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Fiskars hatchets are crap
- Thread starter Bige610
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- Mar 8, 2008
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- 26,274
I've wailed on mine for more than a year, and my dad has had his for years at this point. No breakages. Send it back in to them? They have a good warranty policy.
The one downside to the molded polymer is that you can't just pop a new handle on the head if it breaks.
The one downside to the molded polymer is that you can't just pop a new handle on the head if it breaks.
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2007
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- 3,504
I got the Gerber/Fiskars 14" model & it's been Great w/ no problems 
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2006
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- 3,910
No problems with mine.
Not crap in my experience. I've had, and have, many, and no problems worth mentioning.
If you are broke, or even if you are not, just send the darn axes back for warranty. This is exactly why the warranty exists: in case of breakage, use the warranty. Then, later when you aren't broke anymore, you can freely buy a different brand of axe if you want to. Then you'll have your Fiskars, as well as a new axe more to your liking. Problem solved. :thumbup:
Fiskars is a massproducer, making enormous amounts of axes, hatchets, scissors and what not. It would not make sense to be surprised that sometimes faulty items pass through the QC along with thousands of those that are perfectly ok. In fact, it would be extremely unrealistic to expect 100 % perfect QC, seeing how not even custom makers manage to achieve that.
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- Jul 23, 2008
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- 1,160
Wetterling or Grunfors - 25yr warranty on latter
myright
Gold Member
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- Jan 31, 2008
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- 5,173
Iv'e beat the crap outta mine and it's still fine, seems very strange ?
Are ya sure your holding it the right way round !!!!
LOL - yeah make sure you are hitting the wood with the sharp end
I'm just kidding bro - I know you are frustrated. The best I can add is send it back take it back to the store you bought it from. I bought mine at Lowes or Home Depot (can't remember) and I know they'd take it back if it broke. Good luck buddy!
mymindisamob
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2005
- Messages
- 15,213
While most here seem to swear by these types of hatchets and axes, I have denounced them from near the beginning. I am glad that others have got their $ worth, but I gave up at having at least 2 (maybe 3, it's been awhile) go to sh!t on me. The handles suck, especially while cutting anything with less than straight grain. The steel has also shattered on knots that any of my Estwing, Collins and Bahcos have had no trouble dealing with.
Again, it's good to read of great experience with a product, but mine have been way below acceptable. Yes, I know how to use a hatchet and axe. No, I didn't try to take them back. I just quit buying them.
On the other hand, my experience with their scissors has been fantastic. I have at least 6 pairs at home, 2 in my shop and 2 more at work. They never have failed me and they sharpen rather nicely.
Again, it's good to read of great experience with a product, but mine have been way below acceptable. Yes, I know how to use a hatchet and axe. No, I didn't try to take them back. I just quit buying them.
On the other hand, my experience with their scissors has been fantastic. I have at least 6 pairs at home, 2 in my shop and 2 more at work. They never have failed me and they sharpen rather nicely.
Last edited:
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- Dec 13, 2005
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- 6,105
Give Snow & Nealley a try! Brian Andrews makes some really mean modifications to them, and mine has been an absolute champ. Unless you're going to be carrying this backpacking, I recommend the slightly larger 24" camp axe. Here's a link (he also carries the plain, unmodified versions).
http://offthemapoutfitters.com/product.sc?categoryId=3&productId=87
http://offthemapoutfitters.com/product.sc?categoryId=3&productId=87
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2008
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- 1,484
G'day Bige
Warranties exist for a reason. If it broke, they should fix / replace it as per the warranty.
Kind regards
Mick
Warranties exist for a reason. If it broke, they should fix / replace it as per the warranty.
Since I don't own a Fishkars hatchet, may I ask what's the edge like on them?
Kind regards
Mick
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
- Messages
- 9,786
They aren't the best things out there, but I'm really surprised you broke the handle. That is some tough composite stuff the handles are made out of. I've broken a number of wood handles in my day and have yet to break a synthetic one.
The fiskars are not the king of the axes but they are a good value much like a mora knife for the axe world. Unlike the no-name carbon axes coming out of china and found a plenty in the hardware stores, most fiskars actually come with a half decent edge and one that can be really refined. My fiskars was the first axe that I could get to shave hair from my arm.
Even for their hatchets, the blade profile is more designed for splitting than general chopping. The big steel lip wedge prior to the plastic jacket can limit its uses under certain circumstances. I've produce little dents and chips in the plastic housing holding the blade, but nothing too serious.
For their price point I think they are pretty decent. I prefer the higher end axes, but I wouldn't do the kinds of things to them that I would attempt with a fiskars.
Perhaps you could post some pictures of the broken handle and give us some details about the strike that led to its failure. I'm kind of interested to learn how it actually broke and under what circumstances.
The fiskars are not the king of the axes but they are a good value much like a mora knife for the axe world. Unlike the no-name carbon axes coming out of china and found a plenty in the hardware stores, most fiskars actually come with a half decent edge and one that can be really refined. My fiskars was the first axe that I could get to shave hair from my arm.
Even for their hatchets, the blade profile is more designed for splitting than general chopping. The big steel lip wedge prior to the plastic jacket can limit its uses under certain circumstances. I've produce little dents and chips in the plastic housing holding the blade, but nothing too serious.
For their price point I think they are pretty decent. I prefer the higher end axes, but I wouldn't do the kinds of things to them that I would attempt with a fiskars.
Perhaps you could post some pictures of the broken handle and give us some details about the strike that led to its failure. I'm kind of interested to learn how it actually broke and under what circumstances.
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- Apr 20, 2001
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- 18,423
knifephan
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2009
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- 440
Like KGD said, my 14" Fiskars hatchet will shave the hair off my arm and does great for everything I have done to (err with) it. I have sharpened it since I got it, but I have also had friends chop dirt and rocks with it as they didn't know how to properly chop wood. Anyway, I would send it in and get 'em to fix/replace it.
I have a couple and they needed serious sharpening from the factory. Now they work great and for the price of them,I don't mind chopping the odd rock. I used one to cut roots on a cotoneaster hedge. It did about twenty plants and the edge held til the last two when I was hitting rocks as well.
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- Jan 21, 2008
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If you are wanting it to chop better, I would advise removing the rather pronounced shoulder.
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- Sep 22, 2003
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- 13,182
I think how well something holds up depends on what you use it on and how much you use it.
I know in areas where you have a lot of oak, and hardwoods and dry wood that is much harder on the edge and handle of cutting tools than where you have a lot of softwoods.
I know in areas where you have a lot of oak, and hardwoods and dry wood that is much harder on the edge and handle of cutting tools than where you have a lot of softwoods.