how do you sharpen a hatchet?

F

Foilist

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Dec 20, 2004
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This is an embarrassingly noobish question, but what is the proper technique for putting a good edge on a hatchet? In the past I have just made a few touch-up passes across a stone as you would with a knife, but it's quite dull now and needs a proper sharpening.
 
When mine gets really dull I use my belt sander to put the edge back on. In the field I use a small file and a pocket diamond stone. The belt sander is sure the best way for me.
 
I don't have a belt sander. Would a dremel with a sanding wheel in the chuck do a decent job, or would that just screw it up?
 
I'd just use a file if I were you. The dremel would probably work fine too. I just find that i sometimes have trouble controlling a dremel and end up with scratches and/or gouges where I really don't want them. A coarse bench stone might be another good choice. And one last idea, you could give it a convex edge with some sandpaper and a mouse-pad. Lay the sandpaper on the mouse-pad and use edge trailing strokes. The mouse-pad has just enough give in it to round the edge into a nice convex shape. I keep meaning to do this on my Fiskars hatchet. Good luck!
 
I used a diamond impregnated coarse/fine deal made by Smith that is sold at Lowe's. They slide into the handle. It is like a file and the coarse side works better than anything I have ever used on things like machetes, axes, and hatchets. You move the "file" not the blade to sharpen with it.
 
I use a fine tooth bastard file (no relation to me) just as I would on a machete blade. I don't see a need to get an axe or machete hair poppin sharp, as I do my Mora. Since I'm usually using my axe or hatchet to cut saplings at ground level, the edge is going to get nicked and beat up.
 
A small Course and fine diamond sharpener always worked for me. Before that I would use a medium stone to sharpen it.
 
I use a belt sander or file if I need to take out nicks and a diamond sharpener or Arkansas stone to finish it up.

I think I would make a thorough mess of it with a Dremel-- not enough surface area to get a smooth stroke. I put the head in a small vise and go at it.
 
File if i'm out in the bush. If i'm at home I like the sand paper on the mouse pad method to keep the convexed edge.
 
I use Stihl flat file for chainsaw saw, and medium scythe stone.From my childhood I was teached that axe has to be sharpen only by hand.
 
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