Harbor Freight Hatchet can be good?

FloraMetsas · Jan 42021

SoI was just browsing over some threads about Harbor Freight and decided to check their website out.
I haven't been on there for a while and just thought "Why not look up axes?"
I knew they had someand had seen them in my local onebut had never seen the price.
Then this popped up.

I also read on another thread that they are made out of some decent steel(I'll have to go see who said that.) and that they aren't too shabby.
For $12 I'm probably gonna check one out anyway(Because why not?) but I still wanted to see what your guys' experiences have been with them. (If any.)

I know you can "bushcraft" with pretty much anythingbut I still wanted to know if you can actually make a decent hatchet out of one.

Just a little thread to see what you guys thought.

God bless,
FB

dirt7 · Jan 42021

It will chop/do hatchet things just fine with a little work.

The profile of what I have seen in the store is on the thicker sideand thinning it out does help with chopping. Like most cheap drop forged steel tools there are some variations from one hatchet to the otherbut it can be turned into a serviceable tool.

Check the eye/wedge on them and make sure you have a good attachment to the handle. This is the only issue I have read about with HF tools.

If you want a project to blow a few hours on then I highly suggest getting one.

FloraMetsas · Jan 42021

dirt7 said:
It will chop/do hatchet things just fine with a little work.

The profile of what I have seen in the store is on the thicker sideand thinning it out does help with chopping. Like most cheap drop forged steel tools there are some variations from one hatchet to the otherbut it can be turned into a serviceable tool.

Check the eye/wedge on them and make sure you have a good attachment to the handle. This is the only issue I have read about with HF tools.

If you want a project to blow a few hours on then I highly suggest getting one.

Yeahthe thicker profile is what I was mainly inquiring about.
I'll be able to remedy that.
I wasn't thinking about the eye at first though when I head over to my local one I'll have to find the one that looks the best placed.
I was also thinking about getting this one.
And then doing these mods to it.

Thanks for the insight!
God bless,
FB

dirt7 · Jan 42021

FloraBushcraft said:
Yeahthe thicker profile is what I was mainly inquiring about.
I'll be able to remedy that.
I wasn't thinking about the eye at first though when I head over to my local one I'll have to find the one that looks the best placed.
I was also thinking about getting this one.
And then doing these mods to it.

Thanks for the insight!
God bless,
FB

It seems like a heck of a lot of work to get the firemans hatchet just to take the spike off the back. Sure you won't be able to hammer with itbut that spike would be excellent for breaking apart stumps searching for fatwood.

I think I might have to get that firemans hatchet and give that a go.

The one I have works great. The steel isn't as hard as some of my "nicer" axes/hatchets but its never rolled or caused any issues for me.

Kelly W · Jan 42021

@MJGEGB

MJGEGB · Jan 42021

I'll post more on it in a bit but it's a good buy IMO.

I have two of these heads. I went with the plastic handled versions because they were cheaper and I was ditching the handles anyway. The steel is a little softer than say a Gransfors or something but back when I purchased mine they came with a darn good profile. What you see in that video is a stock head that I simply sharpened up and rehandled.

The last time I was there it seemed like the supplier might have changed. Most of the stock they had there was different than the one in that video. They had very blunt grinds that were thick behind the edge. These would require more work for sure and I don't know if the steel is as good. That was a while ago however and I'm not sure what they look like now. I'm planning on stopping by soon and if they are like the ones I have I'll be picking up one or two. I want to try a mod with one at some point.

As crazy as it is that's my beater axe and so it tends to get used quite a bit. I actually like that axe a lot. @Forestree seemed to like it as well after swinging it at the last VA meet.

FloraMetsas · Jan 42021

dirt7 said:
It seems like a heck of a lot of work to get the firemans hatchet just to take the spike off the back. Sure you won't be able to hammer with itbut that spike would be excellent for breaking apart stumps searching for fatwood.

