The axe is one of the most powerful bushcraft tools you can carry. With proper technique, it can make life in the wilderness far more comfortable with relatively little effort. But it’s also dangerous. If you’re new to axe work, get proper instruction first.
Video shot on 17 Nov 2025 in Lelystad, the Netherlands. In it I’m using a Gränsfors Small Forest Axe.
Tree felling
Felling trees is high-risk, so avoid anything over ~30 cm in diameter unless you know what you’re doing. Check the tree’s natural lean—this is the likely fall direction. Wind matters too. Before chopping, look for dead branches overhead.
Make an undercut on the fall side, no higher than 30 cm above the ground and about one-third of the tree’s diameter. Then make a backcut on the opposite side, 2–3 finger-widths higher, cutting half to two-thirds of the diameter. Leave a few centimeters of wood between the cuts to form the hinge. Chop at an angle (not straight in) to cut the fibres more efficiently. I usually work from a kneeling position for safety. Once you’re almost through, push the tree over and step back quickly.
Log splitting
Use a stable base (a stump or fallen tree) so you don’t strike the ground. Large logs can be split with the axe already embedded, bringing the axe and log down together onto the base. Smaller logs can be split the regular way: placed upright on the base with the axe striking from above. If there’s a knot, aim straight through the center. Thin pieces can be split sideways with the axe and wood hitting the base at the same time.
Fine work
For precision tasks, grip the axe close to the head to increase control and take short, deliberate chops.
Safety
Always ensure a safe follow-through path in case you miss or the wood breaks. Kneeling gives you a better margin of safety because a miss is more likely to hit the ground rather than your leg. Avoid using the axe when tired or in low light. When carrying it, always use a sturdy sheath.
More information
For a deeper dive, see the Axecraft chapter in Mors Kochanski’s classic book Bushcraft.