Axe Sharping
- kingknight
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2018 12:12 am
- Location: Somewhere In Time
Axe Sharping
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.
"Every normal man must be tempted at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."
H L Mencken
H L Mencken
- Steve Warden
- Posts: 6320
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 4:18 pm
- Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Re: Axe Sharping
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
- OLDE CUTLER
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 4290
- Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:11 pm
- Location: South Dakota
Re: Axe Sharping
When it comes to sharpening, any and all safety and convenience aids are allowed. That one is great!
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
-
- Posts: 13373
- Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:36 pm
- Location: West Kootenays, B.C.
Re: Axe Sharping
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
With a larger axe for splitting wood do you sharpen differently ?
kj
Re: Axe Sharping
KK, I always appreciate the simple problem solver. That is genius.
- TripleF
- Bronze Tier
- Posts: 18499
- Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:42 pm
- Location: West Central FL
- Contact:
Re: Axe Sharping
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing!
SCOTT
HOME OF THE BRAVE! (not the scarety cats)
Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
HOME OF THE BRAVE! (not the scarety cats)
Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
- tongueriver
- Posts: 6834
- Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:01 pm
Re: Axe Sharping
That is a great safety idea; thanks for sharing! What is the approximate grit range on the stone you are using for SHARPENING?
- Mumbleypeg
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 13409
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
- Location: Republic of Texas
Re: Axe Sharping
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
Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
Re: Axe Sharping
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?
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?
Joe
- kingknight
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2018 12:12 am
- Location: Somewhere In Time
Re: Axe Sharping
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.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
"Every normal man must be tempted at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."
H L Mencken
H L Mencken
- kingknight
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2018 12:12 am
- Location: Somewhere In Time
Re: Axe Sharping
The Norton India stone grits are 150 (dark side) and 400 (light orange side).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?
"Every normal man must be tempted at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."
H L Mencken
H L Mencken
- kingknight
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2018 12:12 am
- Location: Somewhere In Time
Re: Axe Sharping
My definition of a hatchet is simply a short handled axe.FRJ wrote: Isn't your tool a hatchet?
"Every normal man must be tempted at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."
H L Mencken
H L Mencken
- Steve Warden
- Posts: 6320
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 4:18 pm
- Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Re: Axe Sharping
FRJ wrote: I put my head in a vice too,...
Nah, too easy.
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Re: Axe Sharping
quality safety gloves are inexpensive.
- Mumbleypeg
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 13409
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
- Location: Republic of Texas
Re: Axe Sharping
I was thinking the same thing when I read it, but decided to let him off easy.Steve Warden wrote:FRJ wrote: I put my head in a vice too,...
Nah, too easy.
Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
- tongueriver
- Posts: 6834
- Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:01 pm
Re: Axe Sharping
X2Mumbleypeg wrote:I was thinking the same thing when I read it, but decided to let him off easy.Steve Warden wrote:FRJ wrote: I put my head in a vice too,...
Nah, too easy.
Ken
Re: Axe Sharping
Perhaps I should rephrase that.
Oh well, I think you all have come up with your own phrases.
Now where is that ax head?
Oh well, I think you all have come up with your own phrases.
Now where is that ax head?
Joe
-
- Posts: 196
- Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:40 pm
Re: Axe Sharping
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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22tBYD-HMtA
- kingknight
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2018 12:12 am
- Location: Somewhere In Time
Re: Axe Sharping
Thanks farefish. Your post is much appreciated. Love the video. Great info.
"Every normal man must be tempted at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."
H L Mencken
H L Mencken