Sharpening an axe.

[THOaken]

Hello, I need to sharpen my axe as it's getting fairly dull and the edge has a few nicks on it. I just wonder though as I'm watching Ben Orford's tutorial on how to sharpen an axe with the waterstone, he uses a marker to colour in his axe's bevel. It's unclear to me where I should colour in mine as it doesn't have a clearly defined end. The green line indicates what Ben's axe bevel is like. Will it impact my sharpening if I only vaguely colour in the edge? Obviously the reason for doing so is to provide a good guideline for the material that should be removed, but, again, I can't really see where I should colour it in.

 

[Goatboy]

Interesting, I've seen it done and personally never seen the point myself. Have always used a stone/file free hand on an axe either following the form already there or re-shaping by hand/eye. Could be of use on finer blades or when setting up a new profile I suppose but have never felt the need on an axe.
Sorry if it's not the answer you're looking for THOaken but it's just how I do it and there are probably much better axe sharpeners out there who'll disagree (or it wouldn't be BCUK).

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

I keep it simple when sharpening my axe.

 

[Shewie]

There's not really a set line as such Taylor, it tapers out. Because the blade has a convex grind the sharpening motion is circular and not at a set angle. The idea of adding marker pen is so you can see where you're taking the metal away, once you've been at it a while you'll get the feel for it and won't need to mark the blade.

Not sure if that helps or confuses it even more

Have you read British Red's how to? ...
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22814

 

[THOaken]

In all respect that how to looks ten times more complicated than:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKJhhz-643k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfY8HY50dGU

 

[HillBill]

Wet and dry over foam as per Johns pic above is the simplest way there has ever been to sharpen a convex edge.

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

Personally I wouldn't go with a stone if you don't have the experience. Also don't practice on your decent axe, buy a beater for a couple of quid and practice on that.
The board I pictured just requires a similar stroke to sharpening a knife, the foam allows the bevel to sink giving you a convex bevel.

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

Cheers Mark, I didn't have any pics of it in use.

 

[HillBill]

Looks like we are both sharpening the exact same axe?

Cheers Mark, I didn't have any pics of it in use.

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

Wasn't actually sharpening it Took the picture for someone else and just a demo of how I do it.

 

[HillBill]

Exact same reason i took those pics a bit back, just to show how its done

 

[Stringmaker]

I sympathise with Taylor; I have a GB hand hatchet with a convex edge and I am rubbish at sharpening it.

The one question to which everyone seems to have different opinions is this:

"How much pressure do you apply to the edge?"

I am aware of the wet/dry paper and foam backing technique but couldn't do anything more than blunt my hatchet even more!

So let us know folks, how hard DO you press?

 

[Mesquite]

So let us know folks, how hard DO you press?

Enough that it removes material but not hard enough that it's sunk into the foam and the cutting edge is below the level of the abrasive.

You'll see what I mean in Mark's fifth picture

 

[HillBill]

You don't put the pressure on the edge.. you put it behind the edge. Look where my hand is on the 4th pic down, or where Johns is, and you push down just enough to eliminate the gap between the edge and the wet and dry.

The stiffer the foam, the more pressure you need, but you never need much pressure, just enough.

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

I use a spyderco doublestuff sharpener free hand. Works great and i touch it up on the ceramic side after each use

 

[THOaken]

Well, good news in a way, folks. Despite my most assuredly rubbish technique, using a combination of both Mears' and Orford's technique I seem to have, surprisingly, improved the edge. This I know because it can slice paper whereas beforehand it couldn't. Either I'm not to bad at sharpening or I'm just lucky because it's the first time I sharpened an axe. I've repaired some of the damage to the blade. A few nicks still exist, but it's surprisingly improved even if the actual edge geometry or technique was a bit off... Colour me shocked.

I appreciate and understand that there's a lot of different methods. I just felt comfortable using two very well known and skilled people's methods, although I'm sure everyone else's works. I'm sure I and anyone else struggling will look back on these threads and laugh one day, eh?

It may be incredibly novice, but it actually improved the edge, so it's fine by me for a first attempt.

 

[Clouston98]

Interesting, I've seen it done and personally never seen the point myself. Have always used a stone/file free hand on an axe either following the form already there or re-shaping by hand/eye. Could be of use on finer blades or when setting up a new profile I suppose but have never felt the need on an axe.
Sorry if it's not the answer you're looking for THOaken but it's just how I do it and there are probably much better axe sharpeners out there who'll disagree (or it wouldn't be BCUK).

What he said!

I use a coarse and fine ceramic stone and a double sided diamond file, both Gransfors ones, no need at all for pen, it's better to learn it free hand in my opinion as when you sharpen it in the woods you won't have a pen. As for the sharpening I find it simple and quick, just touch it up when it needs it.

 

[THOaken]

What he said!

I use a coarse and fine ceramic stone and a double sided diamond file, both Gransfors ones, no need at all for pen, it's better to learn it free hand in my opinion as when you sharpen it in the woods you won't have a pen. As for the sharpening I find it simple and quick, just touch it up when it needs it.

How does my attempt look from the pictures? It does the job, it seems. Improved the edge and sharpened a bit.

 

[Clouston98]

Looks fine too me, should have done the trick nicely .

 

[THOaken]

What I think is more surprising is that (with a bit of maneuvering) it can shave arm hairs, not as much as you might image, but I'm just surprised I didn't blunt the axe even more.