I think I might have to get that firemans hatchet and give that a go.

The one I have works great. The steel isn't as hard as some of my "nicer" axes/hatchets but its never rolled or caused any issues for me.

I was probably gonna keep the spike on there.
I don't have any fatwood to use it on around herebut it would be nice to use for flipping over logs and such.
I meanif I was looking for a cheap good hatchetI'm gonna get myself a Marbles hatchetbut I'm just wanting a small project. (Like I need one on top of my other axe head I have to finish...)
I think he did a good job on it though.

God bless,
FB

FloraMetsas · Jan 42021

MJGEGB said:
I'll post more on it in a bit but it's a good buy IMO.

Yepyou were the guy I was talking about! :18:

Manthat seems to work pretty well!
That profile does not look factory though. (Which is not a problem for me.)
Ever had any experience with the Fireman's hatchet?

WatchI'm gonna head over there in a bit and come back with like seven different axes... :54: *foreshadowing*...

God bless,
FB

USMCPOP · Jan 42021

They just had a 25% coupon but it expired yesterday.

The Marbles MA701SB camp axe is/was on sale for $16 at Smoky Mountain but out of stock at the moment.

Marbles Camp Axe Hickory MA701SB

The Marble's Camp Axe features a 6.25-inch 1045 carbon steel head and an American Hickory handlecombining strength and precision in a 15.87-inch1.14-pound package.

www.smkw.com

TAHAWK · Jan 42021

... for different values of "good."

Bribbon · Jan 42021

MJGEGB said:
I'll post more on it in a bit but it's a good buy IMO.

Hah! That little toss at the end.. you do really nice handle work man

FloraMetsas · Jan 42021

USMCPOP said:
They just had a 25% coupon but it expired yesterday.

The Marbles MA701SB camp axe is/was on sale for $16 at Smoky Mountain but out of stock at the moment.

Marbles Camp Axe Hickory MA701SB

The Marble's Camp Axe features a 6.25-inch 1045 carbon steel head and an American Hickory handlecombining strength and precision in a 15.87-inch1.14-pound package.

www.smkw.com

YeahI saw that yesterdaywasn't able to go though.
I like the Marbles camp axebut I just want to get some type of cheapo axe to do some modifications to.
I've got that modding and creating spirit in me right now... hence the reason I'm doing 100 different projects...

God bless,
FB

MJGEGB · Jan 42021

FloraBushcraft said:
Yepyou were the guy I was talking about! :18:

Manthat seems to work pretty well!
That profile does not look factory though. (Which is not a problem for me.)
Ever had any experience with the Fireman's hatchet?

WatchI'm gonna head over there in a bit and come back with like seven different axes... :54: *foreshadowing*...

God bless,
FB

It's stocka bit in front of my finger nail is as far back as any abrasive has ever touched this head by my hands. I added a convex bevel and sharpened it up and since then it's just been maintenance.

I haven't messed with the FF hatchet but many have in the past with good results. I'd pick up anything that looks like a serviceable axe shaped tool. Can't go wrong with having a beater around. This one has even done some root chopping in the dirt.

Here's something that will make some heads explode. I prefer this over my Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

FloraMetsas · Jan 42021

MJGEGB said:
It's stocka bit in front of my finger nail is as far back as any abrasive has ever touched this head by my hands. I added a convex bevel and sharpened it up and since then it's just been maintenance.
View attachment 1140682 View attachment 1140683

I haven't messed with the FF hatchet but many have in the past with good results. I'd pick up anything that looks like a serviceable axe shaped tool. Can't go wrong with having a beater around. This one has even done some root chopping in the dirt.

Here's something that will make some heads explode. I prefer this over my Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

Huhfor a pretty much stock edge that ain't too shabby!
I love having a beater tool of any sort around myself.
Man... I am gonna end up coming back with seven axes today...

