How do I sharpen a machete??

O

oduaby

Joined
Oct 10, 2014
Messages
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Hi all,
I am new here and to the world of knives. I just bought my first machete a Condor Pack Golok and it came dull (which I hear is a problem with Condor knives) Anyways I love the machete and cannot wait to use it. However I have no idea how to sharpen a machete (or really even a knife) so could you please suggest what stones or files to use and how to use them. Or if you know of a good sharpening how to that would be awesome.
Thanks
 
For my machete I just clamp it to the workbench and sharpen with a fine double cut bastard file. For what a machete gets put through I wouldn't get too obsessed with the edge, file it down and put it to work.
 
[video=youtube;447dYMTiQUo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=447dYMTiQUo[/video]

The start shows the manufacture of machetes and files. Then an instructional segment (at 5:18) on how to sharpen a machete with a file. His file is a rather interesting double-ended one with coarse and fine cuts, so that's why he flips it over.

But if you have a belt sander and appropriately fine belts then use that. Much faster.
 
My two Condor machetes came plenty sharp for their intended purpose. On the other hand, my Cold Steel machete's edge rolled and needed some work. I had a guy at the flea market file it a bit.
I use a Lanski Puck: $7ish? It doesn't take me very long to put on a "working edge", especially when I touch it up after each use.
 
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Also for what it's worth, the Pack Golok is really more of an ethnic-inspired chopping knife. Not exactly what I consider a true machete. You'll probably be spending a lot of time working the base of the blade as they tend to be pretty thick in the grind down there. You really want to get it down to around 15° per side for peak performance.
 
I'm in the process of using a file on mine as well. But the steel is tougher than you initially assume.
 
I use a file to set the edge - if its greater than 30* inclusive I'll thin it down, and even out the bevels. After that, any stone will do, or sandpaper wrapped around a block. A final quick hit with some honing compound on paper wrapped around something hard like a benchstone or small brick, piece of tile will bring it to a fine edge very quickly. While they don't generally hold a very fine edge for long, the finer the edge the better they will tend to perform for chopping (all else being equal). Any refinement that can be done with a small investment in added time will pay off in use.

For sharpening at home I clamp it for file work, and use a stone on a table for sharpening. In the field I brace it on my knee as shown in the video - between the knee at the point of sharpening and the hand holding the grip, one gets two points of contact/control - works very well for me compared to single point methods. Vid link is for a Washboard but a similar method will work for sandpaper over a block of some sort, or even a regular benchstone etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uidso_8KJ38

Edit to add:
Andy, you caught me on the edit!
 
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HeavyHanded has a video showing his approach, similar to above. I guess you would substitute the sandpaper with a file if needed for more material removal if necessary. You could do the same with DMT Diafolds too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uidso_8KJ38

I guess you could do the regular "bring the tool to the stone" approach too but the larger the knife, the more challanging it will be (here is an example): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYkKfUSW1J8

Hope that helps!
 
Sorry, just noticed that I was so slow with my post that Martin had already posted it.
 
Thank you all for your replies they really helped! What degree angle do you suggest as a general rule?
 
for my machete I just use the sharpener that looks like a bunch of washers.
 
I sharpen to about 30 degrees. I dress a new machete with a file and then keep it sharp with sand paper. But when I am keeping the trail on my property clear, I carry a file and an AcuSharp. I will use a machete for 4 to 6 hours a day sometimes. I do not prefer them for chopping wood, though. I have acreage in the tropics and anything heavier than a papaya tree gets a saw.
 
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