Axe sharpener

G

g123

Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
329
Hey Guys,

What would you bring to field for a long term axe sharpener? What works best without excessive maintenance in the field and is light to put in a backpack?

Thanks,

G
 
4"x4"x1" piece of cheap wood with mouse pad material glued to both sides with 800 grit sandpaper stapled to one side and 2000 grit on the other. I can sharpen just about anything with that.
 
a file and a diamond stone.
 
I strap a DMT 220 coarse keychain unit to all my axes. Perfect for touch-ups. Nicks need a file and files rust in the bush, so I keep it wrapped in an oily rag in a ziploc bag.
 
granfors axe stone (for LONG TERM axe care) for general touchups some 3M autobody paper
 
I'm with the others here. A six-inch mill bastard file and a DMT Diafold with fine and extra fine grits will take care of almost anything: axes, machetes or knives. Finish them off on a strop with some compound if you want to. I don't strop axes or machetes in the field, but I do strop my knives.
 
I never beat up my Gransfors Bruks SFA so badly that the Triangle Sharpmaker wouldn't put the edge back to better than new.

I use it a lot, and haven't needed to file it yet. I don't think I've even needed to use a coarse carborundum stone!

Dirt choppers need not apply.
 
A small swiss style file, some type of diamond hone. Another one that has worked for me is tthe auto body sanding sponges. They come in various grits (some are dual grits), can be cut to any size you desire, and they will conform to whatever shape edge you have, to include convex. They weigh next to nothing.
 
Granfors Bruks sells a 'puck', Norton sells a bigger one, for double bits specifically. The DMT fine/X-fine 6" bench hone, double sided, weighs about 3 oz and is hard to beat for fast. At home, I use a 4x2 belgian natural double coticule that costs twice what the axe costs, but I'm not going to take it to the woods, either. ;)

I grew up with the Norton round stone, and it's hard to beat for a full sized wood chopping axe. The DMT makes sense when you start carrying it, and a teensy black or translucent arkansas is worth tossing in for burnishing, if you get bored.
 
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