Filing Machetes

cziv

cziv

Joined
Nov 24, 2005
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I've read many posts where the poster has used machetes like the Cold Steel, variety - $20'ish range offerings.

They usually mention that all they need is a file to tune the blade up and they're ready to begin chopping again.

What kind of files are they talking about? The only files I've accumulated over the years would be too course for getting a sharp edge, they'd rip the edge up but good.

Anyone care to elaborate just a little bit so I can get a proper file for my machetes. I'm tired of using a course/medium stone on them. Maybe a file is what I need? Not sure though. :confused:
 
My mechete (not cold steel) is so soft that anything finer than a file is a waste of time, a file will give a really nice microserrated edge as well, and its a lot easyer than keeping your machete hair-shaving.
 
I just keep a Nicholson 6 inch Mill Bastard File (with wood handle) strapped to my machete sheath or in my pack when I'm out. It puts a near razor edge on my Cold Steel and Ontario machetes.
I can't offer any information about the sharpening potential of the file on the thinner, softer machetes like you would find at Harbor Freight or Walmart but for an actual working blade the mill file performs perfectly.

Home Depot carries them for about $5.00 each.
 
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Don't fool yourselves about the cutting ability of a filed edge, or the roughness that most feel will always be present. That toothy aggressive edge is great for grass and light thorny bushes like roses. With practice, a filed edge will shave your arm. I suspect the small 6" files are better for sharpening, but I used a double sided 8" to get my Old Hickory and my brother's Camillus Kabar shaving sharp.
 
+2 on what Me2 said. It puts micro serrations on there. There is a reason that everyone down in Central America and south America use a file when they can. Start from the back of the edge/machete to the front of the edge for a safe starter.
 
It's just compact so it's easy to take with you.

When establishing the edge for the first time I like the Nicholson Handy File.
 
I just keep a Nicholson 6 inch Mill Bastard File (with wood handle)
Click to expand...

I can get this one for $5.69 at ACE about a 5 minute drive, the handle is an extra $4 :eek:

If I drive to Lowes it's about an hr. round trip - gas & time considerations make me think I'll pick one up at Ace for the few extra $$'s.

I already have a razor sharp edge on my CS machete by using a synthetic coarse/medium stone for a couble of hours. Man that paint was hard to remove and it came as dull as a baseball bat!
 
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I've never seen a CS machete come with a working edge.
You may also want to view some of the machete mod videos in youtube showing the different filings for the various sections of the blade.
Great stuff on there. ;)
 
Recon1 said:
I've never seen a CS machete come with a working edge.
You may also want to view some of the machete mod videos in youtube showing the different filings for the various sections of the blade.
Great stuff on there. ;)
Click to expand...

The odd thing with CS machetes is that while most machete companies ship machetes dull with a little grinding done to get you started, the CS ones (made by Lasher Tools) have the metal ground all the way down, often to the point at which sharpening actually takes a lot of width off the edge. I wish they'd use a lighter touch like the SA companies.
 
I've never seen a CS machete come with a working edge.
You may also want to view some of the machete mod videos in youtube showing the different filings for the various sections of the blade.
Click to expand...

Thanks I will check them out.

The odd thing with CS machetes is that while most machete companies ship machetes dull with a little grinding done to get you started, the CS ones (made by Lasher Tools) have the metal ground all the way down, often to the point at which sharpening actually takes a lot of width off the edge. I wish they'd use a lighter touch like the SA companies.
Click to expand...

I heard they came dull, but not like what I experienced wow - I ground a ton of black char to get to the metal before I could begin to sharpen. It shaves paper nicely now, but that probably won't last long. My scratch line is about a full 1/4 inch high.
 
I've got two Collins Legitimus machetes that I inherited from my dad. He bought them at an Army Navy surplus store in downtown Indianapolis in 1967 or 1968. Each has been sharpened with a file who knows how may times and neither really shows any slimming. Given the use of a machete, one does not need a finer edge than a file gives. My dad was not an axe guy. If it needed chopped it was either a machete or a chainsaw. Not sure I ever saw him swing an axe.
 
Filing is great for the hacking part of the blade but up near the handle and toward the tip I put a very fine edge like I would on my knives. Reason being I use these section like a knife. for delicate work like food prep etc.
 
I just pruned my garden today with a katana that I filed. It's an old one I got from a friend and I recently began working on it to make it nice again.
I filed it as part of restoring the very chipped edge and haven't gotten around to working some more on it.
But the pruning was amazing! the thing sliced to fresh 3/4 inch twigs like butter.
 
I have a katana that was just dull but made of a decent steel (I think). I took several hours on it sharpening with stones, stropping on a huge leather seat cover and got it to slice paper effortlessy.

I need to get out and really smack it into some trees. I have lots of old apple & pear trees with dead limbs or that need pruning. Sounds like fun!

I had it and my CS machete out today and sliced up some copy paper for my wife. She didn't look that impressed.
 
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