks is to die for. They just feel like finely sanded wood with just enough finish on them the protect the wood. He's explain ed what he does to me before but I forgot just how he does it. He started years ago by developing his technique when he refinished gunstocks.
Yeah absolutely, so as far as killingers snake juice goes I’m not to sure what’s in it, I know it feels great and smells great but I don’t believe he discloses what’s in the mix. Now BLO can be great when applied correctly, I restored my old 30-30 marlin and finished off the stock with BLO and it came out beautiful. I think the key really is to not apply to much to where it becomes sticky and also the end result has a lot to do with what grit sand paper you finish with. When it comes to my axe handles I finish with 80 grit which is pretty rough to most but to me I like it. Now the gun stock I went all the way down to 320 grit and did 2 light coats of BLO and after about 20-30 mins wiped off whatever excess was there, then I let it sit over night or 2 nights so I gets completely dry and then I burnish it with fine steel wool and it comes out silky smooth. Same can be done on an axe handle, I did a throwing axe handle for someone and they had a hard time believing it was wood when it was done it was so smooth 👍
@@940joey2 I believe Killinger disclosed in a video that his Snake Oil is just BLO with Pine Tar! Greetings from the PNW 🇺🇸 GREAT content! SUBBED 🪓🌲🪓🌲 P.S. I'm awaiting my Council FE6 from Whiskey River Art & Trading! Can't wait! Thanks for sharing! Great review of the 5 pounder! 👍👌👏🪓
I have that 5lb with the the the 36” handle I use it a lot. My grandson Charlie is 6’ 3” he loves it. I have the 32” fawns foot 6lb axe also from Council I think they call it a FE6, really like that one also. I also buy from Whiskey River.
Heck yeah I think I’m going to try a little bit longer handle in this head. The 28” isn’t bad but if I get in some gnarly stuff I feel I could benefit from a longer handle. I think I’m going to but a whiskey river 32” in it … I don’t really like long handles so I think I’ll try that out or maybe a 30” who knows !! Yeah man whiskey river is a great company I love buying from them !! I had my eye on that fe6, I haven’t pulled the trigger on it yet. Everyone that has one loves it 👍 thanks for watching !!
Thank you Brett !!! It really does man this axe is great, I’m really happy with it 👍 oh yeah man I saw that what a deal !! To good not to pass up !! Can you guys get CT over in New Zealand ?
Hey thanks for watching !! So this particular wood is maple, I have done some red oak with this axe since then and it could be a bear to get through and it does get stock a lot in certain wood. The reason why this axe gets stuck a lot is because the cheeks of the axe are flat. So that means the whole surface area of the axe is contacting the wood and it’s also a gradual wedge shape. I think if the axe had a high center line similar to a vintage axe it would be beneficial. Since then I have re profiled the axe to help prevent sticking so often. Like any other axe a lot depends on the wood and if it’s seasoned or green. I hope this helped answer your question !! Thanks again for watching 👍
Thank you so much for checking out the video !! Man this axe is awesome, Idk of my video really did it justice, but this seriously has to be my favorite splitter 👍
Thanks Codi !! Yeah man absolutely straight handle feels awesome fro splitting, this is hands down my favorite splitting axe 👍 haha you saw me working on the flick, you’re the only one that noticed I think !! I have a lot more work to do to become more proficient with the flick. I think I’m going to try and find an old 3.5 lb double bit at a yard sale this summer and give it a try with that. I remember you telling me it’s a little easier to get down the a double bit.
Hey thanks for watching. Actually I have off camera, what it really came down to was it was very dependent on the log itself. If it was a straight grain, no knot log both worked beautifully (sledge/wedge and axe). When you happen to get a stubborn log the sledge and wedge combo is not very effective at least in my case. I felt I was doing a lot more work setting up the wedge and hitting it and then it would bounce out or I would pound it all the way in and it would burry itself and not split the log and I had to finish with an axe anyway. At that point it seemed clear that an axe or maul would be the most efficient no matter what log because I ended up resorting to that anyway. That’s just my personal experience, also I had a habit of laying the edge down in the leaves and not being able to find it 😂 but that’s my own fault lol
Thanks Kurt !! Yeah man absolutely not too heavy to where it wears you out after a few swings and had the perfect geometry to be efficient and a good all wood type splitter 🤙 oh yeah 28” is the sweet spot, I feel like I can generate plenty of power in my swing with 28”
To be honest I’m not 100% sure. I did notice they offer other 5lb axes like a force entry axe and things like that, but I haven’t really looked into them. I’ll do a little research and get back to you because now I’m interested myself lol !!