Quick working edge on machete?

upnorth

upnorth

Joined
Nov 25, 2006
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I have a Cold Steel Mag kukri and a Condor Parang machete. I was told to take the shoulder off the Parang to improve its chopping effectiveness. I found it to be a bit of work as the Condor steel is fairly hard. Then I ran the file across the C.S. and it ate the shoulder off in a flash. Both are now reprofiled shallower now, particularly the C.S. My question is....what do you guys use to sharpen your machetes that isn't a long drawn out pain in the hoop ? My axe file is reasonably fast but really eats off the metal. Repofile to a shallower angle then touch up with...? I couldn't care less about slicing paper, that's not what I use machetes for. I just want a usable edge to clear brush and down saplings.
 
First use a coarse file, then follow up with an extra fine one. I forget what the actual categorical name is for the type, but I have some vintage files that have SUPER fine teeth but are double-cut. Reasonably fast removal, but a nice fine finish. I use one for touching up the teeth on my hay knife. Maybe someone else can chime in on what the kind is called. Two safe edges, and about 6" or 7" long by 1/2" wide.

Edit to add: Try Swiss hand files (like Grobet or Pferd) of cut grade 6 to 8. This one seems to be a good example.
 
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I use bonded silicon carbide belts glued to some boards. The belts were originally for a 3x21" belt sander - I cut out the splice and they're about 19" long. I used 80, 120, 400, and 800 grit, then made a similarly sized strop. I cannot recommend this enough. The SiC belts make short work of the (relatively) softer steels used for machetes, the 80 can reprofile and edge the poorest factory grinding job, and by the time you work through to the 800 grit you'll have a shaving edge.
Use them just like a bench stone but with a bit more footwork. It takes less time than you might think, no longer than doing a pocket knife on an 8" stone. I can put on a good edge with a beltsander, or a file followed by a butcher's steel, but the belts done by hand give me fantastic results. If I wasn't so cheap, I'd use this system on all my knives it works so well, but don't want to wear out my belts or keep spares on hand, so just the big knives get to play with the big rig.
Forgot to add, the belts are less than $1.50/piece and seem to last a long time used by hand - considering they were meant for a power tool that's not surprising.
 
I use a double cut bastard file to reprofile all of my condor blades and it works really well. I file it then takebit to the stones, strop and I'm done. If I'm feeling compulsive I'll use sandpaper w/ a hard leather backing then the leather strop.
 
upnorth said:
I couldn't care less about slicing paper, that's not what I use machetes for. I just want a usable edge to clear brush and down saplings.
Click to expand...

ahhh but you forget that an edge which can split hair will do a great job at clear brush and down saplings. get your machette this sharp and you'll have a much easier time when using your machette. I suggest a paper wheel but a belt sander will work too.
 
Belt is the way I'd go too, actually. Fast, easy, and very sharp. I have a relatively low-speed belt (Kalamazoo SM1) and I'd start with a 120 grit, a sharp one, then step to a 320 or so to buff it up a bit. After that, a swipe across the leather belt would strip the burr and have it ready to go, although in all honesty you could probably just use the 120 and call it good. First good whack-and-drag through some brush is going to strip that burr right off anyway.
 
What I do is I keep a little block of scrap wood next to the belt sander. When I'm done on the coarse series of belts I drag the edge over the wood block to remove the burr before going to the fine series of belts. I then do it again before I use the final belt in the sequence.
 
Dead smooth would be your finest cut file. To me, not much need to go past bastard cut file - gets hair shaving sharp, easy to reapply
 
Great trick for me:
I have a double sided course file, but ran one side across the belt sander 10-15 times with some good pressure. Now, one side course, other side pretty fine and great for a quick machete edge! I use my file like this whenever i take out my machete, and just a couple swipes on both sides gets her slicing through water bottles like nothing! This i really reccomend, as its the easiest, fastest, and best way to get a completely dull machete to razor sharp in like 10 seconds..
Dave
 
I use a fine mill file and a medium stone on my heavy bladed machete. For the older German made one I use a medium and fine stone.

The people that use machete's for a living in Guatemala and Honduras carry a few sharpening items.
Depending on their age and who taught them they carry any combination of the following;
Fine file.
Course sharpening stone.
Medium stone.
Hammer and a bit of steel(kind of like how they sharpen scythes)

Most of the guys I have seen in the fields use a file.
My father still uses a file like how a man in El Salvador taught him to.
Lay the blade flat and work both sides then stand it on the handle with the sharp side up and work down both sides.
Don't try this unless you have lived and slept machete since you where 3 or so(as they do) It's kind of cute to see a 5 or 6yr old carrying a machete while taking the stock out to graze in the morning. They cut and bring the kindling back on their way home.

Kind of off subject I guess. Ramblings and all....
 
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