How do you sharpen your Lite Machete ?

D

DocBurN

Joined
Feb 25, 2010
Messages
403
With a file..
With a stone
With a strop and compound
With a sharpening tool (ex: Spyderco Sharpmaker)

Also

What it that little transparent coating on the edge.. I used a lil stone to touch up the blade and there was that small plastic-like skin on the edge (the lite machete came from KSF) Any idea ?
 
I sharpened mine on sandpaper, as I would a convex knife. The edge on mine was pretty good from the factory and it didn’t take long to put an impressive edge on it. Then I stropped it on cardboard.

I need to go to a Woodland Ops course so Jeff can show me how to use and sharpen a machete.

The coating just looked like a lacquer to me. Not sure if it was there for any reason other than to prevent rust maybe? It wears off with use so I just wiped the blade down like I do my 1095 blades.
 
Probably just a sprayed on laquer from Imacasa to keep rust down during shipping. I use a standard flat file to sharpen them. I've noticed that some of the sharpening from Imacasa leaves the edge a little too thin so it's best to take it back a little with a file before doing any hard work, otherwise they will chip out.
 
i've been using the mousepad/sandpaper method. used a flat screwdriver to chisel the laquer off the edge before i used it.
 
I wont use a screwdriver to get the laquer off when I get mine. I plan to chop up a bunch of rocks. That should remove it :) kidding
 
I just grabbed a rod off my sharpmaker, pushed the edge clean, and mine have been fine. Not as clean an edge as condors, but a) it took less than 60 seconds to clean it up, and b) it's a machete man.
I skipped it off my left index knuckle while making a bowdrill with it... It cut a double facing triangle of skin very cleany off. My first thought was "damn thats a nice clean edge"...took a quick photo...then realized "opps, yea need to stop that from bleeeding..."
 
I just used mine straight from the sheath and then touch up will be with a DMT and a small file.
In this pic you can see the coating pulling away from blade...after some use

IMG_3266-1.jpg
 
I don't own the Lite machete, but on my regular machetes I've used a Lansky puck and that can clean up/straighten out an edge pretty good, then I end with a strop if I'm bored.

Recently I was trying to sharpen a Cold Steel tomahawk and tried a few different things and found that my small diamond plate (maybe 4" x 2") used in a fast circular motion along the edge make it sharp enough to slice paper. If I can do that on a dull tomahawk, I'm going to try it next on a machete.
 
If you use machetes a lot like I do, the $40 bench top belt sander from Harbor Freight is the bomb. I have 80, 120, 500, and 1200 grit belts as well as leather strops with the black and green compound for sharpening. With my machetes I get most of what I need at 120 and finish with just a touch of the 500. Awesome edge.
 
My Machete is so sharp now.. im pretty sure i'll cut through the sheath that came with it.. i really got to consider changing sheath before an accident happen.. if I dont find a replacment sheath soon, i'll have to carry another machete in the wood.
 
Belt sanders work great for machetes. You can touch them up with a ceramic rod or even a diamond coated steel. Except for Condors, I use the belt sander to put on the convex edge. I suppose I need to order a Lite Machete to put in my Rainwalker custom sheath. It seems strange to have a $6.00 Tramontina in it.
Jeff006.jpg

Jeff001.jpg
 
mainewoods said:
I'll Have Forty sharpen Mine I heard he does a great job !
Click to expand...

Sliced myself twice last night sharpening that Imacasa Burriquito...That's the last time I have two glasses of ruby porto while doing machete mods! :eek::p
 
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