Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Dictionary on January 08, 2012, 11:50:01 am
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This has always been my achilles heel even before i was interested in bowmaking. I've never been too good at sharpening tools, whether it be a hatchet,a knife, or a chisel when i was into carving. Now i was roughing out a maple sapling that i suspected was very hard or my axe was very dull. I took the axe to a green stave just to see and it didn't remove wood as it should. I take a file to the axe and try and grind it on a stone and it seemed to only get duller haha. Its an axe i bought from Ace hardware about a year or so ago, a camp axe.
I've read you can use a file, or only a stone. I usually file at the wrong angle, i suspect, so i am wondering if it is possible to sharpen an axe the same way you can a knife by just taking slicing cuts across a coarse stone then a fine. I'm also imagining, although my sharpening skills arent worth a penny, that the axe itself is making it more difficult to get a good edge.
Anyways im wondering what are your guy's method for sharpening an axe/hatchet. I could really use some help. Using a dull tool makes bowmaking a difficult,tedious task.
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they make round double sided sharpening stones for axes/hatchets.
like em lots.
but i do use a file or the belt sander to get the bevel as i prefer then use the stone to get that razor edge.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/99232823/page15.htm (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/99232823/page15.htm)
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my personal fav resource on how to bevel and sharpen axes and hatchets is in a book by ellsworth jager "wildwood wisdom". page 156 starts the description of this and has a great set of pix to go along. if yr into any type of primitives skills this is an great resource.
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so is a file for reshaping an edge and a stone for general sharpening? Because i have come across many axe sharpening videos and articles where people sharpen their axes just as they sharpen their knives. Does this work only with good quality axes? I'm thinking about buying a fiskars axe. Any experience with those?
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Yes, you can sharpen an axe the same way as a knife. What I do, however, is hold the the axe stationary and run the stone across the edge with my other hand. It's easier for me to maintain a consistent angle that way.
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I have one of the smaller fiskars axes and im very happy with it.
Only bad thing is that silly orange painted handle,it gets slippery when you get warm so i sanded it off.
/Mikael
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Some great tips here for DIY sharpening on a budget,
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22814
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11571
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I use my Dremel with fine sanding disc. Even if you have a cheaper lower quality ax, it should still sharpen, it just dulls quicker. Keeping a consistant/proper angle is important.
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Some great tips here for DIY sharpening on a budget,
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22814
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11571
Those are great threads you posted.I bookmarked them. I've been practicing with knife sharpening for quite some time now and am getting better at sharpening but still can't shave the hairs off my arm with it quite yet. But its using the file at the right angle to my axe that i think is the problem. I get the point of it is to create a convex edge but i stare at the axe blade with file in hand and don't know how to go about it with the correct angle or even how to determine the angle at which i am filing since i'm filing into the blade. Now i've been filing for some time and havent gotten a decent edge and feel i may have ruined this axe. My file is full of metal particles with nothing to show for it. :-\
This is partly why i was hoping there was a way to sharpen an axe and avoid using a file :P
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My file is full of metal particles with nothing to show for it.
Most likely you are not keeping the file at a consistent angle while sharpening.
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seems to me that the only time you'd ever need a file is to take out a serious "ding" in the edge.
I've never needed to use a file on my broad hatchet that I use for bow work- have only ever used
stones to touch up the edge.
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seems to me that the only time you'd ever need a file is to take out a serious "ding" in the edge.
I've never needed to use a file on my broad hatchet that I use for bow work- have only ever used
stones to touch up the edge.
Hmm......i just ordered a fiskars axe. I'll try to be careful enough so i don't have to use the file :P. Maybe that will keep me from ruining this one.
Also Gordon, you are probably right about the incorrect angle. I'm sure thats what it is. Its difficult for me to try and keep the correct angle for convex edge. A clamped in axe with a file would probably help maintain a better angle if i had access to a vise. As i did with bows, i imagine i will eventually understand it. It just sure would help if i had a seasoned pro over my shoulder telling me what i am doing wrong. That could save me months of learning, at my rate of learning things.
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Dic,I'm new to forum but an old hand at sharpening,If you still have questions or are still struggling shoot me a pm and we'll get ya going.Ron
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Go to youtube and type in Ray Mears and axe. This is a guy who knows how to take care of his stuff!
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I know its not very primitive but if you have a belt sander you can make pretty short work of it and it will be razor sharp. Thats how I sharpen all my tools with 120 grit belts. You have to be careful not to take off too much material though.
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Hey Dictionary, sounds like you're sharpening impaired like me! The no-brainer solution for me is the simple roller sharpener for axes from Fiskars. Works like a charm. It's like a big version of the pocket knife sharpeners so you can't screw it up. Lowe's or Home Depot usually has them where the axes are. Works on my hatchet and machete too.
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Hey Dictionary, sounds like you're sharpening impaired like me! The no-brainer solution for me is the simple roller sharpener for axes from Fiskars. Works like a charm. It's like a big version of the pocket knife sharpeners so you can't screw it up. Lowe's or Home Depot usually has them where the axes are. Works on my hatchet and machete too.
haha i could call myself that. I may have to consider this as well. Although it isnt too primitive :laugh:
okie i dont have access to tools like that
Tom-i've seen his video on axe sharpening and i bought his book Bushcraft Essentials where he also writes on it. He uses a 3 stones of varying grits coarse,med,and fine. He makes it look so simple yet i can put my axe on a 2 sided stone for 20 minutes and end up with an even duller edge.
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I have this same problem, this is how I resolved it. There are several sharpeners out there with guides that keep you working at the right angle. One is made by gatco, one is a smith(saw this one at lowes today for $39) and the other is the most popular but I cannot for the life of me remember the name, i use the gatco. Anyhow, you clamp a guide on your blade and the stone has an aluminum rod that goes through a hole in the guide and it keep s your stone at the right angle ( you can choose the angle based on application). I can sharpen my D2 benchmade knives in a few minutes with one of these, and anyone who knows anything about steel knows D2 is tougher than woodpecker lips. They will stay sharp under fairly constant use for a month, and will shave for probably 60 days before they get too dull. I mostly cut tape and cardboard so results may vary, but you get the point. I have a gerber axe, sharpened it with one of these kinda modified to fit the back of the axe head and it will do anything a pocket knife will do at this point, my shovel will too.
These things will get your tools STUPID sharp, if you lose a digit dont blame me.