How to Sharpen an Axe

Nothing's worse than getting ready to start chopping wood and discovering a dull axe blade. Having a dull axe blade makes the work longer and harder and it can also become dangerous. Sharpening an axe can be done by following these simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Axe
• 10-inch mill file
• Sharpening stone
• Honing oil
• Steel wool
• Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Check to make sure the axe head fits securely on the handle. For safety's sake, this must be a tight fit. If not sure how to remedy this problem, take the axe to a professional or purchase a new one.

2. Clean the axe blade. Use steel wool to remove rust, then use sandpaper in successively finer grits to remove any scratches.

3. Secure the axe handle in a vise for stability while sharpening. This provides safety when sharpening the axe.

4. Use a 10-inch long mill file to sharpen the blade. Be sure to draw the file along the same angle as the original bevel of the blade. Use long strokes to keep the edge smooth. Don't forget to sharpen the other side.

5. Squeeze an ample amount of honing oil onto the axe blade. Sharpen the filed edge with a sharpening stone. This should be done in a circular motion, first with the rough side of the stone and then with the fine side.

Tips & Warnings

• Always keep the sharpening stone lubricated with honing oil.

• Always use caution when handling tools.

Resources

• Many informative articles about the outdoors can be found here.
• This website contains helpful home and garden information.