I found an old and DULL Kent pattern axe at a bootfair at the weekend and thought I'll try and sharpen it. I got some diamond stones, a range of wet and dry sandpaper and some honing paste. I thought I try the sandpaper and mousepad technique on an old kitchen knife first before I start on the axe. After about 20-30 strokes with the corsest (400 grit) it feels like the paper has lost all its grit. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong? Btw I'm pulling the edge away from me. Hope someone can give me some pointers.
Tool sharpening
- Thread starter Fly_Viking
- Start date
Try looking at this thread:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=12
The top two permanent subjects are everything you could possibly want to know about sharpening anything. Lots of very good advice from some experienced guys.
Have fun!
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=12
The top two permanent subjects are everything you could possibly want to know about sharpening anything. Lots of very good advice from some experienced guys.
Have fun!
Perrari
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
If it is a very dull edge & you need to remove a lot of material, start off using a file, a coarse one to start then a finer one, then move on to abrasive paper. 400 grit is a fairly fine grade, you would be better off when you start using the paper at around 80grit, and work your way up to the finer grades.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Good tutorials! But I'm still curious about the longevity of the sandpaper. Surely it shouldn't start to loose its grit after about 30 passes each way?
Did you get your wet & dry from the poundshop by any chance?
You really need the better quality stuff from a decent hardware store. It will dull back a little, but I'm using boards with wet & dry stuck on that I've had for 4 or 5 years.
Dave
You really need the better quality stuff from a decent hardware store. It will dull back a little, but I'm using boards with wet & dry stuck on that I've had for 4 or 5 years.
Dave
You'd be surprised how fast abrasives wear down.
A simple rule of thumb is to just lightly drag your fingertips across the paper before and after use; you'll soon feel when the paper is past its best.
A simple rule of thumb is to just lightly drag your fingertips across the paper before and after use; you'll soon feel when the paper is past its best.
Perrari
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Depends on how hard you press, angle of hold, and how rough the workpiece is. Also, as noted, it depends on the paper - both quality and type. Sandpaper is really for wood - wet and dry is for metal.
Given the job you described, I would get hold of a coarse or b*stard file, then move on to a second cut file, then coarse paper (maybe 120 grit) and down the grades. You have started with a medium fine finishing paper.
On the kitchen knife it should not have worn down nearly that fast - I get wet and dry from Screwfix - its good stuff and next day delivery is free - try them
Red
No, from Axminster.
This was on the kitchen knife not the axe. Even so should I have started with a courser grit?
I've found sandpaper to wear down very fast too. The stuff I have used in the past was crap, cheap tat. The stuff I use now is better but it still wears down fast.
I have also wondered how people make these sandpaper sharpening blocks last long enough to deem them money savers. Sandpaperisn't that cheap and tbh you're probably better off getting a cheapo pack of diamond sharpeners (the ones with blue red and yellow backs) they cost about £2-4 and actually last quite long.
the only wet n dry I have left is 600 grit and I did try the other day to make use of it on a knife that needed a little rough touch up and it wasn't great compared to my other cheap alternatives and no way near as good as my decent stuff.
I have also wondered how people make these sandpaper sharpening blocks last long enough to deem them money savers. Sandpaperisn't that cheap and tbh you're probably better off getting a cheapo pack of diamond sharpeners (the ones with blue red and yellow backs) they cost about £2-4 and actually last quite long.
the only wet n dry I have left is 600 grit and I did try the other day to make use of it on a knife that needed a little rough touch up and it wasn't great compared to my other cheap alternatives and no way near as good as my decent stuff.
Wet and dry is silicon carbide. No matter what the quality, its a brittle material and will wear quickly. I spend every day using the stuff, as soon as it hits metal or stone it blunts quickly.
Decent alu oxide paper won't cut as quick but will wear better.
I use wet and dry because I buy it in bulk for work but wouldn't use it for sharpening axes if I had equivalent grade alu oxide paper.
Decent alu oxide paper won't cut as quick but will wear better.
I use wet and dry because I buy it in bulk for work but wouldn't use it for sharpening axes if I had equivalent grade alu oxide paper.
3M auto grade Imperial sandpaper nuff said won't touch the cheap crap again myself. Have used sandpaper to sharpen a very dull stainless blade and worked well for me also found it takes a light touch for the passes on it
So if I have to buy expensive paper it's not really economical. Maybe a "puck" for the axe? Any suggestions how to sharpen knives without spending a gazzilion pounds?
You don't have to spend loads as such but if you spent £30 you could get enough to do your axes and knives. You will need a fine/medium metal file to get out any dinks in your axe http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3PC-6-FIL...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3f005b854e, a cheapo pack of diamond sharpeners(http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRO-DIAMO...pt=UK_Kitchen_Accessories&hash=item2a0dd1f368) << I found these for £3 and even though they are cheap and won't last as long as the pricey ones they work much better than paper! these will do good for rough to medium work onyour knives and axes. and a simple and well priced thing like this can help you get your knives touched up nice and good! http://www.heinnie.com/Sharpeners/Lansky-Sharpening-Systems/Lansky-Turn-Box-Four-Rod/p-370-214-4559/
if you want a pocket sharpener then maybe try the fallkniven dc4, people really like them http://www.heinnie.com/Fallkniven-DC3DC4-Whetstones/p-0-0-418/ . My DC4 was crap though, it wasn't flat at all and had lumps but I think I got unlucky (I contacted fallkniven and they were useles, typical big named company imo) but consider it.
I've picked up good quality oilstones from car boot sales, usually for about 50p each. Not quite as clean to use as waterstone but every bit as effective. Usually found an stalls with old toolboxes and tools on them.
Dave
Dave
The 'black and gold' Al Oxide stuff that is on a cloth backing lasts well. Often for sale in markets.
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