What steel and wood is best for an ax

The ax is widely used in various fields. It is found in workshops, in garden plots, and is also used as an auxiliary tool. For comfortable operation, the ax must be made of quality materials, so you need to know which steel and wood are best suited.

The best steel for an ax blade

Carbon steel is considered one of the best ax materials. The tool is stronger if, after forging, quenching and tempering occurs. Many modern manufacturers prefer to use low-cost steel grades, introduce casting, stamping. These nuances affect the quality of the product. Among the models are also solid-cast stainless steel products.

There are the following types of steel:

1. U8. Iron is present in large quantities in the chemical composition, followed by carbon. Thanks to this combination, the material is easily forged when heated, has good wear resistance due to hardening and annealing. The hardness of this type of steel can change when heated, so it is used for tools that will not be exposed to high temperatures. The annealing mode also affects the hardness.
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2. U2. The figure means how much carbon is contained in the raw material in percentage terms. A similar stigma is found on axes of old models.
3. 60G. Structural steel, in the chemical composition of which there is an increased content of manganese. This is what the letter G in the marking indicates. The product is characterized by high wear resistance, hardness, resistance to impact loads.

Good wood for a hatchet

The ax consists not only of steel, but also of wood. It also needs to be chosen correctly. Special attention is paid to the direction of the fibers. They should be even, without interlacing.

The quality of the wood is affected by the correctness of its drying. It is better to choose something that has been processed in a special drying chamber.

Hardwood is recommended for the axe.

You should familiarize yourself with the features of each of them:

1. Beech. This wood is easy to work with. Durable and solid. When using a beech type for an ax, it is worth remembering that the material absorbs moisture strongly, so its wear resistance may suffer.
2. Oak. This type of wood is characterized by resistance to stress. Products from it are reliable and durable. Tolerates moisture, resistant to mold and mildew. For a long time does not lose quality characteristics. Oak wood weighs a lot, so the ax will turn out to be heavy, and when working with it there will be a strong return.
3. Ash. This type of wood is considered one of the most suitable for an ax due to its good hardness, strength and density. The product can withstand high loads. Ash is an affordable material that can be easily found at a hardware store. Its cost is acceptable - the average price category.
4. Birch. Often used for an ax handle. The popularity and prevalence of the material is associated with the low cost of this type of wood and the ease of its processing. Has little hardness. The downside is the risk of rotting is high, so it is important that the birch is processed correctly. This will improve its properties.
5. Maple. Differs in durability and elasticity. Handling is easy. Maple wood has a soft texture and a beautiful tone.

It is necessary to select steel and wood for an ax based on the described characteristics. It is also important for what purposes and how often the tool will be used. This will allow you to choose the best option.