In solving household issues and at enterprises for processing wood, two tools are often used: an ax and a cleaver. The wrong choice of one or the other can significantly complicate the work. It is necessary to understand why a cleaver is needed , what is its main difference from the usual ax and how to choose the right tool.
What is the difference between a cleaver and an axe?
Most of us mistakenly believe that an axe and a cleaver are the same tool. But despite their outward resemblance, each has its own main purpose.
An axe is a universal tool that can be used to cut, chop, and remove chips. The blade is very sharp. Today, there are various models with different handle sizes and shapes of the cutting part. The design of a universal axe is a handle to which a sharp head is attached, most often made of carbon steel. Previously, the handle was made of resilient wood. However, recently, new models are increasingly equipped with fiberglass composites, which are much more effective than natural materials. This material is not only resistant to weather conditions, but also has greater strength.
Splitters are a specialized type of axe. Due to its design, it is ideal for splitting logs into pieces that can be used as firewood. It differs from an axe in its greater weight and longer handle, making it easier to chop wood. This cleaver has a wide wedge and does not get stuck in the wood, easily splitting it into pieces. The sharpening of the metal part is not very sharp, with an angle of 30 degrees. The wedge-shaped blade allows you to quickly and easily enter the wood, and thanks to the wide part, the logs split into pieces with one blow. The weight of such an axe can vary from 2 to 3 kg, occasionally there are heavier units, reaching a weight of 5 kg. The handle is usually about 80 cm long. This design allows you to comfortably grip the tool with two hands and make a wide swing to hit the logs.
The main difference is that an axe is used to chop firewood, cut trees, and process wooden blanks, while a cleaver will help split a log into small chips.
How to choose a cleaver
There are no universal recommendations for selecting the optimal firewood splitter. The tool must be selected taking into account a number of important factors:
- Weight . A larger tool will make it easier to work with the log. Small axes can be used for splitting smaller pieces where great precision is important. A standard weight for an average person should be 2-2.5 kg.
- Handle: material and length. The shorter the handle, the less force the blow will have. For chopping heavy wood, you need to choose a tool with a longer handle. The handle should be free of any defects and should fit comfortably in the palm of your hand.
- Blade shape. For chopping large logs, a cleaver with a straight blade is needed. For wood with a high resin content or raw wood, it is better to use axes with a semi-circular blade.
You should not ignore the manufacturer's brand. Tools from the well-known manufacturer POLAX are durable and ergonomic tools with a special blade shape and appropriate balance. In the catalog of the online store of the manufacturer "Polaks" you can choose for yourself the best cleaver with optimal performance characteristics at affordable prices.
Recommended models: Polax 2000 g cleaver, fiberglass handle (36-008) Polax 2700 g cleaver, fiberglass handle (36-007) They are made of durable material, and their ergonomic handle has a non-slip surface that guarantees a stable grip. The axes are not afraid of adverse weather conditions. The wedge-shaped blade provides effective splitting and chopping, and the connection of the handle with the head is very strong. With their help, it is possible to fell trees using a blade, chop branches, split medium and large-sized timber. You can order the necessary tool online on the POLAX.UA website by adding the product to the cart, or by calling the managers at the number indicated at the top of the page. Orders are shipped to all regions of Ukraine within a few days.