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| The Pig made by Lonestar Axe |
I look for tools that do two things:
1) Out perform another tool at the same task.
2) Improve safety and efficiency on the fireground.
I keep that in mind whenever I get the chance to use a new product.
I recently took possession of a tool that has been increasingly popular in firehouses and I wanted to see what the buzz was about. Lonestar Axe's Pig.
If you have not heard of this tool then here is your introduction. The Pig is a multi-use striking tool that is half sledge and half pick-head axe. It has a flat narrow face and a 4.5 inch pick end. It comes in lengths of 28, 32, and 36 inches. Has the option of a notched (pictured) or non-notched pick. And has weight options of 8 lbs or a smaller 6 lbs version called the Piglet. The Pig is $189.99 while the Piglet is $174.99. Get the picture? Great, lets get to the nitty gritty.
First, here is a little insight on how I operate.
A lot of these tool blogs I read talk about how they got a house for training and used the tool for a few days in the most relaxed scenarios. A few others talk about how they used tools in classes and basically tried to destroy them. Yet still, others give a basic description of the tool and how it feels, that is it! No actual feedback on how the tool performs. In my opinion, these methods give unrealistic results of the tool. It either is not used enough, or used to the Nth degree in a manner it may or may not have been purposed for. Me, I work for an inner city fire department that gets a lot of use out of their tools in actual fires of varying severity and complexity. I use the tool with zero expectations. And I report on how the tool performed FOR ME. I am no fire tool savant. I am merely a fellow firefighter who was sick of reading sales pitch reviews. I want everyone who sees my posts to have an unbiased review of these tools so that you can make an informed decision on what may or may not be best for you.
Having said all that ... Ladies and gentlemen ... The Pig.
THE TOOL: I have the 36 inch, 8 lbs, notched version (the notch is for pairing the tool with a halligan to make a set of irons). And boy have I put it to use. I would loosely estimate that I have used it in around 40 fires. It has seen timbers, framing, ply, drywall, plaster, concrete, brick, cinder block, steel, and whatever else you can make a house out of. Its main job is to SMASH!
THE FEEL: It is slightly top heavy but considering its purpose, that is to be expected. The handle is light but durable. It is contoured nicely and your hands do not cramp up after prolonged use. The handle does get a bit slippery once you get wet drywall or plaster on it. I put some hockey tape on mine and the problem was solved. While striking, the tool feels solid. Very little vibration when hitting any material. In more confined quarters, the required smaller swings may not have the results you desire. The best use of this tool is while making full or at least 3/4 swings. This will require a little more room. The tool requires a little technique. Your swing has to be such that the angle of tool hits the material, and not the flat face. The first time I tried opening up a roof this issue occurred and a minor adjustment of my swing instantly fixed the issue. I was hitting the roof flat and the tool was bouncing. Once I started hitting with the angle, the roof didn't stand a chance!
EXTERIOR USES: I will start with my favorite use for THE PIG outside of a structure. Breaching! It doesn’t matter if its wood, metal, heavy, light, heck probably even a bank vault. I love the pig for gaining entry.
The top of the tool is long and slender. Making for a narrow impact point to focus energy when doing an underhand strike. I personally like to smack the doors right at the deadbolt and usually in one or two swings the door is open. Personally, the only time I have ever had to work hard at making an entry with the Pig was on a commercial steel door with a solid steel door jam cemented in. Even then, with some overhead swings at the deadbolt and handle area of the door, the tool did the job without any additional resources. The right angle at the top of the tool penetrated the steel door and additional swings at that spot actually “tore” the metal downward, weakening the door until I was able to ram it in with the top of the tool.
