Helko Tasmanian Axe Review - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Had this helko a few years now, basically it is rather expensive blank canvas, if you can get a good deal on one and have power tools, perhaps you may find it to be good. Otherwise there are much better options that also cost less.

[@jeffreyrubish347]

Thanks for taking the time to tune and use the axe, and let us know what it needs to work optimally.

[@tomjjackson21]

Every time I watch one of Bens vids, I realise how little I truly know ...

[@davidfitzgerald4367]

Thanks for the review Ben. I just bought one and had commented on some axe forums about the handle shape. Don't mind putting time into sorting but need to up my skills to do so. I,m really just splitting.

[@dimazimmer175]

I love my Helko Tazzi. In Germany they are pretty inexpensive.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

they arent too bad, apparently the newer ones are improved with a thinner handle

[@dimazimmer175]

@@benscottwoodchopper yes, you are right. Mine has a thin handle and thin axehead/profile. Good for chopping.

[@the_sharp_carpenter]

For that kind of money I'd buy 2 Tuatahi China heads and spend a quarter the time grinding in a small chisel, hang it on a decent handle and put it to work. I do love how tuned in Owens is, but that's a ton of work for an axe that is $261 Canadian dollars (current trade rate)

[@benscottwoodchopper]

I agree, its a glorified hardware store axe, but don't tell him, he will go radge ;)

[@the_sharp_carpenter]

@@benscottwoodchopper that's the thing, he's a beast and will make anything cut lol

[@robertopics]

@@the_sharp_carpenter and where can I procure one of these Chinese heads?

[@the_sharp_carpenter]

@@robertopics From Tuatahi. I do plan to do another big order at some point once the Covid works it self out. On the Tuatahi sight they are under "other axes"

[@robertopics]

@@the_sharp_carpenter I'd love to get one, but the shipping is unreal.

[@noone3734]

Your helko is visibly much slimmer in the cheeks than Owen's. Go check his video "can you buck a Labrador" and you'll see his looks almost like a flat wedge compared to yours; very slight hollow depth. That is really bad quality control.

[@ElThomsono]

Good shot placement for such heavy blows.

[@shannontaylor8897]

This is an odd question, but I recently got my hands on a true temper Kelly perfect ax. Are those old or rare? I paid 20$ for it , but either way I'd rather keep it and use it. I did research and the steel is 1060 same as my council tool boys ax.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

from what ive heard teh kelly perfects are good axes

[@michaelconstantin2736]

I have the Helko Bavarian Woodworker. It is a heavy brute of an axe. It will absolutely take down any tree in Washington state. I live in the Cascade Mountains with big timber.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Its a 3.5lb head, thats pretty light

[@michaelconstantin2736]

The handle is thick and heavy. I just think the axe is a monster. I have a 4.1 pound Zenith Double bit on a Whiskey River 32 inch handle. Very similar weight overall. I am just a firewood guy. Fun.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

@@michaelconstantin2736 oh yeah this helko tassie was the same, shaved down the handle to 1/3rd its original size

[@juliancaldwell7191]

Funny, my Helko race classic didn’t need much rework. My handle is American hickory which is extremely durable... Maybe the American versions are different. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Mine was hickory too, but not needing much work is most irregular. From pictures the US versiplon looks identical

[@georgemoutafis4399]

Very nice presentation overall!

[@robertwhalley882]

I received a Helko Expedition as a present, just dont know what to do with it, it is even bigger than the Tasmanian, I think I will just hang it on the wall as a decoration or maybe modify it to be a splitting axe. Any other suggestions?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

I'd just grind it and thin the handle and use it. helko axes perform fine enough after modification and sometimes a heavier axe is useful

[@vinniesdayoff3968]

Sounds a bit expensive (RRP) considering all the work you had to put in afterwards Ben

[@benscottwoodchopper]

I wholeheartedly agree, its very expensive in time, tools and money to get this thing to work

[@crissignori7482]

Ben - It seems that you don't try to build any protection into the shoulder area of the handle ... why is that ?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

It is not needed, look at old logging videos!

[@crissignori7482]

@@benscottwoodchopper That's what I need to do next. Ok gotta split (some kindling)

[@richardsullivan1776]

160 US Dollars is a bit much. Another 140 bucks I could buy a nice chainsaw! Husqvarna, Echo or Stihl. I've always bought an antique head, Plumb, Collins, Sager Chemical, Craftsman. Lakeside and hung a nice Link's hickory handle on the bit for half the price or less, depending on the cost of the name and single or double bit.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

I agree, its too much for an unfinished axe

[@Steve_G88]

sounds like you did the same amount of work that i had to do on my Arvika, but i used power tools. so it didnt take so long :)

[@elemental4rce]

As a brand helko are awfully inconsistent and their quality control is hilarious. However, I feel like this mentality has been born from the gransfors(insert big name here) where people expect an out of the box perfect axe/tool. Best axe you can buy if you've got the tools and knowhow to optimise one. Far superior than the Arvikas or any other current production axe under £100. The bad parts.. THIS IS NOT AN AXE FOR A BEGINNER A couple hours work needed to optimise them WITH power tools. A lot more with hand tools. The inconsistencies are ridiculous. They come with all kinds of variations such as the grind, handle fit, handle grain, runout etc. I have two of these axes and dont regret purchasing either of them. As anyone that's seen my videos, the original one has had many hours work in the woods with me and is featured in the majority of my videos. Overall I think if you're an axe enthusiast that enjoys tuning axes with the skill to use a heavy axe then it's a great buy. Personally I love the modification process and get as much joy from getting an axe to perform as I do actually using it.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Well said!

