Big Axes vs Small Axe Efficiency: Helko, Arvika, Council Tool & Vintage

I think smaller axes of between 2.5-3.5lb are objectively superior for 90% of work in the woods. In this video I demonstrate why doubling the axe weight does not equal twice the effectiveness of chopping. All axes are ground to between 17-18* with small secondary bevels. Also consider as the day goes on and you become more exhausted, lighter axes should maintain the pace of work more consistently.

[@SkillCult]

Cool video Ben. I'm glad someone besides me is pushing small axes for general work. Pretty soon it will be considered self evident and everyone will have known it's true all along lol. The one handed use is huge for me and ultimately will limit how far up in weight I'll go, even with all else considered. from walking around in the woods with it, to handling, switching directions, stopping the momentum of the axe when needed, controlled two handed choked up work like limbing standing trees and so many small things like that, a light AND SHORT axe has smany advantages. Those have to be weighed against any advantages to longer, heavier, wider bitted axes. The bit width will be found to not matter as much as one might think sitting in an armchair contemplating the matter. It depends on log diameter a lot, but the math on overlaps often doesn't really favor much wider bits when working in smaller wood, which is what most are doing. Exceptions of course being those lumberjacks out there who are cutting down 2 foot diameter trees all day (joke). It can matter, but again it has to be looked at in a global context. And once again, as always, it matters what work is being done. For versatile all around field work, especially in trees about 10 inches and down, there are reasons that Mors Kochanski recommended a 2.5lb 28 inch axe as the general purpose forest axe, and why pulpwood cutters used them.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

In summer in this area of the woods there is so much tangled brush that needs cleared before you can do anything that 1 handed use is essential, so if i bring a heavy axe I always take a lighter one or a bill hook with me as well. I was surprised how close it was when i counted the hits and time, i thought there would have been a more tangible difference. Essentially I have concluded that there is really no reason to own a heavier felling axe, especially with a 36" handle for modern use unless you like cutting larger logs for fun, which very few people do. Obviously it wasnt a perfect experiment but there is no way to do it perfectly but I think it made the point. Next I might try testing some lighter 'bushcraft' axes versus these pulpwood axes and see if there is a major difference in axes being too light.

[@Channel1rm]

Ben Scott like the sound of the ‘too light’ video Ben. I love swinging a bigger axe for no reason other than fun! Like you say.

[@danielgemmell3340]

Looking back and seeing the arvika i got from you is great. Im still rocking the black palm swell lol😅

[@jeffreyrubish347]

Watching you is a nice break from grinding my concrete garage floor. I always enjoy your experiments.

[@BCJerbs]

I love my Arvika!

[@akashasausuke5249]

Thank you again for a very informative video, I truly enjoy watching and learning. I wish alot of other bushcrafters would start watching you because you actually know how to chop wood property and very efficiently. Thanks again for another awesome video buddy!😁🐺.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Glad you enjoyed! I must say its rare to see a bushcraft instructor who can actually chop wood decently. I have been lucky to learn from competition axemen. A few tips on technique improved my chopping severalfold. I think my next video will compare bushcraft axes with this 1kg size

[@greekveteran2715]

There are not real Bushcrafters out there. There used to be people mainly those who lived in the outdoors like small villages near mountains,and not in citys, who had to use axes and hunting knives,to survive the harsh winters. What you see nowdays though, on KZbin, calling themselves "Bushcrafters" are just a banch of "backyard warriors" that watched a Rambo movie and some TV shows, and got exited. Also most of them do it for the easy money and fame, whoch is easy to get from KZbin,.However, most of the times, they don't know shit about either tools, more so, how to use an axe or a knife. They even don't know how to hold those tools properly in their hands. They just copy, what the see, on the last video they watched on KZbin, and they make their own versions. Problem is, that marketing and in the same time, their lack of knowledge and experience on the subject they claim to be "Experts" on, is so big, that they spread so much misinformation and completely wrong stuff, that the damage is huge, to the point a lot of real knowledge is already lost.

[@samueldougoud3289]

@@greekveteran2715 I would second that by saying that all who go out in the woods to make some work do not neglect to take a billhook along with them (as Ben mentions it in his response to SkillCult). The full kit including a pickaroon and wedges. While axes can very well be a suject in itself, this ubiquitous concentration on axes is somehow suspect.

[@lukemorarend2682]

I agree. I’ve got a 4 pounder on a 34 inch handle; outside of felling/bucking sizable trees, it’s a bear to use for more than a half hour. I also don’t get much more work done with it on smaller logs. I’ve found it feels like swinging a sledge hammer after using a lighter axe. It seems that for me a good head weight is between 3 and 3.5 pounds with a 28 to 30 inch handle. My most recent addition to my collection is a 3.5 pound double bit on a 30 inch handle and I absolutely love that thing, I can use it for hours. I have a few videos on my channel of me using it.

[@gumboot65]

REALLY great video ! Thanks ! Between you and Steve Edhome I'm nearly convinced I should get a Council Tools , Boys Axe. At this time the lightest axe I have is a TT Woodslasher Michigan pattern @ 1640 grams .

[@KevinsDisobedience]

I agree on your assessment of optimal weight. I just posted a video reviewing Council Tools Hudson Bay Pack Axe. So far I really like it.

[@elemental4rce]

I think the 28" hudson bay standard line is a great all round axe for its weight. I also own the 24" velvicut but barely use it

[@roykremer9357]

Some interesting observations you made on the head weight comparisons.Impressive bit of axemanship demonstrated!.

[@jasperruss7569]

I'd have to say my favourite weight for chopping is around 3 to 3 1/4 lbs. Mainly because I'm not particularly strong and also I can keep chopping for a while using an axe of that weight.

