Can I sharpen a machette with a dremel?

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MODkevin

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Oct 7, 2006
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I bought a new coldsteel machette for the bugoutbag and am trying to figure out how to sharpen it easily. Would it be o.k. to use the small grinding/sanding wheel with a dremel tool? One day I will learn the ins and outs of sharpening blades correctly. I take my expensive knives to professionals when they need sharpening and since the machette is inexpensive, i'd just like to do it myself. Thanks
 
Sure, you can sharpen a machete with a dremel. Just be careful not to heat the edge up very much, or you'll kill the heat treat. You might not get the prettiest edge in the world, but it should do the trick.
 
You can also clamp it to a work table and use a file, then polish it up a bit after.
 
I am sure you can sharpen a machete with a Dremel, but unless you have the hands of a Master artist, or a neuro surgeon, your bevel is going to look undesirable.
 
I sharpened a machete one time. I set it up in a vice and used a file. It took about 5 minutes. It was much easier than sharpening a knife. The file left a wickedly aggressive edge. So I would look for a file instead of a dremmel personally.
 
matt321 said:
I sharpened a machete one time. I set it up in a vice and used a file. It took about 5 minutes. It was much easier than sharpening a knife. The file left a wickedly aggressive edge. So I would look for a file instead of a dremmel personally.
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If the OP's limiting choices are due to funds, then I think you are spot on. The wickedness of the edge could be nicened up with some sand paper backed by something flat. Sharpening on a budget, nothing wrong with that.
 
Cold Steel says that machete is high carbon 1055 with a "tough spring temper". I don't think of springs as having a very good temper on them personally, but it's probably better than your average stamped steel junk machete.

I've always sharpened machetes with a fine file and that does a good job in terms of what that tool is meant for. I suppose you could use a finer abrasive on it, but I don't know if the edge will hold up. On a conventional machete, the edge is just going to roll over when you get it too thin.

I wouldn't use a dremel on it. A file makes pretty quick work of those kinds of blades, unless the Cold Steel version really is tempered that much better.

Brian.
 
File it, then a wooden block with sandpaper dragging it from the edge.
 
I have done two cold steel machetes (my friend's and mine) with my dremel, then I finish with a semi-micro bevel (about half the factory bevel) with course daimond, then sharpmaker medium and fine. I make it sharp enough to pop leg hairs, and thats enough. The dremel speeds the process so much its not funny! All those huge burrs and the bevels don't even touch. Doing this with just a stone set would take a while.
 
Machetes have traditionally been sharpened with files. They are all you need.
 
Get a nice Mill Bastard file and learn to draw file. That'll get you a very nice edge. Then, if you want to go further, you can finish the edge on some wet or dry sandpaper in various grits until you get the edge you want. I've been doing it this way for many, many years, and it works fine.
 
Machetes can be sharpened w/just about anything. I once saw someone put a half decent edge one one with a brick.
 
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