Imasca machete

deltablade

deltablade

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Jul 29, 2006
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I recently bought one of these, and the edge is pretty bad. I have been trying to regrind the edge with files, yet the Imasca steel seems really hard for a machete, and much labor has yielded only a little progress. Any suggestions? I dont have a belt sander. Is Imasca steel appreciably harder than most machetes?
 
If you are using a good quality 10 or 12 inch mill bastard file it should eat into the machete steel pretty quickly. Be sure the file is in really good condition and remember that the files are meant to cut in only 1 direction, the push stroke. Lift it up when pulling back or you will ruin the file. I see people filing back and forth and that kills the file edges.

Be sure to support the machete blade edge so you can put some force into the filing. Use a table edge or a piece of 2x4 held in a vise to support the machete blade. File a tall shallow bevel first about a half inch wide along the full edge if it isn't already there and then if you have a 6 or 8 inch file which being shorter has finer teeth then just put a very small secondary bevel for support of the just thinned wide edge. You can also use sandpaper on a sanding block instead to put a convex secondary edge bevel which is even better in my opinion. Use 220 grit paper.

Takes more effort than a belt sander but once the first wide bevel is cut with the large files maintaining the convex secondary bevel with the sanding block and sandpaper is quick and easy. You can get a real nice edge by going to finer and finer paper up to 400 grit.

If you have to buy some files, dont. For a few more bucks just go to Harbor Freight and buy their 1x30 belt sander and some good quality belts and you will be in knife sharpening convex heaven. The 1x30 goes on sale every so often for $30 bucks or so and HF sends discount coupons all the time if you join their mailing list.
 
many thanks, alex. think I could use a beltsander without killing myself?
 
Yes. A belt sander is the fastest and easiest way to sharpen these things, as long as you keep it cool. A good fresh file does wonders, too. Work in sections and you'll have an easier time.

Imacasas do have a slightly harder steel than most, and they hold an edge a long time. However, it's typical in Central and South America for machetes to come with nothing more than a rough grind on them to take some of the work out for you. This is viewed as a design feature, as it allows the user to profile the edge as they see fit. ;)
 
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