Butover your Gransfors?
Must like it then.
I've used some Gransfors beforegood axes but expensive.
Now after you said that I have to pick one up! :18:

God bless,
FB

MJGEGB · Jan 42021

FloraBushcraft said:
Huhfor a pretty much stock edge that ain't too shabby!
I love having a beater tool of any sort around myself.
Man... I am gonna end up coming back with seven axes today...

Butover your Gransfors?
Must like it then.
I've used some Gransfors beforegood axes but expensive.
Now after you said that I have to pick one up! :18:

God bless,
FB

My Gransfors is pretty low on my list truth be told. It's prettyand we'll made but misses a lot of marks for me personally. I just figured that statement would ruffle some feathers lol. People get a bit hung up on name brandsand this steel and that but I don't question what works. Axes use very simple steelit's pretty hard to mess that up. I've come across a few that were complete duds but most are serviceable if not completely worn out.

I hope you find one like mine. But with harbor freight who knows. I'm sure it's a lowest bidder type of thing. I'm hoping I can find some more the next time I stop by. I want to try my hand at cutting one up. I still need to haft the last one I got which I added a high centerline profile to.

One of these is hand forged

The other is my Gransfors Bruks SFA :18:

FloraMetsas · Jan 42021

MJGEGB said:
My Gransfors is pretty low on my list truth be told. It's prettyand we'll made but misses a lot of marks for me personally. I just figured that statement would ruffle some feathers lol. People get a bit hung up on name brandsand this steel and that but I don't question what works. Axes use very simple steelit's pretty hard to mess that up. I've come across a few that were complete duds but most are serviceable if not completely worn out.

I hope you find one like mine. But with harbor freight who knows. I'm sure it's a lowest bidder type of thing. I'm hoping I can find some more the next time I stop by. I want to try my hand at cutting one up. I still need to haft the last one I got which I added a high centerline profile to.

YeahHarbor Freight seems to have a history of changing their products all the time. (Kinda the point thoughain't it?)
I think I'll be able to find oneif notI'll test out one or two of the other ones.

I could care less about the brandas long as it's a good tool.
I'm picking one of these up eventually though...

Thanks for the help so far!

God bless,
FB

MJGEGB · Jan 42021

FloraBushcraft said:
I'm picking one of these up eventually though...

You know someone selling one on the used market? Real shame that Gransfors bought them out and put them out of business. I haven't seen many people willing to let them go. I used one on the first VA meet I planned and it was a nice axe for sure.

FloraMetsas · Jan 42021

MJGEGB said:
You know someone selling one on the used market? Real shame that Gransfors bought them out and put them out of business. I haven't seen many people willing to let them go. I used one on the first VA meet I planned and it was a nice axe for sure.

HuhI didn't know that someone was selling one.
I also didn't know that Gransfors put 'em out of business.
I don't have the extra to buy one right now though.
Hence the reason I'm now intrigued by that camp ax from Harbor Freight now! (Might not beat itbut will most likely be god enough.)
:18: :18: :18:
God bless,
FB

Jim L. · Jan 42021

I picked up 2 of their fiberglass handled hatchets for about $8.00 each....

The head ain't too bad and needed a bit of tuning on the edgebut was very usable as was.

The handle had a couple issuesthough. Hot spots came quickly from grippability problems. Both problems were fixed with tennis raquette grip tape (I love that stuff).

Buck Fynn · Jan 42021

I purchased one of the harbor freight hatchets with the yellow plastic handle and fiberglass core. When I bought itI had my choice from a half dozen on the rack. All of them had blunt obtuse edges. Some of the heads were warped past the point of being fixable. Butheyfor $7 bucksI decided it was worth the gamble. Not long after using itthe head started coming loose from the handle. I mothballed it and didn't touch it for several years.

Fast forward to beginning of last year2020I decided to haft the harbor freight hatchet with a wooden handle to satisfy a bushclass elective. I had already thinned the cheeks down once. And I decided to take them down even more with a set of flap wheels and angle grinder before hafting it.

