We all enjoy an afternoon throwing an axe at a target. It is a great way to get away from the stress of everyday life and to take a few minutes to enjoy yourself.
An axe is designed to chop wood. Different woods react to an axe differently though, and this will determine how long an ax-throwing target will last.
IMPORTANT POINTS
Since I started making my own axe throwing target boards, I’ve been asked what is the best wood for an axe throwing target. It’s a good question to ask.
REAL CHALLENGE TO FIND THE BEST WOOD FOR AXE THROWING TARGETS
When choosing wood for your target it’s important to get the right balance between hardness and softness of the wood. Too hard and your axe will bounce off your target, but too soft and it will hold on too long. This has a lot to do with the durability of the axe.
TYPES OF WOOD THAT USED FOR MAKING THROWING AXE TARGET
There are different types of wood for axe targets-all kinds of different types. One type of wood is used for homemade targets, while another is used for professionals.
Hickory, Maple, Cotton Wood, Poplar, Pine, Willow, Charry wood, Spruce, Acacia, and Oak are good options for making axe throwing wood targets. But there are some other things that will go into people’s decisions including cost, availability, and your own personal preference on what looks good. The wood needs to be able to take the beating that it is going to take. The wood also needs to be able to stop the axe from bouncing back at you.
In the end, you need to make sure that you can find the wood that works best for your needs. Here’s some best wood that will help you find the best wood for axe throwing targets.
If you are planning to buy axe throwing equipment, or if you own one and you want to improve it, then you might want to know more about the best wood for axe throwing targets.
HICKORY WOOD
Hickory is commonly used by axe throwing professionals due to its ideal balance of hardness and durability. Hickory grows in climates close to the equator and reaches its maximum size of around 40 meters at latitudes near 35 degrees north and south. It can be found in North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. The wood varies considerably in size, flexibility, density and elongation.
Hickory wood is a great option for any type of wood target throwing. It is relatively cheap, very hard, and durable. The axe will tend to stick into the wood, as long as you use good technique. There are two main types of hickory:
- Red Hickory
- White Hickory
They are very similar in strength and durability, but red hickory has a much more attractive appearance. Red hickory is not as expensive, so that option could be better if aesthetics is important to you. Regardless of which wood you go with, it is best that you dry your wood completely before construction.
MAPLE WOOD
The best material for axe-throwing targets is hard maple. It’s a little soft, so the wood type seems to catch axes quite nicely when they stick and don’t bounce out when they should.
However, it won’t let them be buried too deep once they do stick. It also doesn’t splinter as easily as less dense woods such as bamboo or balsa wood, although it does eventually splinter to some extent.
Overall, hickory is a very good wood for axe throwing targets. It remains in high demand as it offers a good balance between cost and performance. The wood tends to throw axes well, allowing newbies and seasoned vets to improve their techniques off the same target.
COTTON WOOD
Cottonwood is actually a softwood, used in constructing vessels and posts. Its flexibility makes it a perfect choice for axe throwing backboard. Because of this, the target continues to remain in its original form and shape.
The durability is what makes cottonwood an ideal choice for creating an ax-throwing backboard. The target can serve you for an extended period and can be repaired with just a few wooden pegs if it ever gets damaged or destroyed after consistent use.
POPULAR WOOD
If you have been looking at pictures of axe throwing boards on the internet, you may have noticed that a lot of them are made of poplar wood. In this wood type, customers can order the highest density targets and they will also be able to choose between vertical or horizontal grain boards.
Poplar wood is easily available and inexpensive as related to oak and other woods used in woodworking. This wood is very light in weight, flexible, and also offers a good shock absorption property which are perfect for backboards.
It is a rather durable wood and highly weather-resistant, making it perfect for many industries such as building, early childhood learning centers, and, of course, axe throwing backboards.
PINE WOOD
If you are looking for the best wood to use for your wooden throwing target then you need to look no further than a good old-fashioned pine tree. Pine is one of the softwoods on the market and it’s not hard to see why when you look at the typical pine tree.
It has a very thin trunk that only has an increasing thickness as its height increases. Pinewood has been used in several industries, including furniture making, flooring, millwork, plywood, and many more.
WILLOW WOOD
Willow, also known as sallow, is a species of deciduous tree known for its pliable branches and twigs, which can be crafted into handmade willow-wood products such as cricket bats, basket making, and wicker. In addition to this, willow makes great utility poles, lumber; pulpwood, pallets, and axe throwing boards
CHARRY WOOD
Although a lot of attention has been given to improving cherry wood, this wood continues to be one of the best woods for axe throwing targets. The wood is fine-grained and strong, making it ideal for high-impact sports like throwing. The wood also resists splitting and tearing pretty well.
SPRUCE WOOD
Spruce is also one of the softwoods and is quite softer than those hardwoods. This wood is highly popular due to its wide use in manufacturing furniture, floors, and windows. Because most of the time it is used in cabinetry.
Spruce has a tendency to get dinged up easily. It’s not as durable compared to some of the hardwood options out there. That’s why if you want thick wood providing good stability, spruce can be a good option.
This wood is quite soft and lightweight i.e. has low density, which makes it less ideal for most other woodwork applications.
ACACIA WOOD
Acacia is one of the most common types of wood used in construction. It dries out and becomes hard and tightly bound. It is also able to withstand a lot of impacts. So, it is perfect for axe throwing targets because it will target that is strong enough for such tasks.
Among some of the other woods, acacia is commonly used for ax throwing targets This wood is used commonly because acacia results in good quality and beautiful products that do not decay when thrown recently.
OAK WOOD
Oak is also a good choice for many things. However, it is not the best wood to use for the axe target. It is too pliable and slippery. Any wood that has pitch or sap will also make it more difficult. You will want to use hardwood such as maple or hickory, but oak is still acceptable.
Conclusion
In the end, everyone has their own expertise and budget to select the wood. They select it according to their requirements. I tried my best to explain the best possibile know to make things easy
For those looking for a little bit of fun and relaxation, axe throwing can be a good option. Throwing axes is also a great way to spend time with family and friends. Best of all, it’s an inexpensive activity that anyone can enjoy on a regular basis.