MACHETE SHARPENER

I use the white with blue handle. Works great for a quick sharpening.

Accusharp

12" Mill Bastard from Lowes (Kobalt Brand). Has a lifetime warranty, costs $10 one time. When it wears out, I go get another one, free. Unlike many new files today, this one really grips and pulls. Takes a few minutes and voila, you're done sharpening.

You can have my file when you pry it from my cold dead hands! 🙂

Standard equipment in the Republic of Panama during the 1950s for grass cutters was a machete, a bastard file and a newspaper (for carrying the machete). They'd walk the streets and offer to cut your lawn for $1.00 U.S. They were so good when finished it looked like it was cut with a gasoline lawn mower. Over one acre and they'd want $2.00.

Nicholson 14" mill bastard file from Hayes

Round disk hatchet & axe stone for a smooth edge that will last longer

Smith's yellow knife sharpener to debur between filing

Recently I came across my grandfathers Barbers Pride Wet or Dry Stone. It puts a shaving edge on my pocket knives with ease.

:gammon:

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Byers-Super-Sharpener-1-Knife-and-Scissors-Sharpener-1/100179955/

What Cris said....

:good:

-JD-

The only thing I would add is that it would be nice to have a handle on the file with a small guard. I will admit to cutting my fingers on a razor sharp machete more than one time while sharpening.

I would recommend the file for field use and to keep in the truck.

However I have found that an abrasive disc such as the one shown below works very well for sharpening lawn mower blades, axes, machete's, ect. You can get them in different grits and they do not build up heat like a typical grinding wheel does. I use the disc for getting the edge roughed in (which is actually really sharp), then hit it with a bastard file to put the final edge on it if I'm feeling really bored.

Power sharpener. This is how the knife makers sharpen, on a belt sander. This is a good substitute for a professional belt grinder.

http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/WSWSKTS/Work-Sharp-WSKTS-Knife-and-Tool-Sharpener

One of my pet peeves is seeing a tool put to a solid grinding wheel. I've used the same file for all of my shovels, machetes, chisels, etc. for well over 20 years. I keep it clean and dry and it works perfectly. My tools hold an edge for months...

I mentioned this particular style disc, because I am amazed at how cool it runs. It does not ruin the temper of the edge like a solid grinding wheel does.

It is great for an edge that has really seen some abuse.

I suspect it would help with new tools that had not been edged properly as well. I have a beautiful custom blade that was made and sharpened on a series of belt sanders. It hasn't needed a touch up in years...
I've got one of those disks for my grinder. I may ha e to borrow my brothers knife and check it out:^)

I'm a "tiger paw" man myself for nearly anything other than sharpening a machete. 🙂

> I suspect it would help with new tools that had not been edged properly as well. I have a beautiful custom blade that was made and sharpened on a series of belt sanders. It hasn't needed a touch up in years...
> I've got one of those disks for my grinder. I may ha e to borrow my brothers knife and check it out:^)

I have a Scag Tiger Cat Lawn mower. The three blades spin so much faster than other mowers. After two or three mowings (I mow less now but it used to be 5 acres each week) then you will beg for a tiger paw (shown above) for sharpening those blades. A file would do it, but you'd be there for an hour. I'm there 5 minutes and all three are done. 🙂

I had a party chief that wore out a Craftsman file after decades of use, he brought it back to Sears for a new one.

I like to clamp the blade to a table or bench before sharpening with a file.

I always just use an ancient file I've had for so long I no longer remember where it came from, just to file out the chips in the blade from hitting rocks to get a rough edge on it. Then to get a fine edge I like to use another machete with similarly hard steel and draw the two edges against each other. Really works.

Worked with a guy who would always drag the file down the edge to dull it a bit after sharpening saying he was taught having it too sharp was dangerous. Never quite understood that. Whatever o.O

Do what ski racers do

> Worked with a guy who would always drag the file down the edge to dull it a bit after sharpening saying he was taught having it too sharp was dangerous. Never quite understood that. Whatever o.O

I use this Panzer file...same one I use on my skis. Nothing will cut faster. You can put it in your pocket, drag it down each side of the edge of the machete and in about 60 seconds and you've got a great edge. I use it to finish my lawnmower blades too. The steel in this thing is really, really hard.

http://www.artechski.com/spirakut-laser-kut-mini-panzar-file-4-inch/#gsc.tab=0

Oh, and Williwaw: What your guy said was true. He's not "dulling" the blade by doing this. What he's doing (and so should any machete owner do) is putting a micro square edge on the blade, rather than a paper thin pointed edge--that may be fine for slicing tomatoes, but not for whacking like you do with a machete, a lawnmower or what I do with my skis in the woods (don't ask).

For all but the most exotic steels (never seen a machete yet made of exotic steel), dragging the file perpendicular to the edge once or twice will make the blade stay sharper longer.

I'll support the 14" bastard (double cut).
I don't use a handle. Never cut myself.
I find if you grasp the opposite end of file and drag it backwards it cuts twice as fast and obviously doesn't run your hand into strife in a slip. It also has less tendency to slip.

Might sound awkward/dumb but it works.

As to cutting tools, as others commented plenty of good blades ruined by heat.
You also don't have that feel for how it's going and the tool can wear much faster with over zealous use of electric devices.
There's something very satisfying with sharpening blades of any sort and getting them to their required sharpness.

> I've got one of those disks for my grinder. I may have to borrow my brothers knife and check it out:^)

Wouldn't recommend that.