File or stone to sharpen machete

H

Houlahound

Joined
Aug 2, 2017
Messages
3,121
Doing a lot of mountain bike trail clearing that has become overgrown.

Best field machete sharpener?
 
Having been on the wrong end of a machete many times, I'll tell you that a smallish file works very well and will work a lot faster than a stone. You don't need anything huge, a 10" bastard file works nicely, so does a 6"-7" raker file. I've even used the file in my Leatherman ST at times to do it. Once you get the hang of filing the long blade you'll be able to touch up the edge in a couple minutes. Just make sure you use a good file such as Pferd. Safety tip - wear gloves.......always......:eek:
 
Going with a file on this. That's a lot of metal that has to be removed and I do not want to mess up my stones.
 
As a teen I had a job clearing hillsides covered in brush from around peoples homes for protection from fire out in the rural parts of town. My main tool was a machete. Hacking brush at ground level I would occasionally hit rocks in the dirt or above ground hidden by brush. I used a coarse file for sharpening quick and rough so I could get back to work.

I don't see any point in putting any kind of refined edge on a tool that is really meant for hacking through brush. But some people do use them for a wide variety of other tasks, and they might be better served by a fine smooth edge.

Here's another little trip down memory lane that's somewhat machete related- Back in the 80's, when the USA tv network was new, they were desperate to fill air time. They had a late night program called "Night Flight" which featured odd documentaries. One of the documentaries was about a Rastafarian living a very primitive life in the jungles of Jamaica. His main tool was a large machete. I marveled at how he used that long blade for everything from hacking through the jungle, making fire, preparing meals, and chopping the buds he grew to fit into his pipe. He was a perfect example of how a skilled man can make do with just about any blade.
 
Last edited:
Use a file to straighten your edge, then sharpen it with sandpaper wrapped/attached to a 1x3 board. I would start with a coarse grit paper, probably 80 grit, then move up to 120, and keep stepping up to a finer grit.
 
Flat file works, so does the sidewalk or other flat cement area like a concrete block if one is near. Works on axes and hatchets as well.

How To Sharpen a Machete - YouTube

The real question should be how to sharpen your chainsaw blade. Now we are talking about some fun.
 
I use the same puck I use on my axe. Sometimes I use one of those pocket pull-through sharpeners. Don’t use them on knives but they are handy on a machete.
 
A file is a fast and easy way to put an edge on a machete.
The only time I use a file though is on a brand new one or if I really dinged the edge up.

For just normal sharpening of my machetes I like using scythe stones and sometimes a puck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top