If the idea is to re profile an axe head is the idea to go slow and short

[Gh0zt36]

per abrasion reps to keep the temp low enough to where it doesnt mess with the heat treat ?

 

[phantomknives]

the general rule is if it gets too hot to hold bare handed, give it rest.

 

[FLINT77]

You have the most control with a hand file. If you get it too hot with a file, you are really moving. You can move a lot of steel with a file.

 

[Square_peg]

As Flint77 said the safest way is to stick with files. There are exceptions. Seeing your axe, knowing what equipment you have and what your skill level is could help us to guide you.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Working with power equipment is a recipe for disaster when you're starting off, and you should be prepared to risk burning the edges on a few tools as you learn what you're doing. But the general rule is use fresh belts, as coarse of grit as you can get away with (believe it or not finer belts generate MUCH more heat very rapidly) and use light pressure and fast passes so you don't build up heat in one spot. Once experienced you can do such work without risking the heat treatment, but to get experience you have to be comfortable with the possibility that you're not gonna' get it right all the time at first. A little knowledge about the ins and outs ahead of time does help a lot with minimizing how many "oops" moments you have during the learning process though.

 

[David Martin]

I did my Hults with a 12" coarse file and it took some time. Still, it took off metal well and I could gauge the progress. Thus, I stopped when I
was at the thickness I wanted. DM

 

[Gh0zt36]

Thanks fellas. I scoured the deep dark recesses of the garage and found an old bastard file that is likely older than me . It did exactly what I needed it to do .

 

[David Martin]

Yep, the file I used was a Nickleson bastard. Good luck, DM