WD-40 is a common solution, but gun oil, boiled linseed oil, and other solutions work great. I have a full article on every way I know to prevent rust on an axe. One method even includes bacon. When chopping with an axe, the axe must perform well; however, an axe with a dull blade should not be used to cut trees. Therefore, it is essential to knowhow to sharpen a Fiskars axeto get better results.

So while I encourage people to learn to sharpen “properly”, sometimes it’s hard to beat a 60-second method with no learning curve. Ideally, leather should be used for stropping, but you don’t need to buy a dedicated strop. I use an old wallet for my axes. You can use an old belt, purse, leather pants – anything.

I tested the Fiskars sharpener on a few other axes I had laying around that were also a little worn from testing. There was a classic Estwing sportsman, Council Tool flying fox, and Husqvarna hatchet.

Any pull-through sharper may leave little wires, burs, or particles of steel clinging to the edge and the Fiskars is no exception.The Fiskars sharpener is an incredibly versatile tool because it can be used to sharpen both an axe and a knife. In addition, the Fiskars knife and axe sharpener are extremely simple to use. It’s not a big deal, but there is a chance these metal bits can immediately cause damage or dulling again if they aren’t removed. I’ve found it can be awkward to try and sharpen the big axes higher up, and you get a less even or complete motion. I would end up just doing a bunch of partial strokes. The big axes are easiest to run fully through the sharpener if it’s lower to the ground and you are positioned above it. Clean away any dirt or wood fibers from the surface of the axe head, as it will be full of moisture. So after describing all the best ways to care for a Fiskars axe it’s time for me to confess – I often don’t care for my Fiskars axes as well as I should.