Harbor Freight Hatchet! TESTING And Tuned! Worth $12?

Рет қаралды 36,327

Күн бұрын

The Truth About The Harbor Freight Survival Hatchet.
In this video we take look at the Harbor Freight Hatchet and talk about the good, The bad and the ugly, We also fix it up the best we can without spending any additional money to make it a useable hatchet. Overall its not the worse hatchet I have even seen but its a long way from great!
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Пікірлер: 140

@SkogKniv 2 жыл бұрын

For $12 it meets and exceeds its cost with value.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

True

@johnnysparkleface3096 2 жыл бұрын

Dude, I'm getting one because $12.99 is a good deal. Once I get mine home, I'm going to replace the handle. The head isn't the best, so I'm going to replace that too. Thanks for the heads up!

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣🤣

@ku7p 2 жыл бұрын

My thoughts

@LosDoyerss Жыл бұрын

No need to replace the handle. The American hickory is very good, you can just reshape the existing handle.

@alexrandell9199 Жыл бұрын

Axe of Theseus

@Wheelman151 Жыл бұрын

Amen. Just did that on my new one. 30-60 minutes to get it comfy for my hand, clean up the blade, burnish & put boiled liinseed oil on the handle, and teach a grandson a bit about tool care and thrift.

@paulanderson388 Жыл бұрын

It's a $12 hatchet. What did you expect? For $12 it is more than capable of doing the job and with a little work on it (which most of us like to do) it is a great performer all for $12. It is a bargain in my book.

@KillingerUSA Жыл бұрын

Um... I think that's what I said?

@Jesusiskingamen7 2 жыл бұрын

I stripped the coating off mine soaked in in vinegar for two days and changed the grind and sanded the handle down a lot and I have a lot of nice expensive axes and hatchet and I swear to you this is the best limbing hatchet I have and gets sharper than any other I have trust me that thing is well worth the money if you put the time in it it’s great takes most limbs in one to two strikes at most

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

It's a great profile. That's for sure

@TheHallbjorn 2 жыл бұрын

What does the soaking in vinegar do, and does that swell the hickory?

@escapetherace1943 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheHallbjorn nothing he was just removing the black finish.. personally i'd leave it, protects versus rust

@moshpitmachine Жыл бұрын

So I took it out as is and took down a few small trees in my yard. For a 13 dollar axe it's great. One tree about 4 inches thick and another one about thigh thickness. Took about 7 minutes for the big one and about 3 for the small. It cuts great, burrows deep, only thing I can see to really fix is the blade geometry but a good bastard file and patience can handle that

@lukebrown3390 Жыл бұрын

My Boy Scout troop bought multiple of these. Aside from one or two scouts chopping up some kindling we mostly use them for teaching the younger scouts how to use a hatchet

@KillingerUSA Жыл бұрын

Good tool for that!

@russellpsi 2 жыл бұрын

Perfect video. Picked up this as well...new to axes and hatchets....great to practice some mods on. My grind also was also asymmetric.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@jamesgroves5294 2 жыл бұрын

Good information Chris. I agree with you about finding a vintage head for 10 bucks. Hey, nice feather sticks. How about a Killinger bush craft video😊

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Been a long time since I shot one of those.

@josezavalapina7392 2 жыл бұрын

great vid on this....I kind of want to buy one just to have it in case....I mean definitely there are better ones out there...would be pretty awesome if you can do a video out in the wild using this and applying practical application and see how it does.....subbed...keep them vids coming!!

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Appreciate it!

@in2thepickers888 8 ай бұрын

Looks like for about a half an hour you have a good hatchet nice work thats a winner in my book

@felixbinette9752 2 жыл бұрын

I bought one of those 2 years ago played with rasps and files took all the paint off changed the handle profile. Just learned how to work the handle and the edge.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Nice

@contemporaryprimitiveman3469 2 жыл бұрын

A hatchet I could leave next to the kindling pile in that public campground and not worry about it walking off. My vintage Coleman stove and lantern, vintage cast iron, and vintage axe all get locked up out of sight.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

100%

@aldredske6197 2 жыл бұрын

Good morning Chris!!😀😀 It looks like typical Harbor Freight quality. LOL!! Sometimes you get a good one and sometimes you don't. Take care my friend!!😀😀👍👍

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Take care Al

@felixbinette9752 2 жыл бұрын

Good fun watching you.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Appreciate it

@Brian2bears 2 жыл бұрын

Chipmunk @ 13:37. Excellent production Mr. K. " I cringe when someone throws vintage" was very funny to me. Nice display of skills, I thought for a moment you would break out a flint & steel or a ferro rod, no joke, very enjoyable....64 likes, I pegged my limit....

