You simply don’t need those tools to achieve a basic edge on your tool, and even then, power tools like those can ruin the maul’s edge, making it brittle and useless. A pair of light cotton gloves will protect your hands and fingers from nicks and cuts, which can be nasty if you make your axe very sharp. - For Firewood. Make a purchase of over $150 of Klein Tools products to receive one FREE Klein Tools Wall Clock. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This figure may be less than 20 °. People often ask, on what angle should i sharpen my splitting maul? The axe head is tempered and hardened and the edge is honed to the optimal shape, hardness and sharpness. Not to mention that there are very few negative things online about Ochsenkopf, which is surprising on the internet in this day. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Lastly, for good “all-round” work encompassing all three functions (felling, de-limbing, and splitting), Ochsenkopf’s Universal axes are the way to go because they’re kind of a hybrid of the other two types. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. As with any edge tool, an axe should be as sharp as possible. This technique is obviously not the only one in the world. I suggest buying a longer one, such as the suggested 12 inch (31 cm), because it will be easier to use, and after all, you will be able to use it on more than just sharpening a maul. The Ox 16 H double bit axe once favored by lumberjacks) in the Iltis series features two faces – one of which is ground more finely for felling the tree and the other side is a tad more blunt for de-limbing. There should be no nicks or gouges on the cutting surface. While Supplies Last! Please note, comments must be approved before they are published. The Iltis features a thinner blade, which is springy and made of special steel to prevent breaking. There’s no need to go overboard with thick gloves – in fact that may well make the process more cumbersome and time-consuming. Actually, if the edge on your maul is blunt, it will often times bounce off the wood you are trying to split. It’s quite possible that someone, especially new to axes, might expect a thin, razor sharp tool when in fact that’s not a preferred blade on an axe. Splitting of wood should of course be done with a splitting axe like the Ox 630 or the Ox 648. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I assume you're fine with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. If, during your splitting session, you hit the ground too many times, or simply see that the edge starts to go away, do it more frequently, just remember, don’t make it too sharp. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The edge of the sharpened axe should feel at least as sharp as the folded side of a piece of paper that has been folded over once. Take the bastard’s file, and with a forward motion, go along the splitting maul’s edge on both sides, until you feel a sharper edge beginning to appear. It also comes with a handle, so you won’t have to attach a separate one. Learn how your comment data is processed. A minute spent on sharpening may shorten your chopping time by 5 minutes." If so, apply the grinder to the … This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. I would recommend to hit up the maul with a file every time you are about to go split some wood. Splitting axes are made with a much wider striking face – akin to a hammer – making the job of splitting much easier. An axe should be sharpened on a regular basis, perhaps with every half-hour of use or each time a tree is cut down. Should You Split Firewood Green Or Seasoned? Perhaps this may be due to variations in the production of axes, or even type of axe, but it may also have something to do with the fact that what people have learned about axes was not learned from an authoritative source. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These files come in many types and sizes, with handle or without. In other words, what was learned may not be correct and so what has become one person’s measure of quality may not actually be the right way to identify how good an axe is. When you sharpen your axe, you should wear gloves of some sort. You might also want to get a file card to brush off any material that get’s built up on the file as the time goes on, to make it perform at its best. Splitting of wood should of course be done with a splitting axe like the Ox 630 or the Ox 648. Ochsenkopf prefers to hone their axes to a cambered (arch-shaped, also referred to as crowned cutting form) edge as opposed to knife edge sharp as it cuts virtually the same and extends the life of the blade. Even with the changes in technology and methods over time, they’ve got to be doing something right to still be in business after this many years. By knowing what axe to use you’ll have a more realistic picture of what the axe should look like. This is enough to perform minor tasks on wood processing (e.g., logs or cut small trees). Generally speaking, you should aim for a 45 degree angle, but if you have doubt, just run your finger along the maul’s edge, and it should give you an idea on what angle to sharpen it. Then, maybe try a few things on your own so you can set people straight in online forums, and when you get your axe you’ll be able to tell if it’s good right away! Ensuring the right shape axe head for the job is the key to success. Strangely enough, if you search online you’ll find a lot of people who are armchair experts on axes and also strangely enough, they seem to be able to find fault with just about any axe for being short of perfection.