Sharpening hawks on a stone ?

[Kevin the grey]

I,m sharpening up my hawks for a bit of fun this weekend . One sharpened fairly easily with a file . THe other is taking a coons age . I hope that means the metal will take and hold an edge better than the other one . I have a hand cranked sharpening stone . Clamp it to a bench and away you go . Do you think that this will give me an edge in a reasonable amount of time ? Its a fairly fine stone ;

 

[The_Shadow]

My money is on the one that sharpened well with a file. Don't know if I would waste too much time on the other one.
I'm real partial to steel that files well, it seems to be much, much better in the real world.

 

[Kevin the grey]

Shadow all things being equal I agree with you . Could we say it is more a comment on the quality of the file than the Hawk ? I am fairly certain the hawk that sharpened up with the file is a little too soft . A brittle hawk is no good and a soft one is good as long as it holds an edge reasonably well . The hawk that is a bit too tough for the file is sharpening . Just at a very slow rate . I am sure if I was better with a file or the file ewas better it would take a bit less time . The hawk appears well made and has taken a fair amount of abuse without breaking . Trust me, I miss once in a while .

 

[etp777]

I've almost always used files on axes/hatchets/hawks, but a coupla times used the belt grinder. I think the stone would work alright, if you know what you're doing. not meant as an insult, I'm still learning tricks to sharpening, and i've been doing this for decades now.

I too though would be tempted to think the one that files well is taking a better edge, as with other, I'm guessing it's too hard(file is skating)w hich for my opinion is too hard for a hawk/axe/hatchet, as it will be more brittle, or it's jsut soft/lesser alloy that just won't take much of an edge no matter what you do.

 

[Howard Wallace]

When I briefly worked for the Forest Service, we used to sharpen our axes and pulaskis with files in the field, and a maintenance fellow would sharpen them all up on the bench grinder when we got back to home base. It takes a bit of practice to use the grinder, as you have to be careful not to overheat.

You won't have an overheating problem with a hand-cranked stone. I have one that sets in water, so the stone is continually wetted. That also helps with overheating. Not long ago I got an electric grinder where the stone sets in water.

A belt grinder works too. Again, take care not to overheat.

A coarse diamond hone may also work where a file will not.

 

[Kevin the grey]

Howard I try to have high quality tools . I have about fifteen tool boxes full and often buy tools in bulk . I get a dog in there sometimes . Weeding out borderline tools is an ongoing prcess . That file is on my toss list . The hand crank stone was a bit of a pain setting up as it was old and seized up . The stone had also elipsed through misuse . It gave me a useable edge . If I can figure out an inexpensive way to reface the stone I,ll fix it up . If not I have a fine grit stone that will fit . I would like to keep the original stone as well . Its a coarser grit .

 

[Yvsa]

:Snipped: If I can figure out an inexpensive way to reface the stone I,ll fix it up . If not I have a fine grit stone that will fit . I would like to keep the original stone as well . Its a coarser grit .

Kevin you can get inexpensive grinding wheels from these folks...
http://www.wttool.com/

They have several locations across the country with one close by here in Tulsa.
I buy some of my 2"X72" belts from them as well as a few other things in the machine tool line.:thumbup:
Like anywhere else you get what you pay for although their inexpensive belts aren't too bad for a hobbiest like me.:thumbup:
If I were a serious knife maker I'd be going for the belts like Dan and a lot of the other pro's use.

Wholesale Tool Inc has a wheel dresser that you could use to true up your out of line and and of balance wheel, but you would need another person to turn the grinding wheel while you trued it up.

 

[Kevin the grey]

Thanks Yvsa , Its a neat tool , well made and serviceable . I,m not a fan of mechanised sharpening . When there is 5 or 6 tools to touch up it is just the thing .
I am theorizing as to whether I could use a circular saw as the drive motor for a steel brush and grinding wheel combination I have . Its not the way to go as the motor is noisy as hell . I can protect myself against the noise my neighbours can,t . The reason I want to use the circular saw set-up is so I can set it up as a table saw . I would use the blade depth adjuster as my pulley belt tension adjuster . It sounds mickey mouse the more I thnk about it .

 

[Kismet]

Actually Kevin, it sounds suicidal. Leave the poor saw alone. will you?


wacherass.

 

[Kevin the grey]

Actually Kevin, it sounds suicidal. Leave the poor saw alone. will you?


wacherass.

Oftentimes on the job site I have seen a circular saw bolted onto the bottom of a small wood bench . The blade slices a cut in the bottom of the bench and Voila you have a table saw . No blade guard , no fence . Sometimes not even an off switch .

Kismet I concur that it may be less than wise if not for any other reason than the frailty of the blade depth adjuster . A table saw would be nice . I don,t use them enough to warrant jury rigging one . One day I may scare up a band saw as they are a bit more versatile .
I think I,ll scare up a motor with a belt tensioner sytem to be the center of my work shop .