The steel on mine is soft. But no worse thansaya Walmart Ozark Trail hatchet. Not really sure what I have into it. But by the time I figure in the cost of the hatchetreplacement handlematerialsand my time I could have ended up with a lot nicer hatchet for the money. If I had to do it over againI would take a pass on the harbor freight hatchet.

41WLR · Jan 42021

This is just a philosophical observationbut in todays world:
1. Retail hatchet prices run from ~$10 to at least $350 (Hoffman 3# Camp Axe);
2. A “Big Mac Meal” or “Whopper Meal” (if you can call those things “meals”) costs $6 or more;
3. Replacement handles for premium hatchets go for ~$40 or more.

In view of these pricesI have trouble arguing with a ~$10 hatchet. I’d expect it'll be a dog and maybe the mangiest mutt of a hatchet ever seenbut it’d still be an appropriately priced beater and meant to be abused. I may try the new “axe” (in truthhatchet) throwing craze on for size. If I do~$10 sounds good for a starter thrower. I expect I'll have to reprofile it to get it to workbut that’d be part of the deal with a ~$10 hatchet. If the weathermy health and a few other things cooperateI may find out how my “dirt cheap beater thrower” theory works out in the next month. If the head falls off of the handle after a couple throwsI’ll laugh it off and write it off as one more of my countless failed theories.

Edit: The post from @buckfynn showed up while I was working on my post. My initial willingness to try the ~$10 HF Wonder Hatchet is already cooling down quickly. I’m not so sure any more. Cost-desirable and cost-effective handle replacement is always a potential deal-killer.

FloraMetsas · Jan 42021

41WLR said:
This is just a philosophical observationbut in todays world:
1. Retail hatchet prices run from ~$10 to at least $350 (Hoffman 3# Camp Axe);
2. A “Big Mac Meal” or “Whopper Meal” (if you can call those things “meals”) costs $6 or more;
3. Replacement handles for premium hatchets go for ~$40 or more.

In view of these pricesI have trouble arguing with a ~$10 hatchet. I’d expect it'll be a dog and maybe the mangiest mutt of a hatchet ever seenbut it’d still be an appropriately priced beater and meant to be abused. I may try the new “axe” (in truthhatchet) throwing craze on for size. If I do~$10 sounds good for a starter thrower. I expect I'll have to reprofile it to get it to workbut that’d be part of the deal with a ~$10 hatchet. If the weathermy health and a few other things cooperateI may find out how my “dirt cheap beater thrower” theory works out in the next month. If the head falls off of the handle after a couple throwsI’ll laugh it off and write it off as one more of my countless failed theories.

I like that observation.
It is rather hard to argue with a hatchet at $10.
I'm heading there soonso I'll probably be coming back with one... :4:

As for throwingyou'll want a tomahawk for that.
Not a hatchet. (Most likely it'd workbut it won't work as well as a dedicated tomahawk.)

God bless,
FB

41WLR · Jan 42021

FloraBushcraft said:
I like that observation. It is rather hard to argue with a hatchet at $10. I'm heading there soonso I'll probably be coming back with one... :4:
As for throwingyou'll want a tomahawk for that. Not a hatchet. (Most likely it'd workbut it won't work as well as a dedicated tomahawk.) God bless FB

Funny that you should mention hawks. I’ve got three cheap CS hawks that I’m presently about half-way through modding up into throwable shape. I've also had a H&B Shawnee on order for a few months now. The Mrs told me last fall that my number would be coming up in early Januaryso I hope to see it this month. Then of course there’s my ongoing fantasy about ordering Premium and Mighty Mouse hawks from Beaver Billwhich I think may get fueled into reality by my upcoming $600 “windfall” (HA!).

