Saturday, January 5, 2013

Ax sharpening and Safety

    One of the biggest area of concern I have is with Ax safety. An Ax, Splitting Maul or Hatchet MUST be sharp to cut wood safely. A dull ax can bounce or glance off of the wood, causing a ricochet,  and can injure the user. The head  must be secure to the handle, and the handle should have an overstrike pad on it. This prevents the handle from splintering when you miss the wood with the handle and strike the handle instead. If your handle is cracked, it needs to be replaced. (We can help you replace the handle, or do it for you.)
    Keep the head cleaned of dirt and rust.  Wipe it down with WD-40 after use to clean off any dirt or debris. Maintain the edge with a file. If there are large chips or nicks, bring it to us for a regrind.
        Never use an ax as a wedge, and hit the back of the head with a hammer to split the wood It is NOT designed for that. Use a splitting wedge instead, available at any hardware store.
    When splitting wood, Make sure you are cutting on soft ground. Cutting on stone or concrete causes more problems if you miss. The ax can come back at you, make rock chips, or even break the head!  Be careful.

  We can sharpen your blade while you wait, and have you safely chopping wood.