One of the most important things with any tool is proper maintenance and axes are no different. To do that you need to put together a basic axe maintenance kit. It doesn’t take much. Just three items that are readily available and relatively cheap.
With regular care, you can save yourself a lot of work in the end. Handles stay tight and you are always working with a sharp tool.
Quality Axe Puck
The most important thing in any kit is a quality sharpening stone. I prefer to use Baryonyx stones. They’re affordable, well made and help support small business. Plus they’re available in a range of sizes. Other options include the Lansky Sharpening Pucks and the Gransfors Bruks Sharpening Stone.
The choice is yours. The important part is having it, practicing and being able to use it effectively.
Suggested Product: 3 in 1 Oil
Oil/ Corrosion Inhibitor
Next, you’ll need some type of oil. You can use whatever you want. Some folks prefer gun oils or aerosol sprays but those can be messy and freeze up in the winter. The simplest way I’ve found is to use some 3 in 1 Oil to make a Rag-in-a-Can. That way you can throw it in a bag, it makes application easy and it won’t leak. Plus you don’t need to carry any rags.
Moisture Protection
To keep your handles well conditioned and protected you’ll need to occasionally apply some type of drying oil. I prefer Tung oil but boiled linseed oil also works. It’s cheap and available at every hardware store.
The Bells & Whistles
These are just the bare essentials. From here you can always expand your kit depending on your requirements and weight limits. Things like a good file & file card, gloves, steel wool, a few step wedges, leather conditioner, etc are handy. Whatever you personally need.
The great thing about an axe is it really doesn’t take a whole lot of equipment to keep it running. Nothing compared to a saw or chainsaw.
Take care of your axe and it’ll take care of you. It’s a whole lot easier than trying to play catch up.
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