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Caring For Your Ice Ax
By Don Graydon.
Modern ice axes require little special care, beyond keeping them clean and sharp.
Routine Care.
- Inspect the shaft before each use for deep dents that might weaken it to the point of failure under load (but don't worry about minor nicks and scratches).
- Clean mud and dirt off the ax after each climb, and remove any rust.
- Check the pick, adze, and spike regularly.
- To sharpen, use a hand file, not a power-driven grinding wheel. High-speed grinding can overheat the metal and change the temper, diminishing the strength of the metal.
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