>>2667524>>2667535I'm a total novice with axes/hatchets, but I happened to buy an estwing hatchet a year or so back when I started needing to process small bits of wood (fallen branches, logs too big for the smoker, etc). I basically wandered into home depot and said, "yes, this is a small axe not made entirely of plastic, I'll take it."
It was awful at first, because they come super dull, and the weight distribution and handle make it a little unwieldy. I gave it a sharpening, and it does okay now. If I was better at sharpening, I'm sure it would be just fine.
Since it was only $30, I went out and grabbed a fiskars just to try it. It's a much better design, and it cuts much more effectively despite being significantly lighter.
I like the fiskars better, but I'm glad I have both. It's like how the old timers had the two headed axes with one "nice" edge and one "beater" edge. The estwing will take most of the punishment so that the fiskars edge can be saved for other work.