When you start carving spoons, you may think that any axe will do, but the truth is that some axes are explicitly designed for spoon carving and others aren’t. Choosing the right axe is essential, as an unsuitable one can ruin your whole carving experience or even injure you. If you want to save time and frustration while working on your next project, read on to learn how to choose the best axe for spoon carving.
Generally, when it comes to finding the best axe for spoon carving, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:
- The size of the axe head is essential; you want something manageable.
- The handle should hold comfortably and provide a good grip.
- The blade should be sharp and made of high-quality steel.
We’ll cover the types of axes available and the factors you should consider when purchasing. By the end of this post, you’ll be an expert in choosing the best axe for spoon carving!
The Best Axe for Spoon Carving: How to Choose the Right One
1. Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet – editor’s choice
When choosing an axe for spoon carving, it is essential to consider its weight, blade, and handle. The Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet is an excellent choice for spoon carving because it is lightweight and has a sharp edge that can be easily resharpened. The hatchet also comes with a leather sheath for protection.
The Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet is a great option to help you create beautiful spoons. It has a long handle that allows you to use two hands while working on your project, making it easier than using only one hand. The long handle also lends the axe more power during the swing.
The blade is well-shaped so as not to catch or snag while cutting through wood, and it’s easy to sharpen when needed. Other axes often have small edges that require more effort to cut through rigid materials. But the Gransfor blade is designed to make cutting through wood efficient. For example, if you are looking for an axe ideal for lopping off quite large branches or splitting small logs that are suitable for spoon carving, the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet is the right one for you.
The only downside of this axe is its price: It is pretty expensive compared to the rest of the axes, but worth the price.
2. Marbles Small Axe MR702 – runners up
This axe from the marbles is a great all-purpose carving axe. The head is small and light, making it easy to control, and the blade is just the right size for spoon carving. The handle is also comfortable to hold, and the overall quality is excellent. This handle is made from wood, which offers an excellent grip without being overly rough on your hands.
Anyone looking for a versatile carving tool should consider this axe. The axe head weighs about 1-1/2 to 2 pounds, which is not overly large or heavy but has enough weight to allow you to cut through hardwood easily. It’s a reasonable price as well! From now on, this will be my go-to axe – I highly recommend it!
The only downside is that it isn’t sharp out of the box, and the handle needs oiling. However, this should not keep you from buying it, as the carbon steel blade is easy to resharpen, durable, and simple to maintain.
3. Drake Light Bearded Axe/Hatchet with Handle – budget pick
The Drake Off Road Tools Viking Type Light Bearded Axe is an excellent option for anyone looking for the best axe for spoon carving. This axe is made with high-quality materials designed specifically for spoon and small bowl carving.
The head weighs only 1.3 pounds, making it perfect for situations where weight is a concern. It has a wide, sharp blade made of high-quality steel that is perfect for shaping and processing more minor pieces of wood into spoon blanks. However, the axehead was less sharp out of the box than I preferred, but it took an excellent edge and was simple to resharpen. That is the only drawback I can think of.
The axe also has a comfortable handle made from a beech tree that is treated with a wood varnish that makes it easy to grip and use. Therefore, if you are looking for a good axe that will be smooth in your spoon carving, look no further; this would be your perfect axe. Plus, the price is very reasonable.
Also, have a look at the other Best Budget-friendly carving axe.
Factors to consider when choosing a spoon-carving axe
Here are a few things to consider when choosing an axe for spoon carving:
1 What kind of wood are you carving?
The kind of wood plays a significant role in choosing the axe type. For softer woods like pine or poplar, pick a lighter-weight axe that can be swung more quickly. If you’re going to be chopping hardwoods like oak or mahogany, get something heavier that will have the ability to cut across the grain and won’t break easily.
Check out our article for more information on the Best Axe for Hardwood.
Choosing Size Based on Skill Level
Choosing an axe that is just a little small is essential if you’re a beginner. A good size for a beginner is around 18 inches. If you’re more experienced, you can choose a smaller or larger axe, depending on your preference. When in doubt, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and go with a smaller size.
Choosing the Blade
The blade is the most critical factor in choosing an axe for spoon carving. You want an edge that is sharp and made of high-quality steel. Also, it has to be durable to handle all sorts of carving projects.
The size of the blade also matters. A smaller blade is easier to control, but a larger blade can make deeper cuts. If you are right-handed, it is best to choose an edge on the left side of your body. If you are left-handed, then it is best to choose one on the right side of your body.
The weight and balance of the blade also matter; a lighter and shorter handle with more weight at the head will provide better control than a heavy handle with less weight at the head. Generally, the longer the handle, the greater the leverage that can be achieved when swinging the axe.
Summary: Best axe for spoon carving
Choosing the right axe is essential for anyone looking to get into spoon carving. The type of wood you’ll be carving, the size of the spoon, and your personal preferences will all play a role in what kind of axe you’ll need. You will also want something easy to handle that will be manageable to use for extended periods.
This blog post has guided you through everything you need to know to choose the best axe for your next spoon-carving project.
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