Which File for Axe Sharpening

ncrockclimb

ncrockclimb

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Nov 20, 2014
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I am in the market for a file to sharpen my new axe. From my research, Nicholson is out due to poor (or at least inconsistent) quality. I understand that there are a number of european brands that still make quality files, but am not sure where to find these or which specific models I should get.

Which files do you use?

Where is a good source?

Any help you could provide would be really appreciated.

Thanks!
 
I guess I'd try to find any made in the USA. I have several I use, current issue Nicholson among them. Mostly a 12" single cut mil bastard and a 6" if I'm going finer though normally switch to a stone after the 12". I mostly use the file to shape the geometry on my workbench and a puck, waterstone etc to hone it. Unless it gets really chewed up, I normally only use the file once. If using it to do field sharpening, get a smaller one, 4-6", use a larger one to set the edge.

[video=youtube;yzbeeHnFPEs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzbeeHnFPEs[/video]
 
I've been using the Bahco files of late. Good cutters and seem to be darn durable so far. Better than the Grobet stuff you get these days.
 
Bacho have very high quality files for sharpening axes. In Swedish the name is (skärpfil) the direkt translation is " sharpen-file" - but I do not not know the correct name in English.

It is a file with special cuttings and they are special hardened and tempered.

Thomas
 
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