Which file to reprofile and sharpen a hatchet?

F

Foilist

Joined
Dec 20, 2004
Messages
3,863
Hey all,

I have a decent, Swedish hatchet (no idea of the brand) that I have had for years. It is in desperate need of some sharpening, and I am an ignoramus about axe care. I have various stones for honing, but no files. What kind of file should I get for working on a hatchet head?
 
BRab beat me to it. :)

Get a bigger one, play around with speed and pressure until you hit the sweet spot where it cuts the best and lift off at the end of each stroke. Never run the file backwards across the workpiece, it ruins the teeth quckly. Clean the chips out the teeth often.

It might take a while before you get a good bite on the edge if it is real worn or rounded. It will feel like the file isn't doing anything, almost skating across. If you keep at it until you start to get a flat going, then it will get better.
 
I, too, start with a bastard file, but I always follow up with a mill file then go to a stone or puck. Get at least a 10" file, but a 12" or 14" is nicer. A longer file is easier to tell when your angle is wandering through the stroke. Files only cut in one direction, clean them often during use with a file card, and protect them from rust with a lube of your choice, most use WD-40.


-Xander
 
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