How to Cut Wood with a Hatchet
- 1). Hold the hatchet in a firm grip in your primary hand. Do not use a relaxed or loose grip, as the hatchet may bounce back and cause damage.
- 2). Swing the hatchet away from yourself. Do not swing down toward your legs or any other extremity that may be in the hatchet's path. This helps ensure you are not injured if the hatchet bounces off the wood at an irregular angle.
- 3). Strike the wood with the hatchet at an approximate 60-degree angle, rather than cutting straight up and down.
- 4). Alternate the direction of your cutting strikes. Cut two or three times from one direction, such as the left, switch direction to the right and begin cutting in the same place. This prevents the hatchet from getting stuck in the wood as you cut.
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