Friday, August 24, 2012

My mother left me this, and it's great!

Reviews: Fiskars 7861 Axe and Knife Sharpener

I'm a utilitarian kind of guy. I can handle dirty, torn coveralls. A cracked, scuffed hockey mask doesn't faze me. Heck, even if I get some pokes and scrapes while on the job, that comes with the territory.
But I absolutely demand the sharpest edges possible when I use a knife or an axe. There's no point (ha!) in doing a slicing or hacking job with a dull blade.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

A Reasonable Substitute for a Whetstone

Reviews: Fiskars 7861 Axe and Knife Sharpener

If one really wants to put a razor sharp edge on an axe or knife, a set of diamond whetstones is the best way to do it. This painstaking manual process requires time and proper technique. Beware: a razor sharp edge is exactly that and not to be trifled with. On the other hand, if "pretty darn sharp" is good enough...and it should be for most utility purposes...a dedicated sharpening tool like the Fiskars will get the job done quickly and with minimum risk to one's fingers. There are a number of similar products on the market. This one comes from a reputable manufacturer at a good price point.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Good Knifes Are Sharp Knifes

Reviews: Fiskars 7861 Axe and Knife Sharpener

I love this tool because it is easy to use, gets the job done fast, and is small. I've never used it to sharpen an Axe, but I can say that my knifes are now always sharp because it takes zero skill to use. Sharpening a knife is as easy as "cutting" the knife sharpener a few times.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

takes a little work

Reviews: Fiskars 7861 Axe and Knife Sharpener

You use a back and forth motion to sharpen the hatchet or ax, not a pull through.

I used a very dull hatchet that's used to split kindling wood, mainly 2x4 pieces.

It takes a lot, I mean, a lot of back and forth pulls but, you know what, my little hatchet started to develop an edge and was getting sharp.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Superb sharpener for Fiskar's axe

Reviews: Fiskars 7861 Axe and Knife Sharpener

This is a very basic but extremely well functioning axe sharpener.

To address one common complaint: Yes, it cuts the plastic to either side of the "cutting" wheel. So what? The plastic will groove over time and it will stop doing that.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Handy, light-weight sharpener for splitter and axe

Reviews: Fiskars 7861 Axe and Knife Sharpener

I ordered this along with the Fiskars Axe Splitter. After and hour of splitting, I gave the head a few passes back and forth. I got a razor sharp edge on the Axe Splitter, and accidentally cut my knuckle brush brushing up against the edge. It's handy and light. You can put it in a jacket or sweatshirt pocket.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Works Great if the Edge is Shaped Correctly

Reviews: Fiskars 7861 Axe and Knife Sharpener

I have one axe which is fairly new, and hasn't felt the bite of a grindstone. That edge was sharpened to a beautiful point. I have an axe and a hatchet, decades old, which have been struck into the dirt many times and which have spent many minutes on a grinding wheel. This sharpener didn't even touch the point, and only demonstrated how poor an edge I ground out. So, worked beautifully for my Gerber and Fiskers axes.