Any sharpening gauge interest?

Z

ZombieDadNJ

Joined
Aug 21, 2015
Messages
27
I've been reading (and watching) "An Ax to Grind" a great deal now that the ax and hatchet resto bug has bitten me. For those of you who don't know, Bernie Weisgerber is a historic preservation specialist with the US Forest Service. Suffice it to say he also has probably forgotten more about repairing, hanging and sharpening axes than I'll ever remember. Plus, he looks like Wilford Brimley (no "dieabeetus" jokes, please).

Anyhoo, in An Ax to Grind (PDF here) Bernie mentions the use of a sharpening guide to check the overall shape of your ax head. He helpfully provides a template for the guide as well (click for larger image):



My question is simply this: does anyone on the forum use this guide? If so, did you make it yourself?

My neighbor is a retired metal shop teacher and I have access to his shop. I'd like to make a guide for myself out of sheet aluminum (he uses old road signs to build model airplane cowlings) and was curious if I made a few extra would there be any interest in having one. Not looking to sell them (likely they're light enough I can get them into a regular envelope without extra postage), just looking to give back some of the good will I've already received here on the site. Let me know if you use them or not.
 
I would love one. I have been using one I cut out of cardboard and it is showing some wear. Please let me know if you make some up, thanks!
 
Perhaps Bernie will respond to this personally; he's Old Axeman on this forum. I was tickled pink to learn that he became a contributing member
 
I haven't made one yet. I was going to use a flexible plastic spreader I got somewhere. I need to make a couple out of wood too. I can't say one made of metal appeals to me. But as a template it would work well.
 
I would love one and would be happy to pay the postage to Canada. I am thrilled that Mr. Weisgerber is Old Axeman. I did not put that together. He was my greatest source of inspiration when I first got into this game.
 
ZombieDadNJ said:
My neighbor is a retired metal shop teacher and I have access to his shop. I'd like to make a guide for myself out of sheet aluminum (he uses old road signs to build model airplane cowlings) and was curious if I made a few extra would there be any interest in having one.
Click to expand...

Using an old sign is a good idea. Nice thick stock.
 
Twindog said:
Wouldn't you need a different guide for every type and size of axe?
Click to expand...

Based on what Bernie (if you read this, Bernie, huge fan!) has written, the gauge works well for most axes. He recommends that, for a double bit, you sharpen one to match the guide and leave the other side a bit thick and use that for your root work. As for hatchets, I would imagine the profile would be similar enough that it shouldn't matter.
 
Seeing that there is some general interest in these guides, I'll talk with my neighbor and see what it would take to produce a bunch. Once they're done, I'll post the finished product and anyone interested can message me their mailing addresses.
 
When you gain experience filing axes (and using those axes) you'll become comfortable filing without a gauge. And you will vary your axe geometry according to the task. That gauge, taken from the book 'Woodsmanship' by Bernard Mason, produces an excellent general purpose axe edge.
 
Ive made a similar gauge in copper, I find that I dont really use it, but i got it.
 
I'd sure like a metal one. I made one out of plexiglass and use it all the time to check my profiles. Traced it out of the book, but it came out a little narrow.

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P1020200_zpsvq3lcx04.jpg
 
i'd like one just so i could check the axes i have to see if they are similar in profile.

buzz
 
I'd like one also if willing to ship to Canada so that it would replace my plastic one.
 
I like the template idea for checking your grind. I usually go by eye and that seems to work pretty well. As long as you're not hollow grinding your bits, just about anything seems to work. I have a printed copy of "An Axe to Grind". Any time I ask the wife where the Bible is, she knows exactly what I'm talking about.
 
i spend hours re-profilling secondhand used bits because of the uneven sharpening. most likely i have to straighten out the cutting line or edge. the head or the heel is either broken off or stubbed fat.
the gauge would help i spose to get everything evened out on both sides of the bit

buzz
 
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