You carry a file?

Shotgun

Shotgun

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
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8,250
There's a lot of machete users here and was just wondering how many of you carry a file on ya to take out dings and such. Do you carry a multitool with one on it or do you have a dedicated file? What brand, grit, and size?
 
I dont carry a machete but carry a Leatherman Charge with the metal / diamond file. I mainly use the diamond file for sharpening fish hooks.
 
dipbait said:
I dont carry a machete but carry a Leatherman Charge with the metal / diamond file. I mainly use the diamond file for sharpening fish hooks.
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Yeah I'm in the need of a file and can't decide if I should get a small one or just buy a multitool. Carrying a multitool is not my favorite idea. Plus they're spendy.
 
It depends on how long I will be gone from my house, and if I am going to use the machete a lot. If I am going on a day trip, with limited use, no file will be coming with me. If I am going to be gone for a whole day or longer, but a lot of machete use is expected, I'd likely take a file. (Though I honestly never have, since I have never intended to use a machete that much, aside from when within 100 yards of my house clearing a hunting trail.)
 
Hey Shotgun,

Even though I have a Vic Spirit with a file, I would carry a dedicated file - cuts (sharpens) much faster. Of course, this was either canoe tripping or car camping, so weight was not such a big issue. I don't remember what kind of file it is, but it does a good job.

BTW, if you're taking a machete where you're expecting wet conditions, spray the whole blade with a rustproof paint. Sure, the paint will come off where it contacts the wood, but that contact (use) will keep the rust at bay in those spots. (courtesy of an old American Survival Guide and personal experience).

Doc
 
I carry a DMT coarse/fine Diafold and have an aggressive file on my Vic Spirit. Never had to use the file, and I've only had to use the DMT once or twice, and not for lack of chopping! I guess I'm just pretty careful about where I strike or something.
 
I have the Crocodile file, from Knife Center, it was $6. It's small enough, but long enough, or a great size for sharpening machetes. And it works, I convexed my Ontario 12" machete with it.

Another way to go, in the field is some wet/dry sandpaper, and find something flat to use behind it. Depends on how much sharpening and how light you need to pack.
 
Honestly, I use a draw through carbide/ceramic sharpener for quick touch ups on my machetes.
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-sh00ter
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I carry a DMT coarse/fine Diafold and have an aggressive file on my Vic Spirit. Never had to use the file, and I've only had to use the DMT once or twice, and not for lack of chopping! I guess I'm just pretty careful about where I strike or something.
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I'm with 42B on this one. I to pack a DMT Diafold when packing a standard machete...thier course/extra course (Blue/Black) can be extremely aggressive (almost too much if you're not careful). Plus, the Vic Spirit file is effective as well.

ROCK6
 
I have a diamond rod just incase, but if my machete ever dulled enough that I needed a file it would have to be from hitting rocks or something... rocks which I could use to put a rough but servicable edge back on it.
 
glad you asked the question, was wondering the same thing :) I'm assuming something like the DC3 (pretty aggressive diamond/ceramic combo) would work then?

also given the length of the machete blade I'm guessing the sharpener is in hand and then run over the blade (vs machete in hand and run over the small sharpener- like you might w/ a smaller knife)?
 
I regularly have one in winter mountain. With it I sharpen my ice axes and crampons when their point is seriously damaged.
My file is Nicholson's magicut, 6inches long, put short wooden handle.
 
mtwarden said:
glad you asked the question, was wondering the same thing :) I'm assuming something like the DC3 (pretty aggressive diamond/ceramic combo) would work then?

also given the length of the machete blade I'm guessing the sharpener is in hand and then run over the blade (vs machete in hand and run over the small sharpener- like you might w/ a smaller knife)?
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This is why the DMT Diafold is so excellent for machete duty--the fold-out handle allows it to be held and used very much like a file would. ;):thumbup:
 
mtwarden said:
glad you asked the question, was wondering the same thing :) I'm assuming something like the DC3 (pretty aggressive diamond/ceramic combo) would work then?

also given the length of the machete blade I'm guessing the sharpener is in hand and then run over the blade (vs machete in hand and run over the small sharpener- like you might w/ a smaller knife)?
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Yeah, you could use the smaller DC3, but I really prefer the folding handles of the DMT...makes sharpening longer blades much easier by running the sharpener over the blade instead of the reverse which is what I would use on a smaller knife.

ROCK6
 
I just went on a hiking trip where on the way up we discovered nobody brought a hatchet. We hike in Northern Michigan where a hatchet is much more useful than a machete.
We stopped at an Ace Hardware on the way up and got an Ace Brand carpenters hatchet as well as a full size fine Nicholson File. The hatchet started out very dull but sharpened up nicely that night and I was able to put quite a keen edge on it with my Falkniven diamond/ceramic sharpener. So yes we carried around a full size file...
 
I carry a high quality flat swiss file. Despite being petite, it is so aggressive that I have used it on full size axes. This is in addition to whatever file may be on a SAK or MT, and a DMT that I carry.
 
If I were to carry an actual file it would be the vintage Nicholson extra-fine machinist's file I have in my collection. As far as sharpening goes it's plenty aggressive, but it leaves a much finer edge than a typical single mill.
 
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