How Much It Costs For The Pros To Sharpen An Axe (And Why You Should Let Them)

Whether you're chopping firewood or cutting down trees in your yard, a sharp and sturdy axe is a must have in your arsenal of tools. If your axe isn't quite doing the job, it might be time to give it a fresh sharpen and polish. But sharpening your axe at home can be an expensive and time-consuming feat, leaving little room for your chopping endeavors. If that's the case, it might be time to call in the professionals.

Sharpening an axe isn't as easy as it sounds, and is nowhere near as easy as rejuvenating your kitchen knives. Depending on where you live, an axe sharpening session might run you anywhere from $12 to $25 dollars, a small price to pay for the convenience of a pristine tool. If you're a casual chopper, mostly using your axe for firewood or camping, you won't need to sharpen it too often. In that case, you might not want to invest in a whole host of new and expensive tools just to keep your blade sharp. The average cost of materials alone is around $40 to over $100 dollars, (although there's often some deals on Amazon) not to mention the time it takes to actually put them to use. While calling in the pros might seem like a convenience, you might actually be saving yourself a headache and a good chunk of change at the same time.

For lack of a better word, self-sharpening your axe or hatchet is a hassle, from the list of materials to the time it takes to properly sharpen your tools. If you're consistently using your blades, axe sharpening might be a wonderful addition to your wheelhouse of skills. However, axes that are only used every once in a while don't require the same attention and a professional job might be the perfect way to go.

The process of sharpening your axe requires a lot of tools and time that professionals have on hand. An improper sharpening job can have your axe performing worse than before you gave it an at-home sharpen. It can make the blade too thick or thin, which makes splitting and cutting wood difficult. If you file down the tip of your axe too much, giving it a razor-sharp edge, it will be vulnerable to chipping and knicks. You want your blade sharp enough to enter into a chunk of wood with ease, but remember, you're not slicing onions with it. A professional would have access to specialized tools and skills that might be necessary to get your axe just right. And they can ensure a consistent blade thickness that you might not be able to achieve. A sharp axe is a safe axe, but maybe leave the sharpening to the professionals.