A broadaxe is a large-headed axe. There were two types of broadaxes both used for shaping logs by hand hewing. On one type, one side is flat and the other side beveled, a basilled edge, this is a hewing broadaxe. On the other type, both sides are beveled, this is a chopping broadaxe. On the hewing broadaxe the handle may curve away from the basilled side to allow a flush stroke when hewing a flat plane on the side of a log. The flat blade is to make the flat surface, and the curved handle is to enable the user to stand on the object being worked on and hew on the appropriate side. Single bevel axes are made either right or left-handed. A double beveled broad axe is used for chopping or notching. When used for hewing, a notch is chopped, perpendicular to the grain, and to the depth to be hewn, then either a hewing broadaxe or adze is used to remove the excess.
In the 19th century, the broadaxe was commonly used in manufacture of square timber, for shaping logs used in log cabin construction and in the manufacture of axe ties.
Since the introduction of sawmills and modern power tools, the use of this tool is now uncommon in manufacturing.