Customer Reviews

Fiskars 7861 Axe and Knife Sharpener

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

If one really wants to put a razor sharp edge on an axe or knife, a set of diamond whetstones is the best way to do it. This painstaking manual process requires time and proper technique. Beware: a razor sharp edge is exactly that and not to be trifled with. On the other hand, if "pretty darn sharp" is good enough...and it should be for most utility purposes...a dedicated sharpening tool like the Fiskars will get the job done quickly and with minimum risk to one's fingers. There are a number of similar products on the market. This one comes from a reputable manufacturer at a good price point.

This is a handy tool that really simplifies sharpening. However, it has a few flaws.

Pros:

-Very Easy

-Hand Guard

-Lifetime Guarentee

Cons:

-Sharpens at 30 degree angle. Great for an axe, but for a knife, most people prefer a 20 or even a 10.

-Leaves black dust on the edge of cutlery

-Ok heres the big one: When sharpening, you press the axe into the sharpener and pull through the wheel. However, as you pull your axe out, it slices through the plastic in front of the wheel, there for somewhat dulling the axe. And sooner or later, you get deep cuts in the plastic, which really limits the sharpener's usefulness. Major design flaw.

Overall, the sharpener is great for axes, but for knives I tend to go back to the whetstone. And then there's the design flaw...

eh? You seriously think I'm going to use the same thing to sharpen the Henckels 4 star knives I use to prepare family meals AND the axes I use to chop wood?

Seriously. This sharpener will reset just about any blunted knife or axe to a finely honed edge.

It does just a good a job on a fine filleting knife as it does on my favorte chopping axe - I just have to remember to clean it before I switch uses.

Now if only they made a lawnmower that could julienne vegetables....

I bought my first Fiskar sharpener from the owner of MAC knives. He told me that this was all I needed as a professional chef to keep my knives sharp and in top shape as to angle, knicks, ect.... He was right. Don't pass this up. You really do not need anything else. No kidding and just $12.00. Chef Mark

The sharpener is only good for knifes. Although it gets 5 stars as a knife sharpener, it don't get any stars for axe sharpening. The reason is the plastic notch is too narrow for an axe blade to slide through. Too bad I purchased this for my axe :(

This is a very basic but extremely well functioning axe sharpener.

To address one common complaint: Yes, it cuts the plastic to either side of the "cutting" wheel. So what? The plastic will groove over time and it will stop doing that.

When I first took my Fiskar's to it, I had recently completed chopping about 1 cord of hardwood (axe, ironwood, maple). The blade had numerous dents in its edge and was fairly beat up, though still sharp overall.

After about 20 passes (1-2 minutes) back and forth through this sharpener, the edge had no dent and appeared quite sharp. Cut very well.

This may not make the best knife sharpener or be suitable for things with a bigger wedge before the edge, but it's a great sharpener for the fiskars axe!

I've tried sharpening rods, stones, blocks, and more in an attempt to keep my kitchen knives sharp, and none worked nearly as well as this little gadget. I've owned this one for a couple of years now and it still does the job. You just slide the knife in and out of the "mouth" of it a few times until a satisfactory sharpening is achieved. I only wish I could use it for scissors, too!

I bought this thinking I could save some time and sharpen my knives and axes "the easy way". Lesson learned that there are no shortcuts. The sharpener put a slight edge on my pocket knife, but did very little for my estwing camping axe. It is a fairly cheap plastic case with ceramic wheel inside. It was not expensive however neither is a wet stone. There is no substitute for learning to sharpen your knives/tools with an old fashion wet stone. I generally do not rate items, but feel compelled to say that I would not recommend this.

I purchased this sharpener along with a Fiskars Brush Axe. The Brush Axe arrived without a sharp edge and this sharpener wiped out its two sharpening stones in about 10 seconds of attempted use. Needless to say, I was left with the dull sensation that I'd been taken and I would not buy this sharpener again. FWIW, a ten-dollar, old-style, safety sharpener worked like a charm to sharpen up my new Fiskars Brush Axe.

Handy size and safe shape. Clever design to keep clean. Used it on my axe which now slices a single piece of paper on edge. That is sharp enough for me..