Sharping Stone for Axes

[kfd518]

Not often I have to stone my “hatchet” husqvarna carpenters axe. I use my normal smiths oil stone on knives axes and hatchets then it’s off to a piece of leather glued to an old white oak floor board with green polishing compound on it. Any one of them will shave but I feel the Myriad of straights sharpened on 5000/1000 grit trues wet stone does a much better job on the face (chromium oxide green polishing compound is a sharp but aggressive edge on a straight razor).

[Cosmic_Charlie]

The puck style works just fine.

[tomme boy]

I use a 2" belt sander. Pretty much the exact same thing all the manufacturers use if they even sharpen them.

[curdog007]

I don't use a stone on my axes - two single cut files (a bastard cut and a smooth cut) do the job perfectly well. It's not so much about the tools, it's about being able to use them and understanding what you need to achieve with them.

Axe cutting edge geometry is basically about severing the wood fibers to an adequate depth, and then wedging the chips out of the kerf. All without being susceptible to glancing or getting stuck. Of course, your actual swing and accuracy has a lot to do with this as well, but it's a lot easier when the tool is right.

I am a big fan of around a 17 degree flat cutting edge profile, with about a 30 degree micro bevel a little more than 1/32 back. This is usually achieved by laying the file until it almost touches the eye. The flat profile is much better at preventing unwanted glances than a convex one, and does not tend to bounce out of the cut.
The basic axe head shape needs to have enough wedge to force the severed chips out of the cut, and a good high center line to prevent sticking. I have reshaped several modern hardware store axe heads with good results. Just look at something like an old Kelly and you'll see what I mean.

I use axes because I like them, and I think it's a skill everyone should know. But I do like my two Husqvarna forestry saws, too!

[skeettx]

+1 on the file

[Eddie2002]

I've been checking out this guy over the last few weeks and how he restores axes. He's a little crazy and a lot of fun to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WClB_D0QumA