The Pig is also great for roof ventilation. For departments that do not have the funds to
purchase ventilation saws, or maybe you just want to be prepared for the moment you’re on
scene and your saw won’t start. The pig is a great alternative. The reason why the pig works so well at “cutting” a hole in a roof is the same as I previously stated about steel door entry. If swung properly, the right angle at the top of the tool penetrates the roof and weakens the surrounding area. Each additional swing destroys more and more roofing material creating a “cutting” effect. What you’re actually doing is making slender, rectangular holes in the roof in succession. So essentially you aren’t cutting a hole, you’re smashing one. One of the problems axes have in roof ventilation is that the tools edge is super thin and gets progressively thicker, and the thicker portion of the tool gets pinched between the material of the narrow cut you just made. This can dramatically slow your progress, and the guys you have in that attic right now will be sure to thank you for it later. The pig is the same thickness throughout, so getting pinched in material after a swing does not happen.
Other ways I have used the Pig on the exterior of a structure are breaking out glass block windows, obviously pane window ventilation, removal of pad locks, removal of security bars, cinder block/brick removal, one time I even witnessed a guy bury the pick end of the tool into the side of a house and used the tool as a step to get to the first floor window. These additional uses are just as efficiently done with other tools as well. But as far as doors and roofs. I personally have not used any SINGLE tool that did it as well as the Pig.
A fault of the tool that I experienced was on the pick end. The notch on the pick is a major issue. If buried into any tougher material, the notches grab that material when you try to retrieve your tool and the pick WILL get stuck. Putting my tool into a steel door basically rendered it useless as I then needed another tool to get it unstuck. Beware the notched tool.
INTERIOR USES: I will start by listing one of the pigs only weaknesses. Ceiling and overhead overhaul is not a
strong point for this tool. While lower drywall ceilings are easy breezy, higher plaster ceilings are better left to a pike or NY hook. You will wear yourself out in no time and look like a clown swinging for a ceiling you can’t reach. That being said, if it’s the tool you have, then it will work. Just expect to be out changing your bottle sooner than everyone else.
Personally, I have used this tool for many house fires while doing overhaul. Opening a wall and clearing the drywall or plaster is almost effortless. A full swing into a plaster wall will clear out the plaster and slats for a 3 ft span. A few swings later you have cleared a whole wall!
Need to open up those pesky hot spots behind door and window frames? Flip it around and slam that pick end
in behind the frame and push it open. Heck, odds are you will probably even blow out the frame all together. This is where I get the most use of this tool. While the traditional axe is also 8lbs, the pig buries its pick deeper into wooden frames to improve leverage if you need to pry.
If you’re ever unable to find a door or window, and you need out NOW, then the pig is a great partner to have. Thankfully I have never been in this position. But if you do find yourself lost in a fire and decide it’s time to make a hasty retreat, the pig allows you to make a door fairly easily. It is able to blow out studs no problem and as previously mentioned, has no problem with other building materials. This same function can be put to good use getting into a structure as well. A firefighter is down, you can hear his pass right on the other side of the wall! No door or window on this side of the building! No problem! The pig has your back! No wasting time going back to the rig to get specialized tools. No delaying rescue that using an axe would cause.
PROS:
- Solid, durable construction
- Able to handle most materials
- Excels at multiple jobs
- Replaces multiple tools
CONS:
- Overhead work will drain you
- Notched version creates catch points
FINAL VERDICT:
From my experience, this tool is meant for a first in crew or a rooftop crew. In overhaul its marks are high, but if you need anything done overhead you are better off with a long tool. The Pig is steadily on its way to replacing the axe. And while I believe the axe still has a role in the fire service, the pig has proved itself enough to me to make me believe that every rig needs one. The purpose of posting reviews like this is to let firefighters know how a tool will work in real world scenarios the field. If a tool works great, such as the Pig, then everyone needs to know about it. Not only can it make us more efficient, but I believe that it can lower injuries by reducing work time, and save lives by being a multi-use tool that is already in your hands when you need it. So needless to say, I will be continuing to use the Pig as long as I am going in.
If you liked what you read about The Pig you can purchase one here BUY THE PIG
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