Following the following thread:
http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=656067&v=1
I have done very little DT and I am not very sure about how DT affects axes. Only heard that the Nomics wobbly heads were at least as badly affected by DT as when doing Scottish winter action (probably of the snowed up nature).
My first thought upon using wood axes in Scotland in winter was similar to that expressed by Dave Kerr in the linked thread. Namely, I'd reduce them to chips if the look of my alloy axes is anything to go by.
Roger does mention repeated use of shafts. May be some folks don't realised how much we do use them? I have stepped on my axes shafts which were horizontally/vertically wedged in cracks (sometimes picks 1st other time spike first)!
I would also do a demo with them Kronos...provided that if they come broken or savagely chipped I'd not be blamed. Not holding metal when cold would make a HUGE difference IMO.
But back to topic. For those who do both DT and Scottish winter (Andy, Neil, Misha...) what's your thoughts on the wear and tear between the two practices? Is one more wearing than the other?
I'd have thought that the heads would be under greater strain in DT and I don't see DT climbers using axes the way I do in SW. Am I wrong?