$15 Splitting Hatchet vs $188 Gransfors Bruks? Simplicity or style. Plastic or wood. Unknowns or...

On Amazon:

[donnastormer]

Thank you so much for this. You just saved me a ton of money. I bought a rocket stove that requires exactly what you’re cutting up and my son was trying to convince me to buy the really expensive hatchet. I’ll get the $15 one instead.

[bigperm]

Came here for the splitters but gonna buy that hand band file sander thing!

[egbluesuede]

Just a thought, but the person who buys a 15 dollar Chinese plastic hatchet from Amazon probably isn't expecting it to come dull, and has no tools or skills to sharpen the edge. The person who buys a GB hatchet expects it to be razor sharp upon arrival, and probably also knows how to maintain such a tool. I take good care of all my GB axes, and they will probably increase in value because of their quality and reputation until the day I pass. That other axe would end up in the trash.

[provident]

Unless you are working with that tool all day and used it for more than camp chores. You do not ever need to buy premium tools. You can buy cheap tools and they work just fine. It’s like buying a $200 knife just to open boxes. Why?

[ironmikehallowween]

Nearly every time I get some cheap, shoddy made tool, I end up regretting it. It always kinda works, but is basically junk. So, I try to get better quality these days whenever possible. Quality just makes life easier and more pleasant.

[thestateofdecy]

A froe is great for this task and much safer!

[robbabcock_]

Good stuff! I don't see spending a ton of money on a splitter. I've never found anything that worked better than the two largest Fiskar's splitting mauls, and they run $50-$75.

[dag]

I've got 3 gransfors bruks axes and love the quality/craftsmanship etc but I've got to say the plastic fiskars axes are superb workhorses.

[zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat]

The main difference between quality Swedish forged steel heads and Taiwanese/Chinese steel is how long the steel will hold a useful edge, how easy it sharpens (a power file is a bit agricultural for the job, IMO - & if you're going to use it, grind away from the edge) and how keen you can get an edge on it. I have a Hultafors (competitor to Gransfors) carpenters' axe, and only use it for trimming structural timber posts, because I don't want to run it into dirt and stones. I think $188 is a bit steep for a firewood tool. Torbjorn Ahman made a static kindling splitter in one of his videos, and I think that's all you need,

[naturundhund]

A splitting ax doesn't necessarily have to be sharp; it blows the wood apart.
Greetings from the north
Peter from Germany

[samuele]

In Italy we use another style of knife for that kind of thin wood

[funkydozer]

My splitting axe was also forged by Linus Hejmer. It will outlive everyone alive on earth right now.

[patinaz]

You can have a Casio or a Rolex. Both get the job done. The choice is yours.