How sharp is your ax, hatchet, ditch ax?

Discussion in 'Back to Basics' started by oil pan 4, Sep 4, 2017.


?
  1. Mine is a roots and rocks battle ax

    5 vote(s)
    22.7%
  2. Like a butter knife

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. I sharpen it with a grinder every few years

    2 vote(s)
    9.1%
  4. Try to keep it some what sharp

    1 vote(s)
    4.5%
  5. I like to keep mine pretty sharp

    11 vote(s)
    50.0%
  6. Sharpen it after every use, could fillet a fish

    4 vote(s)
    18.2%
  7. Could use it to give your kitty a close shave

    6 vote(s)
    27.3%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. oil pan 4

    oil pan 4 Monkey+++

    Select more than one if you have more than one and you sharpen them differently.
     
  2. Andy the Aussie

    Andy the Aussie Monkey+++ Founding Member

    I have two votes there the garden axe that meets a grinder ever couple of years and the other two I keep more than working sharp.
     
    Dunerunner likes this.
  3. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    I keep all of mine sharp that I use. No reason not to, and a sharp blade is safest.
     
    M118LR and Dunerunner like this.
  4. apache235

    apache235 Monkey+++

    I like to THINK I keep them sharp, but I have a feeling that I may not know the meaning of the word.
     
    sec_monkey and Dunerunner like this.
  5. Yard Dart

    Yard Dart Vigilant Monkey Moderator

    After the long summer.... I have an axe and hatchet that need some attention!!
     
    sec_monkey, Dunerunner and Tully Mars like this.
  6. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    The axe that I carry on the truck is a fire axe and honestly very seldom gets used. It's edge is more of a sanding disc sharp. It's touched up whenever I notice that it is in need.Since it stays on the welding truck a small angle grinder with a tiger disc is what is used to dress the edge. While sharp, it's certainly not kept as sharp as the single and double bit axes I use for firewood cutting/splitting. These are dressed with a single cut file followed up by a whetstone.
     
    Ura-Ki likes this.
  7. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    I see little need to sharpen my splitting maul, but it does see the file occasionally. My double bit and hand axes, on the other hand; see the file, coarse stone, medium stone and fine Arkansas stone frequently. They are covered in protective leather holsters and are treated with clove oil just like my Katana.
     
    sec_monkey, Tully Mars and Ura-Ki like this.
  8. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    The heck is a ditch ax? Cause to my way of speaking, that's an ax you throw out after getting caught with it...
     
    Gator 45/70, Ura-Ki and Dunerunner like this.
  9. Witch Doctor 01

    Witch Doctor 01 Mojo Maker

    A ditch axe is also called a Brush Hook...

    [​IMG]
     
    Zimmy, Gator 45/70, Motomom34 and 2 others like this.
  10. Ura-Ki

    Ura-Ki Grampa Monkey

    Besides my fire axes, I keep two double bit axes close at hand, one is a left hand cut and the other is a stagger cut felling ax! Both get dressed after each extended use, and you could almost shave with them. I do keep A single bit competition ax that I use for general work, and it gets the shaving edge!!! My boarding ax is more general use, and so the edge is kept at a lesser level of sharp then the others, but still capable of heavier work if needed!
     
  11. arleigh

    arleigh Goophy monkey

    Pulaski is the fire fighting tree root ax , and yes I use a grinder on it when necessary "a file won't phase it" . I used hard facing rod on the edges, and do sharpening is only an infrequent event.
     
  12. oil pan 4

    oil pan 4 Monkey+++

    Ditch ax is basically the ideal zombie cleaving tool for the zombie apocalypse.
    When some one sees you cleave straight through a 2 inch branch like it isn't even there they usually take a step back and are like what the hell is that thing.
     
  13. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    Mine need serious attention. I sharpen by hand because I will not buy a grinder. Sharpening by hand is a chore if you do not keep up with it. Some dings are deep but I do okay. Had a master knife guy overseeing my sharpening job.
     
  14. M118LR

    M118LR Caution: Does not play well with others.

    Where is the "Tinker" when you want one Nowadays?
    A 15 Degree Razor Edge is useful on a meat processing ax, but a 30 Degree working edge will hold up much longer for wood processing. A Swamping Axe/ Splitting Maul requires an even more roll resistant edge geometry. A simple sharpening puck and file should be more than enough to maintain a working edge. A fine Arkansas & a strop will be required only when the blade shall not be used for blunt force trauma. Even a double bit has at least one 30 Degree working edge. JMHO.
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2017
    Dunerunner likes this.
  15. M118LR

    M118LR Caution: Does not play well with others.

    Sorry Sloth, too many folks have found thier way HOME on TV shows like ALONE because the "EXPERT SURVIVALISTS" seemed to place one of their extremities in the way of a single bit safety ax on it's downswing. Put a razor edge on a backbiter and play around like you just don't care, well we nicknamed them folks stumpy where I came from. LOL.
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2017
    Dunerunner likes this.
  16. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    We up here have MANY who sell firewood . Not in a city or town . I have seen this in real life .
    Like what I do & it freaks folks !(city , TV Idiots & smart phone ground lookers ) They don't KNOW SQUAT & believe nonsense.
     
  17. M118LR

    M118LR Caution: Does not play well with others.

    Down here we have folks that chop firewood to pay for thier breakfast. They carry signs on the corner and wait for charitable folks to employ them while they tighten thier belts against the tummy grumbles. Yup, thier just as smart & opinionated as folks in your neck of the woods! But thier depending on the folks with cash money earning steady jobs that don't know squat to keep the nonsense of a grumbling belly away. It ain't an educational skill to swing an ax!!!!!!!!!! But swing it long enough and Y'all shall get an EDUCATION! JMHO.
     
    Cruisin Sloth likes this.
  18. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    The price of firewood is outrageous here now...so everything went to the lowest bidder. They use machine splitters, but it's what they make the addicts do in rehab.
     
    M118LR likes this.
  19. Andy the Aussie

    Andy the Aussie Monkey+++ Founding Member

    I still find splitting block somewhat cathartic, chainsaw to turn the logs and limbs into blocks, axe to make them fit the wood stove. Can't say I would want to do it for a living but when it is for me I generally feel better for the exercise.
     
    Zimmy, M118LR, Gator 45/70 and 2 others like this.
  20. Kingfish

    Kingfish Self Reliant

    I have several axes. I rescue them from the dump when ever I see one there. Put on a new handle and run it through the process. I voted for three different ones. I have one for the dirt one for all around and one I keep so sharp its dangerous. That is my Genuine Norlund axe. Found it in the woods stuck in a tree. New handle and cleaned it up and reset the edge. It is one sharp Hombre.

    The one I have is just below (to the right) and almost touching the double headed one . Its a smaller one and has some of the best steel Ive ever seen in an axe.
     
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