Axe Sharpening and Grit

[Operator1975]

Ultimately, from a general purpose standpoint, all that needs to be done is for the edge to be brought to an apex at an appropriate angle, and with any resulting burr or wire edge removed.

Even a bastard-cut file or coarse silicon carbide stone will produce a serviceable edge on an axe. Going finer will produce better results, but is not strictly necessary for most users, and it won't do you much good unless you took care of the preceding steps first, anyhow. But the more heavily you rely/depend upon the tool, the more worth it it will be to take it finer. For those using the tool with high intensity, frequency, and time on task, small performance gains rapidly add up. For occasional or casual use, it's largely a drop in the bucket as long as it's apexed, burr free, and a proper angle for the context of use.

This pretty much sums it up. Lets not get carried away and bring in guys from NASA and test everything we can, make playbooks, come up with theories and blah blah blah.

Put a good edge on it with a good angle, and go chop. Increase time in the woods(I know I need to) and decrease time on stupid stuff.

 

[jgang]

(I'd like to thank Wild Turkey Rare Breed for inspiring this post)

Nice. Hope you weren't doing any sharpening at the time. How is that Rare Breed? I just found a bottle Willett's Pot Still Reserve.....decadent!

Back on topic.....I could have probably cut through a 4" sappling with my stropped dinner fork in the time it took to read and attempt to comprehend the details in this thread. Enlightening. My analogy would be to precision rifles.....do you need a minute prairie dog rifle or a minute of elk rifle? Different tools for different tasks. Just one task or only just one tool??? Maybe minute of coyote or groundhog is good enough. As for me, I don't need shaving sharp as the cords of wood in my shed were split with an ancient "Sears special" that has never been sharpened despite uncountable cords of wood to its credit. Could I have split it faster or more efficiently with a better edge? Perhaps. In that light, I am going to take several of my tools and reprofile/polish/sharpen the edges simply because I think I've learned something here that needs to be applied in real life. Thank you for the education.....

 

[SC T100]

I've used dull axes to split...mostly when I was younger. I now use shaving sharp axes and they split wood much, much easier. But as you say...both work; it's just a matter of effort.

Edit: Far, far fewer glances too.

 

[DemonicMind666]

I just sharpen mine on my two stones (not sure on grit), and then strop them on notebook paper. Shaving sharp, but I believe the steel on the hatchet is really soft. It's probably a $10 hatchet, so it doesn't have much edge retention. I sharpen it on the fine stone or strop it after every use, which is every day. Along with my beater fixed blade and cheap chisel.

 

[thunderstick]

As a general rule I only use a file to set the original profile of the bit. Once the profile is set I stone and hone it from then on. If you keep after the edge by lightly dressing it after each use with a fine honing stone it takes very little effort to maintain the edge. A fine honing stone doesn't always indicate what the grit level is. IMO it should be rough enough that it takes very little work to dress the edge after usage and fine enough that it gives a shaving edge. If that criteria is met the bit will serve well in most applications and it can be touched up in the field with minimal fuss from a small fine grit stone that is easily carried. If I want a little sharper edge maintained, a small steel or diamond polishing rod can easily be carried to additonally polish/strop the edge.

 

[Tymowens]

Nice. Hope you weren't doing any sharpening at the time. How is that Rare Breed? I just found a bottle Willett's Pot Still Reserve.....

Rare Breed is a little expensive but it's way better than the standard Wild Turkey. It has kinda become my go-to. I haven't had Willet before but have only heard good things.

 

[rockman0]

Rare Breed is a little expensive but it's way better than the standard Wild Turkey. It has kinda become my go-to. I haven't had Willet before but have only heard good things.

I agree with jgang, If you see a bottle of Willet Pot Still don't hesitate. To me it's the most flavorful whiskey in the under $50 range.

 

[1215]

Wow this went OT... I only drink beer (no liquor) so no comment on that nasty brown stuff :barf:

I'm new to Axes but not sharpening things. I usually only use files for profiling edges and then black >> blue >> green DMT stones for everything from skis to drill bits. I don't know the exact grits but occasionally I'll break out the wet stones and do something similar. I usually finish up most everything (except axes which are too heavy/big) with Spyderco's triangle sharpener. If its going to be sharp you might as well be able to shave with it... and a sharp blade is a safe blade.

 

[Square_peg]

If its going to be sharp you might as well be able to shave with it... and a sharp blade is a safe blade.

Absolutely! And it's such a small effort to go from 'sharp' to 'shaving sharp'. Most of the work was in the profiling.