Machete sharpening tips?

M

mrszeontestpilot

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Mar 28, 2012
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Just picked up a used Ontario machete today. I can sharpen knives pretty decently, but I've never sharpened anything this big before, and I've never used a file to sharpen before, either.Obviously I can utilize google and youtube, but I'm hoping to find an easier way to weed through the not so helpful stuff out there. So, does anyone have any tips for someone starting out sharpening machetes?
 
I know this is against anything most of us here preach but recently, somewhat inspired by HeavyHanded recent disk sharpening video and Gavko knives videos on youtube, for big knives I now use a disk sander attachment on my power drill (has speed control of course) with a very worn 200 grit disk. The backing is soft so light pressure is very important. It is fast and convenient so exactly what I need for big knives. Since it can go both ways, clockwise and counterclockwise, I still can use alternating hands and see the spine as my gauge, similar to my freehand approach. I love freehand stone work, trying out different approaches etc. and it is a meditation for me too, stress management really. But with little time at hand, the power sander/strop approach is great, particularly for big knives, often used for chopping, where a more polished convex edge comes in handy.
 
If its new and really does not have an edge, clamp it to the edge of a bench and use a file - raise burr, flip, repeat.

Single cut mill files are the best choice, and for this work I like to use a good 8" of dowel for the handle - I prefer to work into the edge.

I have a 12" file for setting bevels, and a 6" one for refining down the edge. After that a stone or similar can be used to really make it sing, otherwise the 6" file can get them pretty sharp if you're going to beating hard on it (file size determines grit size for the most part, smaller files make finer finishes).

If it has a respectable edge, you can finish it off/touch it up with any stone. You can simply work it on the bench using an overlapping pass to slowly cover the whole edge - no need to use full sweeps, don't even bother - it's very difficult to maintain solid angle control over that sort of ROM.

This is me using one of my Washboard blocks, sharpening one on my knee, same technique with a bench stone. The finer the polish, the better they chop, just have to find a level of finish that makes sense to maintain at.

[video=youtube;Uidso_8KJ38]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uidso_8KJ38[/video]
 
71HigJw0QJL._SL1500_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/Smiths-50264-Adjustable-Manual-Sharpener/dp/B007Y15LD4

Either a file or this. I never use it to actually "sharpen", but it's excellent for restoring a damaged edge very quickly or reprofiling. I often use it to make an 8 hour knife reprofiling job an 8 minute job. It's so wide of a slot it can even accommodate a 1/4" inch blade thickness. You can then finish the edge with finer stones/files. google India and arkansas files for edge maintenance.
 
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