A light coat on the axe bit is also helpful. Though you’ll be using both sides of the stone, oil just one side at a time. A few drops are often all it takes, depending on how dry the stone is. Step 2: Oil the stoneĪ bit of honing oil helps lubricate the stone and keeps the edge of the axe cool during sharpening. Again, bug and tar remover will do the trick, but some WD-40 will also work. To keep your grinding stone clear, clean the axe head before sharpening. Grinding stones aren’t cheap, and they work best when they aren’t clogged with pitch, sap, and filings. We suggest using a few drops of honing oil but to each their own. Lumberjacks often keep these stones in their toolboxes or pouches and spit on them to create a bit of lubrication. These stones have two different grits, with a rough side for removing material and a fine side for refining the edge. The most old-school of axe grinding methods is using a sharpening stone.
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How to Sharpen an Axe with a Sharpening Stone When finished, use a bit of oil or wax to protect the axe head.
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Axe sharpening with a grinder creates a rougher finish, but it should be free of nicks and dents. Match the amount of time spent grinding the second side to the time spent on the first side to keep the edge centered.Ĭontinue grinding one edge and then the other, checking for sharpness in between each pair of grinding sessions to maintain the centered edge.Be sure to keep the axe edge moving across the grinding wheel.However, you can also shut the grinder off and wait for it to stop spinning to find the grind angle again. If you’re comfortable, you can leave the grinder running and do your best to match the angle again (it isn’t an exact science). Remove the axe from the grinder and flip it over. Make sure to keep the axe bit moving across the wheel to prevent flat spots in the grind and overheating the bit. Step 3: Grind one side of the axeįollowing the curve of the axe bit, sweep the edge of the bit across the grinding wheel, taking care to maintain a consistent angle. Hold the axe slightly back from the grinding wheel and start the grinder. If your grinder’s rest adjusts, match it to the axe head’s angle. Holding the axe so the head is against the rest, tip the bit upward until the angle of the edge on the underside of the blade is roughly parallel to the grinding wheel. Step 2: Find the correct angleīefore firing up the grinder, take a few minutes to find an angle that works for your axe. Also, if the grinding wheel is older, give it a quick brushing to remove any filings caught in the surface. Some bug and tar remover should do the trick. Tools and MaterialsĪs mentioned earlier, axes often wear a bit of pitch or sap on their edges. Just be sure to wear work gloves and safety glasses and avoid long hair and loose clothing that can get caught in the works. How to Sharpen an Axe with a Grinderįor a quick, less-precise method of sharpening an axe, a bench grinder will do the trick. Then lightly coat the axe head with a bit of oil or wax to protect it. If one side needs more work than the other, continue filing both sides evenly to maintain center.Ĭarefully check the edge of the axe to ensure that it’s sharp and free from nicks. Try to sharpen each side with the same number of strokes or for the same amount of time at the same general rate to ensure that the edge doesn’t move off-center and become chisel-like. Match the grind angle and push the file across the edge of the bit. Next, start sharpening the other side of the axe following the same method as above. Once one side is sharp, flip the axe and clean the file. Pulling is counterproductive and will dull the file. Also, files only remove metal while traveling in one direction, which is the push stroke. Work left to right or right to left, but try to remain consistent. Try to match the blade’s bevel to avoid reshaping the grind (the technical term for the angle of the blade). Step 3: File one side of the axeĭon a pair of work gloves and begin passing the file over the edge of the axe, stroke by stroke. Also, use a file brush or other stiff-bristled brush to remove any filings from the file. Use a bit of bug and tar remover or a similar cleaner to remove the pitch.
Occasionally, axe heads will have a buildup of pitch and sap, which can clog the file. Use the clamp to secure the handle to the table. Place the axe on its side so that the bit faces you and overhangs the table’s edge. Sharpening an axe takes a lot of repetitive motion, so clamping it to a worktable offers the best result. The method is simple and the results are perfectly acceptable-especially for hardware store axes. One of the most common ways to sharpen an axe to a serviceable edge is with a file.
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