Staying sharp, in the brush?

bsmith_shoot

bsmith_shoot

Joined
Jun 6, 2012
Messages
1,341
I done some light brush clearing yesterday afternoon, with my 2, and the thought crossed my mind? How are you guys, out in the field, maintaining your edge on your blades? I know my grandpa had a little pocket stone that went with him everywhere. He would keep a stick of cedar, his Case congress, and that stone on him everywhere he went. My dad has carried a small file in his back pocket half his life. He spends a lot of his days fencing, maintaining fence, and clearing pasture. Me personally, when I hit the trail, I keep my eze-lap medium/super-fine folder with me. I used it yesterday, after about 3 hours of chopping, and brought my 2 back to sharp!
So what do you guys carry? Do you carry it regularly? Do you have recommendations for other forum members?
Thanks,
Brandon

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Norton Sportsmans stone or arkansas stone. Also my belt to use as a strop.

I get small arkansas stones for less than a buck at the local gunshop. You can probably find something similar, they work well and cheap enough to put one everywhere.
 
The little fold up diamond hones (DMT, etc.) are hard to beat. Lightweight and easy to use on anything from machetes to pocket knives. I usually carry one anytime I'm out for more than a day hike.
 
Diamonds for me. Either DMT or EZE Lap. I really love the DMT dual sided sharpener in medium and fine(red/blue).
 
In the office, finishing up the edge. I've been keeping the eze-lap in my back pocket all the time lately. Mine iv the med/superfine (400/1200 grit).
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I carry a small diamond sharpener and a few pieces of fine sandpaper and cut into small rectangles to finish if you have chance to use..
 
I have been keeping a Norton Fine India in the pocket of my 16......I just spent the weekend with Jerry Fisk (way too much fun!!!) and got the straight scoop on the Norton.....Dr. James Batson phd(rocket science) and ABS Master Smith did some tests and got 40% better edge retention from a Norton edge......He is a bona Fide scientist type and gets no support from Norton.....They are very inexpensive and.I have found nothing better.....I also keep a DMT diamond hone on shim stock in my wallet.......It weighs nothing and has been handy......

All Best....

Ethan
 
Almost forgot......Have been experimenting with diamond nail files.....Works but no data yet on longevity.....Stay tuned...

Eb
 
I get some fine stones from work at a pretty good discount. I usually bring them to the gathering to hand out, but I believe everyone has gotten their fill of them. If you want some, shoot me a pm I'll mail them Fri. Oh, they're free.


The wee fella in the middle.

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Last edited:
Murphnuge said:
I get some fine stones from work at a pretty good discount. I usually bring them to the gathering to hand out, but I believe everyone has gotten their fill of them. If you want some, shoot me a pm I'll mail them Fri. Oh, they're free.
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If you just bring me a couple I would appreciate it. I didn't get any at the last gathering but I got one of the stones from Ogre. I gave it to my brother though so I'm out of stonage right now.
 
Great stuff guys! As of now, ive got a whole list of stuff to try out! I'm deffinately gettin some wet/dry sandpaper, a DMT dual side, Mr. Beckers Norton, and Murphs freebie stone, if he don't mind lol. I'm one of those guys that use a knife daily, and I'm tough on em honestly, and over the years I've learned that the only acceptable blades, are sharp blades. And now after seeing what my Becker is made of, I'm throwing that in my short list of requirements.
Thee only good knife, is a sharp Becker ;) !
 
I use a homemade double-sided strop made from a paint stirring stick, with leather on both sides - black (coarse) compound on one side, green (fine) on the other. I also carry appropriately-sized sandpaper of varying grits for more drastic fixes. Works perfectly (and is super light) for maintaining convex edges.
 
I'll carry an el cheapo ceramic (fine)/carbide (corse) hand held thing in my front pocket, but I think I'll shoot Murph an email if he don't mind shipping to a swamp and I'll pick up a DMT folding type thing when I decide on just one that I want.
 
I have a DC 4 stone, it should be a very good sharpening stone but I'm so bad at sharpening :(
Anyway, it is small enough to be carried in your pocket.
 
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