[@1südtiroltechnik]

Nice video with objective views. I came to the conculison that i need to look more at locall axe patterns and not patterns from other countries. I put a 800 mm handle on my 1050 g axe from my grandpa. Its a local pattern from the alps. I cant decide if it was a splitting axe or a felling axe, looks like a universal purpouse axe. But the handle is too long for me and too fat for me. The thickness is not that much of a problem with gripping it but rather the "shock" i get in my hands when using it. I got early no fat or muscle on my hands. lol And i also have a american style axe with 900 g/2 lb, it got a bit smaller eye (9mm shorter, 3 mm less widht to be precise) than my other one. i want to put also a ca. 700 mm handle on it, so both have the same handle and i compare them.

[@elemental4rce]

Your helko baffles me. Itll be really interesting to compare it to mine when it arrives

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Im interested to see how much you hate it

[@BrycenJanzen]

Hi Ben, I know you prefer practical discussions to theoretical ones, but I was hoping you could talk a little about UK patterns. I can't seem to find a lot online about different UK patterns, whereas here in North America it takes two seconds to learn the differences between a Connecticut, Yankee, or Hudson's Bay axe, etc. I ask because I'm a little familiar with Welsh patterns, but they always seem to be these enormous 5-7lb. heads, whereas your new English pattern seems very similar (except much smaller.) Thanks in advance, and great video as always!

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Yes there is little in tge way of sources for uk axes but i made a video on what i was able to find out kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqTEo3R3eNyen6s

[@lettsmuskup7484]

hi ben , new subscriber here. Could you possibly do a video/test/capability on the kent style axes. Cant find anything of them on youtube (except briely in some of your videos) yet they are for sale second hand everywhere and im interested thanks

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Yead i have been meaning to do that for a while but keep forgetting, will definately get round to it at some point!

[@lettsmuskup7484]

@@benscottwoodchopper cheers mate

[@henchman_ben3725]

Ben, what is your preferred length in a handle? You've mentioned your preferred weight, but I was wondering what weights go best with what handle lengths?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

28-32"

[@lettsmuskup7484]

where did you buy your rinaldi, i cam see them for sale on amazon and ebay but its tricky to decipher exactly what im buying. what model is the rinaldi small boys axe cheers

[@benscottwoodchopper]

i got mine on ebay, its 302 Number 2 700 grams

[@lettsmuskup7484]

@@benscottwoodchopper cheers

[@lettsmuskup7484]

@@benscottwoodchopper do you have more than one? in one vid i see 2 on the axe cheek and 5 in another vid. im guessing the american boys axe is number 2 yeah?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

@@lettsmuskup7484 yes, i have a 350 gram sicilian, 700 gram american boys axe and 1.3kg calabria

[@lettsmuskup7484]

@@benscottwoodchopper nice one

[@richardsullivan1776]

If i were going to do the cord word challenge I'd do it with my Cold Steel Trail Boss. I just used it a week and a half ago to make a good amount of kindling. Its a gutsy bush axe. For the price you really can't beat it. I can limb, buck and split smaller rounds. I'm not a picky person when it comes to axes, I'm surprised by the quality for the money though. I put a fairly nice edge on it with a bastard file, makes a great chopping tool. That's the only axe I own, the head in under 3 1/2 lbs. I tend to use my axes more for splitting wood. The bigger the round, the heavier the axe. I tend to use the Fiskars X27 for 12- 16 inch rounds in girth, split in those in half, go down to a slightly less double bit in weight. Split the halves into quarters and use a 3 1/2 lb single bit to split the quarters into eight stack able logs. That's if the grain is reasonable straight, knotty and gnarly wood, I just stick to the heavier axes, lol!

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Not tried the trail boss but ive heard good things, the rhineland pattern is a great all rounder

[@KevinsDisobedience]

You’re reasoning corresponds with my experience as well. The only issue I have with the trail boss is that the head is hung really high on the shoulder, which of course can be remedied quite easily.

[@elemental4rce]

@@benscottwoodchopper you had one a while back and sold it?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

@@elemental4rce oh no that was the trailhawk, a silly little tomahawk thing

[@Sager-fs9bv]

Is that English axe new or vintage and that brand is it.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Vintage, no stamp on it

[@yoman2854]

Are you sure it's English, looks like a Swedish pattern

[@Zzero409]

@@yoman2854its an english kent felling pattern

[@vinniesdayoff3968]

I think the chap swinging said axes makes more of a difference

[@marynapier3962]

Both of them small axes will throw the chips

[@robertopics]

I'm going to play devil's advocate here and list why a larger axe might make sense. A medium size axe like the ones you've shown are obviously better all arounders but hear me out. A larger axe doesn't demand as much technical prowess, most lumber jocks do not really chop for a living or spend more than an hour at most chopping or splitting wood, and they are way cooler. I have both the arvika and the helko Tasmanian and I have a 3lbs plumb which I do not use as much because I'm less efficient with it. One of the things you failed to mention is the number of hours (years) you have under your belt, which many of us do not have. we might never really get the chance to develop the swing speed and accuracy to make the smaller axes more efficient. I only buck or chop trees 4-5 times a year when I go camping and every now and then when I'm processing wood for my fireplace so I might never get the mileage to develop as good of a technique as many of the guys that do this for sport or are into homesteading.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

I mean yeah that is one way of looking at it, large axes don't require you to swing as fast but if anything a larger axe requires you to be more accurate as each hit missed is a bigger loss of energy. I've actually taught a few friends and family to chop and they do better with a lighter axe that suits their physical ability. I've noticed few people can swing a heavy axe well and when i first started learning i used a 4lb on a 32", when i switched to a lighter one i did much better