Axe Sharpening – What, Why and How To Do It
How to sharpen an axe? It’s a question that is asked a lot. Having a good answer to this question is something that should concern anyone who carries or uses an axe. In principle, sharpening an axe is not particularly difficult, although there is an additional consideration over the technique that works for sharpening many knives.
As long as you understand how to deal with properly working with the convex bevel shape that most axes have, and make sure you do not re-shape the bevel with your sharpening efforts, then you will maintain a sharp and functional axe.
In the video embedded below I explain and demonstrate how I go about sharpening axes, what equipment I use and why. These are methods I use in the field, at home and contain techniques which the students on my field courses find easy to replicate. You too can achive good results by following what I show here.
Along the way, I discuss various options and combinations of sharpening equipment, some of which may be familiar, but some of which I hope also provides you with some new ideas. Throughout the aim is to be efficient with the sharpening, often with only limited equipment. This latter point is paritcularly relevant for remote camps and self-propelled trips. We don’t want to be lugging a pack full of sharpening gear. We also don’t want to spend a fortune on sharpening kit.
In the video below I look at using bench stones, modified bench stones, specialist axe stones, small pocket stones, as well as stropping. I finish with a few words on protecting your axe after you have finished sharpening it.
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10 thoughts on “Axe Sharpening – What, Why and How To Do It”
Hi Paul, another relative, informative vid delivered in an enjoyable manner. Thanks very much. Cheers from Tassie
Hi Trevor, thanks for your comment. I appreciate the feedback. I’m glad you found the video informative and enjoyable 🙂 All the best, Paul
Hi Paul.
Just received my new signed copy of your book.
This video is once again as comprehensive in it’s detail as all your videos are. Thanks again for the book.
Vic
Hi Vic, it’s good to hear from you. Thanks for your positive words about my videos, and this one in particular. I’m glad your book has arrived with you safe and sound. Happy reading!
All the best,
Paul
Hi Paul
I want you to know one thing, your knowledge is not in vain thanks so much I have learned a lot from this video about sharpening my axe. great work. Thanks
Thank you Afas for your kind and positive words. I’m happy this video has been very useful to you.
Warm regards,
Paul
A clear and helpful tutorial which explains why I’ve never managed to get a good, lasting edge on my axe! I might have ruined the bevel over the years so I’ve got some work to do. Thanks for the advice and explanations.
Thanks for your positive comments about the video Martin. And not to worry, as long as there is some metal left on your axe head, you should be able to re-shape the bevel, back to the desired bevel shape. It could be a case of using a coarse stone to achieve this, or possibly using a metal file.
Warm regards,
Paul
Hi Paul,
I’ve seen a few vids on axe sharpening where they show colouring in the bevel with a felt pen. This lets you see where you are taking the metal off. What do you reckon to this for a beginner?
Hi Norman,
I suspect this idea comes from the idea of painting flat knife bevels (“Scandi grind”) with a permantent marker, in order to check technique on a bench stone, to make sure that an area is not being missed. Thus, good technique can be developed and bad habits avoided.
You can do something similar with an axe bevel but frankly it is much easier to see what is going on between the stone and the axe bevel because of your view point with respect to both. But I am not against it. Bear in mind, though that if you do your first passes of the bevel well, you’ll have removed most of the pen after not very long. You’ll still have a fair amount of sharpening to do and this will have to be done by eye.
I would say, that being methodical is what needs to be developed but when you first start sharpening axes it might be useful to colour in to make sure you are are a) achieving the range of angles necessary as well as b) changing your angles sufficiently gradually that you are not missing sections of the bevel. But once you have these two things sorted, I doubt it would be of much further use.
I hope this helps.
Warm regards,
Paul