A good friend recently mentioned they had a Kentish Axe that was in need of some TLC in the sharpening department, and the axe was dropped off today to see what could be done.
The axe was destined to become a pure carving axe, so I decided to have a dabble at re-profiling the grind, removing the rough Convex and turning it into a Scandi/Convex,
with the though of the Scandi helping carving and a very fine Convex on the bevel to help with edge retention. Best of both worlds!
I tried to be conscious of this being an old axe, something that got here over a long process and rather beautiful in its-self
So, here go's...
The first thing to do was remove the old Convex with a well used medium metal file and also remove some minor chipping on the edge.
I sometimes find it easier (at the very start) to take the file flat/directly to the edge and file until the chips are all but removed.
Then the sharpening begins on one very blunt axe
Originally.
Grinding the bevel flat.
DMT Diamond Hones... Fine/Extra Fine/Extra-Extra Fine.
Wet and dry (1000,2000,3000) to polish the bevel, and put a 'slight' Convex in towards the end... Top of grind to edge.
The band of slight rusting/pitting was left above the grind in keeping within context of the age.
Lots (and lots) of stropping with Smurf Poo!
Needless to say, its very, very sharp.
The finished product, hopefully tastefully!
I can see the attraction and effort people put into restoring older axe's...
The steel was really nice to work with and the end result it it carves 'slithers' off well seasoned hazel sticks.
The subtle Convex seems to make no difference in my limited knowledge of carving. Its a joy to slice sticks with though!!
Cheers, al.
The axe was destined to become a pure carving axe, so I decided to have a dabble at re-profiling the grind, removing the rough Convex and turning it into a Scandi/Convex,
with the though of the Scandi helping carving and a very fine Convex on the bevel to help with edge retention. Best of both worlds!
I tried to be conscious of this being an old axe, something that got here over a long process and rather beautiful in its-self
So, here go's...
The first thing to do was remove the old Convex with a well used medium metal file and also remove some minor chipping on the edge.
I sometimes find it easier (at the very start) to take the file flat/directly to the edge and file until the chips are all but removed.
Then the sharpening begins on one very blunt axe
Originally.
Grinding the bevel flat.
DMT Diamond Hones... Fine/Extra Fine/Extra-Extra Fine.
Wet and dry (1000,2000,3000) to polish the bevel, and put a 'slight' Convex in towards the end... Top of grind to edge.
The band of slight rusting/pitting was left above the grind in keeping within context of the age.
Lots (and lots) of stropping with Smurf Poo!
Needless to say, its very, very sharp.
The finished product, hopefully tastefully!
I can see the attraction and effort people put into restoring older axe's...
The steel was really nice to work with and the end result it it carves 'slithers' off well seasoned hazel sticks.
The subtle Convex seems to make no difference in my limited knowledge of carving. Its a joy to slice sticks with though!!
Cheers, al.
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, but the end result was very comfortable so I left it anyway. It has subsequently developed a slight sideways kink as well, but despite that I still like it, and it is very comfortable in the hand.