At any rateapologia mia for the temporary thread hijacking and now back to our regularly scheduled programming! I’ll probably go for one of those HF $12 masterpieces. It looks like they meet the requirements of the “axe” throwing venues and leagues and I’m willing to gamble a $12 bill on a crapshoot. I’ve blown far more $$ on far goofier ideas over the decadesso this theory won’t hurt too much if it goes bad on me.

FloraMetsas · Jan 62021

Thanks guys...
I picked up one of the hatchets...

@MJGEGBI was not able to find one of the pack axesbut did get one of the hatchets.

I’ll post pictures somehow in a bit.it looks like it’ll be a good kindling hatchet project.

God bless,
FB

CosmicJoke · Jan 62021

I don't know about the ones from Harbor Freightbut the Ground Works I got from Tractor Supply was around $13 wasn't bad right off the shelf. I did pick the best of the lot but none of them looked too bad.

FloraMetsas · Jan 62021

UPDATE:

(Full disclosureI knew this would happen. Ain't my first roundabout with HFT.)

The HFT axe I picked up is... terrible.
After some mediocre usethe head already has been loosened enough to move around.
And the one I picked up had the best set head of them all!

The steel is... okay.
I have already done some work to the bitand will hopefully get it done today or tomorrow.

Nonethelesswill have to re-haft the head.

God bless,
FB

plumberoy · Jan 62021

I have 3 around here all 3 are harder than both my Fiskars hatchets and my Estwing hatchets .c2 are cheap yellow handled hatchets that I bought for chopping roots or loaners . The third is a tinker project that came out decent I took the firemans hatchet thinned out the edge. I thinned out the handle. Cut off the spike. It is a decent little hatchet

MJGEGB · Jan 72021

FloraBushcraft said:
UPDATE:

(Full disclosureI knew this would happen. Ain't my first roundabout with HFT.)

The HFT axe I picked up is... terrible.
After some mediocre usethe head already has been loosened enough to move around.
And the one I picked up had the best set head of them all!

The steel is... okay.
I have already done some work to the bitand will hopefully get it done today or tomorrow.

Nonethelesswill have to re-haft the head.

God bless,
FB

This isn't a surprise at all. All the wood handled ones I've looked at obviously needed rehanging. The question is what does the current stock look like? And when you say the steel is okay did you profile it put a nice edge on it and see how it holds up to an axes intended use?

Mine is around 27-28° right at the edge. It's far from the best steel I've had in an axe but like I said perfectly serviceable. The nice part about it is how easy it is to maintain. But it's also good enough to hold up to some rock hard wood. Put mine through plenty of well seasoned oak heartwood on the last VA meet.

Hopefully I'll have a chance to stop by my HF again soon. Used to just swing by on the way home from work. There are some things that are great to buy from HF and other things that I just avoid. I'm pretty sure my daily driver is officially sponsored by HF at this point :18:

FloraMetsas · Jan 72021

MJGEGB said:
This isn't a surprise at all. All the wood handled ones I've looked at obviously needed rehanging. The question is what does the current stock look like? And when you say the steel is okay did you profile it put a nice edge on it and see how it holds up to an axes intended use?

Mine is around 27-28° right at the edge. It's far from the best steel I've had in an axe but like I said perfectly serviceable. The nice part about it is how easy it is to maintain. But it's also good enough to hold up to some rock hard wood. Put mine through plenty of well seasoned oak heartwood on the last VA meet.

Hopefully I'll have a chance to stop by my HF again soon. Used to just swing by on the way home from work. There are some things that are great to buy from HF and other things that I just avoid. I'm pretty sure my daily driver is officially sponsored by HF at this point :18:

:18::18::18:
Yeahit definitely needs re-hanging.
As for the steelI got about half of an ideal profile on before the haft came loose.
I'll update you guys once it's done.
Now I've got two hatchets to fix up!

God bless,
FB

FoxholeOutdoors · Jan 72021

@FloraBushcraft So I'm assuming you already have a hatchetis that correct?

Harbor Freight Hatchet can be good?

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