All About Pocket Knives

I use a Norton India stone with mineral oil for all of my axe sharping. The challenge for me when using the stone freehand was not cutting my fingers or hand. So I made a simple stone holder to keep the stone in place while clamped to the work bench. By using alternating circular strokes with one hand on the axe head and the other on the handle I can now safely sharpen the axe. The holder is a piece of 1/4 inch ply drilled with a 4 inch hole saw that's pin nailed to a 1x6 pine board. This holder accommodates the 1x4 inch India stone perfectly. Aside from having a sharp axe there's no bloody mess to clean up.

When it comes to sharpening, any and all safety and convenience aids are allowed. That one is great!

What are you using the axe for ? Post & beam work so a very sharp edge is best ? or ??
With a larger axe for splitting wood do you sharpen differently ?
kj

KK, I always appreciate the simple problem solver. That is genius.

Good stuff! Thanks for sharing!

That is a great safety idea; thanks for sharing! What is the approximate grit range on the stone you are using for SHARPENING?

Thanks for the idea. I usually set up the axe in a vice to hold it steady. Depending on how dull it is I start with a bastard file, then a course or medium grit stone. If it’s not too dull I skip the file. Your method is a lot safer, although I can’t recall ever cutting myself with an axe (but too many times with a pocket knife ). Never used a round stone either.

Ken

Good idea there for sharpening.
I put my head in a vice too, as mentioned by Ken. And I will use a file or large coarse stone to get the edge I want.
I have a round stone too but I have never used it. I'm afraid I'll cut myself.
Isn't your tool a hatchet?

kootenay joe wrote:What are you using the axe for ? Post & beam work so a very sharp edge is best ? or ??
With a larger axe for splitting wood do you sharpen differently ?
kj

This is a Gränsfors small forest axe. It has a larger head and a longer handle than a traditional hatchet which provides more chopping power. However, it is still small enough to fit into a rucksack. It is excellent for felling small trees and limbing. I use it mostly for limbing and kindling. I'm not a lumberjack but I'll assume the same sharpening technique would apply to a double bit axe head.

tongueriver wrote:That is a great safety idea; thanks for sharing! What is the approximate grit range on the stone you are using for SHARPENING?

The Norton India stone grits are 150 (dark side) and 400 (light orange side).

FRJ wrote: Isn't your tool a hatchet?

My definition of a hatchet is simply a short handled axe.

FRJ wrote: I put my head in a vice too,...

Nah, too easy.

quality safety gloves are inexpensive.

Steve Warden wrote:

FRJ wrote: I put my head in a vice too,...

Nah, too easy.

I was thinking the same thing when I read it, but decided to let him off easy.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote:

Steve Warden wrote:

FRJ wrote: I put my head in a vice too,...

Nah, too easy.

I was thinking the same thing when I read it, but decided to let him off easy.

Ken

X2

Perhaps I should rephrase that.
Oh well, I think you all have come up with your own phrases.

Now where is that ax head?

Actually, a double can have a different edge on each side. A thinner chopping edge for felling and a wider thicker edge for cutting roots. "An ax to grind" by the Forest Service is a great video to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22tBYD-HMtA

Thanks farefish. Your post is much appreciated. Love the video. Great info.