u/AxesOK

I cut 3 full cords with this 3.25lb (1500g) unstamped axe for the Axe Cordwood Challenge 2023 but about a year ago I broke the handle and it has been out of commission since. Now I’ve made a new Green Ash heartwood handle and given the head a bit of a shine and I am waiting for a chance to swing it again. This handle is based off an old Walters pulpwood axe handle but adjusted to 30” (76 cm) from the original 28.

Belated round-up of 2025 Axe Cordwood Challenge results and participation! The eponymous challenge is to cut a full cord of wood using only an axe (a cord is equivalent to a stack 4’ high by 24’ long or 1.5m high by 6m long. Typically arranged into 3 equal rows called ricks). No saws allowed, with an exception for the back cut of back leaning trees. Saws aren’t bad, but the point is to become more proficient with an axe for all types of cordwood work.

There’s also optional mini challenges like the Big Log Challenge (buck a log >50cm (20”) diameter in one go), the Low Stump Challenge (cut a tree (>8” diameter) low enough to to leave a stump less than 6” high), the One Tree Challenge (fell and process one tree in one day), and a few others.

The ACC was started in 2017 by Steven Edholm (SkillCult) and has been repeat every year by choppers all over the world (this year the US, Canada, Ukraine, Sweden, and Brazil were represented. Past participants were also in Vietnam, South Africa, the UK, Switzerland, and elsewhere.

Since it has been a discussion topic here recently… Many of you will be familiar with how to do this, but I recorded a short video for those who are not sure how split kindling with an axe without cutting your fingers.