a sharpening question...

P

PARKINGLOT

Joined
Dec 26, 2010
Messages
98
well, in reality I know zero about sharpening bladed instruments. I know my grandfather used a whetstone for his Buck/Case folding knives he always seemed to have. I have 2 hachets, one used that was left at my house by the PO I use for random tasks like gardening, and a Mastercraft one I have in a toolbox in my Jeep. I'd like to sharpen them up a bit, as well as possibly sharpen my 2 EDC knives a bit (just cause...an SAK and CRKT rsk mk5)
My dad told me I could try his bench grinder on the hachets. I just might on the "junker", if I mess it up I am out nothing...

help a clueless guy out?
 
oh yeah, I just remembered. I also have a 4" fixed blade Winchester knife that was given to me, it's more or less my "Jeep knife" now, but it's got a couple tiny knicks in the cutting edge near the tip, as well as the cutting edge is at probably, oh...40-50%....it's been used......
 
Do not use a bench grinder. It will really screw them up. If you are not comfortable using a flat stone, check out the Spyderco Sharpmaker as an affordable and fool proof sharpener. It does have it's limitations but will get the job done.
 
For the hatchets, I would use a bastard file and some sandpaper (200-400 grit). I have had good success with my axes just using the file. As for the knife, sandpaper in varying grits from 200-600 would work fine, or a plain Arkansas stone would also work. Should you use the sandpaper, I would recommend using it on top of a relatively soft backing like a magazine or mouse pad to produce a convex edge. Depending on the fineness of the edge you are looking for, you could look into automotive wet/dry sandpaper up to 2-3000 grit to get an approximate mirror edge.

I would highly recommend avoiding the grinder unless there is a very fine stone wheel and you need to do major repairs; otherwise it will just destroy your edges.

I would also stress the use of a bench vice or clamp of some sort for holding the hatchets in place; it makes life much simpler.

Hope this helps.
 
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I would use a medium grit slip stone on the hatchets. As far as a file. I'd recommend a Nicholson Flat Smooth file.
 
Do not use a bench grinder! A file works far better on hatchets, or get one of the two sided puck-shaped stones.

A big +1 for the sandpaper. If you start with an 80 grit or so, you don't even need a file. Just use some wet/dry, or silicone carbide sandpaper. For larger tools, or really beat up edges I have some 3x21 sanding belts that I've cut and glued to some metal plates (wood would work too - anything flat and stable) to make some 19" long bench stones. If you use the sandpaper, then you can use the same materials and technique to maintain your small knives too.

HH
 
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