Recommendation? Sharpening with a file vs. a stone?

SwissHeritageCo said:
I very much like the idea of these stones, (the stones you offer) but how often do you have to lap them flat?
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That depends on how often you're using them, what one, and how good you are at spreading out wear across the face of the stone. But they're fairly hard-bond stones meant to be used with firm pressure so they don't wear out of shape easily even under the worst conditions. Something like the Manticore abrasive files will wear a bit faster because of the texture, which reduces contact surface and therefore increases spot pressure. But even with those, it's mostly a matter of trying to use the stone as evenly as you can and just taking off the high points when they get too out of true.
 
Smaug said:
I'm ready to give the first sharpening to my trusty little Fiskars X7 hatchet.

A file is a cutting tool, vs. a stone, which is an abrasive. The stone also cuts, but in a different way.

Am I right to assume that the file should be used for rougher sharpening, such as getting the nicks and folds off of the edge, and that I should finish with a stone?

Anything else I should know?
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A good file followed by a Norton axe puck will serve you well. Don't buy a cheap file, it's just not worth it.
 
garry3 said:
A good file followed by a Norton axe puck will serve you well. Don't buy a cheap file, it's just not worth it.
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I have some old files that were my granddad's. I'm sure they're not cheap, but maybe not hard enough by today's standards...

Can you recommend me a good file? (link appreciated)

I think I found the axe puck on Amazon.
 
Smaug said:
I have some old files that were my granddad's. I'm sure they're not cheap, but maybe not hard enough by today's standards...

Can you recommend me a good file? (link appreciated)

I think I found the axe puck on Amazon.
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It's hard to beat vintage American made files which is what most grandfathers have and some of us scrounge around yard sales looking for. :thumbsup:
 
I use a file to fix the arc of the edge, and to take the cheeks down a bit. Both new axes and relics. Then a stone, then 400 grit paper on a drywall backer, then a buffing wheel. I know it’s silly and unnecessary, but I like for them to shave paper like a knife. No harm in it. It’s just maintenance.

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Thanks! I really like roofing, shingle, and lathing hatchets in general. They feel like little multipurpose budget tomahawks. Fun, easy projects.
 
Since Old Axe Man turned us on to them my go to stones for axes are the Norton utility stones.

Norton Utility File

Norton Tradesman's Utility Stone

After using metal files to shape the bit I use the big utility file (actually a coarse stone) to refine the edge and remove the file marks. Because it's used like a file it's easy to follow the profile you created with a file. And because you can bear down on it with 2 hands it cuts quickly. I keep a bucket of water next to me to frequently rinse the surface of the stone.

After the utility file I use the smooth side of the utility stone to further refine/polish the edge. The axe is plenty sharp at this point for ordinary use but because I'm such a fussbudget I'll go one more step with a hard black Arkansas stone.
 
Smaug said:
I have some old files that were my granddad's. I'm sure they're not cheap, but maybe not hard enough by today's standards...

Can you recommend me a good file? (link appreciated)

I think I found the axe puck on Amazon.
Click to expand...

Benjamin FortyTwoBlades FortyTwoBlades can help you get sorted with a proper file. If it's on his website it's up to snuff (a lot of awful files out there to avoid).
 
Probably use an ax 3 times a year, maybe, so Im not sure if it’s the “proper” way, but I’ve always used a file to remove any nicks and put a rough edge on there. Never bothered to smooth it out with a stone. Good enough for splitting fire wood or felling small trees
 
FYI: I just happened across this Felix Immler video on how to te-grind and sharpen an axe. Very good.

 
I got to it last night. I got Dad’s old file out, clamped the Fiskars X7 in the Workmate and went to work.

It wasn’t too bad; a lot faster than stones. I didn’t get ALL the nicks out, but it’s sharp again and they’re MOSTLY out.

Next sharpening it hopefully won’t have hit any metal and I’ll get them the rest of the way out. Forgot to take a pic.

If I get a chance, I’ll finish the edge a bit with a coarse stone.

Thanks for the advice.
 
Okay.

The axe I used today was unnicked, but yesterday I carried and used a hatchet that has a small nick. It’s a E. Rogers cast steel hatchet that’s over a century old, and I’m fortunate to have enough cool hatchets that I can rotate my EDC hatchet like the guys over in General do with knives.

It came to me with this nick about 1/8” deep. I wanted to reprofile the edge anyway, and that reduced about half of it, and ever since then it’s been getting smaller. I don’t mind the nick.

Chisels now, are a whole different story.

Parker
 
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