Hultafors Axes now being sold in the U.S.

R

Ripshin Lumberjack

Joined
Sep 17, 2014
Messages
120
Hi Everyone

Just noticed that Hultafors Axes are now being sold on the internet in the U.S. for approximately $265.00 for a 3.3 lb American felling axe. Wow! At that cost I will just stay with the old, vintage classical PLUMB, True Temper Kelly, Collins, Council Tool, etc axes. For $265.00 I can own a bucket load of axes, rehang the axes, and have good heat treated & tempered axes that will literally perform as well and better than the Swedish axes.

However, many people love the Swedish axes and would prefer one expensive axe than go to the trouble of derusting, rehanging, and in some instances
doing a new metal hardening and tempering of the axe head. All of this will be no where near the cost of one expensive SWEDISH axe.

I own two Swedish axes and will never part with my small Forest Axe.

Ripshin
 
That seems out of line. You can order from Canada for cheaper than that. What site is selling them for that price?
 
Hi

I saw this advertisement on Sears site. The axe was $265.00 but is now discounted to $233.00. Since I first noticed this I have checked other sites and the prices are more reasonable.

Ripshin
 
Stupid question, at what point will I know if I need to reharden and temper the axe? I've redone a few but this never crossed my mind?
 
That price seems off. At that price it's un-interesting. It might not keep someone from trying though...
 
Sigarett said:
Stupid question, at what point will I know if I need to reharden and temper the axe? I've redone a few but this never crossed my mind?
Click to expand...

If its a quality axe, the answer would be "never, unless it was burnt in a fire".
If used as it should be used and sharpened the way it ought to be sharpened, you will never grind the axe down past the hardened point in your lifetime, these things are built to last.
Of course, it you use an axe to chip stones... thats another story.
 
You guys in the states are definitely paying a premium for Hultafors all over. Maybe not at that inflated Sears pricing, but I have seen them around for as much or more than a Gransfors. It's funny because in Europe they are sort of the budget alternative to GB. Even here in Canada they are not that much cheaper. Quality axes though. I have their Classic Trekking Hatchet and I love it; a great all arounder that gets used daily to great effect. Like most Swedish hand forged axes they are nice pieces of functional art in my opinion. Definitely something I have no regrets purchasing.
 
Hi

1- You can tell when the axe edge folds over with just a small amount of use, Also, the axe will not hold the edge when you sharpen it.

2-The best way you can tell is if you give the axe a vinegar or lemon juice bath to remove the rust. After a few days in the acidic bath, you will very easily see the blackened metal that is the hardened & tempered cutting edge. Most of the time the hardened metal is ok and will extend anywhere from 1/2" to 2" back from the edge. If
you only have very little black tempered metal, time to harden and temper.

One week ago I purchased a very abused single bit axe for $5.00 at a flea market. The owner had it in a truck bed and it had been in water for a long time. NOT GOOD!
The axe was badly pitted from the edge tip for about 3" on back. A vinegar bath revealed that this axe was a Craftsman axe. However, the black tempering of the metal
was only about 3/8 to 1/4 inch from the edge of the blade. After I grind out all the nicks and rust pits in the edge there will not be enough hardened metal to be able to
retain a good edge for generations to come. This is a prime candidate for hardening & tempering approximately 2" up on the axe from the edge.

The head should be heated to 1500 to 1508 F and quickly quenched in water or oil, depending on your mood. Now, the head should be heated at 385 to 395 F for one hour in an oven. This slow process tempers(properly softens) the metal so that it will not break but is hard enough to retain an edge under a prolonged time of hard work(lifetime
of generations to come).

This is the formula that Plumb used and their old axes will take a razor edge. The Swedish axe makers came to America, studied our ways, and adopted this formula and still use it to this day. Before, they relied on observing the color of the metaL to harden and temper. Yes, America was the worlds greatest axe maker.

I hope this helps.

Ripshin
 
Ripshin Lumberjack said:
Hi

1- You can tell when the axe edge folds over with just a small amount of use, Also, the axe will not hold the edge when you sharpen it.

2-The best way you can tell is if you give the axe a vinegar or lemon juice bath to remove the rust. After a few days in the acidic bath, you will very easily see the blackened metal that is the hardened & tempered cutting edge. Most of the time the hardened metal is ok and will extend anywhere from 1/2" to 2" back from the edge. If
you only have very little black tempered metal, time to harden and temper.

One week ago I purchased a very abused single bit axe for $5.00 at a flea market. The owner had it in a truck bed and it had been in water for a long time. NOT GOOD!
The axe was badly pitted from the edge tip for about 3" on back. A vinegar bath revealed that this axe was a Craftsman axe. However, the black tempering of the metal
was only about 3/8 to 1/4 inch from the edge of the blade. After I grind out all the nicks and rust pits in the edge there will not be enough hardened metal to be able to
retain a good edge for generations to come. This is a prime candidate for hardening & tempering approximately 2" up on the axe from the edge.

The head should be heated to 1500 to 1508 F and quickly quenched in water or oil, depending on your mood. Now, the head should be heated at 385 to 395 F for one hour in an oven. This slow process tempers(properly softens) the metal so that it will not break but is hard enough to retain an edge under a prolonged time of hard work(lifetime
of generations to come).

This is the formula that Plumb used and their old axes will take a razor edge. The Swedish axe makers came to America, studied our ways, and adopted this formula and still use it to this day. Before, they relied on observing the color of the metaL to harden and temper. Yes, America was the worlds greatest axe maker.

I hope this helps.

Ripshin
Click to expand...


Thanks for the reply. That is awesome stuff right there. I love this website-
 
gunscrounger said:
That seems out of line. You can order from Canada for cheaper than that. What site is selling them for that price?
Click to expand...

I think that I paid about $70.00 bucks without shipping for this about a month or two ago. And the Husqvarnas from dealerships are contracted heads from Hults also.

beside the small forest


see the family resemblance ?, go to a Husqvarna dealership, the axes are dirt cheap


 
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