Sharpening the beard on a trail hawk

Shotgun

Shotgun

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
Messages
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I think I want to do this but all I have is hand tools. Is this a realistic thing to do with a bastard file or would it take forever? I remember when I put the edge on it that it only took a few minutes but the bevel was almost fully established. Thoughts?
 
Yeah, thinking you are going to need a belt sander.
Or you could go shop for some large double cut files at Harbor Freight. I think that is where I got my 12" monster. Although depending on how hard it is you might just wear out the file.

I know when re-profiling my Vietnam Tomahawk I went slow and used a angle grinder. I did it over several days and dipped it often.
If the steel gets to hot to touch you are probably cooking the temper out of it.
I tried my large double cut file, but I was going nowhere fast. My belt sander and the 100 grit belts just seemed to polish the surface, I thought it over for days before settling on the angle grinder as a solution.
 
I wouldn't use a Harbor Freight file. I'd use a good file like a Simonds Multi-Kut.
http://www.specialtysupplies.com/simonds-multicut-flat-file-p-1290.html?manufacturers_id=66
http://www.amazon.com/Simonds-American-Breaking-Rectangular-Thickness/dp/B0002FU918

If you want to change the profile with an angle grinder then use the coarsest grit sanding disc you can find - like 24 or 36 grit. The coarser grits actually produce less heat than the finer grits. Just stay off of the very edge with the grinder because it will temper in a flash.
 
I never use files to sharpen a hawk, hatchet, axe or whatever.

I would use a regular scythe-sharping-stone. My Trail Hawk sees a lot of work during making firewoods (use it for removing darr breaches from cut down trees). Works perfect. Sometimes it needs a new edge. Dont use a file. I believe in sharping stones for knives or scythes.

Kind regards
 
I would certainly finish the edge with a stone and usually with a buffer after that. But I wouldn't hesitate to shape an axe edge with a file. What would take hours with a stone can be done in minutes with a good file.
 
I don´t keep any hawks extremely sharp. Using it as a hatchetlike-tool, it would cause to much injury and damage when something goes wrong. Using a file, might go faster and at the same result... Well, alright, maybe I´ll gonna use a file in future... :)

Kind regards
 
Use a high-quality file by Nicholson or Pferd and you'll do fine. It'll just take a while.
 
Aircraft belt sander?
http://www.browntool.com/Default.as...ductName,ProductNumber&Level=a&ProductID=2667

But seriously, a lot of aircraft maintenance guys just use those quick change abrasive disks (I'd go with the 2" for higher RPM) in their 90 degree die grinders (1/4 in shanks usually).
http://www.browntool.com/Default.as...3&Level=a&SortField=ProductName,ProductNumber

I was looking around and saw a super cheap die grinder at Harbor freight too
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-angle-die-grinder-32046.html
 
Last edited:
Shotgun said:
I think I want to do this but all I have is hand tools. Is this a realistic thing to do with a bastard file or would it take forever? I remember when I put the edge on it that it only took a few minutes but the bevel was almost fully established. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Yes, bastard files are good for sharpening axes. However, I would think adding a cutting edge to the bottom of the bit like that would take forever with a rasp/file. Maybe see if a friend has a belt sander or bench grinder you can use to add the edge. I would definitely refine the edge with a stone/diamond rod afterwards and strop or buff the edge. Something else to take into account is that most of the bit behind the primary cutting edge is heat treated for shock absorption rather than edge retention but I suppose it depends on how far back you want to sharpen it.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'm just looking at sharpening the first inch or more so I'm not worried about getting into the soft steel. I'm using a double sided Nicholsen file right now. Maybe I'll give it a try.


P.S.All my cutting tools are kept to 600 grit or more. I would never finish with a file unless I was in a rush.;)
 
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