Steel grade
The grade of steel used in the blade of the ax (in models with metal handles, also in the handle, see above).
Knowing the grade of steel, you can easily find detailed data on it and determine the overall quality of the tool, as well as its suitability for certain tasks. And vice versa: knowing the main characteristics of the most popular grades of steel, you can evaluate the overall quality of the tool already by what brand it uses.
Steel hardness (HRC)
The hardness of the steel used in an ax blade.
Hardness is one of the key characteristics of a blade. Too soft metal will quickly become dull during operation, such a tool will have to be sharpened too often, which does not contribute to comfort. On the other hand, if the hardness is too high, the blade will be brittle, prone to chips and notches, and sharpening will be noticeably difficult.
Most often, hardness is indicated on the Rockwell scale (HRC). The optimal indicator for axes is considered to be a value from 52 to 58 – 60 HRC. Lower values are clearly not recommended; in high-end axes, hardness can be higher, various technological tricks can be used to reduce fragility, but this significantly affects the cost.
Total length
Length is one of the main parameters that determine the specialization of the tool.
A large length is typical for models designed for rough work in large volumes, where significant effort is required — for example, in cleavers (see "Type"), this indicator can reach a metre. Small tools, in turn, are intended either for precision carpentry or for tourist use, where the tool has to be carried around and its compactness is no less important than functionality.
The smallest modern hatchets have a length of about 200 mm, often they are multifunctional tools with wrenches, sling cutters and other special devices made in the form of curly slots. The length of a tourist tool is usually about 300 mm, universal carpentry axes are about 500 – 600 mm, and most cleavers have a length of 600 mm or more.
It is worth considering that in this paragraph the length of the handle itself may also come across, when the manufacturer himself does not give clear explanations of exactly what length is indicated in the specifications. However, this value often differs by only a few cm.
Axe weight
The total weight of the ax, for models with wooden handles — with a complete handle.
The optimal weight depends on the type (see above) and specialization of the tool. So, general purpose axes (carpentry) weigh about 0.8 – 1.5 kg; such products are able to provide sufficient inertia for impact and at the same time do not require significant effort. At the same time, lighter tools are intended for precise work, heavier ones for rough work. Cleavers and similar "generalists" are by definition massive, most often from 2 kg or more, and in the most "large-caliber" models, the weight can be about 4.5 – 5 kg. Here it is worth proceeding from the thickness and hardness of the wood that is planned to be chopped:
a heavy cleaver can easily cope even with large logs, however, it will take a lot of effort for such work. In tourist axes and tomahawks, in turn, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of transportation: for constant carrying with you, it is better to take a lighter tool, and if the tool is bought for trips to nature by car, you can choose a heavier model.
Blade weight
The weight of the ax blade, excluding the handle.
It is believed that such an ax balance is optimal when its centre of gravity is maximally shifted to the blade. Accordingly, the more massive the blade relative to the handle, the closer the centre of gravity will be to it and the closer the balance will be to the perfect. At the same time, it is impossible to infinitely make the blade heavier and lighten the handle — there are limitations associated primarily with the strength of the structure. As a result, in axes weighing up to 1.5 kg, the weight of the handle is usually 200 – 250 g; in other words, the blade accounts for about 80 – 85% of the total weight of the tool. In more massive products, the handles turn out to be heavier — for example, with a weight of 3 kg, the weight of the handle can be about a kilogram, that is, the blade already accounts for only about 60% of the weight of the tool. However, such axes usually have a considerable length, which compensates for this moment.
Blade corrosion resistance
The presence of a special
protective coating on the ax blade that protects the metal from corrosion.
The carbon tool steel used in most modern axes is not stainless. Thus, many axes provide a special blade coating; usually such a coating has a characteristic black colour. This feature can be useful anyway, but it is especially relevant in cases where the ax is constantly in conditions of high humidity (for example, stored in a barn during the cold season, or used in water trips).
Rubberized grip
The presence of additional rubber lining(s) in the design of the ax handle.
Such pads are used for additional convenience and safety during work. Firstly, the rubber does not tend to slip in the hand, which reduces the risk of releasing the tool. Secondly, this material is soft and pleasant to the touch, and also does not “cool” your hands in cool weather. Thirdly, rubber dampens vibrations of the handle, increasing the accuracy of work and reducing fatigue (this is perhaps the main advantage of such pads).
Handles made of almost any material can be
rubberized(see above), however, for a number of reasons, rubber is rarely combined with wood.