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

I definitely thought about the flint and steel but couldn't remember where I put it. Some day I'll have all my gear organized for a quick grab. Haha

@turtlewolfpack6061 2 жыл бұрын

Finding a good 1.25lb hatchet head isn't easy in many areas and even a new one (say the Husqvarna) is either heavier or lighter. The lighter Husqvarna hatchet is next to useless and the heavier one begs for a longer haft. I don't think I myself would bother with this one in particular but I have taken and improved inexpensive hardware store hatchets and axes in the past.

@jeffgrier8488 2 жыл бұрын

I almost bought one of those the last time i was at harbor freight, but never did. But now i might just to mess with it, it would be good to have around if somebody wanted to borrow a hatchet, then i wouldn't have to give them one of my good ones!

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely!

@justinweaver8787 2 жыл бұрын

U know ur stuff buddy 4aure i got a couple heads 1day i hope 2 get done right by someone who knows there stuff hope u have a good weekend and are enjoying this beautiful weather.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Looks like the weather is going to change

@justinweaver8787 2 жыл бұрын

@@KillingerUSA thats true its comin fast

@kipheiny6672 2 жыл бұрын

I must have gotten lucky, there was no gap in the head on mine, the grind is straight but the blade is very thick

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely lucky

@terryw.milburn8565 2 жыл бұрын

Umm Hmm Good Beginner Hatchet, Slicked 'Er Up Good With That Snake Juice, Thanks Chris ! ATB T God Bless

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Turned out pretty OK

@brucearney9536 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome !

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@michaelprue9024 6 ай бұрын

I bought one. Then I bought some sharpening stones and sharpened it. This little hatchet is awesome. It does everything I need it to do, especially splitting kindling. Makes the job enjoyable.

@KillingerUSA 6 ай бұрын

That's great!

@nickjhonson9053 2 жыл бұрын

So I've had mine a while re did the edge and I've tortured it in the woods lol I'm surprised it's held on but it's going strong still 🤷‍♂️

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

That's great!

@escapetherace1943 2 жыл бұрын

the grip is great dude not even tuned the thing was delimbing huge branches like a knife through butter. I'm gonna touch up the edge though cause I liked it so much

@aussiehardwood6196 2 жыл бұрын

Good video.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@moshpitmachine Жыл бұрын

Oh definitely go through them, significant difference in handles

@KillingerUSA Жыл бұрын

Yep

@IndianaDoug 2 жыл бұрын

This is a really good video. Lots to learn from this.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Doug

@felixbinette9752 2 жыл бұрын

And you make all that look easy.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Done it a couple times

@biglemms 2 жыл бұрын

What? No hand made leather sheath for that razor sharp hatchet? (commented b4 closing) Liked and waiting

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣

@BUZZKILLJRJR 5 ай бұрын

The heads on there I don't know what steel they use but it's freaking awesome they take a beating some of the Hammers do too I used them for years and they didn't wear out as quickly as some of the other brands I don't know like I said what steal it is but it's hard and it doesn't just mushroom out like a lot of Steel does

@willajeankelley5735 2 жыл бұрын

It's made of mild steel. Great to loan out to your son in law or the so called buddy who's bad with tools. Me I would use it when going camping or put behind the truck seat. Just me two cents.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Good call

@fuelmanjoe8639 Жыл бұрын

NICE VIDEO

@KillingerUSA Жыл бұрын

Thank you

@greedog47 2 жыл бұрын

What was the leather pad he used to make it razor sharp?

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

That is a large strop I made

@ralfrufus6573 Жыл бұрын

I like your watch strap!

@KillingerUSA Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Works great!

@ralfrufus6573 Жыл бұрын

@@KillingerUSA Looks like Nato, Zulu, something...

@takenusername Жыл бұрын

I’m thinking about snagging one this weekend using the 20% coupon. If I don’t get around to it, I’ll get one next time they offer 30% off anything under $20.

@KillingerUSA Жыл бұрын

It's a good time to grab one.

@bsd9230 5 ай бұрын

What type of file? What wax did you put on the leather strap?

@KillingerUSA 5 ай бұрын

That file is actually called an axe file. Got it on Amazon. If your talking about the leather strop, it's green polishing compound.

@heidigib01 2 жыл бұрын

Can’t you fill in the gap with wood putty, remove the varnish and oil the handle and sharpen the blade? For $12 for occasional use, seems like a pretty ok deal. Btw I have looked at estate sales and garage sales and have very seldom seen any hatchet, let alone one with intact head at $12.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Yes

@SlushMowerThe3rd 4 ай бұрын

What tool did you use to strip the varnish?

@KillingerUSA 4 ай бұрын

Scraper

@jeffreyrubish347 2 жыл бұрын

I'd probably put some wood glue in the gap around the head for a budget fix.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Good idea

@hpgdawnpatrol9456 Жыл бұрын

Spend 5 minutes on sharpening the edge with the coarse belt on a work sharp. Strip the finish with a pocket knife, sand and soak the handle in BLO amd you are left with an excellent camp axe. I got a "good" one at HF but like you had to go through about 10 of them to find one hang decent and with a pretty grain. 30 minutes of time is all it takes and you have a decent enough hatchet to throw in a pack or vehicle for emergency use. I think its worth every bit of 12 bucks.

