Introduction

Winter may be over, but Handy knows that winter is also just around.... While you may not want to think about it, winter will be here before you know it. The chances of you cleaning and preparing your ax for next winter after you put it away last year are low. Therefore, it is time to start making sure it is ready for when you need it again in the very near future. In this article, we are going to provide you with tips on how to clean, sharpen, and store your ax for next winter.

Cleaning

It doesn’t take much but cleaning your ax will do wonders when it comes to the longevity of the tool. All you need to do is to take a simple soapy solution and wipe down all the surfaces. The pitch that gets stuck to it will only make it harder to prepare for next winter. So, give it a good wipe down before proceeding to the next step.

Sharpening

Working with a dull ax is much like working with a dull knife in the kitchen. If you expect the tool to work properly, you need to make sure it is nice and sharp. To do this you are going to need a few things. First off, you are going to need to know how to sharpen the ax. It is fairly simple, but if you think it is outside your ability make sure that you take it to a professional. Next, you are going to need to have a sharpening stone, water, and some machine oil. If you passed the first step, then we assume you are still with us. After wiping it down properly, take a mill file and knock off all the nicks off the edge. This will prepare it for the sharpening to come. After you have completed that, it is now time to put a nice edge on the blade. Grab your sharpening stone and get it wet. If for some reason you don’t have access to water, some spit will work just fine. Either way, you need to get the stone wet. Applying even pressure and always going the same direction, work your way across the blade. Once completing one side, move on to the next. You should have a nice edge for next winter.

Care

After you have finished giving it a new edge, make sure that you apply some WD40 or machine oil to the blade. This will keep it from rusting. Last, but certainly not least, make sure that you hang your ax up to prevent any damage to it. Pretty much anywhere off the ground will work. Just make sure that you will not knock it off the wall and potentially ruin the edge you just made.

Conclusion

Handy hopes that you have found this helpful. We know that when winter comes a nice sharp ax can be the difference between being outside for hours or just a few minutes. In the harshness of winter, you want to spend as little time in the elements as you can.