should I avoid sharpened axe heads?

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FLINT77

Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
838
Hi all,

first post in the axe forum. I've cut firewood and used axes and hatchets for years, but only ever as tools of necessity. I've recently realized that some of our axes are kind of old and cool and have cleaned up and rehung a couple and now am thinking of picking up a couple more. I have passed on a couple that I would have liked to have gotten though because the seller had clearly sharpened them with some kind of electric grinder. why do sellers insist on sharpening them? just leave them be, and let the buyer do what they want with it. my question is - as the title suggests, am I being unnecessarily discriminating? My fear is that they used an angle grinder and really messed up the edge geometry and temper. I'm sure that its completely possible to sharpen axes safely and properly with some electronic grinder, but Its also possible to really screw things up, and I don't know how skilled these sellers are. I'm assuming that they don't know what they are doing and are just thinking that they are making the axes more appealing - though certainly not to me.
 
you may find soft spots but if you're only occasionally using them i wouldnt worry, i barely notice soft spots i'v accidentally put in
 
FLINT77 said:
I'm sure that its completely possible to sharpen axes safely and properly with some electronic grinder
Click to expand...

Yup. My worksharp KO with grinder attachment set in the slowest speed does a great job.
I realize in part it’s due to the shape of the head/geometry, but I’ve got an Estwing hatchet I can and have shaved with.
 
FLINT77 said:
Hi all,

first post in the axe forum. I've cut firewood and used axes and hatchets for years, but only ever as tools of necessity. I've recently realized that some of our axes are kind of old and cool and have cleaned up and rehung a couple and now am thinking of picking up a couple more. I have passed on a couple that I would have liked to have gotten though because the seller had clearly sharpened them with some kind of electric grinder. why do sellers insist on sharpening them? just leave them be, and let the buyer do what they want with it. my question is - as the title suggests, am I being unnecessarily discriminating? My fear is that they used an angle grinder and really messed up the edge geometry and temper. I'm sure that its completely possible to sharpen axes safely and properly with some electronic grinder, but Its also possible to really screw things up, and I don't know how skilled these sellers are. I'm assuming that they don't know what they are doing and are just thinking that they are making the axes more appealing - though certainly not to me.
Click to expand...
If it doesn't look excessive then id still pick up the right age.
I prefer something that's rusty that hasn't been touched in decades though.
 
If the heel and toe are both still long then you've likely got plenty of steel to get past any potential tempering of the bit.
But you're right, better to find them unsharpened.
 
I'll just pile on.

I don't mind, and I'll buy it if its a nice axe, but I'd prefer they didn't.
 
Condition affects value.
If it's been ground on an (careless) grinding wheel. Well that affects the value.
I just take that into consideration.
 
I got an Estwing hatchet at a sale once that had been sharpened on a grinder I assume. I fixed it up with just my file only to find that chopping a green 3" piece of Douglas fir may as well had been a cinder block. There was no temper at all left in that hatchet.

I won't buy any used axe that has been sharpened with an electric tool any more.
 
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