Machete edge....

have a convex edge put on it. did you see my thread on free sharpening yesterday in w&ss? if not and you want a good edge put on it i'll still do yours for free if you pay shipping and insurance both ways. you can even send a couple of small folders too if you want.
 
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thin is in! :thumbup:

i don't really do angles, i just go for thin...

maybe 10 degrees per side?
 
I'd consider taking up Richard on his offer.

For cutting grass and brush, a 10 degree edge would work fine, I'd think. I'm talking like tall grass, rose bushes, that kind of thing. For any wood at all, I'd move to 15-20 degrees. 10 might work, and I thinned my Cold Steel machete to between 15 and 20 degrees and it took chops into a 1.5" oak dowel with no problems. You can thin it more next time if you dont see any damage in use. Or if you dont want to be that picky, tell him 20-25 and be done with it.

Has anyone tried draw filing an edge onto a machete using a 6" file or something, followed by a stone? I have a belt sander for mine, so I havent tried yet. I recently discovered draw filing, so I'm beginning to try it.
 
i currently use an 8" bastard mill file,double sided, that i sanded a little smoother on one side of it, and use it every time on my machete, and works better than perfect. a couple swipes on the regular side, than a couple on the smoothed out side, and there you go.
 
a convex edge will hold up a lot better than a thin edge and would be easy for you to touch up.
 
Man, I just use a bastard file on my 'chetes like I do on my hatchets. Seems to work just fine and the edge holds up as long as when I used to hone it nicely.
 
A convex edge will hold up to abuse well.

But the soft, low end steel used in machetes is so easy to sharpen with a mill bastard file that it's hard to justify putting much effort into it. :thumbup:
 
I usually use a fine file followed by a diamond paddle and just sharpen it like a big knife!
 
I remember an old machete I had in high school, about 15 years ago, and it had spots along the edge that worked fine with a file, and others that the file would just skate across, giving just surface scratches, no bite that I could tell. I just use a belt sander now, and will probably keep thinning it until I see obvious damage from the use I give it, which is grass, brush, and small diameter wood, 2" max. For what its worth, the belt sander does provide a convex edge.
 
using a short file is a good way to get cut. its best to use a long file if you're going to sharpen that way. you can draw file with a short file though.
 
Longer files are definitely better. I was able to find one that was only .5" wide and about 12" long. Doesn't get much better than that! :)
 
I've used a machette in the field off and on for 25 years and except for battoning, which there was no call for in my business, I used a 14" Mill Bastard File to give it a compound edge. I hit it every day and some times freshen it up at midday. I'd lay it back at about 20-25 degrees and then give it a half dozen passes at 30 -35 degrees. These were old Army surplus machetes and damn good blades with a good temper.
 
If I remember correctly,Martindale sell a short file specifically for their range of machetes.I personally just touch mine up with a slack belt sander for a thin and slight convex edge.
 
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