Common and Frequently Asked Questions
1) How do I take care of my axe?
Read through our Maintenance & Safety guide, which will walk you through caring for all parts of the axe. This guide is helpful and informative to both axe novices and experts.
2) Will an axe last a lifetime, through generations?
If cared for and maintained properly, a Helko axe will last a lifetime, and be passed down for generations. Broken handles can be replaced, but the head can certainly live on. See our Maintenance & Safety guide for long term care.
3) My handle broke. Do I need to buy a new axe?
No, axe handles can be replaced if they break. Never discard the axe head. It is best to learn proper technique to properly avoid damage to your handle. Most handle breaks occur from common user error, such as miss swings, overstrikes, or allowing the wood to dry out.
4) Is there any maintenance needed on a new axe?
There is no required maintenance on a new axe, and they will work right out of the box. However, we will always recommend to oil everything. You can re-oil the head upon receipt, coat the handle in multiple layers of linseed oil, and even oil the leather sheath. This will never hurt the tool, and can only help in lengthening the lifespan of the materials. We would recommend using Axe-Guard Head Oil on the head, Axe Guard Handle Oil on the handle, and Leather Oil on the sheath.
5) Can I customize my axe?
Axes are a personal tool, and are easy to customize to our own individual liking. We will be coming out with an axe customization guide soon.
6) Can I pound wedges with the poll of my axe?
No, the poll should not be used to pound wedges. Axe polls are generally not hardened, so as to prevent the axe housing from cracking. Because of this, if you pound other hardened objects with the poll, you risk mushrooming the steel, which will permanently damage the axe. Axes are not designed to be sledge hammers. If you need to pound wedges, use a sledge hammer, not an axe. Light hammering on things such as tent stakes of plastic felling wedges is generally fine, and will not damage the axe head.
7) I swung my axe as hard as I could, and the handle broke. Was my handle defective?
No, probably not. You need to use common sense when splitting and cutting with an axe. Not all wood can be cut or split with an axe, and simply relying on brute strength is not the correct technique. When splitting, you must select the right wood, ensure it is correctly seasoned, and rely on proper splitting technique in order for the tool to perform as intended. Any tool can break from misuse, and simply striking an axe as hard as possible with disregard to technique and the target is a quick way to break your handle.
Read through our Maintenance & Safety guide, which will walk you through caring for all parts of the axe. This guide is helpful and informative to both axe novices and experts.
2) Will an axe last a lifetime, through generations?
If cared for and maintained properly, a Helko axe will last a lifetime, and be passed down for generations. Broken handles can be replaced, but the head can certainly live on. See our Maintenance & Safety guide for long term care.
3) My handle broke. Do I need to buy a new axe?
No, axe handles can be replaced if they break. Never discard the axe head. It is best to learn proper technique to properly avoid damage to your handle. Most handle breaks occur from common user error, such as miss swings, overstrikes, or allowing the wood to dry out.
4) Is there any maintenance needed on a new axe?
There is no required maintenance on a new axe, and they will work right out of the box. However, we will always recommend to oil everything. You can re-oil the head upon receipt, coat the handle in multiple layers of linseed oil, and even oil the leather sheath. This will never hurt the tool, and can only help in lengthening the lifespan of the materials. We would recommend using Axe-Guard Head Oil on the head, Axe Guard Handle Oil on the handle, and Leather Oil on the sheath.
5) Can I customize my axe?
Axes are a personal tool, and are easy to customize to our own individual liking. We will be coming out with an axe customization guide soon.
6) Can I pound wedges with the poll of my axe?
No, the poll should not be used to pound wedges. Axe polls are generally not hardened, so as to prevent the axe housing from cracking. Because of this, if you pound other hardened objects with the poll, you risk mushrooming the steel, which will permanently damage the axe. Axes are not designed to be sledge hammers. If you need to pound wedges, use a sledge hammer, not an axe. Light hammering on things such as tent stakes of plastic felling wedges is generally fine, and will not damage the axe head.
7) I swung my axe as hard as I could, and the handle broke. Was my handle defective?
No, probably not. You need to use common sense when splitting and cutting with an axe. Not all wood can be cut or split with an axe, and simply relying on brute strength is not the correct technique. When splitting, you must select the right wood, ensure it is correctly seasoned, and rely on proper splitting technique in order for the tool to perform as intended. Any tool can break from misuse, and simply striking an axe as hard as possible with disregard to technique and the target is a quick way to break your handle.