An axe is an essential part of any survivalist’s gear kit. It can save you hours when building a shelter, getting fuel for your fire and gathering food. Axes are great weapons of self-defense against predators.
Of course, for your trusty axe to save your life in an emergency, it has to be sharp. What’s the right way to sharpen an axe?
1. CLEAN THE AXE
If you spend a lot of time in the wilderness, you probably won’t have to worry about this step. This is mainly when your axe has a lot of rust on it. Grab some steel wool or coarse-grit sandpaper and go to town until the metal is clean.
It’s best to work from the handle side towards the edge. Swap coarse sandpaper with a finer grit at the end to leave the surface as smooth as possible.
2. SECURE THE AXE TO KEEP IT LEVEL
You don’t want your axe moving around when you’re sharpening it. The best way to keep it straight is to secure the head in a vice grip. You can also lay it flat on your workbench and clamp it there.
What if you’re in the middle of the woods? Find an elevated, reasonably flat surface, such as a large rock or a log. Rest the axe on it, holding the axe as firmly as possible.
3. FOLLOW THE NATURAL EDGE OF THE AXE
It’s important to give your axe’s edge the correct angle. Most of the time, you can just follow the original curve. A great trick is to mark the edge of the axe with a marker. That way, you just follow the black line as you’re sharpening.
What if your axe is so rusted or dull that you can’t see the original angle? In that case, aim for a 45-degree angle on both sides.
4. FILE THE EDGES
We prefer a bastard mill file for this step. Move the file towards the edge of the axe, keeping it level and following the curve of the blade. This process is going to help you remove any chips or dents. Let the file do the work — don’t press too hard.
Make a few passes on one side of the blade and then flip it over. Keep doing this until the edge looks clean. It’s normal for the blade to develop a small burr, or bent edge, as you’re working. The next step will get rid of it.
5. SHARPEN THE BLADE
Next, you want to grab a sharpening stone or whetstone to finish the job. A 1000-grit stone is coarse enough for chipped edges. A 3000-grit stone will put a smooth finish on the blade.
For an axe, you shouldn’t need to go higher than 3000-grit. It isn’t a katana, after all.
Wet the edge with water (unless you’re using a dry sharpening stone). Put the whetstone level against the blade. Gently rub each side of the axe using circular motions from top to bottom. Do this several times, until there are no burrs.
6. PROTECT THE NEW EDGE
You don’t need to go razor-sharp with an axe, just enough for it to be smooth, clean and level. After you finish sharpening, rinse and dry the metal. Then, apply some oil or Vaseline to the entire head to protect it against moisture.
Do you have other tips for axe sharpening or metalworking?