Convexing an edge?

B

BenLankford

Joined
Jul 13, 2009
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This seems like the right place to ask. I am planning on getting a Cold Steel Panga Machete and I want to convex the edge. Thing is I don't have a belt grinder or anything besides my Sharpmaker. Should I just have it sent out to get sharpened?
 
Get some large, rough sandpaper and check out YouTube on how to do it manually. I just did a stainless Mora (yeah, "slightly" smaller) on sandpaper. It takes time, but the end result is well worth it. Hang in there and get it done.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Machetes should be sharpened with a file.
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I agree with Bill.

I doubt you'd notice any performance improvement with a convex edge. There's certainly nothing wrong with a convex edge on most knives, (I have several) but I don't think there are any advantages either.
 
Ben Dover said:
I agree with Bill.

I doubt you'd notice any performance improvement with a convex edge. There's certainly nothing wrong with a convex edge on most knives, (I have several) but I don't think there are any advantages either.
Click to expand...

Ah then files it is for me. I have been hearing a ton about convex edges one fixed blades.
 
Ben Dover said:
I agree with Bill.

I doubt you'd notice any performance improvement with a convex edge. There's certainly nothing wrong with a convex edge on most knives, (I have several) but I don't think there are any advantages either.
Click to expand...

I find a machete bites deeper with a good convexed edge, vs a file cut machete. I've done both, and do prefer the convexed one. That said, if I didn't have a belt sander, I'd be sharpening it with a file. You CAN convex it by hand with a mousepad and sandpaper though, it would just take longer and you'd have to do it in sections.
 
Your filed edges are likely to be convexed a little, too.

If you really want to try a polished convex edge on your machete, you can sharpen it with a file and then take a flat side on one of your Sharpmaker hones and scrub along the edge in little semi-circles until its finish is smoother. From there, repeat on the other side and the deburr the edge with a few light passes with the Sharpmaker hone per side. Will take longer than with power tools, last longer than sandpaper, and be less safe than using the hones in their base, but it will give a polished, convex edge for you to try.

And it will fill your Sharpmaker hones with worn steel really quickly and messily.
 
Convex edges are all the rage in Peoria. They really offer no advantage, EXCEPT in chopping, in my opinion. As Thom said, your filed edges will likely be convexed anyway.
 
For a machete, you can use a sanding block and increasingly finer grits of sandpaper.
 
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