Husqavarna axe info

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plainjoe

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Feb 8, 2011
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I am considering ordering a Husqavarna 26" multi-purpose axe. $63.95 + $8.99 ship. It has a favorable review at woodstrekker.com. I am new to axe sharpening. I have been using a Estwing large axe and from reading here, have found I have been sharpening it like a knife, not an axe. Does that make any sense? I have also seen a few youtube videos on axe sharpening.
From what I have gathered I will have to do some work on the Husky axe to get the edge just right,( could have went with Granfors Bruks, but for $100.00 less I am willing to do some extra work and end up with with about or just as good an axe).
I have a bastard file and a finer file, and thinking about getting a Lansky Puck stone. I can't go spending another 50 or 100 dollars on sharpening supplies. Will this be enough to get it to where I want and maintain it? I think I have a fairly good idea of how to go about sharpening the axe but would welcome any tips and tricks.
I also would welcome any info and or opinions from you who have used the Husqavarna axes.
ThankYou very much and have a nice day. Sorry for being long-winded
 
I love my Husky axes. I use the multi-purpose axe you're considering as my limbing axe. Mine didn't need any work at all. Sharp as can be straight from the store. For what it's worth, mine is one of the Wetterlings-made versions. No idea if the Hultafors versions that seem to be coming out now are as good (as sharp) new from the dealer. Even if you get lucky like I did, you still need a decent axe stone and an idea how to use it. Files are alright for rough work, but a stone is best for maintaining a nice, sharp edge on such a good tool.

My favorite axe stone is my Gransfors stone. Kinda pricey at 45 bucks, though. Next choice would be the Norton axe stone. It's two-sided (as most are), with a coarse and a fine side. It's a good stone -- not as good as the Gransfors, but it only costs about 10 bucks. The Norton is an oilstone, by the way. The Gransfors can be used either dry or with water.

I haven't seen an Lansky Puck stone in person, but I've heard it's not quite as nice as the Norton. The Norton can be purchased several places online. I bought my Gransfors stone from Highland Woodworking in Atlanta (online).

Whatever you get, be careful and have fun!


-ben
 
hey plainjoe,

I like the Husqvarna axes. They are not perfect, but they are a lot of axe for the money. From what I have seen in the past few weeks, the new Traditional (Multipurpose) axes are being made by Hults Bruk. I think they are now called the Traditional Forest axe, and look identical to the Hultafors classic axes. In quality they appear to be the same and are very similar in look and feel.

You can see some basics on how I sharpen my Husqvarna here: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2011/04/beginners-guide-to-basic-axe-care-and.html There is nothing to it. Just don't be afraid to do work on your axe.

Ross
http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/
 
I have never owned a GB or Wetterlings thought they were a little out of my league but when I saw that Husqvarna had an axe that looked like a Wetterlings I order one $70 bucks all in .Well never thought id like it as much as i do sharp wow right out of the box you could shave your arm and alignment was bang on the handle has good grain . Took it for a test drive had some wind falls to delimb has a great swing to it and good control so if a GB is allot better i cant see how much so buy one they might not have the finish but the test is in the swing not the bling slipp
 
I also bought one made by Wetterlings and other than the poll being forged very unevenly (had to file mine down a bit to make it even enough to pound tent stakes) it is a very nice axe. The edge came shaving sharp and no work on the profile was needed. The steel seems very tough while also holding a great edge, and the chopping ability is superb. Don't know how the Hults version will be, but so far it seems most of the Hults I read about don't come profiled very well, at least what's making it over here in the US.
 
bjp said:
I love my Husky axes. I use the multi-purpose axe you're considering as my limbing axe. Mine didn't need any work at all. Sharp as can be straight from the store. For what it's worth, mine is one of the Wetterlings-made versions. No idea if the Hultafors versions that seem to be coming out now are as good (as sharp) new from the dealer. Even if you get lucky like I did, you still need a decent axe stone and an idea how to use it. Files are alright for rough work, but a stone is best for maintaining a nice, sharp edge on such a good tool.

My favorite axe stone is my Gransfors stone. Kinda pricey at 45 bucks, though. Next choice would be the Norton axe stone. It's two-sided (as most are), with a coarse and a fine side. It's a good stone -- not as good as the Gransfors, but it only costs about 10 bucks. The Norton is an oilstone, by the way. The Gransfors can be used either dry or with water.

I haven't seen an Lansky Puck stone in person, but I've heard it's not quite as nice as the Norton. The Norton can be purchased several places online. I bought my Gransfors stone from Highland Woodworking in Atlanta (online).

Whatever you get, be careful and have fun!


