How do you Sharpen a Gransfors Mini-Hatchet?

[Larry in Bend]

At a recent sportman's show, I got my first-ever chance to handle samples of Gransfors axes, hatchets and splitting mauls. I was truly impressed by the sharpness and quality of these tools. I ordered a mini-hatchet. (supposed to arrive in 2-3 weeks). I can't imagine sharpening the mini with a file, as I would my less expensive axes and hatchets. How do you sharpen yours? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

You would only want to use a file to remove visible damage. For a full sharpening I use a 1000 and then 4000 grit waterstone followed by stropping on CrO loaded leather. The axe should then be razor sharp and will stay this way after extened use. It can be kept at this level of sharpness for some time just by repeating the leather stropping. After this fails to restore the razor finish I use the waterstones to reset the edge which is only a few minutes work.

-Cliff

 

[Crayola]

Cliff,

are you putting a convex bevel on the edge with your waterstones, or a flat bevel? Thanks.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Convex, you just work the hone over the bevel matching the curve. It sounds really difficult which is why I never tried it for about a year after I was told how to do it. If holding a constant flat angle is difficult (traditional v-grind edges) then matching a convex curvature on the fly has to be much harder.

However I can much easier sharpen such convex bevels by hand, the wider they are the easier it gets. You can also use a large benchstone and draw the knife edge trailing, rotating the blade down towards the hone as you pull, again matching the curve. I don't use that method simply as I don't have any waterstones that are fine enough in that size.

You can also just strop on a soft medium, sandpaper on styrofoam, thick leather, mousepad etc. .

-Cliff

 

[tknife]

After normal use, I use a ceramic stick to follow the convex edge, then strop on wood backed leather. If you get dings in the edge, you would have to do a more aggressive sharpening on it though.

 

[Arathol]

Keep in mind that the G-B mini is not like most hatchets in that the edge has been hardened to around 58 rc. It is more like sharpening a good knife blade than an axe.