Sharpening an axe

The video wulff02 posted is excellent, and is the method that I've used in the past (minus the vise grip because I don't have one).

Any "real" hardware stores left in your area? McGuckin's and Ace will both sharpen axes.


I have never needed anything beyond a file and two sided whet stone. Grinders can mess with the temper.


Everything you ever wanted to know about axes. Sharpening starts at 18:00.

"yup, super easy. You really don't want to go super sharp with an axe anyway. They use as much blunt force and they do cutting so as long as it is moderatly sharp you will be good to go. Files are cheap, you should see a return on the investment after the first time."

Actually, a really sharp axe cuts MUCH faster and easier than a file sharpened one. I keep my Gransfors-Bruk axes shaving sharp with a couple of stones. I use them for felling, sectioning and limbing nasty old elm trees and such on some rental properties I maintain. (Thursday I took down a scraggly fifty footer on crowded property - it took longer to rig the tree for a safe drop than to fell it.) They are also useful for some carpentry tasks. The wood's cut surfaces feel like they are polished and I get a lot more work done in a given amount of time than I could with a cheap, dull axe.

Sharpening is easy if you support the head on a firm surface (you don't really need a vise, though it can help) and watch your stone's angle of engagement. If your bit is really dull, you will need to rough-in the basic edge with a file, but you really want to finish up with stones.

When I bought the thing, I tested the edge with my thumb. Bled for like 2 hours, it was evidently sharp as hell.

Ill have to check Ace. I don't have a vice at home and broke my file in a fit of rage with a Cadillac. There's a few good nicks in it and I work pretty solid this week, won't have much time to do it myself.

If I was closer I would hit it for you

Ace on 120th and Colorado did it for $2.50.

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Originally Posted by 00tec

Ace on 120th and Colorado did it for $2.50.

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Nice. Good to hear that there are still shops around that do something useful.

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Originally Posted by Milt

"yup, super easy. You really don't want to go super sharp with an axe anyway. They use as much blunt force and they do cutting so as long as it is moderatly sharp you will be good to go. Files are cheap, you should see a return on the investment after the first time."

Actually, a really sharp axe cuts MUCH faster and easier than a file sharpened one. I keep my Gransfors-Bruk axes shaving sharp with a couple of stones. I use them for felling, sectioning and limbing nasty old elm trees and such on some rental properties I maintain. (Thursday I took down a scraggly fifty footer on crowded property - it took longer to rig the tree for a safe drop than to fell it.) They are also useful for some carpentry tasks. The wood's cut surfaces feel like they are polished and I get a lot more work done in a given amount of time than I could with a cheap, dull axe.

Sharpening is easy if you support the head on a firm surface (you don't really need a vise, though it can help) and watch your stone's angle of engagement. If your bit is really dull, you will need to rough-in the basic edge with a file, but you really want to finish up with stones.

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Milt is correct. A maul is better slightly dull... but most axes are better SHARP! BTW, Gransfors-Bruk axes are fantastic. You'd be amazed at hos well they do their job!

um....i know this sounds stupid but what is a bastard file?

A orbital sander and a way to clamp the axe to a bench with something like a C clamp.
I used such a set up to thin out the blade of a hachet. 320/400 grit should get you good to go.