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Axes are often used forDIY home decor projectsor repairs aroundhome exteriors.

Below, we share common types of axes to help you find the best one for your next project.

Forest Axe

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Best for:Felling trees.

Axe wedged into the top of a tree stump

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Think of this as a twofer.

Hudson Bay Axe

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Best for:Chopping and splitting firewood.

Tactical Axe

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Best for:Chopping firewood and digging small holes.

An axe stuck in a brown tree stump

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Hunters Axe

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Best for:Chopping wood.

A hunters axe features a chopping blade edge capable of handling both wood and game.

The butt end of the head typically has a flying edge for field dressing large game.

Forest axe used for felling

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The latter is usually longer and perpendicular to the former to function as a heavy-duty spade.

Japanese Nata Hatchet

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Best for:Pruning, clearing, and splitting wood.

However, this also renders the carpenter axe unsuitable for chopping and felling use.

Hatchet axe on a hide rug

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It can also create wood shavings.

This symmetry allows both left- and right-handed users to hew wood, albeit with more practice required.

The double bevel can also achieve scalloped cuts.

Double bit axe isolated on white background

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Adze

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Best for:Woodworking, carving.

A variant of the adze is a foot adze, which features a longer handle for two-handed operation.

Thesemultifunctional tools, like the tactical axe, are useful for various small jobs.

A wood splitting maul with a metal wedge on top of a wooden log

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Roofing Axe

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Best for:Installing roofing material.

The roofing axe is designed to meet a variety of roofing installation needs.

It has a two-sided head with one side sporting a sharp blade for cutting roof shingles.

Hudson Bay axe for splitting wood stuck in a tree stump

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The other side is a hammer head for pounding in the shingle-fixing nails.

Picaroon (or Pickaroon)

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Best for:Maneuvering logs.

Miners Axe

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Best for:Working in close quarters.

Tactical Military Axe isolated on white background

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Fire Axe

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Best for:Fire emergencies.

This axe throw in is mainly used by emergency responders, particularly in fire and forestry situations.

Overhead view of a hunter’s axe

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Pickaxe on some brick blocks in a house under construction

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using an axe to split a tree stump

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Japanese Nata hatchet

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carpenters axe

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broad axe

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Double bevel axe

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Adze for cutting and shaping wood.

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Tomahawk axe splitting wood

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Overhead view of roofing hatchet axe on colorful blanket

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Pickaroon in a log with a stack of firewood

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Miner’s axe on coal

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A fireman’s axe mounted on a white painted wall

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