-ben
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info!! I will check into the Norton stone. I think I seen one but cant remember the site. If I can get one for 10 bucks instead of 45 I will go for that. I have yet to call the Ben Franklin/Hardware Hank store here to make sure, but I think I seen a Lansky stone hanging on the wall while I was getting a fishing license a couple weeks ago. Will go with that if that is the case. Thanks again. Scott
 
rg598 said:
hey plainjoe,

I like the Husqvarna axes. They are not perfect, but they are a lot of axe for the money. From what I have seen in the past few weeks, the new Traditional (Multipurpose) axes are being made by Hults Bruk. I think they are now called the Traditional Forest axe, and look identical to the Hultafors classic axes. In quality they appear to be the same and are very similar in look and feel.

You can see some basics on how I sharpen my Husqvarna here: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2011/04/beginners-guide-to-basic-axe-care-and.html There is nothing to it. Just don't be afraid to do work on your axe.

Ross
http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info!! Is the DC4 stone you mention a Falkinven stone? I have seen these at numerious sites. I am looking at my can of SNO-SEAL and it is beeswax. Would it work instead of the candle? ThankYou again Scott
 
Good to see the favorable comments about the Husqavarna axes. I believe my minds made up and I will be ordering one soon. It will be a camp axe. Most of the time it will be used on the firewood that is bought in a bundle. There are occasions when i need to chop a small fallen down tree into pieces small enough to split. I guess you could say light splitting and chopping.
I do have another question. How do I determine what,if anything I need to do to it out of the box. I have probably never used an axe with a proper edge in all my 46 years.
 
The DC4 stone is from Falkniven. As far as i know, you can use any form of beeswax.
 
Another question. (sh** here he goes again) I have never used one, but this caught my eye. DMT Duo-sharp course/fine. Seems like you would have a fine file and a fine stone in one package with this. Author-itis gets to my hands easily and having a handle makes me think( smoke pouring out my ears again) it might be safer than the hand-held stones for me. Plus it would work for all knives,ect. that I have camping.
Any thoughts/opinions/experience?
 
plainjoe said:
...Author-itis gets to my hands easily and having a handle makes me think( smoke pouring out my ears again) it might be safer than the hand-held stones for me. Plus it would work for all knives...
Click to expand...

An easier-to-use solution for you might be this combination stone from Norton (model JT930). The stone portion is about 10" long, plus a handle brings the total length to about 15". It can be used two-handed like a file for a long stroke. The stone is supposedly 120 grit and 240 grit. List price is around $15. I got one for sharpening axes and knives at home.

jt930-2.jpg
 
Plainjoe, here's my well used Husky Axe and hatchet. The hatchet head came loose within days of use and I had to drive in a metal wedge pin to secure it (worked great, head is super tight since). The axe has been trouble free with the exception of the uneven poll I mentioned before, but otherwise performs excellent. It's an unusual axe because the head is a custom Wetterlings head that weighs probably 2 1/4 lbs compared to the 1.87lb head on the Wetterlings Scandinavian Forest Axe.

IMG_9727.jpg


The sheaths that come with them are adequate but a pain to buckle and unbuckle if used regularly so I made my own. I used longer rivets than necessary on part of the Multi-Purpose axe sheath and screwed up a couple making them uneven so I learned a hard leatherworking lesson and won't do that again :) The hatchet sheath didn't have the same problem because the rivets were the right length. The hatchet sheath's been scuffed a bit from being thrown around daily outside.

IMG_9720.jpg
 
plainjoe said:
Another question. (sh** here he goes again) I have never used one, but this caught my eye. DMT Duo-sharp course/fine. Seems like you would have a fine file and a fine stone in one package with this. Author-itis gets to my hands easily and having a handle makes me think( smoke pouring out my ears again) it might be safer than the hand-held stones for me. Plus it would work for all knives,ect. that I have camping.
Any thoughts/opinions/experience?
Click to expand...

I have some DMT sharpeners that fit into these bases. http://www.amazon.com/DMT-Sharpener-B8250-Sharp-Base/dp/B003YMJPJS

I bought them for my chisels but they work well on my axes. Theres a handle on the underside of the base.
 
Hey, that stone looks promising. My dad use to have a couple of stones along the same lines as that. They was dished out in the middle , I suppose from using on knives. Did you order it on-line/where?
 
They look nice. The heaver head is one reason that caught my eye on it. I will be ordering in the next couple of weeks. I have already talked to cust. service at site and they said even if it is backordered it would get here in 2 weeks or less. They will probably be in stock by the time I order. http://www.baileysonline.com/search.asp?SKW=hva axe&catID=11868
 
Thanks, That looks promising but from what I can find the stones are a little pricey for my budget.
 
plainjoe said:
Hey, that stone looks promising. My dad use to have a couple of stones along the same lines as that. They was dished out in the middle , I suppose from using on knives. Did you order it on-line/where?
Click to expand...
If you do a Google search for:
Norton JT930
you will find several sources of this $15 combination stone with handle.
 
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