 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Bought a new axe,only for kindling, it has a blunt sharp edges,what's thebest way to sharpen it?
I use a wet stone (whetstone)
check out you tube for lots of vids.
Get a fairly fine file, and use that along both edges to get an edge, which will be fairly rough, then a finer file, to take burrs off, then use a stone to smooth the roughness left by the files. A coarse and fine diamond coated sharpener will work as well.
That's the problem with cheaper, 'high-street' hand-axes, they usually have pretty poor edges to start with, and need quite a lot of work to make them usable for actually cutting stuff. A quality axe by Gransfors or Roselli will be practically shaving sharp from the start.
If its really blunt then start off with a file
Then use a wetstone to get it really sharp.
You can strop it on a piece of leather to get a shave sharp edge
HTH
You don't want it too sharp for chopping kindling in my view. A file will be fine.
If its for splitting wood/making kindling dont bother to much there is an argument for having a bluntish edge on a maul as it causes the wood to fold and split easier. You should be using the weight of the axe to spilt if you are cutting/chopping wood sharpen away. I havent sharpened my hand axe since I got it 2 winters ago and it splits like hot knife through butter.
I find it's best to make the working file strokes towards the blade edge. This breaks rule 1 - both hands behind the blade. I wear gloves for this. You might want to also.
I agree RE the blunt maul, mikey, but not the kindling axe.
A good maul has weight and a flared head to help cleave. It doesnt need to be sharp to work well, just technique.
Splitting for kindling though i prefer to have a v sharp blade to be able to lightly take off small pieces of willow for the starter wood basket. To be able to be a bit cavalier about what angle you cut the log at it helps to have a sharper axe IMO.
Grinder, looks cool whilst doing it as well 😈
This has lots of info: [url= http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/fs_publications/pdf/pdf99232823.pdf ]An Axe to Grind[/url]
I came across this as well [url= http://www.grandforest.us/TheAxeBook.pdf ]the Axe Book[/url]
My kindling axe was blunt when I bought it, never bothered to sharpen it as it splits wood fine. AIUI That's how it is designed, as a wedge rather than a blade, so it forces the log apart causing a deeper split.
JoeG, thanks for finding those two axe books, I've got the Gransfors one somewhere, but it's handy having both of those two as PDF copies on my pad.
bit off topic but i bought one of these for a community project (axes/mauls deemed to dangerous)
[url= http://www.mowermagic.co.uk/acatalog/SMART-SPLIT_The_Safe_and_Easy_Way_To_Split_Logs.html#aSMARTSPLITTER ]smart splitter[/url]
its the best kindling tool ever, well maybe aside from the pro hydraulic one i used a few years ago anyway...