Axe stone

P

pauldulson

Joined
Mar 22, 2000
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Picked up a round sharpening stone at the weekend which is supposed to be for axe sharpening. It's @ 4" dia , 3/4" thick and fit's well in the palm of my hand.There are two different grit grades ,Medium and fine to my eye, one each side. Question is , how to use it ? Do you use circular motion along the edge of the axe? Swipe it in a single sweeping stroke along the edge?
I have an Axe in need of sharpening for work this weekend so I would like to use the new stone to give it an edge.
Thank's, Paul.
 
paul :

[round axe hone]

how to use it ?
Click to expand...

You throw it at the head of the person who damaged the axe badly enough that you would need to use that coarse of a hone on it. I keep my GB axes sharp with 1000 and 4000 grit waterstones + CrO loaded leather (same thing for other chopping blades). If you are chopping you want a fine polish for maximum cutting ability, edge retention and ease of resharpening. The only time I would use a hone that coarse is when I wanted to reshape the edge, for example to remove a notch.

Anyway, those hones are more for "utility" axes. The kinds of tools that you don't keep that sharp because they do a lot of work like cutting roots and sods, so the edge is grated with rocks a lot. The hones are intended to be used in a circular motion, which is fine as a shaping step, but should never be left as a finishing step as it leaves the edge weak. However with that rough a finish it doesn't really matter anyway. But in general, your finish honing should be straight out against the edge (perpendicular), for maximum cutting ability and edge life.

-Cliff
 
Thanks Cliff,
I get the message , I'll keep that little round job for my Pulaski.I have a Gransfor's splitting axe which will clearly need something finer.I was amazed by the edge on this when I bought it and I would like to maintain it correctly.
The axe for use this weekend is a 'Keden' brand, made in Sweden ,it has a 5lb head,I've had it for ages but it has seen little use. Again I'll hunt out a better hone for it's edge preparation, it is in fair shape.
Thanks again,
Paul.
 
Just a little question about Gransfor's. Do they make a ringing "ping" if you pull a finger nail hard off the edge? Mac
 
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