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

If I had an angle grinder I would have kept mine.

[@elemental4rce]

@@ajaxtelamonian5134 get another one I'll grind and thin the handle for ya

[@benscottwoodchopper]

@@ajaxtelamonian5134 Yeah i would not attempt a project like that again with hand tools

[@dakillah6018]

Amen Brother . Mine is on the way !!!!!!! The shop told me it will send photos so i can cope with the inconsistencies.

[@silverback4434]

Tasmanian axes look very badass the shape of the head .

[@bladesandbows1521]

That chip on that second log is awesome man like perfect aim as well. Nice stuff.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

wasn't my best chopping, bit out of practice really

[@bladesandbows1521]

@@benscottwoodchopper looked alright to me but we are our own harshest critic

[@robertoduranos5196]

I had sent mine back with the state of the hang, with gaps and someone utility knife feathering into the head. Helko said it was fine, i returned anyway and they deducted and kept my paid postage. I will never use Helko again.

[@alanmeyers3957]

Same experience here, but I kept mine.

[@feralgrandad4429]

Got mine for 65 euros unused delivered from Germany (seller chucked in the mask, a Helco file and Helco puck) it sitting in the corner waiting for the "work to begin" not been motivated enough to make a start TBH. Mind you, what with the lockdown I have this time now I guess............out of interest Ben does the Arvika share the same issues?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Havent owned an arvika but from what I hear they have a very thick handle and need ground back a lot too before they work properly too

[@elemental4rce]

Arvikas are crap.

[@robertopics]

I'm not an expert but I have owned the Arvika for 2 years and recently purchased the helko. Neither of them are very sharp out of the box although for some odd reason my helko came with a better edge than the Arvika I bought used. Both axes weight about the same on the scales but that might be due to the helko having a ridiculously thick handle, how bad? For the Helko thinning the handle is a must, and with the Arvika you could get away without trimming the handle. As for the heads but of them have about the same cutting edge area, but from pool to edge the head is about 1/2"longer. The Arvika is longer and has thinner cheeks and isn't as obtuse. Both of them need work but the Helko needs more.

[@feralgrandad4429]

@@elemental4rce say what you really think Owen 😉

[@elemental4rce]

@@feralgrandad4429 hehehe

[@user-uy1po1kz4z]

Which axe you recomend as better than this?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

hultafors hy10 or council tool dayton

[@user-uy1po1kz4z]

@@benscottwoodchopper thanks

[@mariosupertramp9396]

Hi, I just bought a 2kg classic, I realized that the blade is not perfectly straight, what do you think? Is it a defect or can it be there? I honestly thought I would receive an excellent product with a perfectly straight blade. The seller tells me this is normal. Help..thanks

[@benscottwoodchopper]

what do you mean, just the edge or the whole head is bent?

[@mariosupertramp9396]

@@benscottwoodchopper I mean that if you look at the blade, in the sharp part, you see that in the lower part it curves towards one side. And furthermore, the head is concave on one side and convex on the other.

[@mikhailkimbel91]

What are other options? I'm really looking to find a better alternative thank you

[@benscottwoodchopper]

If you are looking for a good heavier axe then i would reccomend hultafors 1.5kg

[@mikhailkimbel91]

@@benscottwoodchopper I'll check that out thanks man!

[@RANDOMLETTERS1111]

Hardcore hammers

[@jw-vx8im]

Can a convex grind be put on this axe

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Yes you could but convex in general performs worse

[@robertd6925]

Niltus?

[@veshtitsaaudioworks8736]

I see no difference between this axe and the newer thinner bitted Hytest Craftsman/Trojan axes.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Flat cheeked no matter who makes it is not a tassie pattern

[@ASCarvings]

Good review but i was knackered watching you lol. I would have got my chainsaw into them logs.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

you don't get good at chopping logs by using a chainsaw though!

[@ASCarvings]

Ben Scott that’s very true

[@wendyfielding1809]

Tasmanian design axes are designed for Australian hard wood, eg swamp gum, stringy bark, white gum, what you are cutting is like butter compared.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

the thing is, this is not a proper Tasmanian axe, i have an old school one. Completely different geometry. A lot of the wood I cut is nothing like butter, even a tuatahi bounces of it

[@prospectvic]

Mate, we use a chainsaw for that shit, we use an axe for splitting, haha