howellhandmade
Addicted to ArboristSite
I think I have sharpened it 3 times Once was a strike that ended up in the dirt didn't think it would go on the first hit, hitting a rock that was the only time I had to work it every other time I have just cleaned it up. I am splitting on a block all the time now since then.
The metal is softer than any other axe or maul I have used and the non stick coating is just about gone but I still love the darn thing. being softer I guess thats why I can get an almost razor edge on it with a wet stone real fast.
That's odd, I would say that the Fiskars SS (old model) is harder than the conventional mauls I have. A file will bite, but noticeably less than the regular 6#. I split on a block and haven't sharpened the one I use the most in a couple of years. If I sharpen it up razor-sharp, that perfect edge won't last all that long, but so long as I don't hit the driveway, it never really gets dull. I think Fiskars in general does an excellent job with steel -- their pruning shears and whatnot that I've bought over the years have held up well.
It seems that whatever the product is, there are some who want it to be more this or more that. I've never owned a power splitter, so how a hand tool works is important enough to me, and never having spent the money for a splitter, I don't mind trying this and that looking for the best maul. So far, the SS wins. If they had one with a slightly longer handle or a slightly heavier head I'd try it of course, but the SS just has great balance. The length and diameter/taper of the handle is perfectly matched so there's very little shock, the length and weight are really well balanced so you get great snap at the end of the swing and also substantial impact. I'm with Zogger, I don't care what y'all use, I think the engineer who came up with the Super Splitter really did it right.