I've been playing for hours now and have never seen the axe anywhere. Does anyone have any tricks to finding that or at least another way to get planks easy?

I've found the axe once in the large warehouse in a crate. You can get planks by chopping trees and sawing the logs with a saw. I think you can also find planks somewhere in the logging industrial area. At least that's my experience so far after dying the last few days. :D Good luck.

I find it takes forever to find the axe, so I just build my own. Go to any wooded area and forage awhile. Sometimes you get twigs, berries or stones, but if you spend enough time you'll get a tree branch and a chipped stone. Voila! Instant axe.

There are definitely certain places where you're more likely to find axes then others. Garden sheds, cabins, warehouses, and appropriate stores are all good places to start. The "lucky" trait also increases your chances of finding one. Good luck, and don't let the zombies bite.

P.S. Speaking zombies, they sometimes drop axes as well.

Two good locations to help.

1) West Point - Auto Shop.
Here: http://pzmap.crash-override.net/#0.6601785714285714,0.16401785714285713,114.47545997288273

In the storage there you will usually find an assortment of useful tools. In particular and always handy is a sledgehammer. This helps destroy walls, doors, etc... which is good for places like the following, which is locked up tight...

2) West Point - Gun Shop
Here: http://pzmap.crash-override.net/#0.6729761904761905,0.16749999999999998,114.47545997288273

After going in through the front door of the shop, there's a large grille that prevents you getting inside. This can be destroyed with the sledgehammer, as can wall sections to grant access. Obviously this is a great place to stock up on weapons and ammo, but relating to your question, I have usually always found two or three fire axes here.

It's worth hunting around in different stores and work places for tools, as there's plenty of places to find them. For tools and sundries in quantity, I'll finish with...

3) West Point - Hardware Store and Food Market
Here: http://pzmap.crash-override.net/#0.657797619047619,0.16895833333333332,114.47545997288273

Shelves stocked full of goodies. I've found an axe once or twice there, whilst there's stacks of useful stuff for crafting, repairing, building.

One of the best favours you can for your poor soon to be dead character, is taking the "lucky" perk. It really seems to quicken the axe search! Although as Heath mentioned, the hardware store in Westpoint is usually a good place to get one. Makes for a great safehouse too if you can survive long enough to secure it.

If you want frustrating...wait until you realize how important a sledge hammer is....yeash.....I swear there's only one on the map and it's guarded by a zombie dragon.