Sharpening the Carpenters Hatchet

[formariz 11,988]

Even though it now has a good handle it is the business end of it that really matters. This one is pretty much blunt and incorrectly shaped. 
 Most hatchets and axes are incorrectly sharpened . Culprit most times is the process of sharpening them on an electric grinder. A few bad things happen doing it that way. First and foremost the wheel leaves either a hollow ground edge, an inconsistent bevel and a not straight edge most times all mentioned being present. 
 Also many times to  do it quickly only the very edge gets ground reducing the bevel gradually.Most that I see are more splitting mauls than hatchet or ax. It is supposed to slice through wood and not crush through it.

 The next problem is they are always misshaped by always taking more on front than on back. That is incorrect and creates issues in using it since the angle of attack is incorrect. 
 

 You can see here compared to the one on the right side the blade of one on left is too short at front. Blade should also be straight or slightly curved.

 

Edge is basically totally blunt. And bevel too short.

 

Edge will have to be straightened first. Unlike on a grinder edge being worked on is facing you and it is clear what file is doing and where. Although tedious it is efficient precise work by hand with file.

 Edge is first straightened working both sides of blade. Front tip is severely rounded so it will be fixed as future sharpening happen so not to take too much now.

 

This blade is thick. Bevel needs to be steeper. It is now filed longer leaving it slightly rounded . Hollow ground left from a grinder would make edge weak and unsupported . File work is absolutely visible and controllable unlike a grinder. Notice undesirable front tip left for subsequent sharpening. Cutting edge also needs to be in center of head thickness and straight.

 

 

 It is now time to hone edge on fine stone.

 

Further honing with finer stone 

 Finally bevel is polished and edge stropped on leather strop charged with cutting compound.

 

Preliminary test

 Final testing for various tasks

 

 Take also the opportunity to file any burrs around edges 

 

No longer abandoned and forgotten in the rusty pile . With its dignity restored it is a tool that it is a pleasure to hold and use. It just takes a bit of time and understanding. Definitely a much more rewarding effort than spending the time, effort and money to purchase a “ modern” equivalent that most likely will not even be in the same planet as far as quality goes.  It and other tools like it are out there just waiting to be resurrected. 

[ebinmaine 68,461]

Excellent. 

There's an art to sharpening in general and also to each individual tool.  

[Pullstart 63,104]

Wrecked by a grinder, saved by the file.  Awesome!  I typically sharpen my wood splitting tools by using a concrete pad or brick.  It’ll end up in the dirt before I know it.  Recently, I was in the woods and only had my chainsaw file.  It did the trick to get a couple nasty rolls out of the edge and I was back to chopping.

[8ntruck 7,104]

File benchwork 101.  Good post.

 

I'm noticing this year with the kids on the robotics team I am mentoring that their first go to is the school's cad system and cnc equipment.  Even if there is a minor, easily corrected mistake in a part, some of the students would rather go to make the corrections in cad and remake the part instead of doing benchwork to make the correction.

 

In the last week or so, I've taught several students about files and vices, that files only cut when pushed, how to deburr parts fresh off of the cnc machines, and introduced some to the usefulness and uses of a die grinder.  Seems I am regarded as some sort of a magician with hand tools by some of the students.  Teachable moments - demonstrate, hand the tools over, supervise, coach, and encourage.

Edited February 10, 2022 by 8ntruck

[formariz 11,988]

On 2/10/2022 at 4:30 AM, ebinmaine said:

Excellent. 

There's an art to sharpening in general and also to each individual tool.  

Thank you. Very correct, different tools for different tasks require understanding on how they perform them and do require very different sharpening techniques or methods.

[formariz 11,988]

On 2/10/2022 at 8:29 AM, Pullstart said:

Wrecked by a grinder, saved by the file

Perhaps the most appropriate  statement I ever heard regarding electric grinders and their use. Yes electric grinders  are always the demise of any tool taken to them. From the burning of tools temper, to the incorrect bevels due to the inability to see what one is doing and most times relying on absolutely stupid little rests. And to top everything else the culprit in no one ever learning the mechanics and necessary technique of sharpening different tools because they always relied on grinders.

Edited February 11, 2022 by formariz

[formariz 11,988]

22 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

File benchwork 101.  Good post.

Thank you.

 

22 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

some of the students would rather go to make the corrections in cad and remake the part instead of doing benchwork to make the correction.

 

A sad sign of or our inability or desire to provide early, consistent instruction, and exposure of manual skills in our children. I am not averse to stressing the benefits of a good education to children. After all I too have somewhat of a higher education. 2.5 Years to make me realize that it was not what was in my heart.Not a waste however i have to admit. The total elimination of all types of shop classes was an absolute mistake. In the very least that provided not only basic tool usage instruction, but more importantly  a window into different futures that one may not have now. From what I observe, a future in any manual labor trade now is actually frowned upon by many parents. The man that can work with is hands will always find an opportunity for work regardless of circumstances. The same cannot be said for a college graduate that never did or learned how to do anything with their hands.That fact I personally evidenced by the countless individuals with serious college degrees I encountered in my profession that changed careers in their 30s and 40s. Apprenticeship at 40years old . Time was no longer their friend.