Axe improvment advice

[paulnb57]

Just bought one of these, cheep and cheerful!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bahco-Standard-Axe-1-1-4LB/dp/B0001IX7HE

Cab/should it be modified to improve its use?

Cheers
Paul

 

[decorum]

Hi (and welcome) paul,

Have a look at these threads:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23822
and
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22814&highlight=sharpen+axe

I and some others, find that the varnish and paint used to protect (and *beautify*?) can cause exessive friction which *may* lead to blisters. To try to counter this I (and again others) strip back to the wood and periodically oil hafts and handles as and when required.

 

[mr dazzler]

I have a sandvik barco axe exactly like that only older 75p or something at a car boot, dont know if youer newer steel will be as good as mine. I stripped it down to bare metal, polished the cheek's, modified the bevel to make it semi convex. The handle had no paint, I just cleaned it up with a scraper and oiled it. Since then I rehafted it with ash rather than hickery. Its a superb tool I use it nearly every day for cutting/chopping/slicing/carving/shaping/trimming etc. It holds its edge and is easy to fetle up. Please let us know how it performs (dont be afraid to make it work hard) I might get another