@KillingerUSA Жыл бұрын

Definitely

@JohnDoe-cd6ro 8 ай бұрын

I'm a newb. How do I know if I find one with a decent hang to buy?What do I look for?

@lemoneez4485 3 ай бұрын

the newer ones of these at harbor freight have been upgraded

@lemoneez4485 3 ай бұрын

at least as what ive seen

@petehendry4756 2 жыл бұрын

I was the 69th like so looks like you're making a sheath Killer .

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

You are correct. Coming soon

@frankgulla8782 2 жыл бұрын

My hf hatchet is hung perfectly with no gaps.of course I scraped it, treated with BLO and re-profiled the head with a file. For 13 bucks you can't go wrong.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Nice

@LukeMcMullin 2 жыл бұрын

It would make a good chicken chopper. haha

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Yes

@KevinsDisobedience 2 жыл бұрын

Good, honest review, but you didn’t run up a mountain with it in your backpack and then give it a good review 😉…so 👎 jk,jk Good stuff as always, and good point about the thin profile.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

I'd wager there was way more action in this video than the one that went up a "mountain ". Haha!

@KevinsDisobedience 2 жыл бұрын

☺️😉🤫

@axemonkey Жыл бұрын

That damn thing out of the box is good for nothing but grub work. If you do all the other stuff to it, then it can become a fairly useful tool. I'm sure you would agree. No the steel is not going to be anywhere close to what a Plumb or a Stanley, and damn sure not a Gransfors. It can definitely be a good tool in a pinch if you needed it to be. Also a great example of a tool to teach kids about how axes work as well as care for the tool. At least you won't cry about it too much if they screw it up to the point where you don't want to even try to fix it. Lol

@KillingerUSA Жыл бұрын

All true

@hpgdawnpatrol9456 Жыл бұрын

Comparing a china made 12 dollar hatchet to a Gransfors? Lol

@kyplummer3657 Жыл бұрын

A lot of the handles are different on each one of the harbor, freight hatchet

@KillingerUSA Жыл бұрын

Yes

@felixbinette9752 2 жыл бұрын

Now it's worth 2 dollars

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Yup

@alanreynolds2125 2 жыл бұрын

there's 51 chris!!!

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

51?

@alanreynolds2125 2 жыл бұрын

@@KillingerUSA 51 views 👀

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

@@alanreynolds2125 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I totally forgot what I said! Ok, video soon!

@SOHN32 2 жыл бұрын

That knife looked all full dull. Must been sharpen on a tri stone sharpener. Lol

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Wouldn't cut butter

@SOHN32 2 жыл бұрын

@@KillingerUSA did you use your stone. Or the band sharpener. Or both.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

@@SOHN32 the knife? Used stones.

@RR137G 2 жыл бұрын

Use a file and cat eye it.

@eddyarundale1566 2 жыл бұрын

👋

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

🤛

@lucasceglinski2352 2 жыл бұрын

@@KillingerUSA 🤜 Eddy left you hanging. Lol

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

@@lucasceglinski2352 haha!

@scottjohnson9225 7 ай бұрын

Just like, no knife comes sharp (except hi end), no hatchet comes beveled and sharp. You have to know. Not hard.

@drunclereb6394 Жыл бұрын

Even I can do this? But, I’m a complete moron and couldn’t possibly fathom such a complex process…

@KillingerUSA Жыл бұрын

Weird

@drunclereb6394 Жыл бұрын

@@KillingerUSA indeed you are

@hippietwocams 2 жыл бұрын

if you spent as much time on cleanup around your shed, you wouldn't have as big a snake and scorpion home as you have

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Haha! I'm in Ohio. We dont have scorpions and snakes are rare. What you see in the video is some old metal roofing that was stacked neatly next to the shed. It fell down and I just haven't bothered to stack it back up. I can see this video has made it's way to the KZfaq homepage. Thanks for commenting and letting me know.

@mattheweasley6291 2 жыл бұрын

People really do just steal other people videos.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

What in the world are you talking about?

@demetriusmartinez9902 Жыл бұрын

He took this from Wrangler star

@SOHN32 2 жыл бұрын

Ah man that did it give you 9.99 now. You put a hole in that handle. For a cheap axe don't care looks like you did something with it. Where the oak at.

@KillingerUSA 2 жыл бұрын

Haha!

@elisabattle8456 Жыл бұрын

Why are we anguishing over the value of a 12$ hatchet? What the heck were you expecting? For small jobs around the house/garden what the hell--it will do the job.--mike

@KillingerUSA Жыл бұрын

Gave you something to watch ..